Longtan Ancient Town in Chongqing

Longtan Ancient Town in Chongqing

Longtan Ancient Town is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Longtan Ancient Town, a renowned historical and cultural town in China, is located in the heart of the Wuling Mountain area in southeastern Chongqing. Covering an area of 1.5 square kilometers, it is home to a population of 35,000 from the Tujia, Miao, and Han ethnic groups. The town was rebuilt in the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1735) and got its name from two water-filled caves at the foot of Fulong Mountain that resemble dragon eyes and often form pools—hence the name “Longtan.”

The ancient town follows the course of the Meishu River, boasts a vast and well-preserved layout. Its existing 3-kilometer-long flagstone-paved streets are polished to a mirror-like sheen, dark and jade-like, with ancient marine fossils occasionally emerging. Over 50 Tujia-style stilted houses feature upturned eaves and graceful forms. The streets are lined with shops, and the lanes are interconnected. Firewalls stand imposingly, exuding grandeur. The traditional quadrangle courtyards are simple and serene, each with its own distinctive charm. Historically serving as the seat of local administrative offices such as “County Assistant Magistrate,” “Patrol Inspector,” “Prefectural Associate,” and “County Vice Official,” the town was once praised as the “Little Nanjing” and “Cargo Hub of Longtan.”

Since ancient times, the Meishu River has been a major thoroughfare connecting the You River and leading to the Yuan River, facilitating trade with regions as far as Jiangsu and Zhejiang. After the abolition of the native chieftain system and the lifting of the “no Han entry, no native exit” restrictions in the late Yongzheng era, merchants from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huguang (Hubei and Hunan), and Chongqing flocked to Longtan Ancient Town. They transported large quantities of daily necessities such as salt and cloth, and exported local specialties including tung oil, tea, lacquer, cinnabar, and more. The town flourished with salt shops, trading firms, and stores, earning the nickname “Cargo Hub of Longtan.” Guildhalls such as the Jiangxi Merchants’ Guildhall Wanshou Palace and the Hunan Merchants’ Guildhall Yuwang Palace were established, fostering integration between local ethnic minorities and the Han people. During the Anti-Japanese War, Longtan became a refuge for those fleeing the war-torn areas, with its 1.5-square-kilometer town hosting up to 80,000 people. The bustling commerce and dense population brought nationwide fame to Longtan, which was then hailed as the “Little Nanjing.”

The residential buildings in Longtan Ancient Town, mostly constructed with brick and wood, stand closely packed together, each showcasing unique architectural craftsmanship. Common homes typically feature “three pillars and four brackets” or “three pillars and six brackets” wooden structures, while wealthier families built grand “courtyards with a central skywell.” Sturdy and elegant stone pillars form imposing main gates, while the courtyards include a “central hall” used for ancestral worship, receiving guests, and holding weddings or funerals. The street-facing ground floors are fitted with wooden counters or brick-and-mortar sales stalls where shop owners sell their goods. Temples such as the Wenchang Palace, Xuanyuan Palace, Yuwang Palace, and Wanshou Palace boast exquisitely carved beams, painted rafters, and upturned eaves, all delicately beautiful. In the past, in front of the statue of Guan Yu at the Chunqiu Pavilion, there hung a poetic couplet inscribed by a poet from Hebei: “Riding alone, he beheaded Yan Liang, striking dread into the heroes of Hebei; At the Single Saber Meeting with Lu Su, he bowed all the renowned scholars of the south.” Walking through the ancient town, you can touch history with your hands and sense the faded glory through your senses. Experts and scholars who have studied the town have praised it, saying: “Ancient trees, wells, bridges, docks, and architecture form a unified whole. Residential buildings connect seamlessly with docks and guildhalls. Not only does it offer breathtaking natural scenery, but it also holds immense historical value, making it fully comparable to Lijiang’s Square Street.”

Longtan Ancient Town is a place of exceptional talent and spirit. It is the hometown of revolutionary pioneer Zhao Shiyan, former First Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee Liu Ren, Wang Boshan—who served as secretary to Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s presidential office and was a member of the Tongmenghui, and Wang Jianhong—the wife of Qu Qiubai. The famous writer Shen Congwen lived in Longtan in the 1920s and wrote moving stories about Wang Yaomei, often describing in his works the town’s beautiful natural scenery, long history, and rich ethnic culture. The renowned female writer Ding Ling also depicted the classic beauty of Longtan Middle School. The celebrated playwright Tian Han, upon leaving Longtan, composed a quatrain: “The lone pagoda of Youyang lurks within mountain mist; / Huge rocks prop up the sky, beyond reach to explore. / I’ve heard the carp here grow over a foot long— / When shall I cast my rod to fish in Longtan?”

Longtan Town: Located in the heart of the Wuling Mountain area in southeastern Chongqing, Longtan Town covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers. The town gets its name from two water-filled caves at the foot of Fulong Mountain that resemble “dragon eyes” and often form pools.

The town lies with the “dragon eyes” passing through it, giving it the shape of a “dragon’s nose”—hence the name. Since the Shu Han period, Longtan has successively served as the seat of local administrative offices such as “County Assistant Magistrate,” “Patrol Inspector,” “Prefectural Associate,” and “County Vice Official”—equivalent to deputy or branch roles of prefectures or counties—with a history of over 1,700 years. The indigenous chieftain policies of “no Han entry, no native exit” that lasted over 600 years from the Song to the Qing Dynasty contributed to the unique character of this millennia-old town... More detailed information on Longtan Town ++