Liushui Ancient Town

　　Liushui Ancient Town is a well-known small town in the Bashan Mountains. It was formerly called Liushuidian and is situated on the banks of the Han River between Ankang County and Ziyang County, like a solitary little comma at the confluence of the Liushui River and the Han River. After about two hours of boat travel upstream along the winding and picturesque Lake Yinghu from the Huoshiyan Dock of Ankang Yinghu, as you are captivated by the stunning lakeside scenery and your eyes grow weary from the visual feast, a cluster of ancient buildings—adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves, grey bricks, black tiles, and horse-head walls—emerges faintly through the misty waters, appearing like a mirage before your eyes. This sudden sight refreshes your senses and makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into a fairyland. This is Liushui Ancient Town, a key settlement on Lake Yinghu.

　　Liushui Town has a long history. According to the county annals, as early as the Qin and Han dynasties, settlers lived and thrived in Chenjiaba in the southeastern part of the ancient town. However, due to frequent flooding of the Han River, the area was gradually abandoned. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the development of Han River shipping, the town became an important dock for entering Sichuan and heading down to Hankou. Coupled with the local abundance of agricultural products such as lacquer, hemp, fungus, raw silk, and tea, the town also became a major distribution hub for these goods. For a time, merchants flocked here, and many people grew fond of the mountains and waters, so much so that they decided to settle down and never leave. As the population increased, the town took shape, and it was named “Liushu Town” after several willow trees in the center of the main street. Later, perhaps because people were even more enchanted by the green mountains and clear waters here, a miscommunication arose through word of mouth, and the place came to be called Liushui Town. This is the origin of Liushui Town’s name.

　　Location: Liushui Town, Hanbin District, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province

　　Transportation: Take a bus (including minibuses or vans) from the Yinghu intersection in Ankang city center to the Yinghu Dock, then take a boat from Huoshiyan Dock along the winding Lake Yinghu for about two hours to reach the town.