Hekou Town, the seat of Qianshan County, was once one of the four famous towns in Jiangxi’s history. It was known as ‘Shawan Market’ during the Northern Song Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing years, handicrafts flourished here, and waterways led directly to Poyang Lake. By the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Hekou had entered its golden age, with goods from Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Jiangsu converging here for distribution across the country, becoming a commercial hub known as the ‘Eight Provinces Crossroads’. Today, the town still retains the marks of its former prosperity and its simple and elegant style.
Along the river, the five-meter-long ancient Ming and Qing streets stretch out, with buildings extending in tiers, creating an ancient and elegant atmosphere; the ruts on the bluestone pavement record the prosperity of the town in its heyday. Within the town, small rivers meander and turn, with bluestone bridges spanning across, adding to the water town’s charm. On the steles at the river docks, the inscriptions are still clearly visible, evoking memories of the past when ‘goods gathered from eight provinces, languages mixed from two Zhejiang and Huaiyang, boats moored overnight, with lights shining around the banks.’ The specific opening hours and business status are subject to the daily opening conditions.
Historic River Town of Hekou
Hekou Town, the seat of Qianshan County, was once one of the four famous towns in Jiangxi’s history. It was […]
