Tangqi Ancient Town, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Tangqi Ancient Town is located in Linping District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is an ancient town with a history of more than 1,300 years, dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was known as one of the "Top 10 Famous Towns in Jiangnan." Tangqi Ancient Town is famous for its unique water town charm and rich historical culture. It is an important waterway along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and has been the water gateway to Hangzhou since ancient times. The core tourist area of the ancient town covers about 0.3 square kilometers. The scenic area extends east to Huayuan Bridge, west to Yuanman Road, south to Guangji Road, and north to Yubei Street. Tangqi Ancient Town began construction in 2008 and gradually opened to the public in 2010. In 2014, it was rated as a 4A-level scenic tourist area. Tangqi Ancient Town is known for its rich historical relics and cultural heritage, including Guangji Bridge, Qianlong Imperial Stele, and Guo Pu Ancient Well. The Qianlong Imperial Stele records historical events during Emperor Qianlong's southern tour. The Guo Pu Ancient Well was built by the Eastern Jin Dynasty writer Guo Pu and is still a source of water for the residents of the ancient town. In addition, Tangqi Ancient Town is famous for its rich food culture. Local snacks such as Fagen cakes, Huichang rice dumplings, and Cimao meatballs are popular with tourists. The recommended visit time is about 3 hours.