Liantang Ancient Town: An Unadorned, Original Ancient Town

Liantang Ancient Town is located in Qingpu District and has a history of over a thousand years. A hidden ancient town in the suburbs of Shanghai, it is the hometown of Comrade Chen Yun, a proletarian revolutionary of the older generation. Situated in southwestern Shanghai’s Qingpu District, it borders Songjiang District to the east and Zhejiang’s Jiaxing and Jiashan to the southwest. Liantang is also a famous ancient water town in Jiangnan.

With over 1,000 years of history, it boasts rich human resources and abundant cultural relics, possessing a profound cultural heritage. Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Eastern Wu built ponds here to train naval forces, hence the name ‘Liantang’ (training pond). Another story says it was named after Zhang Zijun, a prefect during the Five Dynasties, and his wife Lady Lian, who once lived here.

In Liantang Ancient Town, you can still glimpse the tranquil charm and daily life of an old town. There are no crowds of tourists, no shops sprouting everywhere—only a river running through the town, linking more than ten ancient bridges, creating beautiful scenery.

Over ten ancient bridges from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties span the town river, nestled among weeping willows. Each bridge has its own style. As people walk over them and water flows beneath, the reflections of bridges, trees, houses, and people ripple gently on the water.

“Tall houses and narrow lanes face street-side buildings, small bridges and flowing waters nestle households”—this line captures Liantang’s unique landscape. The old street of Liantang is the heart of the town. Not long, just about three li (1.5 km), a river popularly known as “Sanli Pond” runs through the town from east to west. On opposite banks, two cobblestone paths face each other: one is called Shangtang Street (comprising Dongfeng Street and Qianjin Street).

Xiatang Street in Liantang, on the south bank of the town river, stretches from Youjiajing Creek to Fengjiashan, about 720 meters in length, and is one of the old streets of Liantang.

Heading west across Old Zhufeng Road, you’ll find the “Xiatang Street Noodle Shop” on Xiatang Street.

Outside the noodle shop, there are open-air tables and chairs where you can order dishes. Visitors enjoy dining alfresco.

Wanshan Bridge: This is a single-arch bridge, also known as Huntangbang Bridge. It was built during the Qing Dynasty. Originally a ring-hole bridge, it was later converted into a concrete stepped arch bridge, and then restored back to the stone arch bridge you see today.

Liantang Abacus Culture Museum, affiliated with the Chen Yun Memorial Hall, was specially built to give visitors a deeper understanding of the great man Chen Yun while learning his story. Known as the “Republic’s Red Shopkeeper,” the old gentleman was a true master of the abacus. During the period when he managed the lifeblood of the country’s economic construction, he had profound strategies, and part of those strategies likely originated from the principles of abacus calculation.

The ‘Red Shopkeeper’ of the Republic—Chen Yun

Comrade Chen Yun’s ‘Abacus Canon’

The Abacus Culture Museum displays various abacuses, including a super-large one, and illustrates the philosophy of bead arithmetic.

Aunt Pang’s Kitchen is the only shop in Liantang Ancient Town that makes zhurou (tied pork), also selling handmade, freshly wrapped meat zongzi and date zongzi. The old stove in the kitchen simmers the water-town specialty tied pork zongzi, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.

The Water Bamboo Leaf Weaving Museum is a must-see attraction. Water bamboo leaf weaving is a folk handicraft that combines age-old straw and willow weaving techniques with the local cultivation of water bamboo. It bears witness to the inheritance, development, and innovation of Shanghai’s folk crafts, embodying the wisdom of the people and reflecting the progress of the times. Liantang has long been known as ‘the number one water bamboo town in East China’. The water bamboo is not only a culinary delicacy—its leaves can also be woven into exquisite handicrafts. Visitors to the experience center can admire the superb weaving skills and even try their hand at weaving to experience the fun.

At No. 95 Xiatang Street, the Former Residence of Chen Yun is an old-style Jiangnan dwelling of brick and wood, with a total floor area of 95.88 square meters. The street-facing part was a shopfront that Chen Yun’s uncle successively used as a tailor’s shop and a small tavern to make a living. Behind the shop is a two-story building; the upper floor served as the uncle and aunt’s bedroom, while downstairs was the room where Chen Yun lived. Today, the furnishings inside basically retain their original state. Chen Yun lived with his uncle’s family for eight years (from age 6 to 14) before leaving to become an apprentice at the Shanghai Commercial Press.

At No. 100 Xiatang Street, the Sanshengtang Bookstore, in the late Qing Dynasty, was home to the town’s first storytelling house, called ‘Changyuan.’ The residents loved listening to pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing), and Changyuan flourished. Soon, another storytelling house named ‘Changqingyuan’ appeared on Huntangbang, competing with Changyuan in a rivalry.

The ‘Pingtan Art Museum’ was set up by the Liantang town government in a residential building on Xiatang Street. With modest funding, it has a distinctive character. Ultimately, the establishment of the museum is closely linked to Chen Yun.

Born in Jiangnan, Chen Yun had a lifelong love for pingtan. As a poor child, he could only stand in a corner of the storytelling house to listen for free. In the 1950s, during his research trips to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, he used his spare time to make up for those childhood regrets. He began recording famous pingtan artists’ performances, saving a great deal of precious pingtan material. At his suggestion, the Suzhou Pingtan School was established, allowing this colorful folk art to flourish on the Wu-Yue lands where it belonged.

Suzhou pingtan can be broadly divided into three major schools: Chen Tune, Ma Tune, and Yu Tune.

Founder of Chen Tune, Chen Yuqian, a Suzhou local, was a tanci performer during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty. He first performed Suzhou Kunqu opera, then switched to tanci, using a voice similar to Kunqu. He mainly sang with a broad, thick, and vigorous voice, occasionally mixing in a falsetto to add twists and a sense of sorrow.

Ma Tune was founded by Ma Rufei, a tanci artist of the Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods. The singing style gradually evolved from the basic narrative tune and was deeply influenced by Dongxiang tune. It emphasizes recitation, highlighting the linguistic elements of the lyrics, with a plain melody. But each word has its own note, sonorous and forceful, with strong narrative quality. Following the seven-character lyric meter, a pause is often added on the sixth character of the second line to accentuate the rhyme—a distinctive feature. The singing style values language and is highly malleable; later artists developed and enriched it according to their own styles.

Based on Ma Tune, later schools such as Wei Tune, Shen Tune, Xue Tune, and the modern Qin Tune developed. Their common traits are a lively rhythm, emphasis on artistic mood, and skillful handling of arias and rhyming couplets.

The Former Residence of Wu Kaixian, designated a ‘Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Point’ in February 2017, now serves as the Leaders’ Bronze Statue Museum. Wu Kaixian (1899–1990, originally from Jinshan, Shanghai) served as the director of the Shanghai Municipal Social Affairs Bureau during the Republic of China era. He initially joined the revolution and even became a member of the Communist Party of China, but after the April 12 Incident in Shanghai in 1927, he followed Chiang Kai-shek. Wu was from Fengjing Town in Jinshan County but was adopted by his uncle Wu Tianxi and moved to Liantang, where he became Chen Yun’s neighbor. The two knew each other from childhood.

The Leaders’ Bronze Statue Museum is located on Xiatang Street. Built of brick and wood, its architectural design reflects Jiangnan characteristics while harmonizing with the Chen Yun Former Residence and surrounding folk buildings. Inside stand bronze statues of six great leaders and ten marshals, allowing visitors to once again appreciate the charisma of these statesmen. The museum is converted from the former Magnolia Residence of the memorial hall. It comprises three courtyards with two-story standalone buildings. The over sixty leader bronze statues on display are all works by the famous sculptor and calligrapher Mr. Cheng Yunxian.

In the front room, you first see head bronze statues of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao Zedong. I wondered why Stalin wasn't there.

At the entrance to the open-air central hall, a young Deng Xiaoping stands.

Inside, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai are seen discussing matters together.

Heads of marshals, generals, and Chen Yun, but Lin Biao is absent.

Climbing the narrow old staircase to the second floor, it’s very quiet. A white magnolia tree—one of the oldest in Shanghai and the only one listed as a national second-class protected ancient and famous tree—stands here. Over 100 years old, it is 8.7 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 0.23 meters and a crown spread of 6 meters. In early spring, more than 3,000 white flowers bloom in competition, like a gathering of jade butterflies. From a distance, it looks like a white cloud, sending forth delicate, intoxicating fragrance. It is a highlight of the ancient town, a witness to history, a living relic, and a rare treasure.

This magnolia is the oldest white magnolia in Shanghai. Since the white magnolia is the city flower of Shanghai, it is also the oldest city flower. Furthermore, it was personally planted by Wu Kaixian, hence designated a ‘Famous Tree.’ In all of Shanghai, only 34 trees have been rated as Famous Trees. It bears the ‘Ancient and Famous Tree Protection Plaque’ No. 0660, confirmed as a Famous Tree in December 2002, under first-class protection.

The second floor mainly displays oil paintings and other artworks.

Paintings of Chen Yun with the leaders are the first to catch the eye.

Inside are displayed many images of revolutionary soldiers in battle. Their heroic spirit soars like clouds, inspiring awe and grandeur.

Chaozhen Bridge, located in front of the Sheng Hall and commonly known as Shengtang Bridge, runs north-south and is a single-arch stone bridge. Its original construction date is unknown; it was rebuilt in the 34th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1555) and again in the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1695).

Built with a mix of bluestone and granite, the arch uses vertical segmental construction. The bridge is 18 meters long, 3.5 meters wide, with an arch span of 6.8 meters and a rise of 3.7 meters. The south approach has 25 straight steps, while the north approach is split: the upper flight has 15 steps and the lower 10. Most of the balustrades are new, but a section on the west side in the middle dates from the Ming Dynasty. In May 2001, it was listed as a Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Unit. On the east side of the southern abutment grows an old pomegranate tree with lush branches, a century-old companion to the ancient bridge.

The description of Chaozhen Bridge

To the north of the bridge originally faced a Taoist temple, the Sheng Hall, now separated by a spirit screen. The screen, though new, features exquisite brick carvings of ‘Morning Bell at the Pagoda Courtyard’ and ‘Liantang, a Jiangnan Water Town.’ The former includes a poem: ‘From the encircling bridge, a distant pagoda in sight, / Amid vast misty waves I ask the angler in flight; / Know you not that Leifeng Pagoda likewise soars high? / The morning bell seems as if dreaming by West Lake nigh.’

The Sheng Hall was originally a Taoist temple called Yinzhen Daoyuan dating from the Song Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the 19th year of Jiaqing (1814) in the Qing Dynasty and renamed Sheng Hall. Originally consisting of three courtyards, only one now remains. The building has a floor area of 110 square meters, faces south, and is of brick and wood construction. It has three bays, a width of 11.2 meters, seven purlins, and a depth of 8.3 meters. The front eaves have a corridor 1.6 meters wide with curved rafters, carved wooden eave boards, a flush-gable roof with small tiles, and is enclosed by a wall with a gate, flanked by a pair of bluestone drum stones.

The stone inscription ‘Fazhang Liantang Tongrentang Xiaoyu Stele’: Fazhang Liantang is the ancient name of Liantang. This stele erected in 1814 is equivalent to a ‘Notice to All Members of the Liantang Tongrentang’ today.

Zhonghong Bridge, also called Zhongmu Bridge, is a single-arch stone bridge. It was originally a wooden structure and was only rebuilt as a stone arch bridge in 2000, so it is not considered an ancient bridge.

Shunde Bridge is located at the western end of Liantang town. Built during the Zhizheng period of the Yuan Dynasty (1341–1368), it was rebuilt three times: during the Shunzhi reign (1644–1661), in the 58th year of Kangxi (1719), and in the 49th year of Qianlong (1784). The bridge is 16.4 meters long, 2.3 meters wide, and 4.1 meters high. A couplet on the bridge reads: ‘Nine peaks range in green, an important town; peach blossoms bloom early; cranes’ fishing songs sing at night; on three waters boats sail.’ This couplet depicts the beautiful scenery of Liantang, referencing three of the eight famous scenes of Liantang. In 1959, it was listed as a county-level cultural relic protection unit and has been repaired and reinforced several times since, preserving its complete form. The carved patterns stand out clearly; the design is simple but grand and magnificent.

Shunde Bridge appears extremely aged; the stone slabs on the steps look very mottled. One can imagine how this ancient bridge, standing through over a millennium and several dynasties, facilitated the ancestors of Qingpu. It is the oldest bridge in Liantang, ranking first among the eight bridges.

It has three spans; the central span serves as a waterway. The railings and deck are made of long granite blocks, while the pillars are rectangular bluestone, three on each side, north and south. The central arch allows boats to pass, and the side arches serve for flood discharge. Built in a post-and-beam style with parallel stone walls, its simple structure exhibits typical Yuan Dynasty features, rarely seen in Shanghai today. In Jinze Town, there is a bridge of similar shape and age called Yingxiang Bridge; these two are known as sister bridges.

The bridge deck visible today retains its original appearance from the 49th year of Qianlong. On the beams are carved, respectively, ‘Shunde Bridge’ and ‘Rebuilt Shunde Bridge,’ with no other date. End beams feature coin and ruyi (scepter) patterns.

Qianjin Street in Liantang, on the north bank of the town river, runs from Old Zhufeng Road to the west end of the ancient town, about 650 meters long. It is one of the old streets of Liantang.

At No. 77 Qianjin Street, the former site of the Lu Family Rice Shop was built in the 1930s. It covers an area of 175 square meters with a floor area of 188 square meters. It features high walls, a shikumen (stone gate), and a brick-carved gateway behind. The main building is a two-story brick-and-wood structure, 11.2 meters wide with nine purlins and a depth of 9.8 meters. The rear building has seven purlins and a depth of 8.1 meters with double eaves. Two-story symmetrical wing rooms on both sides and a front corridor form a ‘running horse building’ (wrap-around veranda). The eaves are adorned with wood carvings. The roof is a flush-gable style with small tiles, and the floor is paved with square bricks. On the ground floor, the central hall and two side rooms were originally all shops. In 2004, it was registered as an immovable cultural relic in Qingpu District.

From the outside, the ground floor of the former Lu Family Rice Shop still appears to be inhabited.

An authentic old building

Xin Qianjin Bridge; crossing it leads to Shangtang Street (Qianjin Street).

West District Fire Station, a firefighting association from the Republic of China period.

Fukang Sauce and Pickle Shop, at No. 138 Qianjin Street, is a courtyard-style building founded in 1919. Its wines, sauces, maltose, and pickles were famous far and wide.

The shop layout is typical: front shop, back workshop. Inside the front shikumen gate is the retail section, while at the back are workshops for wine-making, sauce-making, maltose production, and pickle processing. Thanks to good management, after its establishment, the shop opened two branches in town, East and West, employing over a hundred workers. Its products were sold in large quantities to Shanghai and surrounding areas, making it the largest store in Liantang at the time.

The shop faces south, built of brick and wood. Its exterior walls are of blue brick, 10 meters high, with the large red characters ‘酱园’ (sauce garden) painted on the wall. The lintel bears the inscription ‘阜康字号’ (Fukang brand). The stone slab aprons on both sides have delicate molding. The wall eaves have brick decorations. The wooden door is 0.99 meters wide and 2.98 meters high, studded with 353 copper nails. The main building is two stories, three bays wide, with nine purlins and a depth of 10.1 meters, double eaves, wood-carved eaves decorations, flush-gable roof, and small tile covering. In 2017, it was announced as a Qingpu District cultural relic protection point.

Announced in February 2017.

At No. 126 Qianjin Street, the Xiwang Tongxing Salted Goods Store. During the Republic of China, Fukang Sauce and Pickle Shop was the largest store in Liantang, built in 1919 with the typical shikumen architecture of the early Republic period and a front-shop-back-workshop layout. Inside the stone gate was the retail area, and behind were workshops for wine-making, sauce production, maltose, and pickles. Among them, the wine was made with ‘three whites’ (white water, white rice, white flour), tasting sweet and clear, and was well liked. After its establishment, due to good management, it opened two branches—East and West—in town, with over a hundred employees, and products sold extensively to Shanghai and surrounding areas.

The ‘Xiwang Tongxing Salted Goods Store’ is listed as a ‘Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Point.’ It is said that here, in 1928, the Gao family (father of Gao Ersong and Gao Erbai) established the Xihengfengxiang Grocery Store. The brothers Gao Ersong (1900–1986, courtesy name Jixun, pen name Gao Xisheng, member of the China Democratic League) and Gao Erbai (1901–1986, courtesy name Yongwei, pen name Guo Zhen, member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy) studied at Yan’an Primary School as children. They were among the earliest revolutionaries in Qingpu and the earliest Communist Party members there.

The Gao family residence was originally the Xiwang Tongxing Salted Goods Store founded by the father of Gao Ersong and Gao Erbai.

Initially, the Gao family lived in the east of town. In 1907, their father founded the Hengfengxiang Grocery Store in town, so the family moved, giving the brothers the opportunity to attend Yan’an Primary School. Now it serves as a grocery store.

Announced in February 2017. The ‘Gao Family Residence’ is listed as a ‘Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Point.’

From Qianjin Street, you can see the double bridges: Wanshan Bridge and Liufang Bridge.

Liantang Old Bowl Shop at No. 133 Dongfeng Street, beside Liufang Bridge. This shop mainly sells old bowls along with various sundries. The owners are an elderly couple. The shop features blue-and-white porcelain and Lingling bowls made in Jingdezhen during the 1950s and 60s, as well as household items from the 1930s, exuding a strong sense of the past.

Liufang Bridge: Built as a stone bridge in the 7th year of Xianfeng (1857). When Zhufeng Highway was constructed in 1973, it was changed to a concrete plank bridge. In April 2000, stone arch twin bridges were added on both sides.

Behind this bridge is Old Zhufeng Highway. To the east are Dongfeng Street and Changchun Street, to the west are Qianjin Road and Qianjin Street, making it a traffic hub.

Liufang Bridge at Dongfeng Street.

Dongfeng Street in Liantang, on the north bank of the town river, runs from Youjiajing Creek to Old Zhufeng Highway, about 320 meters long, and is one of the old streets of Liantang.

Dwellings along Dongfeng Street, living by the river.

Zhanfang Bridge, also called Dongmu Bridge, was originally a single-span beam bridge with stone piers and a wooden deck. Later, the stone abutments and steps were reused to rebuild it as a concrete flat bridge.

Yixue Bridge, commonly known as Huishi’an Bridge, is located at the eastern end of Liantang Ancient Town (east abutment at No. 12 Dongfeng Street, south abutment at No. 5 Xiatang Street). It runs north-south and is a single-arch stone bridge. In May 2001, it was listed as a Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Unit.

The bridge was first built during the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th year of Daoguang (1837) of the Qing Dynasty. Made of granite, the arch is built using the vertical segmental method. The bridge is 16.4 meters long, 3 meters wide, 4.2 meters high, with an arch span of 5.7 meters and a rise of 3.1 meters. The south approach has split flights: 18 steps above and an additional 3 below; the north approach has 22 steps. The balustrades are new. Couplets are inscribed on both sides. East couplet: ‘May heaven forever produce good people; may people forever do good deeds.’ West couplet: ‘Moon shines on Western River, a green lotus lies drunk; rainbow locks Eastern Village, Sima left an inscription.’ The bridge spandrel is carved with ‘17th year of Daoguang’ and ‘Rebuilt Yixue Bridge.’

There are four lions on this bridge. Interestingly, the steps on each side differ: 22 on the north, 18 on the south.

On the north side of the bridge, Dongfeng Street has the former sites of the ‘Qingpu County Public Security Second Branch’ and the ‘East District Fire Station.’

The East District Fire Station is located at Nos. 11–12 Dongfeng Street, under the Xiatang Street Neighborhood Committee. It is a Republican-era building. According to historical records, the Liantang East District Fire Station was originally the site of Huishi’an Nunnery. During the Republic of China period, it was converted into the fire station.

After liberation, it became the Second Branch of the Qingpu County Public Security Bureau. The building’s facade retains rich carvings and inscriptions intact. In February 2017, the ‘East District Fire Station’ was listed as a ‘Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Point.’

On the south side of the bridge, Xiatang Street has the former site of ‘Yan’an Primary School,’ where Comrade Chen Yun studied as a boy. The current school name was also inscribed by him.

Yan’an Primary School’s predecessor was Yan’an Academy, founded in the 15th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. In the 31st year, it was renamed Yan’an Junior Primary School. In the first year of the Republic (1912), it became Yan’an National Higher Primary School, and after liberation, it was renamed Liantang Town Primary School. Many notable figures from Liantang, including Wu Kaixian, Wu Zhixi, Gao Ersong, Gao Erbai, Yuan Wenbin, and the proletarian revolutionary Comrade Chen Yun, were educated here. In the autumn of 1919, Chen Yun graduated from this school and went to work at the Shanghai Commercial Press. In September 1986, Comrade Chen Yun wrote the school name for his alma mater. Yan’an Primary School still retains the academy layout from Chen Yun’s school days.

On the south side, a building on Xiatang Street is under renovation, with an air of history about it.

In ancient times, there were many taboos and beliefs. ‘Taishan Shigandang’ (literally ‘Stone of Mount Tai Dares to Withstand’) is one: a stone tablet (three feet three inches tall) inscribed with these characters is placed at bridges, main thoroughfares, or built into house walls to suppress all inauspicious evil spirits. It was very popular among the folk. In June 2006, it was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The street colonnade on Xiatang Street in Liantang Ancient Town is a Qingpu District Cultural Relic Protection Point.

This covered corridor was the portico of the Qing Dynasty water transport wharf in Liantang, located on the west bank of Lihua Harbor, testimony to the bustling water transport of Liantang in its heyday.

Chen Yun’s Former Residence for Rural Surveys in Qingpu is at No. 25 Xiatang Street. Facing north, it is a two-story, two-courtyard, three-bay brick-and-wood building. The central room on the ground floor serves as a living room, while the east and west wings house the special exhibition ‘Chen Yun and the Rural Survey in Qingpu.’ During the period when Comrade Chen Yun fully presided over national financial and economic work, in order to make central policies align with national conditions and public opinion, he returned to his hometown for surveys four times between January 1955 and July 1961. By listening to the people, understanding their will, and grasping the true situation, he put forward a series of opinions that matched reality, making an indelible contribution to the steady and healthy development of the national economy.

At No. 5, Lane 37, Xiatang Street, Ling’en Church. In the 8th year of Guangxu (1883), Christianity was introduced into Qingpu by American missionary Li Silun and into Liantang by Pastor Dai Yangqing. At that time, there was also a ‘Huntangbang Church’ in Liantang. Ling’en Church was first built in the 29th year of Guangxu (1903) and expanded in the 2nd year of Xuantong (1910). In 1986, religious policy was implemented, part of the buildings were returned, and the church resumed activities, temporarily named ‘Liantang Meeting Point.’ Believers from the former Methodist and Apostolic Faith churches established a united church. The reopening ceremony was held on October 21, and in 1988, it was renamed Liantang Ling’en Church.

Yongxing Bridge, located beside No. 42 Xiatang Old Street in Liantang. Yongxing Bridge is the only one of the four ancient bridges in Liantang that runs east-west. The river it crosses is Lihua Harbor, so locals commonly call it Lihua Harbor Bridge.

A single-arch stone bridge, it is a truly ancient bridge, awe-inspiring.

First built in the Ming Dynasty, it was reconstructed in the 41st year of Qianlong (1776). Made of granite, the arch uses vertical segmental construction. The bridge is 18.3 meters long, 2.1 meters wide, 4 meters high, with an arch span of 6.1 meters and a rise of 3.4 meters. The east and west approaches have 23 and 22 steps respectively. The bluestone continuous balustrades are new installations. Couplets are inscribed on both sides. The bridge spandrel bears the inscription ‘Rebuilt Yongxing Bridge, Qianlong Bingshen Year.’

Xiatang Street Community addresses: No. 19-33, Lane 44 Xiatang Street; No. 56 Xiatang Street; No. 57 Xiatang Street residences.

Liantang Art Museum: the door was closed, so entry was not possible.

The gate couplet: ‘Golden blade surpasses Confucian scholars; jade brush astounds wind and rain.’

Here, the tour of Liantang Ancient Town comes to an end.