Jiuzhou Ancient Town: A Romantic Ancient City from the Ming Dynasty

In 2022, we took a road trip to Guizhou We mostly chose some niche routes Jiuzhou Ancient Town is a historic town with a rich cultural heritage. The ancient town was built in the Ming Dynasty, and has a history of hundreds of years. It was an important political, economic, and cultural center in the ancient Qiandongnan region. Before coming here, I had never heard of this place. Not only people from other places, but also many locals in Guizhou know little about Jiuzhou. There are almost no tourists here. There are many ancient houses in the ancient town, and villagers still live here, enjoying a leisurely life, without the commercialism and hustle and bustle of other ancient towns. The history of Jiuzhou Ancient Town can be traced back to the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, when it was a garrison established by the imperial court to manage the affairs of ethnic minorities in the area. Over time, Jiuzhou gradually developed into an important market town in the Qiandongnan region, attracting a large number of merchants and immigrants, forming a unique multicultural atmosphere. The architecture of Jiuzhou Ancient Town is mainly in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and a large number of ancient residential buildings, ancestral halls, temples, and streets and alleys have been preserved. The streets of the ancient town are paved with bluestone slabs, and on both sides are rows of wooden houses with carved beams and painted buildings, simple and elegant. These buildings not only demonstrate the superb skills of ancient craftsmen, but also reflect the social life and cultural features of the time. Jiuzhou Ancient Town is a place where multiple ethnic groups live together, including the Miao, Dong, and Han, who live in harmony and form a rich and colorful ethnic culture. There are many traditional ethnic festivals and customs in the ancient town, such as the Miao "Miao New Year Festival" and the Dong "Dong New Year Festival", which are full of local characteristics and ethnic customs. The natural scenery around Jiuzhou Ancient Town is beautiful, with clear mountains and rivers, and a pleasant climate. The ancient town is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with rivers winding through it, and green trees on both sides, creating a picturesque scenery. Visitors can not only feel the history and culture of the ancient town, but also enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and experience the peaceful rural life. Visiting Jiuzhou Ancient Town is like traveling through time and space, back to that ancient and peaceful era. Visitors can stroll along the bluestone-paved streets, admire the ancient buildings, and feel the weight of history!