Kongcheng Ancient Street

　　Kongcheng Ancient Street is situated in Kongcheng Town, a historic and cultural town in Anhui Province, 12 kilometers from Tongcheng City. With a history of over 1,800 years, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Kongcheng Ancient Street flourished as a key water transport hub connecting the Chaohu Lake region and the Yangtze River area. It suffered damage during the Taiping Rebellion but was soon restored, and the current ancient street was built after that period. Stretching several miles, the street is divided into ten sections, or “jia.” Each section is separated by a gate.

　　The street runs from south to north in an “S” shape, with lower terrain in the south and higher in the north. It consists of one main street, two cross streets, three alleys, and one lane. The total length is about 3 kilometers, with an average width of around 3 meters. The main streets, alleys, and lanes are all paved with bluestone slabs, covering a total area of 170,000 square meters. The shops and houses are built with grey tiles and blue bricks, many featuring upturned eaves, carved wooden windows, and are closely arranged, showcasing distinct characteristics of the Jiangnan water town style. Kongcheng Ancient Street is not only the best-preserved ancient street in northern Anhui but also the largest of its kind.

　　Kongcheng Town has a long history and a strategically important location. It was part of the Eastern Wu territory during the Three Kingdoms period. Legend has it that Lü Meng once built fortifications here, hence the line in *Tong Old Collection ● Kongcheng*: “A small settlement emerges among the smoke; they say it’s Lü Meng’s old fort.” The *History of Song ● Biography of Li Xianzhong* records that Song generals Zhang Jun and Li Xianzhong once defeated Jin general Wuzhu here. The *Yuanfeng Nine Regions Record* from the Song Dynasty states: “Among the nine towns of Tongcheng in Shuzhou, Huainan Road, Kongcheng is one of them.” The town is home to the nationally renowned “Tongxiang Academy” from the Qing Dynasty.

　　The famous *Four Proposals of Tongxiang Academy* were written by Dai Junheng here. They were revered by academies across the country and recorded in *Imperial Compilation of Political Statutes*. To the east of the town lies the vast and boundless Dashaha River. When the evening sun shines on it, the sands glisten like snow, giving rise to the name “Evening Snow at Kongcheng.” To the southwest of the town lies the Dibubu River, with sparkling blue waves and clouds meeting the horizon. As fishermen sing at dusk and boats set sail homeward, it is known as the “Returning Sails at Dibubu.” Both of these sites are included in the “Eight Scenic Spots of Tongcheng.”