Fengsheng Ancient Town (丰盛古镇), located in the northeastern part of Ba’nan District, is the convergence point of Ba’nan, Fuling, and Nanchuan, aptly described as “one step to cross three counties.” Established in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Fengsheng was once an essential relay station for travelers heading from Chongqing Prefecture to Nanchuan and Fuling.
The hilly terrain in the surrounding area of the ancient town posed a significant natural barrier to entry, leading to the construction of numerous mountain strongholds in ancient times. Among the identifiable ruins of these strongholds today are Tianping Stronghold, Gongshan Stronghold, Laoya Stronghold, Tiewa Stronghold, Guanshan Stronghold, and Shengping Stronghold.
However, what truly captivates visitors is the picturesque cobblestone streets that wind through the town. Notable preserved stone-paved streets in the ancient town include Fushou Street, Shizi Street, and Banbian Street. On both sides of these ancient streets, you can find 2-3 story wooden shops with green-brick black-tile courtyards behind them. The eaves, lintels, doors, and windows are often adorned with intricate decorative elements featuring drama stories, fish, insects, birds, and animals, showcasing a distinctive Hui architectural style that is rarely seen in many other ancient towns in Chongqing.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Fengsheng Ancient Town
- Vlog about Fengsheng Ancient Town
- Other Ancient Towns in Chongqing
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | Half a day |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
| Telephone Number | 0086-023-66431107 0086-023-66431791 |
Location and Transportation
Fengsheng Ancient Town is located in the northeastern part of Ba’nan District, Chongqing City. It is situated approximately 50 kilometers east of the central area of Chongqing City and approximately 70 kilometers from Longzhou Bay, which serves as the administrative center of Ba’nan District.
To get to Fengsheng Ancient Town from Chongqing, you can take a long-distance bus from Nanping Bus Station to Mudong (木洞). From Mudong, transfer to a bus heading to Fengsheng. The entire journey takes approximately two hours. Alternatively, you can take a long-distance bus to Dongwenquan (东温泉) and then transfer to a bus heading to Fengsheng Ancient Town from Wubu.
Highlights of Fengsheng Ancient Town
Big House (Dafangzi)
Originally known as the “Elephant-shaped House Foundation,” the Big House is located 3 kilometers south of Fengsheng and was built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of 1.33 hectares, it was a private residence constructed by a wealthy Liu family at the time. The name “Elephant-shaped House Foundation” was derived from the fact that the topography of the land in front of the house resembled an elephant. In the 1950s, the construction of the Xiangshui Reservoir led to changes in the landscape, and the “elephant” shape disappeared. People began calling it the “Big House.” It is the largest and best-preserved ancient dwelling in Fengsheng Ancient Town, currently housing 30 households with around 100 villagers. The Big House exhibits the architectural style of Ba and Yu regions (巴渝), characterized by wooden structured buildings, two stories high, and green-tiled roofs.
Yipin Hall
Yipin Hall is situated to the east of Shuyuan Street in Fengsheng Ancient Town, comprising three quadrangle courtyards arranged in the shape of the Chinese character “品” (pin), displaying grand and majestic architecture. Folklore suggests that it was the residence of a high-ranking official, hence the name “Yipin Hall.” The walls and eaves of each courtyard feature exquisite carvings, utilizing various techniques such as deep and shallow relief, as well as openwork carving. The decorative motifs primarily depict symbols of wealth, prosperity, and fertility, such as dragons, phoenixes, peonies, and grapes. Within Yipin Hall, there is a well-preserved Sichuan-style tower, and one can observe a “Tukou (swallowing mouth)” relief on the front eaves. The “swallowing mouth” is a mythical creature revered by the local people of western Sichuan, believed to consume all calamities and evil spirits, ensuring favorable weather and conditions.
Ancient Town Watchtowers (Diaolou)
The watchtowers, known as “Diaolou,” are a significant feature of Fengsheng Ancient Town, blending local Ba and Yu architectural styles with Western architectural influences. Experts refer to them as “Chuan-Chu Diaolou,” a type of defensive structure. During the Ming and Qing periods, Fengsheng was a bustling hub for merchants, with numerous shops and businesses. To protect against bandits and ensure the prosperity of trade, affluent families often built these watchtowers within their extensive residential compounds.
Colorful Forest
Located 4 kilometers from Fengsheng Ancient Town in Youfang Village, there is a natural maple forest covering an area of 13.33 hectares. This forest boasts the largest natural maple trees near the main city of Chongqing, with some trees having a trunk diameter of up to 50 centimeters. In recent years, the Chongqing government has expanded the forest by introducing a variety of colorful trees such as Japanese maples, European maples, American maples, purple-leaf cherry trees, Canadian redbuds, compound-leaf maples, osmanthus, and ginkgo trees, covering an area of up to 200 hectares. This area is ideal for enjoying the vibrant autumn foliage.
