Strolling Through the Millennium-Old Ancient Town of Huotong, Picking Up a Piece of Time Gone By

In the fast-paced life, we all need a quiet moment, to slow down, enjoy a leisurely life, and find a small town full of ancient charm, giving our souls a brief rest.

Huotong Ancient Town is a very suitable choice. It has scenery as beautiful as its name—deep alleys, long corridors, mottled white walls, dark tiles, and scattered households. The commercial style of the Ming and Qing dynasties remains, and the sense of historical accumulation is truly rare. According to records in the Ningde County Annals, "During the Song Dynasty, Huotong had an official market, which became even more prosperous in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and was quite bustling during the Republic of China period."

Huotong Ancient Town is located in the northwestern part of Jiaocheng District, Ningde City, Fujian Province. It is a historically significant ancient town. Legend has it that as early as the Xia and Shang dynasties, 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, humans lived here. Since not many tourists visit the town on ordinary days, its buildings and surrounding landscape still maintain the quiet and elegant ancient charm that has lasted for centuries.

Strolling through it, I found that the town still retains traditional Ming and Qing wooden shop houses, such as sugar jar grocery stores and wood carving shops. I happened to see a young inheritor of the craft sitting indoors, holding a carving knife, his fingers moving up and down. In no time, beautiful patterns appeared on the wood, making people marvel at his exquisite carving skills. In Huotong, old crafts such as hand-woven steamers, handmade malt sugar, and hand-forged scissors are still passed down. It made me feel as if I had traveled back to the market life of the 1970s and 1980s, where people lived peacefully and harmoniously. Normally, I can only see such scenes in movies. These ancient skills, due to the inheritance and development by generations and the infusion of fresh blood, are increasingly radiating unique charm.

The most classic place is the old street between the ancient houses. From the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, and from the Republic of China to today, hundreds of years have passed. But the daily lives of the people on the old street connect its past and present, and also nurture its hopes and future. The old street is at its most beautiful on the night of the second day of the second lunar month, which is the day of the traditional lantern festival. Every household hangs lanterns under the eaves, and various wonderful programs are performed in turn, creating a lively scene. Among the many programs, the finale is the line lion performance, also known as "drawing lion" or "hitting lion" by locals. It is a unique form of folk entertainment and a special acrobatic program that imitates animals. Through ropes, the operator controls the lion to perform various movements, combining both civil and martial skills. Under the guidance of the ropes, the lion comes to life, performing even difficult moves with ease. It can be called a Chinese wonder.

The ancient architectural complex is also a major feature of Huotong Ancient Town. The Wenchang Pavilion, symbolizing the prosperity of culture; the Wusheng Temple, symbolizing the prosperity of martial arts; and the Former Residence of Huang Ju are famous representatives. According to legend, at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Huang Ju left the Central Plains to avoid disasters and moved south to Huotong. After settling here, he introduced advanced agricultural techniques from the Central Plains, especially irrigation technology, establishing the basic pattern of agricultural production in Huotong for thousands of years, turning the Huotong valley into a vast fertile paradise. The villagers built his former residence in memory of his contributions to Huotong, for future generations to admire.

In recent years, "Huotong Line Lion" and "Huotong Iron Technique" have been successively rated as national intangible cultural heritage. Huotong Town has also received honors such as National 3A-level Scenic Spot, Fujian Province Ecological Tourism Demonstration Zone, Fujian Province Four-star Rural Tourism Leisure Town, the "Huang Ju Water Conservancy Irrigation Project" being included in the World Heritage List of Irrigation Structures, and China's Beautiful Livable Villages and Towns. In the past two years, with increased investment from Jiaocheng District and Huotong Town, the systematic development of villages along the Huotong River basin has been carried out, and the ecological environment along the river has been scientifically managed. The millennium-old ancient town of Huotong is just around the corner from coming out of seclusion.

Miss the peak tourist season; when there is no crowding and no crowds, you can come to Huotong Ancient Town and walk slowly. The ups and downs of the long alleys, the skilled artisans in traditional workshops, the wonderful Chinese unique skill performances, and the ancient carved beams and painted rafters—there will always be something that touches the most sensitive nerve endings in your heart, leaving you with unforgettable memories and making the trip worthwhile.