Shengpingchang

Shengpingchang

Yan’tan is a small town in Zigong that was once famous throughout the world as “Yanwuli.” Also known as “Shengpingchang,” it was one of the three major salt industry docks along the FuXi River in Zigong (Zijin, Yan’tan, and Dengguan).

Historical records describe the area as having “many riverbanks along the water.” Before the original waterways were regulated, the terrain was extremely rugged, so boats transporting salt through the Yan’tan section of the FuXi River had to proceed with extra caution to avoid mishaps.

The stories that emerged from this gave rise to the practice of “releasing the boats downstream,” which could be considered a remarkable feature of local Chinese folk culture. The term “放滩” (fàng tān), meaning “to release the boats downstream,” might have been a unique local expression. In the past, before the construction of river locks, boats traveling from upstream to downstream would do so via this method. Whenever a number of boats gathered at the dock to head downstream, local villagers would tie ropes to the vessels and pull them along. When releasing a boat from upstream to downstream, groups of over ten villagers would work together, dividing into multiple teams pulling from different directions to keep the boat steady, while those on board also had to cooperate closely. With the high, fast-flowing rapids, the bustling crowds, and the loud cheers of onlookers, the scene became quite spectacular and turned into a major event for the town. As someone once remarked: “Throughout the land, all eyes turn to this one single riverbank.” Later, due to development efforts, during the period of the Nationalist government, a Japanese river transport expert oversaw the construction of a river lock here, which was named the “Yonggong Sluice” after T.V. Soong. Unfortunately, with this came the end of the spectacular sight of releasing boats downstream.

The town isn’t large, but it clearly embodies a blend of modernity and tradition.

The town is distinctly divided into two parts. The lower part has rugged terrain, mainly featuring the bustling old street, along with the meandering FuXi River. The upper part has much flatter land, dominated by the newer and more imposing new street, with the Sichuan-Yunnan Highway cutting right through it. Thanks to its well-developed water and land transportation and abundant goods supply, the town attracted many wealthy merchants who built numerous guildhalls and temples there. At one time, there were more than ten such structures, among which the grand temple across the river and the Nanhua Palace in town were the most renowned, enjoying lasting popularity. Meanwhile, local villagers planted many banyan trees (Ficus virens var. sublanceolata) around the town—over a hundred of which survived—adding an antique charm to the town, complemented by green hills and clear waters. A poem reads: “Green hills stretch beyond the northern wall, and clear waters flow around the eastern city,” which aptly captures the beauty of the time.

Many literati and artists from far and wide were drawn to the town. During the Qing Dynasty, the 17th son of Emperor Kangxi, Prince Guo, passed through here and was so impressed by the local customs that he gladly inscribed the words “Shengpingchang,” creating a charming anecdote that further enhanced the town’s fame. Unfortunately, all of this was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution—the temples were burned, monks were driven away, trees were cut down, and cultural relics were discarded… Since then, the town seems to have lost its former unique beauty and charm.

There are few notable figures from the town widely known to the world, though it is said that during the time when the temples were thriving, there was an eminent monk named Zhiwu from the grand temple who was exceptionally talented. He mastered the Six Arts, left behind scriptures, and earned a great reputation among monks.