Zhongdu Ancient Town

Zhongdu Ancient Town

Zhongdu Ancient Town is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Zhongdu, a thousand-year-old ancient town and the birthplace of Luzhai civilization, was established in the first year of Sun Ganlu (265 AD), boasting a history of nearly 2,000 years. Covering a total area of 374 square kilometers, Zhongdu Town is located 26 kilometers northwest of Luzhai County. It sits at the junction of Luzhai, Rong’an, and Yongfu counties, and serves as an economic hub in the northwestern frontier of Luzhai County. Known as the “Pearl of the Forty-Eight Valleys,” it has a population of approximately 50,000. A pair of ancient banyan trees here, 600 years old, have withstood the test of time and still stand firmly on both sides of the Luo River. The town still retains ancient city gates, city walls, and old merchant shops, bearing witness to its bustling commercial past.

One of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — The Fairyland of Xiangqiao: Nestled among rolling mountains, Xiangqiao Rock is surrounded by verdant peaks and overlapping ridges. The entrance is a narrow cave opening; after walking dozens of steps, you’ll enter a large cave hall with stalactites hanging overhead, suddenly revealing a bright, open space with drifting clouds and a unique world beyond. In the distance, a natural stone bridge arches high, resembling a rainbow, with green trees shading its surface and vines hanging down. Beneath the bridge, the river rushes violently, splashing water droplets like pearls and jade, with a thunderous roar. Upstream, the water flows gently and serenely; downstream, the pool is deep and tranquil, creating a fairy-tale-like scene. Stepping into this place, one can truly experience the “Peach Blossom Spring” realm described by Tao Yuanming in his “The Peach Blossom Spring.”

Two of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — The Resounding Water Spring: In the upper reaches of the Luo River, near the Resounding Water area, steep mountain peaks stand opposite each other, with stepped stone platforms in the riverbed stretching about a hundred meters long and a drop of over twenty meters. The river surges and roars as it cascades down, hence the name “Resounding Water.” When the water hits the stone platforms, silver droplets splash like lotus blossoms. The scene is grand and majestic, just like “layers of lotus flowers churning with waves shining as white as snow, and the sound of thunder echoing for miles.” This is the famous scenic spot known as the “Resounding Water Waterfall.” Since the source of Resounding Water emerges from the underground river of Xiangqiao Rock, it is also called “Resounding Water Spring” or “Resounding Water Playing the Zither.”

Three of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — The Eagle Mountain Hanging Moon: As the poem goes, “A mountain soars by the Luo River, resembling an eagle with full wings; under the boundless blue sky, the peak always hangs the moon’s graceful glow.” Located behind Yingshan Middle School and at the head of Jiuxian Village, Eagle Mountain looks strikingly like a majestic eagle whether viewed from afar or up close. In ancient times, the words “Eagle Mountain peerless” were inscribed on the mountain’s peak, meaning there is none other like it. Zhongdu Town is also known as Eagle Mountain Town, a reference originating from this. On clear, bright nights when the moon hangs high, looking toward Eagle Mountain feels like watching Chang’e dance while the eagle spreads its wings. No wonder poets have associated it with the image of “Chang’e playing with the eagle.”

Four of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — The Luo River Spring Flood: The Luo River originates from the underground rivers of Laduo in Yongfu County and Xiangqiao Rock. As it flows to Jiujie Village in Huangmian, it merges with the Qing River to become the Luqing River. The Luqing River then passes through Luzhai Town, Luorong Town, and Jiangkou Township before joining the Liu River. The two bright red characters “Luo River,” carved into the huge rock by the riverbank, remain strikingly visible despite years of weathering. The Luo River is narrow, with calm and gentle waters, even during flood season posing little threat. The river not only nourishes and irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland along its banks, but is also used for hydropower and navigation. Before the 1950s, ships weighing up to 50 tons could travel upstream to Xiangjiang and downstream to Wuzhou and Guangdong. Spring arrives particularly early here; as winter fades, fish leap in the shallows, swallows dance among the treetops, shepherds play their flutes, oxen frolic, and villagers sing in the fields. Green spreads across the hillsides, presenting a vivid scene of “spring plowing” and “rural joy,” unfolding amid the laughter of spring. This easily brings to mind the famous lines by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi: “At sunrise, river flowers are redder than fire; in spring, river water is as green as blue. How could one not miss the south?” The ancients vividly referred to this landscape as the “Luo River Spring Flood.”

Five of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — Misty Rain over Ximei: Drifting along the river, the scenery shifts with the boat’s movement. The shimmering water reflects distant hills veiled in mist and nearby slopes dotted with green, a feast for the eyes. The reflection of Ximei Mountain hides in the water, its towering presence lush with trees. Atop the mountain stands a fortress rising into the sky. In the drizzling mist, clouds wrap around the peaks, creating a spectacular view.

Six of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — Clear Mist over East Ridge: East Ridge, also called Twelve Ridges or Twelve Valleys, lies across the Luo River from the east gate wharf of Zhongdu Town. It forms a natural barrier to the southeast of the ancient town. After the rain clears or under the bright moon, the rugged ridge peaks appear and disappear within the drifting auspicious mist, reminiscent of the ambiance of the Twelve Peaks of Wushan in the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges.

Seven of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — Autumn Moon over Dragon Pool: The Dragon Pool refers to that section of the Luo River between Yuezhan Village and Xin County Village, namely Longtan River, with its azure, unfathomably deep waters. Legend says a yellow dragon resides here, hence the name “Dragon Pool River.” When it is angry, the Luo River floods; when it calms, the Luo River becomes peaceful. This legend may stem from our ancient people’s worship of the dragon as a totem.

Eight of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongdu — Solitary Beauty Piercing the Sky: Refers to the solitary peak that rises abruptly from the vast fields behind Ducun Village in Zhaoyang Village. Traveling westward from here to Pingshan Town, you’ll encounter many other towering peaks along the way, such as “Three Big Cannons” and “Penholder Mountain,” all reaching majestically into the clouds. Surrounded by fertile fields and villages by the water, the scenery embodies the poetic notion of “lofty and timeless, standing out for centuries, rising abruptly to guard the surroundings.” Climbing to a vantage point, one truly feels as if “wandering within a painting.”

Zhongdu Town: Zhongdu Town is located in the northwest corner of Luzhai County, covering an area of 374 square kilometers. It boasts beautiful landscapes and simple, honest folkways. As a historical and cultural ancient town in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it was established as a county as early as the Three Kingdoms period, earning the reputation of a “cultural ancient town and tourist destination.” With a long history and profound cultural heritage, the town features natural attractions centered around the Xiangqiao Rock National Geopark, including Jiulong Cave, the Resounding Water Waterfall, Eagle Mountain, and ancient banyan trees by the Luo River. It is also known for its Luo River culture, represented by landmarks such as Yi Fang Bao Zhang, Xiangqiao Stone Carvings, and the Wu Temple, enjoying fame both within and beyond the region. Since the reform and opening-up, Zhongdu’s economy and various social endeavors have... Zhongdu Town detailed information ++