Songji Ancient Town in Yongchuan

Songji Ancient Town in Yongchuan

Songji Ancient Town in Yongchuan is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Songji Town is situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River at the southern end of Yongchuan City. It lies 40 kilometers from downtown Yongchuan, 143 kilometers downstream to Chongqing, and 229 kilometers upstream to Yibin in Sichuan. It faces Jiangjin across the river and derives its name from Songzi Mountain and Gai Water within the area. The town was established as a county twice, in 1589 and 1661. It boasts numerous historical sites and rich scenic spots. To the west lies the Zhongba area of the Yangtze River, to the northwest is Qinzhi Mountain, to the east stands Dongyu Temple, to the northeast is the "Tomb of Confucius," to the south are Thousand Buddha Cliff, Prince Stone, and Eagle Rock, and to the north is the long-renowned Feilong Cave. The ancient town features a ten-li-long old street, the Chen Family Ancestral House, the ancient county yamen, the Luo Family Ancestral Hall, and other historic buildings and cultural landmarks of significant artistic value. The town covers an area of 34 square kilometers and was selected as one of Chongqing’s first historical and cultural towns in October 2002.

Historically, Songji served as a vital hub for merchants from Yongchuan, Rongchang, Longchang, Luzhou, Tongliang, Dazu, and Neijiang who traveled to Chongqing to trade and transport goods. The waterways had three docks—upper, middle, and lower—with a constant flow of boats on the river. Land transportation mainly relied on horse caravans, with nearly a thousand horses and mules arriving daily from surrounding counties, bustling along the old street. Supporting services for the caravans, such as stables, flourished, with over 20 at their peak. However, with the construction of roads, the stables gradually declined and the last one closed in 1978. In its heyday, Songji had a population of over 50,000, bustling water traffic, numerous shops, and a thriving market, giving rise to the saying, “By day, a thousand hands greet you; by night, ten thousand lights shine.” During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Nationalist Government’s “New Life Movement Headquarters,” under its “Women’s Guidance Committee for the New Life Movement,” designated Songji as an “experimental township—textile experimental zone,” establishing the “New Life Textile Factory” and a farm. Soong Mei-ling, chairperson of the committee, personally visited Songji. The town features a ten-li-long bluestone-paved road, with the winding old street retaining a strong sense of antiquity. The old street stretches approximately ten li, ranking first among Chongqing’s ancient towns in length. It is home to historical and cultural relics such as Ming and Qing dynasty courtyard houses, watchtowers, stilted buildings, the ancient county yamen, the imperial-approved Luo Family Ancestral Hall, the Tomb of Confucius, and the Chen Gong Weir. Folk performances such as dragon boat racing, dragon lanterns, waist drums, and qianqiang (a type of folk performance) are also distinctive.

Songji Town: Songji Town is one of Chongqing’s first designated historical and cultural towns. It is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River at the southern tip of Yongchuan City, 40 kilometers from downtown Yongchuan, 143 kilometers downstream to Chongqing, and 229 kilometers upstream to Yibin in Sichuan. It faces Jiangjin across the river and is named after Songzi Mountain and Gai (ji) Water within the region, having been established as a county twice. It covers an area of 34 square kilometers.

The town enjoys convenient water and land transportation with notable logistical advantages. Songji is situated along the golden waterway of the Yangtze River. The “Yong (chuan)–Song (ji)” Road and the “Song (ji)–Yang (Zhuyangxi)” Road run through the town... More detailed information about Songji Town ++