Longxi Ancient Town

Longxi Ancient Town

Longxi Town in Wushan County, Chongqing, is located in the northwest of Wushan County. It is connected by road to the Wushan-Wuxi Highway and is 91 kilometers from the county seat. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, it belonged to Longxi Bao. In 1943, it was established as Longxi Township, restructured as a commune in 1958, reverted to township status in 1983, and became a town in 1992.

The ancient town is located on a peninsula where the Daning River and Changxi River converge. The Daning River is navigable year-round, and the Daning River basin was an important salt-producing region in China during the Warring States period, bustling with merchants in ancient times.

The red-hued Longxi Ancient Town was also a base for the Xia Chuan Dong Guerrilla Unit. A memorial monument stands within the town, and the Chuan Dong Liaison Station has been well preserved. The town features both well-maintained ancient residences and remnants of the Cultural Revolution, such as clay sculptures of Mao Zedong’s poetry, struggle platforms, and slogans—many of which have survived remarkably intact.

The ancient town has three old streets: upper, middle, and lower. It boasts numerous historical relics and buildings, the oldest being over 700 years old, including the “Tianci City” built by Song Dynasty soldiers and civilians to resist the Yuan army, and the flood prevention embankment dating back to the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty.

The streets of Longxi Ancient Town are paved with flagstones from the Daning River, giving them a distinctive character. A local saying goes, “As long as the street, so long the buildings; no sunlight falls through, no rain wets the ground,” which perfectly captures the town’s tranquility and serenity.

Architectural structures from various periods of modern and contemporary history include the underground liaison station of the Xia Chuan Dong Guerrilla Unit, old houses and Western-style buildings from the late Qing and Republican eras, as well as state-owned facilities from the planned economy period such as clinics, food supply stations, supply and marketing cooperatives, and cinemas. Among these, the Su Family Western-style building from the Republican era is listed in Chongqing’s Catalogue of Outstanding Modern and Contemporary Architecture.

The watchtower at the highest point of the ancient town’s residences was built to guard against bandits, constructed with layered stone and rammed yellow earth. Longxi Ancient Town is located in the northwest of Wushan County, covering an area of 3.2 square kilometers today, with village residences occupying about 40 acres and a permanent population of just over 560 people.

The ancient town has gradually become quiet in recent times. Locals have built uniform new buildings around the area, leaving only elderly residents who hold onto the past still living in the small town.

The stone arch bridge over the Changxi River in the ancient town. Longxi Ancient Town is located at the junction of Wushan, Fengjie, and Wuxi counties. The town combines cultural relics and diverse architectural styles, and was once known locally as the “Little Shanghai.”

The scenery of the ancient town is picturesque, with beautiful mountains and clear waters that sing of tranquility. Five mountain ridges converge here, commonly referred to as the “Five Dragons Playing with a Pearl.” The town is covered with ancient trees, and the thousand-year-old Huangjue tree by the ancient dock has witnessed a century of prosperity.