Jiuxiang Ancient Town

Jiuxiang Ancient Town

Jiuxiang is located within Hanyuan County and has a long history. It was once the site of the Zuo Capital during the ancient Shu Kingdom, as well as the Shenli Commandery and Maoniu County in the Han Dynasty. In the early years after the liberation, it even served as the county seat of Hanyuan before the seat was later moved to Fulin Town, but Jiuxiang still retains the grandeur of a major town. Nestled on a slope along the Liusha River, the old and new sections of the town are clearly distinct, blending the modern with the traditional. The new area is filled with high-rises, while the old streets at the lower part of the town showcase classic Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. The old street stretches about a kilometer, with eaves extending over the road, wooden houses packed closely together, and many ornately carved pillars and windows. Some spaces between the houses even feature firewalls. Jiuxiang is not only beautiful with its new town and old streets, but also offers great natural scenery. It is said that when the pear blossoms bloom, Jiuxiang becomes a world of pear flowers — an incredibly enchanting sight that attracts many visitors who come specifically to admire the pear blossom spectacle.

Jiuxiang is rich in Han Dynasty tombs and artifacts, but what it is most famous for today is the “Double Chastity” Stone Memorial Archway. This intricately carved archway, featuring 48 traditional opera stories, has been designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the provincial government. It would be a great pity to visit Jiuxiang without seeing this stone archway. The archway is situated right next to the ancient official horse road of the Southern Silk Road, close to Jiuxiang’s old street. Decades ago, there was also an ancient road signpost nearby, which has since been destroyed — further proving the historical significance of the location of this archway along the ancient route.