Tanghe River Ancient Town, located in Tanghe Town in Jiangjin District of Chongqing, is a famous historical and cultural town that features black bricks and tiles and water flowing under bridges. It is a paradise that many nostalgic people are looking for.

The stunning view of Tanghe River Ancient Town. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Historical origin

"Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province and Guizhou Province have played a key role since ancient times,  as ports for tea and salt in the from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties." Tanghe River Ancient Town has obtained its name for the Tanghe River that flows by it. There were already settlements along the river over 2,000 years ago. The place became prosperous in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with merchants, boats, and horses coming in an endless stream.

The historic Tanghe River Ancient Town is home to folk culture and art and is lauded as "the most charming small town in Chongqing" and "the most culturally valuable town in Chongqing" and a film and television production base for the old Chongqing style.

The grey wall says, "Tanghe River Ancient Town, China historical and cultural town." (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Buildings on the old street

The ancient town is surrounded by bamboo trees and endowed with clear water and verdant hills. It boasts beautiful landscapes as well as a long history that can be seen along the street. The ancient town is an elegant ink painting and an "architecture museum" full of stories.

The unique architecture style of the Tanghe River Ancient Town. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Built in the Ming Dynasty, the town now has nearly 40,000 square meters of an architectural complex composed of the old block, Shilongmen Manor, and Tingchong Temple. There are many buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties or with a combination of Chinese and Western elements, for which the town has been titled "Historical Architecture Museum."

Folk customs

Residents in the ancient town still keep the traditional lifestyle and local customs that have been passed down for thousands of years.

The time-worn yet shiny bluestone road leads to the views of the water town, where shouts of joy at a wedding ceremony can be heard from time to time.

The marriage customs of Tanghe River Ancient Town were included in the first intangible cultural heritage protection list in Chongqing. 

The marriage customs of Tanghe River Ancient Town. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Traditional festive customs - such as flower boat, the Yangko dance, also called "twisting Yangko dance" (a folk dance in China), dragon boat racing, temple fair, lion dance, and flying Kongming Lantern- have been passed down to this day.

Villagers were racing dragon boats in Tanghe River Ancient Town. (Photo provided to iChongqing)