Exploring Chongren Ancient Town|A Hidden Paradise Away from Commercial Clamor
⛩Coordinates: Chongren Ancient Town, quietly nestled about 11 kilometers northwest of Shengzhou city center, reachable by a short drive from Shengzhou High-Speed Railway Station.
✨A Hidden Gem with Timeless Charm
🔍Within the ancient town, over a hundred well-preserved old houses and ancestral halls, temples, theaters, residences, archways, shops, stone bridges, clear ponds, and ancient wells are scattered, showcasing a rustic charm.
🔍As a national key cultural relic protection unit, Chongren Ancient Town has maintained its precious original appearance with little commercial disturbance, making it a tranquil and niche retreat.
✨Exquisite Three Carvings, Masterful Craftsmanship
🔍Wandering through the alleys of the ancient town, the exquisite craftsmanship of brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings is breathtaking. The Bailu Taimen is particularly notable, with its beams carved with ninety-nine vividly different deer. The wood and brick carvings of Yushan Ancestral Hall are also rare artistic treasures.
🔍Inside the Weizhen Temple, there is a beautifully crafted stage, reputed to be the finest in Zhejiang, where many famous Yue Opera performers once graced the stage, leaving countless stories.
✨Family Clusters, Long-lasting Cultural Heritage
🔍The architecture of the ancient town mainly consists of enclosed courtyards, with Taimen connected by over-street buildings, reflecting the traditional style of "separate but not isolated, living in family clusters."
🔍The Qiu descendants living here have been talented for generations. From the Song to the Qing dynasties, many officials emerged, including four Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and thirty-seven Juren (successful candidates in the provincial examinations), with over four hundred Xiucai (successful candidates in the county-level examinations), showcasing a rich cultural heritage.
✨A Model Ancient Village, Witness to History
🔍From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, Chongren Ancient Town was an economic hub in eastern Zhejiang, with thriving silk, tea, and cloth factories, and numerous wealthy businesses, earning it the nickname "Little Shanghai of Eastern Zhejiang."
🔍At that time, the ancient town had courts, police stations, and even local armed forces, forming a relatively independent governance system, vividly illustrating the changes in township governance structures during the late Qing and Republic periods, making it a "living fossil."
📸Must-Visit Places: Weizhen Temple, Yushan Ancestral Hall, Wenyuan Taimen, Dangdian Taimen, Houmen Pond, Jingcheng Study, Dafu Taimen, Laowu Taimen, each bearing rich history and culture.
🍽️Food Recommendations: Be sure to try the local specialties such as rice cake dumplings, tofu buns, Shengzhou small steamed buns, chicken soup, and stewed duck, allowing your taste buds to indulge in the ancient and charming town's flavors.