Wuxi | Ningchang Ancient Town
| Ningchang Ancient Town. ◾️ Ningchang Ancient Town is located about 10 kilometers from Wuxi County. This is a thousand-year-old town, known as the ancient salt capital. It is a town with a salty flavor, born because of salt, prospered because of salt, and declined because of salt.
◾️ Ningchang Ancient Town has a history of salt production for more than 4000 years. "During the Yu and Xia periods, the Wuguo prospered due to the salt industry," and Ningchang Ancient Town in Wuxi County became one of the top ten early salt production sites in China. It is the birthplace and cradle of ancient human civilization in the Three Gorges area, known as the world's "ancient salt capital" and the "ancestor" of the world's handicraft workshops.
◾️ Ningchang Ancient Town is located on one side of the Daning River. People built houses along the narrow area, forming a long street of 7 li, commonly known as "Seven Li Half Street." Most of the buildings in the town are bamboo and wood structures, with an ancient charm. Most of them are built along the river, supported by slanted wooden piles, and these suspended houses are called stilted buildings. The Daning River passes under the stilted buildings, dividing the ancient town into two. There are three suspension bridges on the river, connecting the ancient town with the road on the opposite side.
◾️ The salt production of Ningchang Ancient Town once accounted for 20% of Sichuan's salt production. During the Kangxi to Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, Ningchang Town had 336 salt furnaces, reaching its peak period. At its peak, Ningchang Town accommodated 20,000 people. The salt boiling pots operated day and night, and the salt transport boats occupied the river, presenting a prosperous scene. Nowadays, Ningchang Ancient Town has less than a dozen households, and the prosperity has faded, leaving it desolate and bleak. Wandering through the ancient town, you can travel through a thousand years of time and feel the faded glory.
◾️ Travel Tips:
Opening hours: Open all year round
Ticket information: Free
Transportation information: It is recommended to drive by yourself and navigate directly to Ningchang Ancient Town.
Accommodation: Currently, there is no accommodation (including hotels, homestays, and guesthouses) in Ningchang Ancient Town. It is recommended to stay in Wuxi County.
Small suggestion: It is best to bring drinking water when visiting the ancient town, as there are no supermarkets or small shops in the ancient town.