On the banks of the Yangtze River in Yongchuan, there is an ancient town with a long history and numerous historical sites

In the Yongchuan District of Chongqing, on the banks of the Yangtze River, there is an ancient town from the Ming and Qing dynasties that is also quite embarrassing for tourists from other places because most of them mispronounce the name of the ancient town. Even eating a local specialty can be a challenge. This is the famous Songgui Ancient Town! Songgui Ancient Town is located on the banks of the Yangtze River in Yongchuan District, Chongqing. It was first established as a market town during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and reached its peak of prosperity during the Qing Dynasty, thanks to its excellent water and land transportation. It was a very prosperous water and land wharf. Merchants and cargo ships from all over the country came along the Yangtze River, and then the goods were transported to other mountainous areas in the southwest by horse caravans. For a time, it was extremely prosperous, and even the Yongchuan county government was set up here. The ancient town is nestled between mountains and water, with Songzi Mountain nearby and, apart from the Yangtze River, there is also an irrigation waterway called Ji. Therefore, the ancient town was named after Songzi and the irrigation waterway, abbreviated as Songgui Ancient Town. The entrance to Songgui Ancient Town is an ancient and elegant hanging-foot Mo Yang teahouse by the river, a very typical Ming and Qing architectural style. The main street of the ancient town is called Malu Street. This street, according to the complex terrain of the ancient town, is laid out flexibly and undulates, sometimes smooth and sometimes steep, long and short, straight and winding. The organic integration of movement and stillness is all blended into the landscape space of the ancient town. In the past, the horse caravan teams that transported goods to the wharf mostly walked on this old street, hence the name Malu Street. Today, tourists from all over the world shuttle on the streets, and the crisp sound of footsteps is like the sound of horse caravan teams walking through the streets in the old days. The historical Songgui Ancient Town still retains a lot of historical architecture and cultural estimates. In addition to the more than 20 old streets and alleys that have been preserved, there are also the old county yamen, Confucian tombstones, Luo's resignation, and Yu Huang Guan, among which Yu Huang Guan is the most worth visiting! Songgui Ancient Town is known to have 'nine palaces and eighteen temples,' and at its peak, it is said that there were as many as 20 temples. Among the many temples, Yu Huang Guan is the largest in scale, the oldest in history, and the best preserved. It is a Taoist place, dedicated to the Jade Emperor. This Taoist temple is also known as the 'Five Provinces Guild Hall,' welcoming merchants and immigrants from all directions. Later, it became the local grain trade market, and now it has been transformed into the Songgui Theater, which houses the largest stage. During festivals, it is very lively! In addition to Malu Street, the main street of the ancient town, there are many other small alleys. I particularly like the feeling of strolling alone in the old streets and alleys, as if traveling through time, back to the past, listening to ancient stories from the mottled buildings and old stone roads. In addition to Malu Street, the main street of the ancient town, there are many other small alleys. I particularly like the feeling of strolling alone in the old streets and alleys, as if traveling through time, back to the past, listening to ancient stories from the mottled buildings and old stone roads. Stepping out from the long history of the ancient town, one must walk along the river and enjoy the fresh breeze. You can reach the river by going down the stone steps from the ancient town. Along the sides of the stone steps, there are many food stalls, bustling like a market. There are large lawns, wetlands, and rocky beaches by the river for tourists to visit. What attracts me the most is the dragon's ridge that extends into the heart of the river. Walking along the dragon's ridge to the middle of the river, surrounded by water, gives a feeling of freedom and comfort, very soothing! Songgui Ancient Town