There are not only Gubei Water Town but also some other ancient towns with fewer tourists and beautiful scenery around Beijing. The old brick tiles, which have witnessed the past days of daily life, create a picturesque scene when the cooking smoke rises, as if stepping into a painting, filled with tranquility...
1. Luanzhou Ancient City
With a picturesque Jiangnan-like beauty and a history of three thousand years, even Emperor Qianlong once praised its prosperity by writing "Luanzhou of a thousand years." Entering the ancient city, the clear waters of the Qinglong River stretch on, and the lights on both banks twinkle at night, which can be called a real-life version of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."
The Guan Yu Temple, Confucian Temple, and Luanzhou Yamen in the ancient city are worth visiting. The seven themed streets, including the Temple Fair Cultural Street, Folk Culture Street, and Korean Women Street, are also full of surprises.
Address: Inside the old city of Luanxian County, Tangshan City, Hebei Province
Ticket: Free
2. Tianchang Ancient Town
Everyone has a city in their heart, storing all the beauty and imperfections, waiting for you to explore: the city walls from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Jieshan Academy with a history of more than 230 years, the most well-preserved quadrangle courtyard...
When you come to Tianchang Town, you must visit the Wang Family Courtyard, which is the most complete ancient courtyard building in Jingxing County. Everything seems to be telling the long history, as if traveling through a time tunnel, back to the prosperous Song Dynasty ancient city.
Address: West of Jingxing County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Ticket: Free
3. Guangfu Ancient City
Guangfu Ancient City is a famous hometown of Chinese Tai Chi, and the two major Tai Chi schools of Yang style and Wu style, known as "living sculptures," both originated here. The ancient city was built more than 2,600 years ago at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the thousand-year-old ripples in the moat still linger.
The city is lively because of the water, and the water is magnificent because of the city. A 5-kilometer-long moat surrounds the city, and beyond the moat is a wetland that stretches as far as the eye can see.
As the sun sets in the west, it is truly delightful to ride a bike and take in the beautiful scenery of the city while imagining that King Zhao's horses and carriages once passed through here.
Address: 20 kilometers southeast of Yongnian District, Handan City, Hebei Province
4. Hejin Ancient Town
The most famous feature of Hejin Ancient Town is the 80-square-meter attic, which has defended against foreign enemies many times even after being built for more than 400 years, and can be called the "Great Wall" in the ancient town.
The most impressive part is Hejin South Street, which is a relatively well-preserved traditional commercial street. Walking through the Shizi Pavilion and along this ancient street, it seems as if time has frozen in the passing years.
In a daze, the shops on both sides are full of colorful cloth, tea, grain, fur, pigments, jewelry, and everything else, as well as the cries of peddlers, the bustling sound of the crowd, and the echoing sounds of the market, full of vibrant vitality.
Address: 20 kilometers northwest of Wu'an City, Handan City, Hebei Province
Ticket: Free
5. Nuanquan Ancient Town
The most famous attraction in Nuanquan Ancient Town is the West Ancient Castle, which is a Ming and Qing dynasty ancient architectural complex. Inside, it integrates ancient dwellings, ancient temples, ancient castles, and ancient opera stages. Importantly, there are still residents living in the castle.
Ancient buildings are everywhere, and temples are all over the town. Although they have been eroded by wind and rain for hundreds of years, their thick and sturdy wood and stone materials, beautiful and delicate brick and wood carvings, and simple and elegant oil paintings still show the prosperity and style of the past.
During festivals, the ancient town will have the activity of "Dashuhua," where molten iron is splashed onto the brick wall above the ancient castle gate, resembling blooming flowers of smoke.
Address: Wei County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province
Ticket: 80 yuan (including Nuanquan Academy, West Ancient Castle, Agricultural Culture Exhibition Hall, and Historical Culture Exhibition Hall); Dashuhua performance ticket 160 yuan.
6. Shengfang Ancient Town
The scenery here is beautiful, and the cultural heritage is rich. Emperor Qianlong passed through Shengfang Town in Langfang City three times when he went to Jiangnan and praised it as "traveling to Suzhou and Hangzhou in the south, and Shengfang in the north."
Shengfang Ancient Town is a must-pass place for people from various places upstream of the Haihe River to Tianjin. With convenient water and land transportation and a dense population, the beautiful scenery truly has the charm of West Lake in Hangzhou, and its reputation has spread both at home and abroad.
If time permits, you must personally experience the profound cultural heritage of this ancient town with a history of 2,400 years.
Address: 35 kilometers east of Bazhou City, Langfang City, Hebei Province
Ticket: Free
Translator: TANG Yuxin
Reviewer: WEN Min
