Xituo Ancient Town

　　   Xituo Ancient Town is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River at the northwest end of Shizhu County, facing the Pearl of the Yangtze — Shibaozhai — across the river. It is an ancient town that flourished due to ancient commerce. The Cloud Ladder Street in the town is the starting point of the Bashu Salt Route — the ancient salt trade route from Sichuan to Chu — and serves as the core architectural complex of Xituo Ancient Town. Unlike the streets of other towns along the Yangtze, which typically run parallel to the river, Cloud Ladder Street runs perpendicular to the river, following the mountain ridge from the riverbank all the way to the mountaintop. On clear days, when viewed from across the river, the stone steps appear layered and the slabs glisten dazzlingly, resembling a ladder ascending into the clouds, hence the name “Cloud Ladder Street.” The street stretches approximately 1.9 kilometers in length, featuring 113 stone terrace platforms and a total of 1,124 stone steps. Along both sides of Cloud Ladder Street, there are numerous cultural relics and historic sites, including the Lower Salt Shop, Yuwang Palace, Yongcheng Trading Firm, South Dragon Eye Bridge, North Dragon Eye Bridge, Civil Pavilion, Wantian Palace, Ziyun Palace, Nan Cheng Temple, and Zhang Fei Temple.

　　   In November 2003, it was designated as one of the first group of “China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Towns” by the Ministry of Construction and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

　　   In 2008, it was selected as one of Chongqing’s “New Twelve Scenic Spots of Bayu” in the category of cultural landscapes, and named “Xituo Heavenly Street.”