Chongqing - What happens to a city’s history when skyscrapers rise around it? In Chongqing’s fast-growing Liangjiang New Area, centuries-old heritage along the Yangtze is being woven into tourism, cultural experiences and urban renewal, keeping the past part of modern life.
On September 11, a media delegation participating in the "Cultural China Tour · Yangtze River Cultural Exploration" visited several heritage sites in Liangjiang New Area, including Longxing Ancient Town, Liangjiang Museum, Chuanjiang Shipping Culture Park and Young Power 1862, exploring how the area is preserving historical memories while creating new cultural spaces.
Longxing Ancient Town, the only Chinese historical and cultural town in Liangjiang New Area, has a history of more than 600 years. The town was once an important commercial hub connecting waterways from Chongqing to inland areas. Today, its preserved streets, traditional buildings, and cultural activities are being integrated with modern tourism experiences.
Longxing Ancient Town in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
"We will explore the 600-year cultural heritage of Longxing Ancient Town, activate cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage, and connect surrounding resources, including Longxing Football Stadium and Liangjiang International Film City," said Liu Hongmin, a local official responsible for publicity and cultural affairs in Longxing Town.
Liu said the town is developing cultural tourism programs centered on traditional culture, intangible heritage experiences, themed study tours and events linked with sports competitions.
A temple inside Longxing Ancient Town in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
"We aim to build a leisure destination with both cultural depth and everyday vitality, while welcoming visitors from China and around the world to experience traditional culture and sports events in Longxing," Liu said.
At Liangjiang Museum, cultural preservation focuses on specific elements of local life rather than presenting an all-encompassing history.
The museum's exhibitions include the Ba-Yu Ancient Bed Museum and the Ba-Shu Traditional Occupations Sculpture Exhibition. The museum has the largest collection of traditional wooden carved beds in Chongqing, with nearly 100 beds in its collection, mainly dating from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period.
A carved wooden bed displayed at Liangjiang Museum in Chongqing. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
"We chose a smaller perspective, using ancient beds and traditional occupations to present regional folk culture and traditions," said Liu Jiang, deputy director of the Liangjiang Cultural Heritage Protection Center.
The museum's Ba-Shu Traditional Occupations Sculpture Exhibition recreates 79 traditional occupations through 108 sculptures, including boat trackers, porters, craftsmen, and Sichuan opera performers, showing how people worked and lived in the Ba-Shu region from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period.
A stonecutter sculpture displayed at Liangjiang Museum in Chongqing. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
To make traditional culture more accessible, the museum also plans interactive activities and performances around important festivals and cultural occasions, especially for younger visitors.
Along the riverfront, Chuanjiang Shipping Culture Park preserves memories of Chongqing's shipping industry.
The site was once home to Minsheng Machinery Factory, founded in 1928 by Chinese industrialist Lu Zuofu. During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the factory expanded production facilities and played an important role in supporting wartime transportation and manufacturing.
Chuanjiang Shipping Culture Park in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
Today, the former industrial site has been transformed into a cultural park featuring exhibitions, outdoor displays and leisure spaces. The park presents the history of Chuanjiang shipping, from river transportation to industrial development, while exploring new cultural and commercial uses.
Officials said the park is also exploring younger and more diverse experiences, including cultural exhibitions, events and nighttime activities. Some facilities have added English explanations to make the site more accessible to international visitors.
Another example is Young Power 1862, a cultural and commercial project built around the history of China's early modern military industry.
International visitors explore Young Power 1862. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
The site traces its origins to the Shanghai Yangpao Bureau established in 1862 during the late Qing Dynasty's Self-Strengthening Movement. After several relocations, the industrial site moved to Chongqing during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and became part of Chongqing's wartime industrial history.
The project combines preserved historical buildings with cultural, commercial and leisure functions. Its first phase opened in 2024, incorporating renovated industrial spaces into venues including cafes, restaurants, sports facilities and cultural exhibitions.
Some former factory buildings at Young Power 1862 have been transformed into wedding venues. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
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