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Explore the region
About Xunxian Ancient City
The town sits beside the old canal and is described officially as a canal old town, part of the Grand Canal cultural belt the city is working on. Its streets are built of grey brick and grey tile. Xunxian's status as a historic and cultural city carries a formal conservation regime: in July 2026 the county's housing and urban-rural development bureau published a draft conservation plan for 2025 to 2035, covering zoning of the historic urban area and controls on the height and appearance of buildings within it. The provincial register lists a scenic area here at grade 4A, and the town has been working with Dapishan towards national 5A status.
What the place is best known for is living tradition rather than any single monument. Two of its folk practices are on the national intangible cultural heritage list: the shehuo processions and the niugugu clay whistle figurines. The first-month temple fair here has a history of more than 1,600 years and is called the foremost old temple fair of north China. The county is also described as the home district of Duanmu Zigong, the disciple of Confucius regarded as the founder of the scholar-merchant tradition.
What to look for
- The grey brick and grey tile streets of the historic quarter, the fabric the county's conservation plan controls.
- Eyun Tower, a building in the old town used for performances of local ballad forms such as zhuizi.
- Niugugu clay whistle figurines, one of the town's two nationally listed intangible heritage traditions.
- The shehuo processions, the other nationally listed tradition, performed through the streets of the old town.
- Local crafts sold and made here, including woodblock New Year prints, clay model houses, clay tiger figures and willow weaving.
Location & getting there
Getting to Xunxian Ancient City
Identify the main visitor approach and any separately managed houses, museums or performances. Ask before entering residential spaces or photographing residents.
- Search for 浚县古城 with 鹤壁市 and 浚县.
Find Xunxian Ancient City
浚县古城 · 浚县
No reliable map pin yet: search by the Chinese name.
Sources & visit information
The linked sources support the identity and background described in this introduction. Opening hours, admission, activity availability and exact arrival arrangements have not been comprehensively checked. Confirm current visitor information with the venue; the original catalogue locality and editorial review flag are retained.