Tuocheng Scenic Area

Tuocheng Scenic Area

Tuocheng Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Tuocheng was the ancient county seat of Longchuan, the earliest established county in Lingnan, and one of the first eleven historical and cultural cities announced by Guangdong Province. Originally known as Longchuan City, it was later called Xunzhou City. In the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), to commemorate Zhao Tuo, the first magistrate of Longchuan, the Education Association passed a resolution to rename it Tuocheng.

In the 33rd year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (214 BC), when Qin pacified the Baiyue tribes in the south and established Longchuan County, Zhao Tuo was appointed as the magistrate, and the county seat was set in what is now Tuocheng. From the Qin Dynasty to the Republic of China, Tuocheng served as the seat of Longchuan County government, and from the Five Dynasties' Southern Han to the early Ming Dynasty, it was also the seat of Xunzhou (later Xunzhou Route). With over 2,000 years of history, Tuocheng was once the political, cultural, and economic center of northeastern Guangdong.

The ancient city was initially built with earthen walls in a square shape. The eastern wall extended to Old City Street, the southern to County Front Street, the western to East City, and the northern to North Corner Pond. The city wall had a circumference of about 800 meters. According to the original "Longchuan County Annals": "In the Xining era of the Song Dynasty (1068–1077), Longchuan was moved to Laolong (i.e., Old Long)." When the old city wall was demolished in the 28th year of the Republic of China (1939), bricks were found inscribed with characters such as "Xunzhou Brick and Stone Officer Bai," "Made in Xunzhou," and "Jiayin." "Jiayin" refers to the seventh year of Xining in the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song (1074), proving that the city was rebuilt during the Xining period. After reconstruction, the eastern part of Old City Street expanded to Xiaodongmen and Dadongmen, County Front Street extended south to Nandemen on South Gate Street, and North Corner Pond stretched north to Beimen. The city wall’s circumference increased to approximately 2,400 meters. A moat was also added around the city.

During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Tuocheng expanded further by constructing four additional sub-cities — Shangwuli City, Xiawuli City, Xiakuo City, and Xincheng — to protect the main city. Commerce in Tuocheng flourished significantly. By the eve of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, well-preserved streets included County Front Street, Nandemen Street, Dadongmen Street, Xiaodongmen Street, and Baishou Street, with around 300 shops.

Tuocheng still retains numerous historic sites and ancient buildings, such as the Neolithic cultural ruins at Kengzili and Niubeiling; relics from the Qin era like the ancient city foundation, Yuewang Well, Zhao Tuo’s former residence, and Maqiangang; the Zhengxiang Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty; the Xunzhou government site from the Song Dynasty; and structures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties such as the City God Temple, Yuewang Temple, Confucius Temple, Donghe, Xianta Bridge, Xin Ta, and Kaopeng.

The Longchuan Confucian Temple is located in Qianxue, Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County. Built in the 7th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1668), it consists of a screen wall, corridor, Lingxing Gate, Pan Pool, arched bridge, east and west side halls, Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall, and Zunjing Pavilion. Due to long-term neglect, some parts were damaged. The extant structures include the Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall, and Zunjing Pavilion.

The Dacheng Hall faces south. It is five bays wide (26.56 meters), four bays deep (24.40 meters), and 18 meters high, covering an area of 440 square meters. It features a hip-and-gable roof, double eaves extending in four directions, and a mixed bracket-and-beam roof structure. The brackets under the eaves overlap outward, and beams and columns are adorned with gilded carvings of phoenixes, birds, fish, and dragons, giving it a simple and elegant appearance. In the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796), a golden plaque inscribed with “Imperially Bestowed Dacheng Hall of the Supreme Sage” hung on the door lintel. The front features a coffered corridor. The design of the stone pillars, beam structure, and carvings all reflect the Qing Dynasty style. The surrounding stone pillars do not have brackets but directly support the eave purlins. Multiple sets of brackets are installed under the upper eaves.

In 1962, the Longchuan County People's Committee declared it a cultural relic protection unit. In 2008, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government listed it as part of the fifth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The so-called Kaopeng, or examination hall, refers to the Gongyuan, or imperial examination compound, typically only established in major prefectures or states. The Longchuan Kaopeng was built in the 2nd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1876). Located at the west gate of Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County, it has a quadrangle layout with two courtyards and a brick-and-wood beam structure, covering an area of about 6,000 square meters. Today, only two examination rooms, one office building, and one residential building remain.

According to local historical records, the Longchuan Kaopeng at the west gate of Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County, was built in the 2nd year of the Guangxu reign (1876) and has a history of 134 years. Among the 204 known Confucian temples and 14 Kaopengs nationwide, only those in Dingzhou (Hebei), Longchuan (Guangdong), Jianshui (Yunnan), Jixi (Anhui), and Taipei (Taiwan) still retain both Confucian temples and Kaopengs.

Currently, Guangdong Province retains only the Longchuan Kaopeng, which is also the only relatively well-preserved imperial examination site in northeastern Guangdong. Since its construction during the Guangxu reign, the annual provincial imperial examinations in Longchuan were held here, drawing lively crowds. Scholars from Heyuan, Heping, Lianping, Zijin, Xingning, and Wuhua counties came to take the exams. Experts confirm that the Longchuan Kaopeng is the only remaining examination site in the region, providing valuable physical evidence for studying the imperial examination system of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Originally, there was a stone carving of “A Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” in front of the Longchuan Kaopeng, now housed in the Tuocheng Cultural Heritage Office. It is considered a rare artifact according to available records. The book describes it as carved from red granite, with a crouching qilin on the back.

Longchuan’s emphasis on education led to remarkable success in imperial examinations. Historical records show that since the Tang and Song Dynasties, Longchuan produced 28 jinshi (advanced scholars), 112 juren (provincial degree holders), and over 2,000 xiucai (county-level degree holders). The rich Confucian culture adds profound charm to Tuocheng.

On December 10, 2015, the Longchuan Kaopeng was approved and announced by the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Longchuan Nanyue King Temple is located on Zhongshan Street, Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County. There are no historical records of when the temple was built. An inscription from the 8th year of the Chongzhen reign (1635) originally existed in the temple but has been destroyed. The "Longchuan County Annals" state: “The Nanyue King Temple is located to the right of the county office, originally the Pingguan Shrine. In the 61st year of the Kangxi reign (1722), Magistrate Zang Cong renovated it, enshrining the Nanyue King in the front hall and ten virtuous officials in the rear. In the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780), Magistrate Hu Yihong rebuilt the main hall with three bays, placing a statue of the Nanyue King in the center.” The temple follows a quadrangle layout with two courtyards, currently covering 352 square meters. It is 12 meters wide and 24 meters deep, with a brick-and-wood structure and a flush-gable roof.

The rear hall of the temple features a single-step bracket supporting the eaves, without intercolumnar brackets. Above it is a Buddha hall, with adjacent rooms serving as scripture halls, vegetarian rooms, and guest rooms. The Buddha statues inside have long been destroyed. The plaque above the door is inscribed with “Nanyue King Temple” in intaglio regular script. On the right wall of the rear hall is a 1-square-meter Qing Dynasty stone stele engraved with Hu Yihong’s record of the temple’s renovation, written in running script. Though faded, 630 characters remain legible. Due to neglect, some beams have mildewed, and parts of the left wing have been repurposed, though the front hall and rear hall still stand.

In 1962, the Longchuan County People's Committee designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. On December 10, 2015, the Yuewang Well and Nanyue King Temple were approved and announced by the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Yuewang Well is located within Guangxiao Temple on Zhongshan Street, Tuocheng Town, in the ancient residence of Zhao Tuo, the Qin-era magistrate. Later, when Zhao Tuo became the King of Nanyue, it was called the “Nanyue King Well,” also known as the “Wanshou Palace Well.” It has endured over 2,000 years of vicissitudes through dynastic changes.

In the 5th year of the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty (878 AD), it was renovated, and a local scholar named Changming wrote a well record, which was engraved on stone. Since then, it has undergone multiple repairs, each recorded. The well has a brick-and-stone structure and is 40 meters deep. The wellhead is a circular opening with a diameter of 0.6 meters, raised 0.7 meters above ground. The hexagonal platform is paved with four stone slabs, and the shaft is lined with three layers of red square stones, with blue bricks beneath, tapering to a diameter of about 2.5 meters at the center. Its sturdy and elegant structure makes it one of the famous ancient brick wells of Lingnan.

After the mid-Qing Dynasty, the shaft silted up but remained well-preserved. Beside the well stands a Tang Dynasty stone stele by Wei Changming titled “Record of the Yue Well,” which remains in good condition and is considered one of Lingnan’s ancient wells. In May 1962, the Longchuan County People’s Government officially listed it as one of the first batch of county-level cultural relic protection units.

The Tang–Song Longchuan Zhengxiang Pagoda is located on a small hill in Taxi Village, Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County. Locals call it the “Old Pagoda.” As it sits beside the ancient Zhengxiang Temple, it is named after the temple. In the 53rd year of the Kangxi reign (1714), a local man named Xu Chen found a fallen brick from the pagoda inscribed with “Kaiyuan Third Year,” leading to its alternate name, “Kaiyuan Pagoda.” Legend says it was built overnight by immortals, hence it is also called the “Fairy Pagoda.”

Based on brick inscriptions, the pagoda was built in the 3rd year of the Kaiyuan era (715 AD). This hexagonal, seven-story brick pagoda is 32 meters tall with a pavilion-style structure. The internal staircases wind upward along the inner walls. Each level features protruding brick columns, corner posts, architraves, and brackets, with dentil courses and string courses made of wedge-shaped and flat bricks forming eaves and balconies. The entire pagoda is constructed from blue bricks bonded with yellow clay mortar. The tapering effect between stories is subtle. Renovations were carried out in 1959, 1980, and 1985.

In July 1962, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Committee designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Tuocheng is “the origin of Lingnan’s Hakka people, the richest in Chinese surnames, the land where Zhao Tuo rose to power, and a window into imperial examination culture.” Walking through Tuocheng is like flipping through a thousand-year-old history book. Ancient gates, streets, roads, trees, houses, ancestral halls, and docks — every step reveals relics, every few steps uncover historic sites. Here, you can read the past, feel the passage of time, experience a return to human roots, and cherish the beauty of the present.

Tuocheng is one of the oldest county seats in Guangdong Province, with a history of approximately 2,200 years. Historical records throughout the dynasties provide detailed accounts of Tuocheng:

(1) Historical Records: According to "Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Zhufu Yan," during the Qin army’s first campaign to pacify the Baiyue tribes, Zhao Tuo and Tu Sui were key generals. In 218 BC, the Qin launched their first southern expedition. The western army under Commander Tu Sui suffered a devastating defeat in the Xi’ou region, with Tu Sui killed and “hundreds of thousands dead.” Zhao Tuo’s eastern forces adopted a strategy combining suppression and appeasement, gaining the support of the Yue people and establishing a solid foothold in the Minyue area. In the 33rd year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (214 BC), Ren Xiao was appointed as the main commander, with Zhao Tuo assisting, to pacify the Baiyue and establish the commanderies of Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang. Ren Xiao was named Commandery Administrator of Nanhai, and Zhao Tuo became Magistrate of Longchuan. As Zhao Tuo led the eastern forces, his route likely entered the Longjiang River (upper reaches of the Dongjiang, now northeastern Longchuan) via the Xijiang, sailing downstream to Longchuan’s Old Long, where he set up a military camp. He then built an earthen city in what is now Tuocheng to serve as the county seat. Recent revisions of the "Longchuan County Annals" by overseas Longchuan scholars cite Huang Xun’s article “Investigation of the Nanyue King Zhao Tuo’s Campaign Headquarters in Old Long,” stating: “Zhao Tuo’s forces first arrived at Old Long, setting up camp and directing defenses. Once peace was secured, they founded the settlement of Longchuan (Longcheng), constructing city walls and establishing governance, laying the foundation for his future achievements.” Remnants of the ancient fortress at Old Long’s campsite are still faintly visible and are said to be where the Nanyue King’s camp was located. About 10 kilometers south of Old Long lies Tuocheng. Surrounded by mountains on three sides with picturesque peaks and facing the meandering Dongjiang River to the east, Zhao Tuo’s choice of this location for the earthen city was strategic. More importantly, Tuocheng lies near the watershed between the Dongjiang and Hanjiang rivers. To the southwest, control could extend down the Dongjiang to the southern parts of Longchuan, and to the southeast, down the Hanjiang to the eastern areas, giving it significant strategic importance.

The "Treatise on Administrative Divisions" (Volume 34) compiled by Li Jifu, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, in the entry for Heyuan County records: “The old Longchuan city is located 175 li northeast by water from the county, which was the Longchuan County of the Qin Dynasty. When Ren Xiao, the Commandant of Nanhai of the Qin Dynasty, fell ill, he summoned Zhao Tuo, the magistrate of Longchuan, and entrusted him with the administration — this place was where it happened.” According to the current geographical location of Longchuan Tuocheng, it is precisely 175 li northeast by water from Heyuan, which perfectly matches what is stated in the Yuanhe Records.

The "Taiping Huanyu Ji" (Volume 155) compiled by Song Leshi, in the entry for Longchuan, states: “The former Leixiang County was renamed Longchuan County in the sixth year of Qianheng under the Liu regime of Guangnan during the Song Dynasty, and the county seat was moved to the site of the ancient Zhao Tuo City. It borders Aoshan Mountain to the west and faces water to the south. Located five li to the northwest is the Longchuan River, formerly known as the Stream, which flows from Anyuan in Quanzhou to the county boundary.” The source of the Longchuan River (i.e., the Dongjiang River) is in Anyuan County, Jiangxi Province, and the first county it enters in Guangdong is Longchuan County. The northwest of today’s Longchuan Tuocheng indeed borders Aoshan Mountain and faces the Longchuan River. This perfectly corresponds with the geographical description in the Taiping Huanyu Ji.

Wang Xiangzhi’s "Yu Di Ji Sheng" quotes the preface by Weng Shao in the "Xunyang Records": “In the fifteenth year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty, Prefect Han Jing relocated the prefectural seat to the east of the city, to the former residence of Magistrate Zhao Tuo, where there was a terrace and a well.” It also says: “The old Longchuan city is thirty paces from the Xunzhou government office.” At that time, the Xunzhou government office was located to the right of the current Tuocheng Town government area.

The "Treatise on Administrative Divisions" (Volume 34, pages 89) of the Tang Dynasty, in the entry for Heyuan County, records: “Longxue Mountain, now called Longchuan Mountain, is located 340 li northeast of (Heyuan) County.” This is the earliest ancient text discovered so far that mentions Longchuan’s “Longxue Mountain.” Further examination of the "Huizhou Prefecture Records" from the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era, in the "Maps" section, specifically the "General Map of Huizhou Prefecture," shows the location of “Longxue Mountain,” which corresponds exactly to the areas bordering Guangxin District and the 11th District of Longchuan County. This is also the earliest known map depicting “Longxue Mountain.” According to field investigations by members of the Longchuan County Cultural Heritage Survey Team, it has been confirmed that in the border areas of Guangxin and the 11th District of today’s Longchuan County (i.e., the northeastern part of Longchuan, such as Mabugang and Yanzhen), there are eight natural features named after the dragon. Among them, one site called “Ji Xue Liu Quan” (Spring Flowing from a Cave) vividly resembles the landscape described by Yan Shigu and others. Research confirms that the location of “Ji Xue Liu Quan” matches both the directions recorded in the Yuanhe Records and those shown in the Huizhou map. Additionally, the "Map of Longchuan Territory" in the "Huizhou Prefecture Records" from the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era records: “(Tuocheng) is 20 li west to Liucheng Village at the Heyuan border, and 20 li southwest to Yunxia Village at the Heyuan border.” The same book’s "Map of Heyuan County Territory" records: “(Heyuan) is 150 li northeast to Longchuan’s Yunxia Village border.” From this, it can be confirmed that the former residence of Zhao Tuo is precisely within the current boundaries of Longchuan Tuocheng.

(2) Cultural Relics and Historical Sites Research: According to research by the Longchuan County Museum based on historical materials, the construction of Longchuan County city during the Qin Dynasty was limited by manpower, materials, and financial resources, resulting in a square-shaped earthen city. Recently excavated Qin and Han tombs in Tuocheng have all been earthen pit graves, with no brick-chambered tombs found — brick tombs only appeared during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. This indicates that archaeological findings align with historical facts. After more than two thousand years of changes, the ancient Longchuan County city no longer exists, but many cultural relics and sites remain well-preserved. For example, the Yuewang Well (King of Yue’s Well), located inside Guangxiao Temple in Longchuan County’s Tuocheng (now beside He Wu’s residence on Zhongshan Street in Tuocheng), was the well dug by Qin magistrate Zhao Tuo. Later, when Zhao Tuo became the King of Nanyue, it was called the “Yuewang Well.” It was renovated in the fifth year of the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty (878 AD), and the local scholar Wei Changming wrote an inscription about the well, which was engraved on stone. The "Record of the Yuewang Well" states: “When the King of Nanyue, Zhao Tuo, served as magistrate of Longchuan, he established his administration east of Aohu Lake, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with flat and open land in all directions. When climbing the mountain to enjoy the view, this spot was at the center. The soil here was fertile, and vegetation gradually flourished, allowing cultivation and the establishment of clear boundaries. Ten li north lies Aoshan Mountain, five li east lies Wuma Peak, about one li south lies the river, and directly opposite is Haizhu Mountain (currently, across from the eastern dam of Tuocheng, there is a round, pearl-like stone in the river under Anxia Mountain, hence the name). A well was dug on the eastern side of the administration center, called the Yue Well.” The location described in the "Record of the Yuewang Well" is precisely the current geography of Longchuan Tuocheng. The record also says: “My ancestor, Wei Changming, came here from central Shaanxi, and it has been nearly thirty-five generations since then. Indeed, our family history spans the entire existence of the Yue Well.” Wei Changming was the first successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations (jinshi) in Xunzhou. During the reign of Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty, he served as an imperial censor and academician of the Hanlin Academy. Known for his rigorous scholarship, and given that his ancestors came to this region with Zhao Tuo from central Shaanxi, the oral accounts passed down through generations about the city’s founding are considered credible.

Admission: 40 RMB

Location of the Attraction

Beside the Confucius Temple, Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County, Heyuan City, Guangdong Province

Tuocheng Town: Located at the southernmost tip of Longchuan County, Tuocheng Town has a history of 2,221 years and is one of the first batch of historical and cultural cities in Guangdong Province. It has always been a key hub for political, economic, and cultural activities in Longchuan County. The town covers a total area of 218 square kilometers, governs 17 administrative villages and 1 neighborhood committee, with a total population of 43,218. In 2006, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 260 million yuan. The town has a long history and many historical sites. Its agriculture mainly focuses on developing three pillar industries: aquaculture, fruit, and vegetables. The area is rich in natural resources and also hosts county-level cultural heritage protection units... More details about Tuocheng Town++