Xilai Ancient Town

⁉️ The only thousand-year-old ancient town in Chengdu 🔸 Located in Linxi County, the county was established in the second year of Emperor Gong of Western Wei (555 AD) and was named after the Linxi River. Linxi County has gone through nine dynasties after its establishment, including Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Former Shu, Later Tang, Later Shu, and Northern Song, spanning 517 years. In the fifth year of Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1072), Linxi County was downgraded to Linxi Town and assigned to Linqiong (Qionglai County). In the sixth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1373), the Ming government re-established Pujiang County. ⁉️ Why is it called Xilai Ancient Town? 🔸 One explanation is that, from an aerial perspective, the residential houses in the town form the shape of the Chinese character "Xi" (west). The second explanation is a legend. It is said that in the first year of Kangxi (1662 AD), the Linxi River experienced an unprecedented flood that washed the wooden statue of Guan Yu from the Guandi Temple in Zhangkui Field upstream to the fields. A Guandi Temple was built here. The gate of the Guandi Temple in Xilai faces west, signifying that Guan Yu came from the west. ⁉️ What to see in Xilai Ancient Town 🔸 A century-old street, Boji Street, Yanxiangzi, Shuixiangzi, Hualongmenzi, and Tingzi Lane crisscross, forming a 1,200-meter-long street and nearly 700-meter-long alleys. Many Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings are preserved here, and the residences are typical of western Sichuan, simple and elegant. 🔸 The Chengdu Campaign Memorial Hall, a two-story building, tells the unyielding history of the Chengdu people during the War of Resistance. It is located in the west of the ancient town. Nearby are farmland and Babagan orange-growing areas, which are now prosperous and stable. 🔸 Boat coffin. A huge boat coffin, over 3,000 years old, is displayed on the old street. This is the 10th boat coffin unearthed in Pujiang County. The boat coffin is 6.8m long and 1.5m in diameter. It was carved from a Phoebe zhennan tree that was over 1,000 years old. Boat coffins were the most popular burial custom in the upper class of the ancient Shu Kingdom. ⁉️ What to eat in Xilai Ancient Town 🔸 Braised pig's trotters, bean curd, blood curd, braised pork intestines... rice cakes and snacks, Babagan oranges in March, and home-brewed wine. ⁉️ Recommended transportation 🔸 High-speed train 🚅 Chengdu - Xilai Station, about 40 mins 🔸 Self-driving, parking lot 🅿️ CNY 6 🔸 There are one-day tours for tour groups