A Water Ancient City Discovered in Guangxi: Only Accessible by Boat for 400 Years, Spanning Just 1.6 Square Kilometers

Danzhou is an ancient cultural city. Located at the intersection of Sanjiang, Rong'an, and Rongshui counties, it sits on a sandbar in the middle of the Rong River. The ancient city of Danzhou was first built in the 19th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, serving as the seat of Huaiyuan County at the time, with a history of over 400 years. In 1914, Huaiyuan was renamed Sanjiang County, and the county seat was moved to Guyi in 1932. In ancient times, rivers served as roads, and waterways were the means of generating wealth. With its unique geography, Danzhou connects upstream to Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, and downstream to Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi, making it a gateway from the southeastern region to the northwestern border. Danzhou once became the political, economic, and cultural center within a radius of a hundred li, attracting scholars and literati from various southeastern provinces to settle here. Surrounded by water on all sides, after arriving at Danzhou Pier, one must disembark, bring luggage onto a ferry, and cross to Danzhou Island. Vehicles cannot enter the island; only a ferry can be taken. The ancient town lies within the Rong River, embraced by mountains and waters, like an emerald embedded in green hills and clear waters, with over 80% of the island covered by greenery. Here one can see the real scene of Li Bai's poem: 'A white egret island splits the river's flow.' Along the riverbank of Danzhou, there are reeds, willow trees, and banyan trees. The ancient city still preserves historical and cultural relics such as the North Gate ancient city wall, the Min-Yue Guild Hall, Danzhou Academy, and ancient residential houses. The lingering charm of the ancient city invites prolonged contemplation. Surrounded by water, Danzhou Island enjoys fresh air, a beautiful environment, and unique natural scenery. The island features extensive pomelo groves and bamboo forests, as well as century-old banyan trees and camellias. There are many scenic spots along the coast and on the island for visitors to explore. According to records, the Danzhou ancient city wall was a major project undertaken by Su Chaoyang, the magistrate of Huaiyuan County during the Ming Dynasty. It took a year and cost ten thousand taels of silver. The wall is 879 meters long, 5.3 meters high, and 3.6 meters thick, with 450 battlements and four gates facing east, west, south, and north, each equipped with a gate tower. The Danzhou ancient city wall not only defended against wars but also provided excellent protection against floods. The island's residents belong to multiple ethnic groups and surnames. Even after more than a decade of reform and opening up, the people of Danzhou Island remain simple, honest, and hospitable. The island has a saying: 'No one picks up lost items on the road, and doors are left unlocked at night.' Villagers are fond of stone appreciation, root art, and bonsai, earning the reputation of 'Every household has unique stones, every home has bonsai.' The Tianhou Palace, also known as the Min-Yue Guild Hall, still has clear inscriptions on the gate lintel reading 'Tianhou Palace' and 'Min-Yue Unified.' The Min-Yue Guild Hall was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties by a wealthy merchant surnamed Xue, who donated a thousand taels of silver, constructed following the layout of the Mazu Temple in the Tianhou Palace of Zhangzhou, Fujian. Danzhou Academy is located on the eastern side of Danzhou, facing west, covering an area of 1,340 square meters. It was already a relatively well-established educational institution during the Qing Dynasty. The academy is well-preserved, with lush trees and the fragrance of osmanthus inside. The most famous tree is the osmanthus planted by Magistrate Su Chaoyang. In Danzhou, the crisscrossing streets, less than 2 meters wide, serve both as the village's main roads and its market. There is no commercial center; the market extends as far as the roads. Though called a market, it is unique. The vendors are not all merchants; some are villagers who, besides selling goods, also tend to household chores and farm work. Strolling along the ancient town streets, the brick-and-tile houses with red lanterns exude an ancient charm, and the long, winding bluestone paths are clean and tidy. Many households hang cured pork and fish at their doorsteps, display homemade wine, and offer golden fragrant pomelos in bamboo baskets to attract tourists from afar. The most famous item in Danzhou is the old cured pork. Almost every farmhouse makes cured pork. If you stay at someone's home, just ask the host to cook it. Free-range chicken, duck, and Danzhou river fish are also excellent choices. This is a rustic island village, a perfect place for a person to be alone and daydream. The place is small, with few streets. If you avoid holidays, there are very few people. You can walk alone on the cobblestone roads, tracing the shadows of time.