Sanxia Old Street and Qingshui Zushi Temple 三峡老街与清水祖师庙

About Sanxia Old Street and Qingshui Zushi Temple

Sanxia Old Street and the nearby Qingshui Zushi Temple reveal different sides of the same historic town. The street developed through trade, with tea, camphor and dyeing among the industries associated with its earlier commercial life.

Along the old street, red-brick shopfronts and covered arcades combine a traditional street pattern with decorative facades shaped by later rebuilding. Look above the shop signs for changes in ornament and proportion; the architecture is easier to appreciate when food shopping is only one part of the walk.

Qingshui Zushi Temple remains a place of worship. Its modern restoration, associated with artist Li Meishu, brought together elaborate stone and wood carving. The openwork columns and spiral caisson ceiling offer a particularly clear contrast to the street's commercial buildings.

What to look for

• Red-brick facades and sheltered shopfront arcades.
• Openwork stone columns in the temple's main hall.
• Carved timber and the spiral caisson overhead.

Location & getting there

Getting to Sanxia Old Street and Qingshui Zushi Temple

Combine the street with a quiet temple visit, allowing worshippers space. Follow photography and incense notices; interior conservation rules may differ from those on the public street.

• Use 三峡老街与清水祖师庙 with Taiwan when searching for the visitor entrance.