Longhua Ancient Town

Longhua Ancient Town

Along the banks of the Xisha Stream, there are over 30,000 first-class nationally protected plant species — Alsophila spinulosa trees. The Danxia landform in Dayu Village is stunningly beautiful.

The most charming feature of the ancient town is the quaint, old-fashioned covered bridge that lies peacefully across the Little Dragon Stream. In the past, it was called the Jinghong Bridge and was built in the year of Xinchou during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. Two faded stone bridges and one covered bridge span the clear stream. People often describe Longhua as “three bridges and two streams encircling one town.” This elegant and picturesque covered bridge is a gathering place for locals to trade, relax, and socialize. On both sides of the bridge, ancient and towering Ficus virens trees spread their roots wide and boast dense foliage. A cool breeze drifts across the bridge, while the stream below runs crystal clear. The shallow, refreshing stream water gently flows over your feet, while village children play in the water, enjoying their childhood. Adults sit on the bridge eating cool cakes and cold noodles, chatting leisurely, creating a fresh and idyllic rural scene. The town holds a market every three days, and when market day comes, the covered bridge is lined with stalls and bustling with people, presenting a lively atmosphere. During the hot summer months, locals have the habit of bringing bamboo mats to the covered bridge. Once there, they lay the mats out on the bridge surface, and the gentle, cooling breeze from the Longxi Stream slowly seeps through the bridge, bringing a refreshing chill that penetrates the hearts of everyone resting there. This is arguably the most uniquely charming experience of Longhua across all four seasons.

Traveling about 70 kilometers west along the Jinsha River from Yibin City, a key city in southern Sichuan, and passing through the county seat of Pingshan, then heading 37 kilometers north along the winding mountain roads, you will arrive at Longhua Town, known as a “living fossil” of ancient towns. This is a small town nestled against mountains and beside water, where ancient charm still thrives. With beautiful surroundings and simple, honest folkways, it is home to the world’s largest standing Buddha — the Baxian Mountain Giant Buddha. The men, women, young, and old of the ancient town lead a simple life that has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years, calm and content.

Longhua Ancient Town was first built during the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing periods, it had already taken on its current scale. Historically, this area has been an important military garrison on the Sichuan border. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, a garrison commander was stationed here. In the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign (1731), the garrison position was changed to the Commander of Ping’an Camp, overseeing troops stationed in Pingshan, Mabian, Muchuan, and Leibo. In the first year of the Xianfeng reign (1851), a fortress was constructed, and in the ninth year of Xianfeng (1859), several commanders carried out renovations. The majestic stone lions of the Commander’s Office have now been relocated to the head of the covered bridge for public viewing.

Longhua Ancient Town is surrounded by water on three sides and backed by mountains on the other. Its three ancient streets, paved with stone slabs, wind along the mountain terrain. The roughly 1,000 shops and residences lining the streets largely retain the architectural characteristics of Ming and Qing-era commercial and residential buildings. They are mostly wooden structures, with buildings typically being single-story or two-story wooden houses. From Shunhe Street to Xiazhaimen, there is a multi-tiered stone path only three or four meters wide, lined with shops that stand shoulder to shoulder. During market days, walking through the bustling crowd evokes images of the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting. The Longhua Temple, built in the 25th year of the Ming Jiajing reign (1545), is grand in scale, covering approximately 4,000 square meters; right next to it is the Yuwang Palace. Exiting Xiazhaimen, you’ll find the Anlan Qinghong Bridge, commonly known as the covered bridge. Originally, the covered bridge was built with wooden planks, and a roofed corridor was constructed atop it. Beneath the bridge, the flowing water is glistening and crystal clear. Aside from being a popular spot for locals to escape the summer heat, the area by the bridge is also where mountain village women wash clothes and rinse silk.

Transportation

From Yibin Bus Station, take a bus to Pingshan County. After arriving in Pingshan, you can transfer to a direct or passing bus to Longhua, with about five buses per day. The fare is around 8 yuan.

Address: 37 kilometers south of Pingshan Town, Pingshan County, Yibin City

Type: Ancient Town / Ancient Village

Recommended Visit Duration: About 3 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No admission fee required.