Residential Architectural Complex of Zhouzi Ancient Town

Residential Architectural Complex of Zhouzi Ancient Town

The Residential Architectural Complex of Zhouzi Ancient Town is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Zhoudao Town, also called Zhoukou, faces Xiangru Ancient City (now Jinping Town) across the river. Its name means “boat dock.” Later, in honor of the Northern Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi, who once lectured here, it was renamed Zhouzi Town. Xihe Street is located along the Jialing River in the town. Viewed from Longjiao Mountain, the ancient street, tucked among green-tiled residences, is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the water on one. This ancient street, less than 1,000 meters long, connects to both Xinhua Street and Yandian Street (also known as Red Army Street) above, and to Xihe Street and Shunhe Street below, running down the mountainside of Longjiao Mountain all the way to the Jialing River. Most of the houses and shops here are wooden structures with mortise-and-tenon construction in the Ming and Qing styles. Over 3,000 residential units are arranged along both sides of a stone staircase nearly 1,000 meters long and four to five meters wide, connected end to end and spread out in a well-balanced, terraced layout.

Today, Xihe Street, which slopes down the hillside, along with its residential courtyards and historic structures such as the Lianxi Ancestral Hall, Wanshou Palace, Wusheng Palace, Caishen Tower, and Dongxian Temple, vividly reflect the long history and culture of Xiangru Ancient County, as well as the level of productive forces at the time. These sites play an irreplaceable role in studying the influence of religion and ethics on people’s beliefs over the centuries.

The Residential Architectural Complex of Zhouzi Ancient Town was designated as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units by the People’s Government of Sichuan Province in June 2007.

The ancient residential architectural complex of Zhouzi Town fully reflects the genuine conditions of this trade hub in northeastern Sichuan at that time — including its economic conditions, level of productivity development and scientific technology, as well as people’s living customs and religious beliefs. It holds significant historical, scientific, and artistic value. Due to the local terrain, the layout of the buildings adapts to the mountainous surroundings, constructed step-by-step along the slopes, creating a terraced, interconnected ensemble. The Jialing River flows past the town, complemented by surrounding landscapes and a well-preserved natural environment, representing a true embodiment of harmony between humanity and nature.

From the end of the Tang Dynasty as a gathering place for residents, to a bustling commercial town during the Ming and Qing dynasties — especially given that the town was named after the Southern Song Neo-Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi who lectured here — all illustrate that Zhouzi Ancient Town possesses profound historical roots and rich cultural heritage.

In 1933, after a detachment of the Red Ninth Army of the Fourth Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army stationed in Zhouzi Town, dozens of Soviet district and village governments were established on the eastern bank of the Jialing River. As part of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base Area, Zhouzi Town still bears inscriptions of the Red Army’s propaganda slogans on its ancient stone memorial archways, and the “Red Army Tree” was planted on Longjiao Mountain. These serve as ideal sites for patriotic education and the study of revolutionary traditions.

Protected Area: East to the junction of Hongjun Street and Zhengrong Road, south to the junction of Xinhua Street and Mozi Street, west to the Jialing River, north to Daozi Square.

Construction Control Zone: An area extending 50 meters beyond the protected area.

Xihe Street Community: Xihe Street Community…… More information on Xihe Street Community++