Guang’an Liangtan

Guang’an Liangtan

Guang’an Liangtan is located in the northeast of Guang’an, about 74 kilometers from the city center, bordering Quxian County of Dazhou City. It was first built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Due to the varying construction periods, the buildings here present a complex and diverse layout. The well-preserved sections of Guang’an Liangtan mainly include Old Street, New Street, and Half Street, which are also noted for their distinctive architectural beauty. Old Street is the main thoroughfare, first built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It was historically known as “Longfengzhou” and referred to locally as “Xiaojiaxi Market.” Situated on the west bank of Xiangshui Creek and facing the creek, it stretches over 450 meters in length. In the past, with underdeveloped land transportation, the main trading hub was the water dock at the street entrance.

The street is paved with flagstones, and the middle section is relatively wide—the broadest part reaches up to 8 meters, while the narrowest is only 2 meters. Remarkably, the street edge is almost as wide as the street itself. Vendors set up a variety of stalls along the edge, including locksmiths, restaurants, shoe shops, and more, making it distinctly different from rural markets where stalls are typically placed in the middle of the road. The buildings along Old Street are all tile-roofed houses supported by large round wooden pillars, each of which stands on a square stone slab. Over time, these stones have subtly changed color, and the carvings and patterns on them have begun to fade and blur.