Who can resist the charm of a quaint ancient town? Songgai Ancient Town

Songgai Ancient Town is the first ancient town along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River from Sichuan to Chongqing. Despite its long and tumultuous history, the bustling days of old are gone, but there are still many original residents in the town, preserving its simple and primitive charm. Like other ancient towns, Songgai prospered because of water. In the old days, when land transportation was long and rugged, transporting goods was very difficult. Therefore, whether in coastal areas like Jiangsu and Zhejiang or inland regions, there would always be an ancient town by the water to facilitate trade and serve as a hub for the distribution of goods. Before coming to Songgai, I thought it would be heavily commercialized, but after arriving, I realized I was overly concerned. Although Songgai Ancient Town is one of the first batch of historical and cultural towns, located by the Yangtze River and seemingly convenient for transportation, its overly remote location not only keeps it far from the central urban areas but also 40 kilometers away from the city that governs it. This has destined Songgai Ancient Town to be far less developed in many aspects than its contemporaries. Speaking of Songgai Ancient Town, the old street is nearly ten miles long, which is the longest among the ancient towns in Chongqing. The town is not very popular, with only scattered stalls on the street. Spending a weekend strolling down this long street, looking at temples, ancestral halls, and other ancient buildings, the reconstructed Jade Emperor Pavilion is the most magnificent building in the town. After the walk, you can go to the riverside, enjoy the breeze, and take the ferry back and forth. Isn't it a leisurely and comfortable experience? Many people may not be 'warm' to the idea of visiting ancient towns, always thinking that it's the most boring and least fun type of travel. On the surface, ancient town trips like those to Fenghuang or Pingyao may indeed not be very 'fun', but visiting an ancient town is definitely the most relaxing, leisurely, and mood-soothing activity. If you take the time to truly experience the essence of an ancient town, or even stay for a few days, I think many people would change their original views on ancient towns... Songgai Ancient Town Address: No. 191, Caiyuan Road, Songgai Town, Yongchuan District, Chongqing Transportation: It is recommended to drive and navigate directly to Songgai Ancient Town Features: Nine Big Bowls of the ancient town, various steamed dishes Tickets: Free, no time limit