Wufengxi Ancient Town: A Perfect Blend of History and Nature

In Jintang County, Chengdu, there is a hidden ancient town full of historical charm and natural beauty—Wufengxi Ancient Town. This ancient town attracts countless tourists with its unique geographical location, rich historical culture, enchanting natural scenery, and diverse food culture. This article will take you into Wufengxi Ancient Town to experience its unique charm. Wufengxi Ancient Town, officially named Wufeng Town, is located by the Tuojiang River in the middle section of the Longquan Mountains, only 48 kilometers away from Chengdu. The ancient town is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side, forming a unique geographical pattern of "half mountain and river, half town." The five main streets of the ancient town—Jinfeng Street, Qingfeng Street, Yufeng Street, Baifeng Street, and Xiaofeng Street—are built along the mountain and river, winding and undulating, full of simplicity and tranquility. The natural scenery of the ancient town is equally intoxicating. The beautiful mountains and clear waters of the Longquan Mountains and the Tuojiang River complement each other, adding a touch of vitality and dynamism to the ancient town. Here, you can stroll through the ancient streets and alleys, feeling the tranquility and simplicity of the ancient town; or climb to the top of the mountain to overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire ancient town, experiencing the grandeur of "standing at the top to view all the small mountains." The history of Wufengxi Ancient Town can be traced back to the Han and Tang dynasties when it was an important water port on the upper reaches of the Tuojiang River. According to the "Jintang County Chronicle," the ancient town was named after the mountain's shape, which resembles five phoenixes, and the five ancient streets are also named after "phoenix," full of romance and legend. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, Wufengxi Ancient Town became the largest waterway port in western Sichuan, with prosperous commerce and flourishing culture. The ancient town's rich historical culture is not only reflected in its ancient buildings and streets but also in its diverse immigrant culture. Wufengxi Ancient Town is an important witness to the history of "Huguang filling Sichuan," and it still retains various immigrant guild halls and ancient buildings. Among them, Guansheng Palace, Nanhua Palace, and Wangye Temple are not only witnesses of history but also treasures of cultural art. Guansheng Palace is one of the most famous ancient buildings in Wufengxi Ancient Town, built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of about 300 years. It faces south, with a quadrangle courtyard layout, magnificent and solemn. What is particularly unique is its "hall within a hall" architectural pattern, where the Shaanxi Guild Hall "Guansheng Palace" is built around the Huguang Guild Hall "Yuwang Palace," with the two halls being both independent and closely connected. This architectural pattern is unique in the country. Nanhua Palace is the guild hall of Guangdong immigrants, with the largest overall building area and scale in Wufengxi, fully reflecting the strength and spirit of Guangdong immigrants. A couplet in the main hall praises the achievements of Emperor Wenchang and also reflects the importance Guangdong immigrants place on culture and education. In addition to Guansheng Palace and Nanhua Palace, the ancient town also has the Jiangxi Guild Hall "Wanshou Palace," Hubei Guild Hall, etc. These guild halls are not only places for immigrants to communicate and help each other but also bases for them to inherit culture and promote spirit. The ancient buildings and street scenes of Wufengxi Ancient Town are unique. Walking through the ancient streets of the ancient town, you can see many well-preserved buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, mainly made of blue bricks and gray tiles with wooden structures, simple and elegant, full of historical vicissitudes. These ancient buildings mostly have a quadrangle courtyard layout, with spacious courtyards and reasonable layouts, suitable for both living and business. The streets and alleys of the ancient town are also full of simplicity and tranquility. The streets are lined with inns, restaurants, teahouses, and other shops, with red lanterns and signs hanging in front of the shops, making the atmosphere particularly festive and lively. Here, you can taste authentic Sichuan cuisine and local snacks, feeling the strong local flavor. Particularly worth mentioning is the ancient town's Half Street. Half Street is about 462 meters long and was once a major thoroughfare to Chengdu from the west. The street area has many inns, restaurants, and hotels. Among them, the "Wufu Lou" inn is built along the mountain and cliff, a quadrangle courtyard-style inn. Although the guest rooms are small, the layout is reasonable, allowing long-distance travelers to enjoy a temporary rest. The Guanyin Hall in the street area is a grand ancient building with a history of over 200 years. Every year on the 19th day of the second, sixth, and ninth lunar months, which are the birthdays, enlightenment days, and ordination days of Guanyin, respectively, believers come here to participate in temple fairs, praying for peace and success. The food culture of Wufengxi Ancient Town is equally mouth-watering. The local specialties include Tuojiang fish, Wufengxi preserved eggs, Wufengxi oil cakes, Wufengxi cured duck, and sweet water noodles. Tuojiang fish is tender and delicious; preserved eggs are delicate and rich in flavor; oil cakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and delicious; cured duck is firm and tasty; sweet water noodles are a specialty snack of Chengdu, with a chewy texture and sweet taste. In addition to food, the accommodation conditions in the ancient town are also excellent. There are many inns and hotels around for tourists to choose from, such as Mengtuoling Inn, Jintang Longma Inn, Jintang Biwujiaban Mountain Resort Inn, etc. These inns and hotels are well-equipped, with attentive service and reasonable prices, making them ideal places for tourists to stay. Additionally, there are some unique homestays like Demen Renli Private Hot Spring Elegant Inn, offering private hot spring suites and rich activity experiences, allowing tourists to enjoy comfort and leisure during their trip. If you plan to travel to Wufengxi Ancient Town, here are some travel tips and precautions: Transportation: From Chengdu, you can choose to drive or take a bus. Self-driving tourists can drive along the Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway to the Huaikou exit, then drive along Wufu Avenue to reach the ancient town; bus tourists can take a bus to Jintang Huaikou at major bus stations in Chengdu and then transfer to the ancient town. Tour time: The recommended tour time is about 3 hours. You can visit the ancient street area and attractions in the morning, taste local food at noon, and relax by fishing by the lake or visiting the parent-child park in the afternoon. Sun protection and mosquito prevention: The sunlight in Sichuan is relatively strong, and there are many mosquitoes, so please take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures. Respect local customs: During the tour, please respect local customs and religious beliefs, do not litter or damage ancient buildings and cultural relics. Safety first: When participating in water activities, please pay attention to safety, follow relevant regulations, and do not enter the water or dangerous areas without permission. Wufengxi Ancient Town, with its unique geographical location, rich historical culture, enchanting natural scenery, and diverse food culture, has become a rare tourist destination. Here, you can feel the weight of history and the charm of culture, as well as enjoy the tranquility of nature and the temptation of food. Whether you are traveling alone or with family and friends, Wufengxi Ancient Town will leave you with unforgettable memories.