2025 Langzhong Ancient Town Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in January)

It was an amazing experience visiting Langzhong Ancient City, Sichuan.

Langzhong, formerly known as Baoning, is located in the north of the Sichuan Basin, in the middle reaches of the Jialing River. The Langzhong Mountains are located on the east and west sides of the Jialing River. The Daba Mountains are to the east of the Jialing River, and the Jianmen Mountains are to the west. Langzhong is known as a "paradise on earth" and a "feng shui treasure land." It is also China's first feng shui ancient city. In the mid-Warring States period, Langzhong was the capital of the Ba Kingdom. King Huiwen of Qin established Langzhong County. Langzhong Ancient City was an important military town in the ancient Ba and Shu kingdoms and is one of China's four major ancient cities. Langzhong Ancient City is a national 5A tourist attraction. Its architectural style reflects the feng shui concept of ancient Chinese residences. The checkerboard layout of the ancient city integrates both northern and southern styles. It is a typical example of the ancient Chinese architectural site selection concept of "harmony between man and nature." The main attractions include the Han Huanhou Temple, Wulong Temple, Yong'an Temple, and Tengwang Pavilion. The Han Huanhou Temple, also known as Zhang Fei Temple, was built during the Three Kingdoms period. The existing buildings are relics rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Zhang Fei was one of the Five Tiger Generals of the Shu Han Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. After Liu Bei conquered Sichuan, he appointed Zhang Fei as the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Governor of Ba County to guard Langzhong, ensure the safety of the people, and develop agriculture and sericulture. In the first year of Zhangwu, he was killed by his subordinates and posthumously named Huanhou. This time, I went on a self-driving tour from Xi'an to Tengchong. The first stop was Langzhong, where I stayed at the Langzhong Tianfu Myu Hotel for two nights. I visited Langzhong Ancient City and Dongshan Garden and took a walk along the Jialing River. It was a wonderful trip. The next stop is Ya'an.

#traveldiaries Located in the northern part of Sichuan Province and in the middle reaches of the Jialingjiang River, the ancient city of Langzhong is a famous historical and cultural city. Located in the southern part of Langzhong Urban Area, the Ancient City of Langzhong is the only fully preserved ancient city in Sichuan Province. Langzhong has a long history. During the Warring States period, it was the national capital of Ba State. From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, it was the center of astronomical research in China. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Langzhong was the temporary capital of Sichuan Province for 19 consecutive years. Due to its unique geographical location, Lanzhong has always been the political, economic, military and cultural center of Sichuan Province. This is the cradle of several cultures including culture of himba, the culture of geomancy, the culture of the Three Kingdoms, the culture of imperial examinations, ancient astronomy, religious directions, folk culture, culinary culture and etc. The ancient streets there are a treasure trove, which houses the ancient buildings of the cities of Ba and Shu. What is most remarkable is the ancient streets of different widths and lengths, just like in the poems, among which ancient courtyards, ancient houses and ancient trees are scattered. The ancient streets are so unique and exquisite that they deserve to be called an exotic flower in Chinese architectural culture. Combining the characteristics of quadrangular dwellings in northern China and gardens in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta, the ancient dwellings of Langzhong differ in building styles - some resemble a string of beads, some look like the Chinese character "品", some look like the Chinese character "多". Surrounded by mountains and waters, Langzhong enjoys a reputation as a "picturesque land" and a "fortress of Ba and Shu cities." The long history has given Langzhong a magnificent culture and more than 200 attractions that still sparkle with brilliance. Langzhong has 4 key cultural relics sites under national protection and 13 cultural relics sites under provincial protection.

#ancientbuildings Langzhong is an urban county within Nanchong Urban District of Sichuan Province. Langzhong together with Huizhou prov. Anhui, Pingyao prov. Shanxi and Lijiang prov. Yunnan is called the 4 oldest cities in China. Langzhong has a history of 2,300 years. During the Warring States period, Langzhong was the capital of the Ba Kingdom. In 316 BC, the Ba kingdom was conquered by the Qin Kingdom, and in 314 BC, Langzhong County was founded. For more than 2000 years, it remained the most important center in northern Sichuan. During the Three Kingdoms period, the army of the Shu Kingdom settled here, and the legendary general Zhang Fei patrolled the city. His grave and memorial complex are also located here. During the Sui Dynasty, Langzhong was renamed Lannei, and during the Tang Dynasty, the name Langzhong was returned to it. Langzhong is famous for the birth of the culture of celebrating Spring Day. The author of the tradition is considered to be an ancient Chinese astronomer of the Western Han dynasty, the founder of the ancient Taichuli calendar, Luo Xiahong. The counting system adopted in Taichuli is still used in the Chinese lunar calendar. The layout of the streets of Langzhong, surrounded on three sides by water, with mountains on four sides, resembles a chessboard. Most of the old houses face north, their windows are decorated with ornaments of flowers, birds and animals. The architectural style of the city embodies the ancient Chinese concept of geomancy (Feng Shui) – "the unity of heaven and man." You can only move around the city on foot: private transport, buses and taxis are forbidden to travel in Lanzhong. The main attractions of the city are: The Huaguanlou Tower, built during the Tang Dynasty, is the oldest tower in the city. The entrance ticket costs 15 yuan. The examination yard served as the venue for provincial and metropolitan examinations under the Keju state examination system. Only three who successfully passed this exam received high government positions. The entrance ticket costs 35 yuan.

One of the four great ancient cities of China—Langzhong Ancient City, located upstream of the Jialing River, is known as 'the best-preserved ancient city in China'. It is a city with profound historical and cultural significance, as well as a magical and brilliant city of landscape culture. Since ancient times, it has been praised as a fairyland on earth, with mountains surrounding on all sides and water wrapping around three sides. Climbing up to the White Pagoda Mountain, one can see the full view of the ancient city. Ascending the Huaguang Tower and the Zhongtian Tower, and looking far into the distance, the green tiles and grey walls convey a strong sense of history, while the blue sky, white clouds, green trees, and red lanterns complement each other, bringing immense joy! The mountains, water, and city blend together harmoniously, and heaven, earth, and people coexist in harmony, perfectly presenting the supreme realm of 'unity of man and nature'. The ancient city is suitable for leisurely appreciation. Unfortunately, a hurried visit of just one day and one night makes it difficult to fully appreciate the charm of the ancient city.