Written by Catherine |
When we think of the Old World, what come to mind are the mighty ancient royal cities rising and falling in the course of history, and the ancient villages that retain their unique traditions and customs. China’s ancient towns that have survived centuries, or even millennia, left beautiful stories and historical legacies that still endure today.
The Old Town of Lijiang with mystical Naxi culture, the beautiful Furong Ancient Town hanging over the waterfalls, and Hongcun Village at the foot of Mount Huang showcasing the Huizhou-style architecture and culture.
Here are 12 best China old towns, ancient cities, and villages you are suggested to add to your China tour — places that offer glimpses into China’s past, regional cultures & cuisines, and the memories of a bygone age.
The Old Town of Lijiang
- Location: No.1 Dongdajie Street, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan
- History: Over 800 years
- Area: 7.279 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Nearby Attractions: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Lijiang Baba, Steam Pot Chicken, Lijiang Black Goat Hot Pot, Preserved Pork Rib, Pickled Sour Fish, Chickpea Bean Jelly, Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles
In the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, the Old Town of Lijiang (Dayan) was established. Lijiang Royal family, Mu’s forefathers, started constructing homes and cities after relocating the capital from Baisha Ancient Town to Lion Mountain. From the general design of the city to the engineering and architecture, the old town mixes the Han, Bai, Yi, Tibetan, Naxi, and other ethnic elements.
The streets of Dayan Ancient City are made of red breccia rock and are situated by the sea and close to the mountains. Ancient structures nclude the former home of Fang Guoyu, Wenchang Palace, Black Dragon Pool, Wangu Tower, Mufu, Wufeng Tower, Puji Temple, Sifang Street, Kegong Fang, and more. The Dongba culture of the Naxi ethnic group, which has deep roots in the old town, can be experienced by strolling along the stone-paved path.
Along with Dayan Ancient City, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baisha Ancient architecture complex, the old town of Lijiang was added to the “World Cultural Heritage list” in 1997 for its preservation of the local ethnic culture and natural beauty.
Recommended Lijiang tours with the Old Town:
- 3 Day Lijiang Tour with In-depth Naxi Culture Experience
- 6 Days Lijiang Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking
Hongcun Village
- Location: northeast of Huangshan City and the southwest foot of Huangshan Mountain in southern Anhui Province.
- History: Over 900 years
- Area: 187 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Nearby Attractions: Mount Huangshan, Xidi Village, Chengkan Village, Mukeng Bamboo Forest
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Chou Guiyu, Hairy Tofu , Stewing Ruyi Chicken, baked cakes, fried tea
Hongcun is a famous Chinese ancient village in southern Anhui. Hongcun Village and the neighbouring Xidi Village are famous for their idyllic scenery, intact village form, exquisite Hui style residences and rich historical and cultural connotations. Hongcun is a typical representative of the culture in the late feudal society of China, which embodies the characteristics of Huizhou style residence with exquisite craftsmanship.
More than 400 years ago, Hongcun planned and built a “cow-shaped” village pond canal water conservancy facility with water pipes, moon marshes and South Lake as the main water systems. The site selection, layout and architectural form of the whole village are in harmony with the natural scenery such as terrain, landform and mountains and rivers. There are 137 well-kpet ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In 2000, the Chinese ancient villages in southern Anhui represented by Hongcun were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO.
Recommended Huangshan tours with Hongcun Village:
- 2 Days Huangshan Private Tour: Yellow Mountain& Hongcun Village
- 4 Days Huangshan Tour with Hongcun & Xidi Villages
Fenghuang Ancient Town
- Location: Tuojiang Town, Fenghuang County, Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Xiangxi, Hunan Province
- History: Over 400 years
- Area: 4.39 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Nearby Attractions: Aizhai Bridge, Dehang Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Pickled Radish, Tofu in Pickled Vegetable Soup, Miao blood crispy duck, barbecue, Fenghuang tortilla
One of the most beautiful ancient towns in China, was built in the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. Originally a military castle, it gradually developed into a bustling commercial city. During the Qing Dynasty, Fenghuang Ancient City became a settlement for local chieftains and merchants, as well as the political, economic and cultural center of the western Hunan region.
Fenghuang Ancient Town is most famous for its Tujia and Miao ethnic cultures. In this ancient Chinese town, you can witness many traditional architecture and handicrafts, such as stilted houses, Miao silver jewelry and embroidery. In addition, there are many traditional cultural activities in Fenghuang Ancient City, such as dragon boat races, Tujia’s “Maogusi” dance and Miao’s “inspiring” dance.
Recommended Zhangjiajie tours to Fenghuang Ancient Town:
- 5 Days Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient Town Tour
- 7 Days Zhangjiajie Tour with Fenghuang and Mt. Fanjing
Dali Ancient Town
- Location: No. 42, Yita Road, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
- History: Over 1280 years
- Area: 3 km²
- Best Time to Visit: All seasons
- Nearby Attractions: Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Shuanglang Village
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Xi Zhou Ba Ba, Dairy Fan, Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, Cold Chicken Rice Noodles, Er Si, Liang Fen
One of the best preserved ancient towns in China is Dali Old Town, which is situated in western Yunnan Province at the foot of Cangshan Mountain on the shore of Erhai Lake. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Dali Old Town served as the political, economic, and cultural hub of Yunnan for over 500 years, and it is known as the Forbidden City of Yunnan. The ancient city layout is essentially preserved, with five streets crossing from south to north and eight streets running longitudinally from west to east.
The old city of Dali is home to numerous cultural artefacts. The southern gate, the first of the historic city’s four gates and a representation of Dali’s past, with a history spanning over 600 years. Wuhua Tower in Dali Ancient Town is divided into bell tower and drum tower, which would be ringing when there were distinguished guest.
On both sides of Foreigners Street are galleries, antique stores, tie-dye shops, Chinese and Western restaurants, and tea houses showcase the distinctive traditional Bai architecture. And, the 614-year-old Dali Guandi Temple was constructed in 1384 and is situated in the ancient city of Dali.
Recommended Dali tours with the ancient town:
- 3 Days Dali Tour Package with Memorable Experience
- 4 Days Yunnan Dali Old Tea Horse Road Experience Tour
Wuzhen Water Town
- Location: No. 18 Fengxian Road, Wuzhen Town, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
- History: Over 1300 years
- Area: 110.93 km²
- Best Time to Visit: All seasons
- Nearby Attractions: Hangzhou West Lake, Tongli Water Town
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Pickled Taihu Lake Whitewater Fish, Braised mutton in brown sauce, Wuzhen Dingsheng cake
Research on the ancient cultural site of Tanjiawan near Wuzhen Town shows that about 7,000 years ago (the Neolithic Age), the ancestors of Wuzhen town lived in the area. Founded in 1300 years, Wuzhen is one of the most beautiful ancient water towns in China.
Dongzha scenic area of Wuzhen is composed of Dongzha Old Street, Guanqian Street, riverside pavilion and gallery.
Xizha scenic area of Wuzhen, adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, mainly focuses on business tourism and leisure vacation. With 72 historic bridges, over 9,000 meters of river, it ranks first among China’s oldest towns in terms of both river density and stone bridge count. There are also 250,000 square meters of Ming and Qing buildings.
Recommended Hangzhou tours with Wuzhen Water Town:
Pingyao Ancient City
- Location: Kangning Road, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
- History: Over 2000 years
- Area: 2.25 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Nearby Attractions: Hanging Monastery, Yungang Grottoes, Yingxian Wooden Pogoda
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Wantuozi, Pingyao Beef, the Long Yam, Daoxiao Noodles
Founded in the reign of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty (827 BC – 782 BC), Pingyao Ancient City was rebuilt and expanded in the third year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1370). It is the most intact ancient town in China today. Pingyao Ancient City is like a turtle crawling southward, so it is called “Turtle City”.
Pingyao Ancient City is composed of walls, shops, streets, temples, residential buildings, etc. The whole city is symmetrical layout, with the city tower as the center and the south street as the axis, forming a feudal ritual pattern of the town god temple on the left, the government office on the right.
The ancient city of Pingyao is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is known as a living sample for the study of ancient Chinese cities and has rich and unique value in architecture, religion, commerce, folklore and folk art.
In 1997, the Pingyao Ancient City, together with the surrounding Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple, was designated as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Recommended Pingyao tours with the ancient city:
Furong Ancient Town
- Location: Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province
- History: Over 1000 years
- Area: 2.25 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Nearby Attractions: Hanging Monastery, Yungang Grottoes, Yingxian Wooden Pogoda
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Wantuozi, Pingyao Beef, the Long Yam, Daoxiao Noodles
If you have ever imagined an ancient town surrounded by mountains, with a clear river running through and waterfalls cascading down, Furong Ancient Town must be the picture in your dream.
Another famous ancient town in China, Furong town is a Tujia ethnic settlement, with a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The cliff waterfall, primitive Tujia architectural complex built on the mountain, ancient streets, ethnic traditions and Tujia cuisine are not to be missed.
Furong Ancient Town is about 30 km away from the downtown of Zhangjiajie, you can add it into your Zhangjiajie tour.
Xijiang Miao Village
- Location: No.20, Gujie, Xijiang Town, Leishan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province
- History: Over 2000 years
- Area: 5.5 km²
- Best Time to Visit: March to May, and September to November
- Other ancient villages in Guizhou: Upper Langde Miao Village, Matang Gejia Village, Libo Ancient Town, Zhenyuan Ancient Town
- Popular Local Food to Eat: sour soup fish, handmade rice cakes, Ancient Zang Meat, Cured Meat, Sliced Chicken, Qingyan Tofu
Guizhou Xijiang Miao Village, with a history of more than 2,000 years, is the largest Miao village in China and in the world. There are 1,468 households and more than 6,000 people living here, with the Miao population accounting for 99.5%. According to historical records, the people living here are the direct descendants of Chiyou. With 13 national-level intangible cultural heritages, the village is known as “the habitat of human tired minds” and China’s outstanding international rural tourism destination.
The village’s distinctive wooden stilted buildings are modelled after the southern column-like structures of the ancient inhabitants, which are appropriate for the humid regions where there is more rainfall.
Xijiang Miao Village’s language is a member of the central dialect of the Miao-yao language branch of the Chinese-Tibetan language family, specifically the northern sub-dialect. Silver jewellery, Miao needlework, and batik—what historians refer to as “history books worn on the body”—are the primary characteristics of Miao clothes.
Recommended Guizhou tours to Xijiang Miao Village: 6 Days Guizhou Tour with Qianhu Miao Village
Shaxi Ancient Town
- Location: Southwest Jianchuan County, Yunnan Province
- History: Over 2400 years
- Area: 287 km²
- Best Time to Visit: All seasons
- Nearby Attractions: Shibao Mountain
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Eight Bowls of Bai People, shoestring potato pancake, fresh cheese, Shaxi baba
Shaxi Ancient Town is the only surviving ancient market on the ancient Tea Horse Road, and is also a channel for economic and cultural exchanges between Yunnan and Tibet. Shaxi Ancient Town is peaceful and poetic, unlike Dali, Lijiang, and other famous ancient towns in China.
Shaxi Ancient Stage is located in the center of the ancient town and has witnessed the changes of history. Sideng Street was included in the list of 101 World Endangered Places of Concern by the World Memorial Architecture Foundation.
Recommended Yunnan Tours to Shaxi Ancient Town: 6 Days Yunnan Dali and Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Ancient Town
Zhouzhuang Town
- Location: No.43 Quanfu Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou
- History: Over 2000 years
- Area: 287 km²
- Best Time to Visit: All seasons
- Nearby Attractions: Shibao Mountain
- Popular Local Food to Eat: Eight Bowls of Bai People, shoestring potato pancake, fresh cheese, Shaxi baba
Known as the most beautiful ancient water town in China, located between Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Zhouzhuang was founded in the Spring and Autumn Period. In the early days, Zhouzhuang was only a small market town. Until 1127, when King 20 Xianggong followed Emperor Gaozong to the south of the Song Dynasty and moved there, the population gradually increased.
More than 800 aborigines live near the river, and more than 60% of the residences still preserve the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
There are 14 ancient stone Bridges built in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties on the well-shaped river in Zhouzhuang. The main attractions are Fuan Bridge, Double Bridge, and Shen Hall.
Recommended Suzhou tours to Zhouzhuang: Suzhou Day Tour to Zhouzhuang Ancient Town and Pingjiang Road
Related reading: 10 Most Famous Ancient Towns in China
