Ciqikou Ancient Town

Ciqikou History

Located in Chongqing’s Shapingba District, Ciqikou Ancient Town—once called Longyin Town—beckons travelers with its timeless charm.

Founded during the Song Dynasty under Emperor Zhenzong’s Xianping era(998–1003 CE), this vibrant town flourished during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period, becoming Chongqing’s premier destination for Bàyú culture.

Strolling through its narrow alleys, you’ll feel the pulse of history in traditional courtyard homes, teahouses, and workshops.

In its Qing-era heyday, Ciqikou’s kilns churned out delicate porcelain, earning it the nickname “Porcelain Port.”

By the 1940s, over 300 cargo ships, each carrying 10 tons of goods, docked daily, while more than a thousand shops, inns, and teahouses buzzed with life. Artisans filled the air with the clatter of silk looms, bamboo weaving, and woodworking, crafting a legacy that still captivates visitors today.

Ciqikou Ancient Town Operating Hours

Getting to Ciqikou Ancient Town

Facilities at Ciqikou

Things to See at Ciqikou Ancient Town

See The Mini Chongqing

People call Ciqikou a “mini Chongqing” because it packs the city’s soul into its winding stone alleys.

Here, the vibrant Bàyú culture comes alive, blending Chongqing’s spiritual, scholarly, and bustling past.

Ciqikou Baolun Temple

Tucked within Ciqikou Ancient Town, Baolun Temple stands as a serene oasis of spirituality, framed by dramatic cliffs on its south, north, and west sides and bordered by the quaint Ciqikou Lane to the east.

This architectural gem, one of Chongqing’s most revered Buddhist temples, captivates with its elegant double-eave roof, a classic Chinese design that seems to float above its sturdy wooden framework.

Intricate wooden brackets, known as dou-gong (斗拱), support the structure, showcasing craftsmanship that has endured for centuries.

Step inside, and the air hums with the soft chant of monks and the faint glow of incense, inviting visitors to pause and soak in the temple’s tranquil aura—a perfect counterpoint to Ciqikou’s bustling streets.

Ciqikou Hanlin Academy

The Hanlin Academy stands as a rare relic of Chongqing’s scholarly past, one of the city’s last surviving private academies from the Qing Dynasty. In the Qianlong era (1736–1795), the Sun family established a school here, nurturing generations of scholars. Their legacy shines through three family members who earned the prestigious juren title in imperial exams, while local luminaries Huang Zhongyin and Duan Dazhang rose to become jinshi, serving as editors in the imperial Hanlin Academy.

Today, its well-preserved courtyard, complete witha small “moon-worship platform” once used for family rituals, houses a charming teahouse. Sip fragrant tea amid ancient wooden beams and imagine the whispers of scholars poring over Confucian texts in this tranquil corner of Ciqikou.

Ciqikou Baoshan Temple (Or Baoshan Palace)

Baoshan Palace is a Taoist temple and a protected historical landmark. Visitors come to Baoshan Palace and light a candle to wish for good fortune.

Chongqing Memory Museum

The Chongqing Memory Museum may be small, but it packs a powerful punch, capturing the heart of this “Mini Chongqing.”

Through intricate miniature models, the museum vividly recreates Ciqikou’s past and present, from its bustling Qing-era docks to its lively modern alleys.

Each diorama tells a story of Bàyú culture—Chongqing’s unique blend of riverfront traditions, craftsmanship, and resilience.

1949 Grand Theater

The 1949 Grand Theater features immersive stage show Chongqing 1949, which dramatizes the heroic struggles of Communist Party members imprisoned in Zhazidong and Baigongguan prisons before the liberation of Chongqing in 1949.

Wonder at Night

As the sun sets, Ciqikou Ancient Town transforms into a mesmerizing world. By day, the town buzzes with visitors. Their footsteps echoing through crowded alleys. But after 8:00 PM, a serene quiet settles over Ciqikou, unveiling its ancient charm.

Red lanterns (灯笼) glow softly, casting a warm light along the stone-paved lanes, as the scent of evening air mingles with faint traces of incense from nearby temples.

This is the perfect moment to capture a photo beneath the hanging lanterns, their reflections dancing on the cobblestones.

Discover Ciqikou and Surrounding Area

Just a short trip from Ciqikou Ancient Town, Gele Mountain offers a poignant dive into Chongqing’s recent history, making it the perfect prelude to the Chongqing·1949 performance at Ciqikou’s Grand Theatre.

Gele Mountain is home to significant historical sites that tell the story of the Chinese Civil War’s final days. The Gele Mountain Martyrs’ Cemetery honors over 300 revolutionary martyrs, including heroes like Jiang Zhuyun (“Sister Jiang”), with a solemn memorial hall displaying artifacts, photos, and letters that recount their sacrifices.

Nearby, the Baigongguan Historial Site, once a warlord’s villa turned into a prison.

The Zhazidong Prison Historical Site, a former coal mine converted into a secret detention site in 1943, is infamous for the brutal torture of revolutionaries, including the tragic 1949 massacre where only 15 prisoners escaped a devastating fire.

Visit before catching the Chongqing·1949 show in Ciqikou to connect the stage’s drama to the real history etched into these grounds.

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