Ancient Towns / Villages / Streets of China & My China Dreams

Qin Shi Huang
First Emperor, Qin Dynasty 
Bingmayong, Xi'an, China (May 2006)

China Dream. My Dream 
Your Dream ?

 

My China Dream !
Vision. Courage. Perseverance ! 

" The path from Dreams to Success does exist, may you have the Vision to find it, the Courage to get on it and the Perseverance to follow it " 

My "ancient times" traveling in China (2006 > 2023) - 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation, China's ten most important dynasties (Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming & Qing), each of these dynasties had a glorious & chequered past; The Peking Man, The Bronze Age, The State of Shu & Sanxingdui Museum, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, his Terra Cotta Warriors & Great Wall of China, Confucius & Confucianism, The Silk Road, The Grand Canal,  The Golden Age of Tang Dynasty, Monk Xuan Zhang & his Buddhist Scriptures from India, The Mongols, Gun Powder, Paper & Ceramics Making, Admiral Cheng Ho's Maritime Expeditions, Forbidden City, Ming Porcelains, Christian Missionaries, Opium Wars, Old Summer Palace, Empress Dowager & the Last Emperor of China, Puyi ....... read more about them if you are heading to China, a world leading tourist destination inviting you to visit & explore ! Each dynasty in China left behind a unique legacy from cultural & artistic achievements to new religions & philosophies, innovative ideas about government, society, military strategy & economy.  From the tourism perspective, I enjoyed visiting the ancient towns / villages / streets / lanes in major provinces of China & also gained a better understanding of the traditional culture & customs of minority ethnic groups / tribes in China ie Bai, Dai, Dong, Hui, Miao, Mosuo, Naxi, Uyghurs, Yao, Yi, Zhuang etc. After 23 intermittent visits to China since my 1st visit to Beijing in 1997, I have to-date  visited close to 30 ancient  towns / villages in China ....... more to come if I continue to uphold my passion high & high in my China Dream (even though I am now 73 years old going on to 74 in May 2024) ! 

Here goes the story of my "ancient times" travelling ie "Ancient Towns / Villages / Streets & My China Dreams " - I believe you too has a China Dream wanting to see as much as you could in this highly populous country having the oldest civilisation in the world, not to mention Greece, Egypt & India which I had the opportunity to visit during my retirement years (2006 > 2023) ! 

Ancient Civilisation of China - Major highlights of my China Dreams : 

• The Stone Age - Discovery of Peking Man in 1920s & 1930s (skulls, stone tools & animal bones) believed to be between 500,000 & 230,000 years old inside a cave in Zhokuodian, Beijing, the birth place of civilisation in China ? 

Site of the Peking Man
Zhokuodian, Beijing, China
(Oct 2009)

Peking Man Statute
Zhokuodian, Beijing, China

• 1) The Shang Dynasty (1600 > 1050 BCE) - a monarchy governed by a series of kings (29 or 30) over a period of 600 years, heralded the bronze age, known for their advancement in math, astrology, artwork & military technology, Anyang & Zhengzhou were two of the large settlements during the Shang dynasty, Shang graves (royal burials) discovered in Anyang dated back to 1500BC.    

Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Ancient Capital of Shang Dynasty
(May 2017) 

The Bronze Age - Shang Dynasty
Zhengzhou, Henan, China (May 2017)

Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Ancient Capital of Shang Dynasty
(May 2017) 

• 2) The Zhou Dynasty - Confucius thinking & belief (551 > 479 BC) & his birth place in Qufu, Shandong province

Confucius Portrait
Qufu, Shangdong, China

Confucius Mansion, Qufu, Shangdong
China (Oct 2009)

• 3) State of Shu (10th century BC > 316BC) - little mentioning of Shu in the early Chinese history records, an ancient kingdom in Sichuan province, the state was conquered by Qin in 316BC, recent archaeological discoveries at Sanxindui & Jinsha thought to be sites of Shu culture indicate the present of unique civilisation in this region before the Qin conquest.

Sanxingdui Museum, Chengdu, Sichuan
China (Sept 2014) 

• 4) The Qin Dynasty (221 > 206BC) - The First Emperor of Qin dynasty (Qin Shi Huang), unifying China, standardization of writing, the discovery of the Army of Terracotta Warriors in his tomb near Xi'an, Shaanxi province & the building of the Great Wall of China.

First Emperor of Qin
Binmayong, Xi'an, China
(May 2017)

Army of Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China (May 2017)

Army of Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China (May 2017)

Great Wall of China
Beijing, China (Oct 2010) 

• 5) The Han Dynasty (206BC > 220AD) - The Silk Road to Central Asia, trade & alliances with north India & neighboring countries by Chinese diplomat explorer Zhang Qian who served as an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the late 2nd century. 

Silk Making, Suzhou, Jiangsu
China (Nov 2017)

Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
(May 2015)

Urumqi, Xinjiang, China, (May 2015)

Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (May 2015)

High Speed Train (Lanzhou > Urumqi)
Xinjiang, China (May 2015)

Diplomat Explorer Zhang Qian
Dun Huang, Gansu, China (May 2006)

Diplomat Explorer Zhang Qian
Dun Huang, Gansu, China (May 2006)

Diplomat Explorer Zhang Qian
Yangguan Pass, Dun Huang

Gansu, China (May 2006)

• 6) The Sui Dynasty - the unification of south & north China through the construction of the Grand Canal linking the lower Yangzi River valley to Chang'an (now Xi'an) via the Yellow River

The Grand Canal Hangzhou, Zhejiang
China (Dec 2015)

Grand Canal Museum, Hangzhou
China (Dec 2015)

• 7) The Tang Dynasty - The prosperous years (Golden Age) of the Tang dynasty & the realms of literature ie poems & quotable quotes, senior monk Xuan Zhang brought back Buddhist scriptures from India. 

Li Bai's famous poem
"Quiet Night Thought"
" I lower my head &
reminisce my hometown "

Big Goose Pagoda & Xuan Zhang
Xi'an, China (Aug 2015)

Xuan Zang Memorial Hall
Nalanda, India (Nov 2018) 

Xuan Zang Memorial Hall
Nalanda, India (Nov 2018) 

Xuan Zang Memorial Hall
Nalanda, India (Nov 2018) 

Xuan Zang Memorial Hall
Nalanda, India (Nov 2018) 

• 8) The Yuan Dynasty (1271 > 1368CE) - first foreign-ruled (Mongols) dynasty in Chinese history, important development in ceramics & porcelains. 

Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia (May 2009) 

Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia (May 2009) 

Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia (May 2009) 

Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
China (Sept 2011)

Shaanxi History Museum
Xi'an China (May 2012)

Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an
China (May 2012)

Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an
China (May 2012)

• 9) The Song Dynasty - Kaifeng, Henan emerged as an important centre of Song dynasty's politics, culture & commerce, invention & development of gun powder, paper, ceramics & silk making. 

Kaifeng, Henan, China (May 2017)

Kaifeng, Henan, China (May 2017)

Imperial River of Song Dynasty
Kaifeng, Henan, China (May 2017)

• 10) The Ming Dynasty (1368 > 1644) - Construction of Forbidden City from 1403 > 1424 during the Ming dynasty. Admiral Zhenghe first maritime expedition to Asia in 1405, Ming porcelain & wares produced for imperial courts by Jingdezhen in 1368, Christian missionaries from Europe began to enter China.   

Guangzhou Museum, Guangdong
China (Nov 2023)

Guangzhou Museum, Guangdong
China (Nov 2023)

Guangzhou Museum, Guangdong
China (Nov 2023)

Guangzhou Museum, Guangdong
China (Nov 2023)

Forbidden City, Beijing
China (May 2015)

Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang

Java, Indonesia (May 2023)

Masjid Muhammad Cheng Hoo
Surabaya, Java, Indonesia (May 2023)

Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang

Java, Indonesia (May 2023)

Jonker Walk, Melaka City
Malaysia (Dec 2016)

Cheng Ho Museum, Melaka City
Malaysia (Dec 2016) 

Cheng Ho Museum, Bandar Hilir
Melaka, Malaysia (Jan 2023)

• 11) The Qing Dynasty (1644 > 1911) - the last dynasty in China, Xinjiang came under the special administrative control of the Qing dynasty, Tibet became a Chinese colony in 1751, Qing dynasty cultural achievements were jade carving, painting & porcelain, philological developments & Jingxi (Peking opera), the Opium War (1839 > 1842 & 1856 > 1860) & Lin Zexu putting a stop of the opium trade, European-style Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan) built by Emperor Qianglong was destroyed by British & French troops during the 2nd Opium War, Dowager Empress died in 1908 & the 2 year old son Puyi ascended the throne & he was the last Emperor of Qing. 

Jade, Guangzhou Museum, China
(Nov 2023)

Lin Zexu Memorial Hall, Fuzhou
Fujian, China (Dec 2014) 

Lin Zexu Memorial Hall, Fuzhou
Fujian, China (Dec 2014) 

Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan)
Beijing, China (Aug 2015)

Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan)
Beijing, China (Aug 2015)

Old Summer Palace
(Yuanming Yuan)
Beijing, China (Aug 2015)

Eastern Qing Tomb, Zunhua, China
(May 2009)

Eastern Qing Tomb, Zunhua, China
(May 2009)

Eastern Qing Tomb, Zunhua, China
(May 2009)

Eastern Qing Tomb, Zunhua, China
(May 2009)

The Last Emperor of China
Qing Dynasty

• Formation of The Provisional Republican Government by Dr Sun Yat Sen on Oct 10 1911.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
Guangzhou, China (2015)

• Formation of The People's Republic of China on Oct 1 1949 by Mao Zedong in Beijing. 

Mao Ze Dong Statute, Changsa, Hunan
China (Sept 2011)

My Footprints in  Ancient Towns / Villages / Streets of China - My China Dream (2006 > 2023)

1) Muslim Quarter (Muslim Street), Xi'an, Shaanxi, China - Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province in Central China, once known as Chang'an (Eternal Peace), marks the Silk Road's eastern end & was home to the Zhou, Qin, Han & Tang dynasties' ruling houses, at archaeological sites in Xi'an are the famed Bingmayong (Terra Cotta Army), thousands of the life size, hand-molded figures buried with China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang; Muslim Quarter was a part of the imperial city in the Tang Dynasty, at that time the Huihe Tribe supported the General Guo Ziyi quelled the An Lushan Rebellion, when the General Guo returned to Chang'an (now Xi'an), more than 200 Huihe generals & their followers went to the city with him, after assimilating the culture & laws of the Han people resulting in the entire quarter expanded to become the Hui community, the Quarter has also become the settlement of foreign envoys & merchants who came to Chang'an for business & most of the people there now are the descendants of these ancient immigrants; in 1900, the Empress Dowager Cixi & Emperor Guangxu fled to Xi'an; in the end of 1990s, the Muslims here made this food street thrived & famous by selling authentic / specialty Muslim food to visitors / tourists (visited in May 2006, Sept 2012, August 2015 & May 2017)

Muslim Quarter, Xi'an, China (May 2006)

Muslim Quarter, Xi'an
China (Sept 2012)

Muslim Quarter, Xi'an, China (Aug 2015)

Muslim Quarter, Xi'an
China (May 2017)

2) Pingyao Ancient City (UNESCO), Shanxi, China - founded in Western Zhou Dynasty in 8th century BC, a history of 2,700 years, a walled city (6km long) famed for its importance in Chinese economic history & for its well preserved Ming & Qing urban planning & architecture, the South Street (Ming & Qing Dynasty Ancient Street 1367 > 1912) was known as " China's Wall Street" of that period, the old Rishengchang Draft Bank is now a museum of Chinese banking (visited Sept 2009)

3) Ciqikou Ancient Town, Chongqing, China - originally called Longyin Town, also known as Little Chongqing, built from 998 > 1003 & it was called Baiyachang, during the early Qing Dynasty (1636 > 1912), the town was famous for producing & selling porcelain, "Ciqi" in Chinese is called porcelain, the old town has 12 streets & most of the architectures were built in Ming & Qing architectural style, the roads on the streets are all paved with stone plates (visited Sept 2009). 

4) Old Town of Lijiang (UNESCO), Yunnan, China - first built in the late Song Dynasty & early Yuan Dynasty with a history of 800 years, from the beginning to the reign of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty, Lijiang Old Town was under the rule of Mu Family (local commanders), most buildings are of Naxi style architecture, one of the four best preserved ancient cities in China (visited Sept 2010, Sept 2014 & Nov 2019)

Old Town of Lijiang (UNESCO)
Yunnan, China (Sept 2010)

Old Town of Lijiang (UNESCO)
Yunnan, China (Sept 2014)

Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan
China (Nov 2019)

5) Dali Old Town, Yunnan, China - located between Cangshan Mountain & Erhai lake, first built in Ming Dynasty, an ancient capital of Nanzhao Kingdom & Dali Kingdom, a historic town with profound Bai ethnic minority culture & architecture, old temples & courtyards etc (visited Sept 2010 & Nov 2019) 

Dali Old Town, Yunnan
China (2010) 

Dali Old Town, Yunnan, China (Nov 2019)

6) Xidi Village (UNESCO), Anhui, China - located 40km from Huangshan mountain, built during the Song Dynasty (960 > 1279 AD), a history of over 900 years, the village surrounded by mountains & clear streams flowing through it looked very picturesque, the ancient archway at the front of the entrance is more than 400 years old still in good condition (visited Sept 2010)

7) Hong Chun Ancient Village (UNESCO), Anhui, China - located 37km from Huangshan Scenic Area, a well preserved & structured rural village in feudal China, over 900 years, old Ming & Qing buildings & courtyards (visited Sept 2010)

8) Tunxi Ancient Street, Tunxi District, Huangshan City, Anhui, China - best preserved old street in China in the style of Song Dynasty (AD 960 > 1127), Ming (AD 1368 > 1644) & Qing (1644 > 1911), over 630 years of history, more than 300 over Hui-style architectures dotted the area (visited Sept 2010 & Nov 2017)) 

Tunxi Ancient Street, Huangshan
Anhui, China (Sept 2010)

Tunxi Ancient Street, Huangshan
Anhui, China (Nov 2017)

9) Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan, China - also known as Phoenix Ancient Town, phoenix is a sacred firebird in Chinese mythology representing good omens & longevity, over 400 years old, a small county town renowned for its natural beauty, rich history, colorful ethnic customs & photogenic night scenery (visited Sept 2012).  

10) Fujian Tuluo, Hukeng, Yongding County, Longyan, Fujian, China - giant multistoried (4 - 5 storey) homes built with wood & fortified with mud walls, constructed between the 15th & 20th century, these massive communal homes were sited with feng shui principles & are purposely nestled amidst tea, tobacco & rice fields & bountiful forests of pine & bamboo (Sept 2013 & Dec 2014)

Fujian Tulou, China 
(Dec 2014)

11) Paifang Street, Chaozhou city, Guangdong, China - a historical street combining Chinese & foreign styles in Chaozhou city, Paifang (memorial Arch) is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (770 > 256 BC, built to commend & commemorate celebrities & sages, in the Ming & Qing Dynasties (1368 > 1912), there were more than 100 Paifangs in Chaozhou, in the late Qing Dynasty, arcade buildings with Southeast Asian architectural style were introduced into Guangdong (visited in Dec 2013) 

12) Shuhe Ancient Town, Lijiang, Yunnan, China - the earliest habitation of the Naxi ancestors, an international trade route in Southwest China that uses horse as its main vehicle, also named Longquan Village (Dragon Spring Village) located north of Lijiang Ancient City. (visited in Sept 2014) 

13) Baisa Ancient Town, Lijiang, Yunnan, China - located about 12km, north of Lijiang City, a history of 800 years, the original settlement of the Naxi people in Lijiangba, "Baisha" means white sand, it was the cradle land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan, Baisha was a center of silk embroidery in southwest China & an important place on the Ancient Tea & Horse Road. (visited Sept 2014) 

14) Huanglongxi Ancient Town, Chengdu, Sichuan, China - a historic Chinese town (one of the top 10 riverside ancient towns), named after the Huanglong River, the town is over 1,700 years old & has been restored to retain its rustic charm with ancient cobbled streets, temples, wharves & houses (76 dwellings built in the Ming & Qing dynasties) along its curving alleys (visited August 2014)

15) Kuai Zhai Xingzi (The Wide & Narrow Alleys), Chengdu, Sichuan, China - two ancient streets restoring the old architecture in Ming (1368 > 1644) & Qing (1644 > 1911) & they are the shorter versions of Chengdu, a city combining history & modern changes (visit August 2014) 

16) Sanfang Qixiang (Three Lanes & Seven Alleys) Fuzhou City, Fujian, China - a well preserved architectural complex of the Ming & Qing Dynasty covering a total of 40 hectares with 268 ancient houses, an important symbol showing the long history of Fuzhou city (visited Dec 2014)

17) Shanghai Old Street, Shanghai, China - historically called Miaoqian Dajie, an old business street of Shanghai, the architecture & the layout of shops in Shanghai Old Street were developed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 > 1644) until the period when European influence made an impact on the city, the western part of this old street begins at Henan Road & continues to Guangyi Road, the buildings here reflect the style of Ming & Qing (1644 > 1911) (visited Dec 2015)

18) Da Zha Lan, Old Beijing, China - Da Zha Lan is one of the few remnants of the city's original system of hutong, narrow alleys & lanes of either residential or commercial purposes, this narrow Qing Dynasty (1644 > 1911) street resembles a Western city's Chinatown, play host to a number of Beijing most famous shops & tradition industries ie Tong Ren Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop, Zhang Yi Yuan Tea Shop, Rui Fi Xiang Silk Shop, there are also trinket shops, back-street cinemas, leather & fur stores & a branch of Tianjin's famous Gou Bu Li fast food chain (August 2015)

19) Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai, China - a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, established about 1,700 years ago, archeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found, 36 stone bridges & numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao & many ancient buildings still line the riverbanks (visited Dec 2015)

20) Nanxun Ancient Town, Zhejiang, China - a bea old town in the south of the Yangtze River that has 750 years of history, renowned for its elegant & exquisite gardens that combine elements of both western & Chinese cultures, boasts of large amount of well preserved ancient architectures & historic sites, the town is one of the 6 famous ancient towns in Southern China, along with Tongli, Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Xitang & Yongzhi. (visited Nov 2017)

21) Yuehe Ancient Town, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China -  located near Zhongji Road, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, lying on the Grand Canal of China, Jiaxing borders Hangzhou to the southwest, Huzhou to the west, Shanghai to the north & the province of Jiangsu to the north, Jiaxing was founded in the Qin Dynasty & has a cultural history of 2,000 years also Home of Silk; Jiaxing City is the site (on a red boat) of the first meeting of the Communist Party of China (1921); ancient streets & alleys, old dwellings, ancient bridges, small rivers make this ancient water town very touristy especially at night when the area is lighted up (visited Nov 2017)

22) Xizhou Ancient Town, Yunnan - a town located 20km from Dali Old Town, part of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan, historically important as a trading post along the Tea Horse Road, high concentration of preserved & restored traditional Bai architecture (built from the Ming & Qing Dynasties 1368 > 1912) & protected heritage sutes. (visited Nov 2019) 

23) Ancient Town of the Yi Nationality - located on Yong'an West Road, Economic Development Zone, Chuxiong City, the ancient town display the culture of the Yi nationality, the main attractions are Wangjiang Tower, Peach Blossom Stream, Deyun Square, Yi triabe & Tusi Mansion (visited Nov 2019)

24) Huangyao Ancient Town, Zhaoping County, Hezhou, Guangxi, China - 40km from Hezhou & 150km from Yangshuo, a history of 1000 years, first developed during the reign of Wanli Emperor (1572 > 1620) of the Ming Dynasty & prospered during the reign of Qianlong Emperor (1735 > 1796) most of its buildings date from the Ming & Qing Dynasty (visited Oct 2023)

25) Xingping Ancient Town, Guilin, Guangxi, China - 25km from Yangshuo County, oldest town in Yangshuo, formerly a fishing village with a history of 1,730 years, Guanpang Temple which was built in the 4th year (1739) of Emperor Qianlong's reign of the Qing Dynasty has a performance stage which is well preserved & retained. (visited Oct 2023)

26) Maling Guzhai (Ancient Village), Lipu, Guangxi, China - an original ecological ancient village scenic spot integrating folk customs tours, leisure sightseeing tours & folk ecological tours of the Dong nationality, one of the 4 major ethnic minorities in Guangxi & has lived here for generations (visited Oct 2023) 

27) East West Lane (Dong Xi Xiang), Guilin, Guangxi, China - located in front of the Zhenyang Gate of the Jingjiang Princes City, Guilin, also known as Zhengyang East Lane & Zhengyang West Lane, witnessed the historical rise & fall of Guilin City for nearly 1400 years since the city was built during the Wude years of the Tang Dynasty, the only historical street of the Ming & Qing dynasties left in Guilin, it is a scenic spot showing the ancient historical features of Guilin including traditional streets & lanes such as Zhengyang Street East Lane, Jiangnam Lane & Lanjing Lane. (visited Oct 2023).