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Explore the region
About Gongtan Ancient Town
The town traces its origin to the Shu-Han period and was established as a settlement in the Tang dynasty; named historic sites along its street include the Ran family courtyard, the Xia family courtyard, the Dong family ancestral hall, the Xiqin Guild Hall, the Chuanzhu Temple and the Sanfu Temple. Painter Wu Guanzhong described it as 'a Tang-dynasty street, a Song-dynasty city, grandfather and grandmother's home', and scholars have called its stilt houses and courtyards an 'architectural wonder'. The county government promotes it under three brands drawing on its history, ecology and ethnic character: 'intangible-heritage town', 'flower town' and 'art town'.
The town regularly stages national-level intangible-heritage performances, including Youyang Folk Songs, Youyang Ancient Songs, Youyang Masked Yang Opera and Tujia Baishou Dance, alongside municipal-level items such as Youyang Gong-and-Drum Play, Climbing the Blade Mountain and Treading the Iron Ploughshare, and has built four dedicated inheritance centres for Xilankapu brocade weaving, Youyang folk songs, gong-and-drum play and masked Yang opera. Since 2017 it has held an annual sketching season, now in its sixth edition with more than 20,000 participating students and teachers, and has built the Wu Guanzhong Memorial Hall and the Gongtan Art Gallery, together designated sketching bases for 17 universities and 4 associations. Local intangible-heritage foods, including Gongtan shaobai, steamed pork with rice flour, marinated tofu and mung-bean noodles, are well known across the Wuling Mountain area.
What to look for
- The 1.3-kilometre stone-paved old street and its more than 400 Tujia stilt houses.
- Named historic buildings including the Xiqin Guild Hall, the Dong family ancestral hall and the Chuanzhu Temple.
- The Wu Guanzhong Memorial Hall and the Gongtan Art Gallery.
- Performances of national-level intangible heritage such as Youyang Folk Songs, Youyang Ancient Songs, Youyang Masked Yang Opera and Tujia Baishou Dance.
Location & getting there
Getting to Gongtan 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 龚滩古镇 with 重庆市 and 酉阳土家族苗族自治县.
Find Gongtan Ancient Town
龚滩古镇 · 酉阳土家族苗族自治县
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.