The answer is Langzhong.
Perhaps you can’t even pronounce the name of this ancient city correctly, yet it is precisely this Sichuan town—less famous than Fenghuang or Dali, and less frequented than Wuzhen or Zhouzhuang—that is a bona fide 5A-level tourist attraction.
Sichuan Basinnortheastern edge,Jialing Rivermidstream, has a history of over 2,300 years as a city and has long been a military stronghold of the ancient Ba and Shu states. This place isthe birthplace of China’s Spring Festival, and is ranked among China’s Four Great Ancient Cities alongside Lijiang in Yunnan, Pingyao in Shanxi, and She County in Anhui.
Langzhong boasts fertile soil, abundant water, a pleasant climate, and rich resources. In the Han Dynasty, it belonged to Ba Commandery; during the Sui Dynasty, it was renamed Langnei County; and from the Song Dynasty onward, it became known as Langzhong. Throughout history, it often served as the seat of prefectures, commanderies, and provincial administrations. The architectural style of ancient Langzhong reflects ancient Chinese concepts of geomancy in residential planning. With its chessboard-like urban layout and architectural complexes that blend northern and southern styles, it forms uniquely diverse building clusters in "half-pearl," "character-pin," and "multi-character" formations, making it a quintessential example of the ancient Chinese principle of "harmony between man and nature" in urban site selection.
Next time you visit Sichuan, don’t forget to stop by this birthplace of Chinese New Year too~！