Jiange Ancient City

　　Jiange Ancient City has been the political, economic, and cultural center of Jiange County for over 1,500 years since the establishment of the Nan'an Commandery during the Daming era of the Liu Song Dynasty in the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (457–464 AD). It has successively been: the Anzhou Commandery established by the Southern Qi and Liang Dynasties; the Shizhou and Puan Commandery established by the Northern Wei and Northern Zhou Dynasties; the Puan Commandery under the Sui Dynasty; the Jiannan Commandery during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods. In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), the commandery was abolished and replaced with Jiange County, and in 1935, the Jiange Special Administrative Region was established again.

　　The county town of Jiange, surrounded by four mountains, has the gentle-flowing Juanxi River passing by the east gate to the north, and the picturesque Heming Mountain to the southeast. National Highway Sichuan-Shaanxi runs past the east gate over the Juanxi River, bustling with continuous traffic and crowds all day long. The reinforced concrete highway bridge spanning the Juanxi River was originally a flat stone bridge called Wuhou Bridge, built by Zhuge Liang when he led his troops on the Northern Expedition. Standing on the bridge and leaning on the railing to look around, one can see the remnants of the ancient city wall near the east gate. The city wall, built under the direction of Li Bi, the magistrate of Jiannan Prefecture during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (after 1515), encircles the old city in the shape of a peach, with a circumference of 1,582 meters. Today, only 528 meters remain. The wall, constructed of blue stones with a rammed earth core, stands 5 meters high and 3 meters thick, still reflecting the grandeur it had in its prime.

　　The east gate of the ancient city leads onto the main street that runs east-west through the town. A few hundred meters down East Street from the Bell and Drum Tower will bring you to the famous Two Sages Shrine. A short distance west of the Bell and Drum Tower through the west gate leads to the Longquan Well, surrounded by lush bamboo. It is an oval-shaped stone well, two meters in diameter, with clear spring water that remains cool in summer and warm in winter, and has a sweet taste. Outside the west gate of Jiange Town lies the Nanchan Temple at the foot of Hanyang Mountain, initially built during the Song Dynasty, and outside the south gate on Yanzheng Street stands the Shengshou Temple. With their grand halls and preserved ancient appearance, they are another highlight of Pu'an Town, the ancient city.

　　The Ming Dynasty’s city walls, serene ancient temples, elegant Bell and Drum Towers, rows of tiled houses and tall buildings, and the quaint cross street all make strolling along the streets feel as if you have stepped back into an ancient market from the Ming Dynasty.