Stories of Zhongfeng Old Street: From prosperity to decline.

Stories of Zhongfeng Old Street: From prosperity to decline. Built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Zhongfeng Old Street in Qijiang District boasts one of the best-preserved collections of Ming and Qing wooden architecture. The street stretches over 200 meters, lined with wooden houses featuring mortise-and-tenon beam frames, overhanging gable roofs, and small green tile coverings. In the center of the street stands Zhongfeng Temple, originally built in the Ming Dynasty. First known as Dapeng Mountain, then Sanhuixiang, it was finally renamed Zhongfeng Temple. Once a thriving hub for pilgrims from all directions, it served as a crucial stop on the Sichuan Salt Road (from Jiangjin to Guizhou). Zhongfeng Old Street was the original site of Zhongfeng Commune and Zhongfeng Township, housing the township government, bank, and granary. During the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, salt and tea merchants from Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou traveling to and from Yunnan and Guizhou often passed through this area. At its peak, the street bustled with merchants and travelers, becoming a vital rest stop on the Sichuan Salt Road and a significant trading center between Sichuan and Guizhou. In the 1980s, the Zhongfeng Township government, Zhongfeng primary and secondary schools, bank, and post office relocated to a new street along the Qingxi River. The old street gradually declined, and residents followed suit, leading to the disappearance of its former prosperity. In recent years, the street's simple folk customs, mysterious tranquility, and leisurely atmosphere have attracted numerous writers, painters, and hikers from near and far. It has become an important base for sketching, film and television shooting, and the dissemination of Buddhist culture. In August 2006, the Qijiang District People's Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. Navigate to "Zhongfeng Old Street" in Qijiang District. It's not recommended to make a special trip here, as the 200-meter bluestone road can be covered in a short walk. Most of the old houses are now dilapidated, and a cordon has been placed around Zhongfeng Temple. Consider combining your visit with nearby attractions, such as the "Lingying Rock Carvings Totem" mentioned in my previous post, which is only 6 km from Zhongfeng Old Street.