Hongjiang Ancient Mall is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in China. Like Chongqing, it is built on a mountain. However, Chongqing is known as the "Mountain City", but no one calls it Hongjiang Ancient Mall. The reason is that the terrain here is far less undulating than Chongqing. Although some places need to take ramps or stone steps, there are also many generally flat places.
How long is the history of Hongjiang Ancient Mall?
It originated in the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,000 years ago and took shape in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it became an important commercial port in southwest China, with many banks, firms, theatrical troupes and escort agencies, and was called "little shanghai in western Hunan", "Little Tianjin in Hunan" and "Little Nanjing in Hunan". Its commercial prosperity has already surpassed that of Fenghuang Ancient City.
Although Honggu Mall has been developed into a scenic spot, there are still aborigines living in it. Walking on the slate street, we passed the locals from time to time. At the gates of some yards, we can see the local people drying clothes, which is very lively. This is much better than moving aborigines out of scenic spots in some places.
The ancient city with aborigines is more authentic and grounded.
After years of evolution, although the building of Hongjiang Ancient Mall is very old, it is still strong due to the investment of manpower and material resources. What is rare is that in order to save trouble, the local authorities did not make the ancient buildings very new or paint them with bright colors, but repaired them as before, retaining a heavy sense of history.
There are many scenic spots in Red Valley Mall, which is worth a day trip.
Most of the buildings preserved in the ancient city were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the data show that there are more than 380 buildings. Lijin Bureau, Shaoxing Ban, Escort Bureau and Temple of Wealth are all representative scenic spots.
What is Lijin Bureau? Its nature is somewhat similar to that of the current tax authorities. In the past, Lijin Bureau in Hongjiang Ancient Shopping Mall levied a certain tax on local import and export goods. Many similar institutions were established in the Qing Dynasty, which spread all over the land and water arteries of China.
Some old business places or scenic spots in Red Valley Mall are guided or performed by staff wearing clothes at that time, which is very distinctive. As a tourist, I suddenly have the illusion of traveling through the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the early years of the Republic of China.
The location of Honggu Mall was originally an ancient post station, surrounded by Shui Yuan, Wushui and Shuicheng, reaching Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River. Convenient transportation is an important reason why it later developed into a prosperous commercial port. 1934, among the 37,600 people in Hongjiang, 1300 people engaged in business operations, which shows the prosperity of business culture. According to the records of 1930 and 1933, from 0755 to 79000, Hongjiang's currency circulation ranked second in Hunan, just behind Changsha, the provincial capital.
Today's Hongjiang ancient shopping mall is no longer a commercial center, but you can still feel the commercial atmosphere of distant times when you walk in the streets.
Walking into the ruins and scenic spots of the ancient city, you can see many ancient things, such as wooden furniture, ancient beds, wood carvings, brick carvings and so on.
In Zhong Yi Escort Agency, you can also feel the rules of Escort Agency, the elegant demeanour of Escort Agency meeting and the ceremony in front of Escort Agency.
Road trip introduced.
Self-driving is the most convenient. If there are many people, renting a car is also a good choice. You can play the ancient city of Qianyang. There is a bus to Hongjiang at Huaihua South Bus Station. Be sure to ask if you want to go to Hongjiang Ancient Mall before shooting, because there are two Hongjiang in Huaihua.