Forget Wuzhen! This Small Town in Sichuan Hides a True Jiangnan Water Town

I thought Wuzhen's beauty was unparalleled until I stepped into this place in Sichuan and discovered another kind of water town charm that truly touches the heart. As summer quietly fades and autumn arrives right on schedule, a gentle breeze sweeps through Lizhuang. The wind creates ripples across the lake surface, and the setting sun casts its glow on the water, adding a sense of leisure to the entire town. Escaping from busy city life, a weekend trip to Lizhuang is the perfect choice for finding moments of tranquility. The ancient town is built along the Yangtze River, with waterways serving as streets and bridges connecting different areas, perfectly preserving the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walking on the bluestone paths feels like stepping into history. While strolling leisurely and admiring the scenery, friends who see my social media posts often ask if I'm in Jiangnan. I proudly reply: This isn't Jiangnan - it's Lizhuang Ancient Town in Yibin, southern Sichuan, known as the "First Ancient Town along the Yangtze River" and one of the filming locations for CCTV's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. We got incredibly lucky during this trip to Lizhuang! As night fell, a stunning sunset arrived. I couldn't resist capturing these live photos with my iPhone camera - every frame looks cinematic. 📍 Navigation: Lizhuang Ancient Town is located in Cuiping District, Yibin City, Sichuan Province. It's just a 2.5-hour drive from Chengdu. 🎫 Admission: Free entry for easy exploration. 🅿️ Parking: Moon Field parking lot at the scenic area entrance offers convenient parking. Lizhuang Ancient Town is divided into two main areas, each with its own unique charm: - Core Area: Features numerous Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, interconnected streets and bridges, blue bricks alongside flowing water, and winding old alleys full of Jiangnan charm - every step reveals a poetic scene. - Suggested route: East Yue Temple👉Zhang Family Ancestral Hall👉Yang Street👉Ancestral Temple👉Huiguang Temple👉Kuixing Pavilion. Follow this route to deeply experience the town's historical heritage and ancient atmosphere. - Moon Field Scenic Area: Built along the river with waterways as streets connected by bridges. Two crescent-shaped islands in the middle are cleverly connected by corridor bridges and traditional-style buildings, offering both romantic scenery and vibrant local life. - Suggested route: 2020 Theater👉Ten Bridges Crossing👉Moonlight Alley👉Moon Island👉Flower Field Under Moon👉Construction Academy👉Liang Lin's Former Residence👉Yanyu Bookstore👉Chinese Cultural War of Resistance Museum. This route combines natural scenery with historical culture. 🕙 The scenic area lights up around 8:30pm. When the lights first come on, the ancient town transforms into another enchanting scene you shouldn't miss.