Gongtan Ancient Town

　　   Gongtan Ancient Town, Chongqing’s No. 1 Historical and Cultural Town and a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction, is situated at the foot of Phoenix Mountain where the Apeng River flows into the Wu River. It serves as a golden gateway connecting Chongqing via the Wu River. Historical records indicate that during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573), a mountain flood caused rocks to collapse and block the Wu River, forming a shoal that hindered boat passage. Gradually, a town formed here. It came to be called Gongtan because many of the residents at the time had the surname Gong.

　　   Having endured over 1,700 years of vicissitudes, Gongtan Ancient Town boasts a uniquely charming architectural style and a profound ethnic culture, presenting a resplendent historical tapestry. Its two-kilometer-long jade-like stone-paved street, undulating and winding, stretches along the eastern bank of the Wu River, suspending a grand array of Tujia stilted houses in midair. The renowned Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong once wrote: “It is a street from the Tang Dynasty, a city from the Song Dynasty, the home of one’s grandparents.” The famous traditional Chinese painting "Old Street" was born here.

　　   The elegant and unique dwellings, nestled against the mountains and by the water, are supported by long fir or hardwood pillars that lift the entire wooden structure of the stilted houses. These houses either rest on stone foundations hewn from the rock or are built upon stacked stones, with their long pillars either propping up piles of rubble or encircling ancient trees, creating a staggered silhouette. The wooden panels between the pillars can serve as doors or windows. The intricately designed lattice windows on the river-facing side are especially ingenious and varied, offering both scenic views and spaces for drying clothes or enjoying the cool. Historic buildings such as the Daye Salt Shop, Sanjiao Temple, Chuanzhu Temple, and Yang Family Shop stand like a collection of art sculptures, and are considered treasures in the history of ancient architecture.

　　   Ancient cultural sites of the Ba people such as the Manwang Cave, the cliff burials of the ?k people from the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Wu River towpath, the Iron Enclosure City site related to the 12th-century monk-led uprising during the Southern Song Dynasty, the “Square Well” where Taiping Rebellion troops fetched water for local elderly and needy residents, the breathtaking cliff carving “Waves Crash Against the Shore” with calligraphy that “startles the heavens,” rare intermittent springs, and the vibrant ethnic customs—all accompanied by many beautiful folk tales—add to the enchanting allure of Gongtan Ancient Town.

　　   Gongtan Ancient Town is a renowned filming location. Movies and TV series such as “Pacifying the Wuling Mountains,” “The Strange Man An Shimin,” “Call of the Distant Mountains,” and “Zhao Shiyan” have shot scenes here. The Emei Film Studio praised it with the words: “The beauty of the Wu River remains undiscovered by many; Gongtan Ancient Town is its finest gem.” Additionally, Gongtan is a famous natural rock climbing base. During the May Day holiday in 2002, the Gongtan International Rock Climbing Challenge was successfully held here, showcasing a “ballet on the cliffs.”

　　   Gongtan Ancient Town is the soul of the Wu River Hundred-Mile Gallery. Stepping into Gongtan Ancient Town is like stepping into history and dreaming back a thousand years.