Ancient Town of Zhushui

　　The Ancient Town of Zhushui is situated in Zhushui Town, Qianjiang District, Chongqing, approximately 26 kilometers from downtown Qianjiang. It is conveniently accessible via the Chongqing-Huaihua Railway, the Chongqing-Xiangxi Expressway, and National Highway 319, and lies 26 kilometers from Zhoubai Airport.

　　The Ancient Town of Zhushui flourished during the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the Song Dynasty, and gradually declined after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is one of the most renowned ancient towns in southeastern Chongqing. As a typical example of old streets in Chongqing, Zhushui retains a relatively intact street layout, characterized by the distinctive style of ancient towns in southeastern Chongqing. It not only differs from historical districts in other cities but also embodies the fusion, inheritance, and innovation of Ba culture, Tujia culture, and Han culture. Furthermore, it is a blend of dock culture, merchant culture, and market town culture.

　　Originally called "Baihe Dam," the area was under the jurisdiction of the Youyang Tusi during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Its strategic commercial location made Zhushui an important post and trading hub since ancient times. From the late Qing Dynasty onward, it became a key route along the southeast Sichuan post, trade, and salt roads. In 1935 (the 24th year of the Republic of China), it was referred to as "Zhushui Dam." By then, merchants had gathered here, and shops lined the streets. The growing commerce rapidly facilitated local material exchanges with the outside world, ushering in the town’s most prosperous historical period—so much so that it surpassed the county seat of Qianjiang at the time and, together with Longtan Ancient Town and Gongtan Ancient Town in Youyang, was known as one of the “Three Famous Ancient Towns of Youyang.”

　　The presence of merchant houses such as "Maoshengyuan," "Yibinzhan," "Guangshunhao," and "Tongshunzhi," along with numerous workshops including dyeing mills, breweries, and embroidery workshops, attracted merchants from Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Wuhan. Foreign goods such as accordions, harmonicas, grandfather clocks, gas lamps, and hand-cranked gramophones were brought to Zhushui by these traders, who in turn exported local products like silkworm silk, tung oil, tea, and lacquer to other regions. By the late Qing Dynasty, even Japanese merchants came to trade, exporting raw lacquer from "Guangshunhao" and medicinal herbs from "Tongshunzhi" to Japan, creating a legendary tale of folk trade between China and Japan.

　　After 1956, due to various reasons, commerce in the ancient town gradually declined.

　　"The water of the blue waves is clear, enough to wash my hat tassel; the water of the blue waves is deep, enough to wash my feet..." The Ancient Town of Zhushui is located in the southeastern part of Chongqing, 26 kilometers from downtown Qianjiang. It is intersected by the Chongqing-Huaihua Railway, the Chongqing-Xiangxi Expressway, and National Highway 319, making it extremely accessible. The Apeng River basin, where Zhushui is situated, has been inhabited by humans since 10,000 years ago. The Apeng River, which flows through the ancient town, originates in Lichuan, Hubei, and is the only inland river in China that flows from east to west. Since ancient times, it has served as an important passage connecting the Three Gorges region with the Jianghan Plain, alongside the Wu River and the You River.

　　The street layout of the Ancient Town of Zhushui remains relatively intact. The town boasts a rich cultural heritage, where dock culture, merchant culture, market town culture, and a diverse array of cultural and artistic legacies intertwine. Intangible cultural heritage such as the Houhe Ancient Opera complements folk crafts like Xilan Kapu brocade and wood carving, forming the unique local culture of Zhushui.

　　"Stroll through the ancient town streets, savor Tujia cuisine, enjoy the Houhe Ancient Opera, and listen to the sounds of the Peng River." The Ancient Town of Zhushui embodies a splendid historical culture. With its ongoing revitalization, this ancient town, which has accumulated profound cultural significance over more than 4,000 years, has regained its former glory and ushered in a new era of prosperity.

　　Awarded the title of National Historical and Cultural Town in 2014

　　Source: Baidu Baike