Langzhong Ancient Town

    Name in Chinese: 阆中古城  Làng Zhōng Gǔ Chéng  [læŋ dzɔ:n gu: tsen]

    Tour of Duration: One or Two Days

    Location: Langzhong County, Nanchong Prefecture, Sichuan Province

    Highlights: Photography, Relaxation, Old Buildings, Exploration of History and Culture

    Must-see Sightseeing Spots: Zhangfei Shrine, Tengwang Tower, the White Pagoda, Confucius Temple, and the Examination Compound in the Feudal China

    Reputations: One of the Top Ten Ancient Towns in China, a National Five-star Scenic Area,

    Langzhong Ancient Town is situated in the northeast of Sichuan Province. It boasts a 2,300-year history. The old town is well-known for its architectural practice of geomancy, which is called Fengshui in Chinese. It covers an area of 459 hectares(1,134 acres). Langzhong used to be the capital of Sichuan Province during the reign of Emperor Shunzhi(1644-1661), the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911). It has been added to the list of the top ten picturesque old towns in China. Langzhong Ancient Town is an ideal destination for both photographers and historical sites seekers. There are eight national historical and cultural relic sites under protection in the town. The relic sites include Zhangfei Shrine, Tengwang Tower, Baba Mosque, Yong’an Monastery, Wulong Temple, Guanyin Monastery, the Grand Buddha Monastery and the Examination Compound in the Feudal China.

    Zhangfei Shrine

    Zhangfei Shrine was originally built over 1,700 years ago. The present buildings could be dated back to the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty. The shrine is dedicated to Zhang Fei, a general of the Shu Han Kingdom(221-263). It is also called Huanhou Shrine. Huanhou was a posthumous title granted to Zhangfei by Liu Shan, the second emperor of the kingdom. Huanhou means a marquis who is good at fighting a war. Zhang Fei met Liu Bei and Guan Yu at the Peach Garden. They swore their brotherhood, joined hands to fight against their enemies for decades and established the Shu Han Kingdom. Liu Bei was the founding emperor of the kingdom. Langzhong used to be an area of great strategic importance in the northeast part of Sichuan. Zhangfei garrisoned his troops at Langzhong for seven years. In 221, General Zhang Fei was killed by two traitors. After he passed away, the local people built the shrine to commemorate the general. Read more about the Three Kingdoms.

    Tengwang Tower

    Tengwang Tower is situated in the north of the old town. It was originally built by Li Yuanying(629-684), the twenty-second son of Emperor Tang-Gaozu. Tengwang means Prince Teng in English. The prince was assigned to be the governor of Langzhong Prefecture in the year of 679. He was an extravagant prince who did not care about his people. However, the building he designed looked magnificent. Prince Teng built three towers in his whole life which were named after his title. The first one of his works was located in Tengzhou, Shandong Province. It was damaged centuries ago. The second one is situated in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. The third one stands in Langzhong.

    Confucius Temple

    The temple is dedicated to Confucius. It is also called the Temple of Literature. The present temple compound was built in 1850 and renovated in 2013. It covers an area of 7,000 square meters( 1.7 acres). The temple did not only serve as a shrine of Confucius, but also a state school.

    The Examination Compound in the Feudal China

    The present examination compound can be dated back to 1651, the eighth year of Emperor Shunzhi’s reign. It used to be the place where the local government organized the so-called imperial examinations. The examination is called Keju in Chinese. It was an important educational system in the feudal China. The system began in the Sui Dynasty(581-618), and abolished by Emperor Guangxu in 1905. The examinations were held by emperors. Anyone who passed the examinations would be provided with a government post. The candidate who got the best grade in the examination would be conferred with the title of Zhuangyuan. Zhuangyuan means the Number One Scholar in English. The imperial examination system lasted for about 1,300 years. A large number of candidates took the examinations. During the period, 918 people got the title of the Number One Scholar.

    Travel Tips:

    How to Get to Langzhong Ancient Town

    Langzong lies in the northeast part of Sichuan Province. The distance between Langzhong and Chengdu is about 270 km(168 miles). It takes around three and a half hours to get to Langzhong from Chengdu by a car.

    Photography Tips:

    The White Pagoda is the most ideal place for photographers to get a panoramic view of the town. It is highly suggested to go to the pagoda before the golden hour in the afternoon. Magic hour creates magical photos. A wide angle lens is needed.

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Author: Tina Luo

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