Tai'an Ancient City: A World Heritage Village on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal
China is one of the Four Great Civilizations of the World, having flourished for thousands of years and giving rise to numerous ancient cities, many of which have been preserved. Among the most famous are Lijiang Ancient City, Pingyao Ancient City, and Huguo Ancient City. There is also an ancient city in Zhaozhuang, Shandong Province, which is very renowned – 'Tai'an Ancient City.'
When people mention Tai'an Ancient City, they often think of the 'Battle of Tai'an' in 1938, which resulted in the city being reduced to ruins, and it wasn't until 70 years later in 2008 that it was rebuilt. Alongside Warsaw, Poland, it is one of only two cities worldwide that were destroyed and rebuilt as World Cultural Heritage due to the Second World War.
After reconstruction, Tai'an Ancient City is of a very large scale, covering an area of 2 square kilometers, making it the largest ancient city in China. Later, the Grand Canal was included in the World Heritage List, and Tai'an Ancient City is located on the Grand Canal's banks and preserves the most complete section, which is called 'Living Grand Canal' and 'the only remaining heritage village along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal' by the World Tourism Organization.
The history of Tai'an Ancient City dates back to the Qin and Han Dynasties, with its heyday during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, being granted the title of 'First Warehouse in the World' by the Qing Emperor. The city was initially built in the fourth year of the Shunzhi reign, as an earthen fort. In the seventh year of the Xianfeng reign, brick walls were constructed. Before the Battle of Tai'an, the city was particularly prosperous, with 8 streets, 10 docks, and over 5,000 households within it.
Tai'an Ancient City is a rare ancient water city in the north, and a typical city of northern and southern cultures. This is largely due to the Grand Canal. During the Battle of Tai'an, merchants from all over the south and north gathered here, and many merchants settled here, bringing with them different regional cultures, especially the culture of the Jiangnan Water Town, which is displayed vividly here. Therefore, it is known as 'China's Most Beautiful Water Town.'
When visiting Tai'an Ancient City, besides strolling through the streets and alleys, taking a cruise is a good option. Experiencing the scenery of the Jiangnan Water Town in the north will give people a different feeling.
Sitting on a cruise, the houses on both sides are adjacent to the river, with white walls and gray roofs and small bridges and flowing water, giving a feeling of entering the Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen ancient towns in the Jiangnan Water Town. Although Tai'an Ancient City is the only national 5A-level tourist scenic area in Zhaozhuang, there are not many tourists visiting it regularly, mostly because of the relatively high ticket price, which is 160 yuan per person.
There are many attractions within the ancient city, including Anlanmen, Old Zhi, Reed Boat Village, Guan Di Temple, North City River, Canal Street, and Water Street Market. In addition to Jiangnan Water Town architecture, there are also northern courtyards, Minnan architecture, Western-style architecture, temples, and Huaipei architecture, basically covering the main traditional Chinese folk houses.
However, for me, the water scenery here is a special feature, with the Grand Canal running through it, water is the soul of this land, nourishing this land and the people who live here.
The decision to restore the original appearance of Tai'an Ancient City was made after careful verification. The Grand Canal to the north of Zhaozhuang was basically completely cut off, and the historical remains no longer exist. In the south of Zhaozhuang, the cities along the Grand Canal have been largely modernized, and it is the only choice to restore its former glory.
Do you know Tai'an Ancient City in Zhaozhuang, Shandong Province? Do you have any impressions of it? Welcome to leave a comment.
