Exploring the "Island in the Water" Dongchangfu: A 600-Year Journey Through Poetry and Jianghu

"Have you ever seen an ancient city lifted by lake water? It’s not Venice, nor Suzhou, but Dongchangfu in Liaocheng, Shandong—a 'Eastern Island' immersed in 6.3 square kilometers of lake water. This was once the battlefield guarded by 'Featherless Arrow' Zhang Qing in Water Margin, and the place inscribed by Emperor Qianlong as 'Divine Light Resonates with Jade.' When ancient brick walls meet glass curtain walls, and thread-bound books share sunlight with coffee art, this Ming and Qing dynasty ancient city, surrounded by modern villa communities, is breathing for 600 years, waiting for you to listen to a dialogue folded across time and space." ------ 🌉 Water City Code: A 6.3 Square Kilometer Space-Time Fold Dongchang Lake, this 6.3 square kilometer jade-green water body, is the soul of Dongchangfu. It’s like a gentle hand lifting the ancient city, allowing the smoke of spring and autumn wars, the iron armor of the Song and Yuan dynasties, and the misty rain of the Ming and Qing dynasties to layer and settle here. Strolling along the lakeside, every crack on the bluestone path hides a story: the lotus patterns on the Northern Song iron pagoda shimmer in the sunlight, the flying eaves of Guangyue Tower pierce the clouds, and across the lake in the villa clusters, a Starbucks cup reflects the Ming dynasty city tower. Where Legend Meets Reality: In Chapter 70 of Water Margin, "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing strikes Liangshan’s 15 heroes with stones before being captured by Wu Yong’s scheme. In reality, the south gate "Yongqing" of Dongchangfu was his fortress. Standing before the gate ruins, you can almost hear the whistling stones and the ripples of the lake resonating together. 🏯 Four National Treasures: Frozen Epics and Beliefs 1. Shanshan Guild Hall: The Flying Eaves Code of Shanxi-Shaanxi Merchants’ Spirit In the eighth year of Qianlong (1743), merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi built this "commercial temple" with 300,000 taels of silver. The glazed divine beasts on the flying eaves, the bangzi opera under the stage, and the incense offerings before the statue of Guan Yu weave a 300-year-old legend of commerce. Hidden Fun: Count the 119 divine beasts on the guild hall’s gate tower, each hiding the wealth code of Shanxi merchants; at dusk when the lights come on, the golden glaze dances with the sunset, and every snap is a masterpiece of Chinese style. 2. Liaocheng Iron Pagoda: The Steel Poem of the Northern Song One of only four surviving Northern Song iron pagodas nationwide, the octagonal thirteen-story tower is covered with lotus patterns and stands tall after a thousand years of wind and rain. The Buddha relics and silver coffin unearthed in the underground palace in 1973 add mystery to this "steel poem." Trivia: The pagoda was originally wooden, burned down during the late Northern Song wars, and was recast in cast iron during the Jin dynasty, making it the earliest existing cast iron Buddhist pagoda in China. 3. Guangyue Tower: The "Number One Tower in Western Shandong" Inscribed by Qianlong A Ming dynasty pavilion that hasn’t moved an inch in 600 years, Emperor Qianlong once inscribed the plaque "Divine Light Resonates with Jade" here. From the tower, the "water ancient city" painting of the lake and city unfolds slowly before your eyes, while downstairs in the café, young people are filming this ancient-modern dialogue on their phones. Highlight Moments: In the early morning mist, the lake surface mirrors the tower like a scene from the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival; at night when the lights come on, the flying eaves dance with the starry sky, instantly turning cyberpunk. 4. Haiyuan Pavilion: A Cultural Monument of Qing Dynasty Book Collections One of the four great ancient libraries alongside Ningbo’s Tianyi Pavilion, the Yang family collected 220,000 volumes over four generations, attracting scholars of the Qian-Jia school. Though many books are now lost, the carved bookshelves still emit the scent of ink, and the second-floor display of the "Four Classics and Four Histories" still shows thread-bound books from the Qianlong era. Interactive Experience: At the teahouse beside the old library site, order a pot of Liaocheng’s specialty "Lingzhi tea" and listen to the owner tell how Yang Yizeng traded boatloads of grain for rare ancient books. 🏰 City Wall Stories: Defensive Wisdom from the Hongwu Era During the Hongwu period of the Ming dynasty, blue brick city walls rose, and four gates opened like giant beasts: • South Gate "Yongqing": Watching over the lake, once Zhang Qing’s arrow tower; • North Gate "Xuanwei": Connecting the land route, with clear wheel track marks in the gate passage; • East Gate "Chunxi": Facing the morning sun, the brick carving "Purple Qi Comes from the East" on the gate tower is vivid; • West Gate "Qiucheng": Sending off the sunset, outside was once a bustling canal transport dock. Archaeological Site: During the 2017 wall restoration, archaeologists found Northern Song coins and Ming dynasty firearms in the rammed earth layers, proving this has long been a strategic military site. 🌆 Modern Paradox: A Civilization Island Amid Villas When ancient buildings are surrounded by modern villa communities, the flying eaves of Guangyue Tower and glass curtain walls form a fascinating dialogue. Next to the old Haiyuan Pavilion site, coffee art and thread-bound books share sunlight; under the Shanshan Guild Hall stage, girls in Hanfu hold selfie sticks live streaming. Controversial Topic: Is this "ancient-modern coexistence" destruction or innovation? Some find it jarring, others love the absurdity of "meeting the Ming dynasty in a villa community." Visitor Reviews: • "Feels like traveling to a parallel universe—one moment shooting ancient style photos, the next ordering takeout." • "Should rename it 'Dongchangfu Cyber Ancient City,' it would definitely be a hit!" 📌 In-Depth Travel Tips: How to Explore Dongchangfu? Location and Transportation • Address: Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province • By Car: 2 hours from Jinan, 1.5 hours from Tai’an, with stops possible at Qufu’s 'Three Confucian Sites'; • High-Speed Rail: 15-minute taxi ride from Liaocheng West Station. Highlight Schedule • 5:30-7:00 AM: Climb Guangyue Tower in the morning mist to capture lake reflections; • 6:00-7:30 PM: Watch Shanshan Guild Hall light up at dusk, golden glaze dancing with sunset; • 9:00-11:00 PM: Night tour of Dongchang Lake, ride a painted boat and hear the boatman’s tale of the "Featherless Arrow." Hidden Fun List 1. Chat with Elders about Jianghu: At a lakeside teahouse, spend 10 yuan on tea and hear locals tell how Zhang Qing used stones to fight Liangshan heroes; 2. Listen to Shandong Kuaishu: Every Saturday afternoon, the "Water City Book Stage" beside Guangyue Tower hosts a special show "The Battle of Dongchangfu"; 3. Collect Stamps: Shanshan Guild Hall, Haiyuan Pavilion, and Guangyue Tower each have unique stamps; collect them all to exchange for cultural bookmarks. Pitfall Guide • Not Worth a Special Trip: If passing through Jinan/Tai’an, it’s worth 2 hours; if coming specifically, combine with Qufu and Tai’erzhuang Ancient City; • Avoid High Heels: Bluestone roads are uneven; comfortable sneakers recommended; • Don’t Buy "Antiques": Many "Northern Song ironware" sold at street stalls around the ancient city are modern crafts. 🌿 Conclusion: When Lost in the Villa Area, Follow the Blue Bricks Home Dongchangfu is like a water-soaked thread-bound book, its characters blurred but each page breathing the spirit of Western Shandong. When you get lost in the villa area, follow the guidance of the blue bricks—the warmth of the Ming dynasty soaked by the lake is speaking to you through every brick, tile, and whiff of tea.