Zhoulaozui Ancient Town 周老嘴古镇

About Zhoulaozui Ancient Town

The town's Laozheng Street was paved with bluestone during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing dynasty using funds raised locally, and it winds from west to east for more than a thousand metres at a width of only three to four metres. The buildings along it are brick-and-timber dwellings laid out in successive bays, with a shop at the front and living quarters behind, light wells and side chambers between the bays, small grey roof tiles and decorated brick gable heads. Doors and windows carry carved timber panels, and Hubei Daily describes the whole ensemble as a domestic style particular to the Jianghan plain.

From 1930 to 1932 Zhoulaozui was the seat of the Xiang-E-Xi revolutionary base and the political, economic, military and cultural centre of Xiang-E-Xi province. The third congress of workers, peasants and soldiers met here from 11 to 13 December 1931 and formally established the provincial Soviet government. Forty-eight revolutionary sites survive along the old street, among them the former residences of He Long, Zhou Yiqun, Deng Zhongxia and Liu Zhixun and the premises of the provincial committee and the provincial Soviet government; the street is a national key cultural heritage protection unit, and the town is also designated a Chinese historic and cultural town.

What to look for

• Laozheng Street itself, a bluestone-paved lane over a thousand metres long and three to four metres wide, laid out in the Jiaqing reign
• The shophouse construction along it: front shop and rear living quarters, light wells and side chambers between bays, small grey tiles and decorated brick gable heads
• The Zhoulaozui Xiang-E-Xi Revolutionary Base Memorial Hall at 94 Laozheng Street, in the former residence of He Long and Zhou Yiqun, with about 1,076 square metres of exhibition space and over 400 revolutionary relics
• The former residences of Zhou Yiqun, Deng Zhongxia and Liu Zhixun and the premises of the Xiang-E-Xi provincial committee and provincial Soviet government, part of the 48 sites preserved on the street
• The Liu Zhixun Martyrs Memorial Park on Zhixun Avenue, rebuilt in 2014, with a 3.4-metre white marble statue, a wall of martyrs' names and the Xiang-E-Xi Red Capital Memorial Hall

Location & getting there

Getting to Zhoulaozui Ancient Town

Identify the main visitor approach and any separately managed houses, museums or performances. Ask before entering residential spaces or photographing residents.

• Search for 周老嘴古镇 with 荆州市 and 监利市.