Guandu Ancient Town

Introduction

Guandu Ancient Town Gate (Big memorial archway) is located 8 kilometers southeast of Kunming, on the north bank of Dianchi Lake and downstream of Baoxiang River, covering an area of 17 square kilometers. Guandu Ancient Town has numerous cultural relics and rich cultural landscapes. Within an area of less than 1.5 square kilometers, there are many scenic spots such as the Five Mountains, Six Pavilions, Seven Pavilions, and Eight Temples from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties

Guandu Ancient Town is well-known far and wide for its profound historical and cultural heritage. Although historical and cultural relics have been damaged, important historical and cultural heritage has been preserved. The courtyard walls made of snail shells and clay pounded in the ancient town still stand tall in the wind and rain. The century old earthen houses still exist, which is truly rare

As a historic ancient town, Guandu was once a famous ferry crossing in central Yunnan and one of the famous historical and cultural cities in Kunming. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it was already a major market town on the east bank of Dianchi Lake. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was established as a county along with Kunming. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it had become a town with well-developed commerce and handicrafts. In the past, Guandu was a place where merchants gathered, towering towers shone brightly, and there were five mountains, six pavilions, seven pavilions, eight temples, and numerous cultural landscapes. Many cultural and architectural sites are still preserved@Guandu Town, with a long history, is located in the southeast suburbs of Kunming and is one of the famous historical and cultural ancient towns in the Kunming area. Guandu, formerly known as "Wodong", is a fishing village on the shore of Dianchi Lake, where screw shells are piled up like mountains@Here, the clouds and water are misty, the wind is gentle without waves, and the scenery is picturesque. As early as the Tang Dynasty, "Wodong" was the ideal stop for Prince Nanzhao to visit Dianchi Lake. During the Song Dynasty, around 1180 to 1190, Gao Shengshi, who was stationed at Shanchan, often traveled by boat to Wodong for sightseeing. The boat rope of Gao Shengshi was tied to the shore, so the cave was named "Guandu"

It seems that the Gao family has a special fondness for Guandu, so they decided to designate it as their direct jurisdiction, set up Guandu County Magistrate in Wodong, and built a city

Guandu, as a scenic tourist attraction, has become a treasure trove for high-ranking officials and nobles to build palaces and villas, and for celebrities and elites to visit and linger. How many pedestrians come and go here, their hooves breaking through the frost of the five seasons? "" The wine curtains here invite me to get drunk, and across the boat, the sheng drums send me back. "The ancient Guandu is immersed in the sound of silk and bamboo orchestral music

Of course, the earliest to stop here were not only the nobles and their attendants of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom, but also the religious culture that accompanied them. The earliest temple built in Guandu was the Tuzhu Temple dedicated to Mahakasa (the Great Black God), which was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and the statutory temple in the Song Dynasty

The current main hall of the Tuzhu Temple is large, with front corridors and back buildings, and a bucket wearing seven sandalwood beam frame structure, especially the Qing style nine steps and four turns Ruyi arch of wooden architecture under the eaves of the front of the main hall, which is grand in scale and rich in beauty. The legal size is not large, but the frame is relatively high

arch of wooden architecture has a 45 degree wing arch, which is rich in decoration. The front outer eaves are decorated with ornate decorations, with double phoenixes and sunrise translucent carvings under the eaves of the Ming Dynasty. The top of the eaves pillars is decorated with wooden carved qilin, and the four corner beams are carved in the shape of phoenixes, which is vivid and still retains the style of Song Dynasty architecture, and has high architectural artistic value. They are all provincial-level cultural relics protection units

Historical Tracing

The "First of the Six *" at Guandu, Miaozhan *, was first built in the 27th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1290) and completed in 1295. However, it collapsed due to flooding and was relocated to the center of the ancient town in 1325* There are two 13 story solid square brick towers with dense eaves built on the east and west sides

Later, the West Tower was destroyed by an earthquake, while the East Tower has been preserved to this day. Of course, the most famous and eye-catching religious architecture in Guandu Ancient Town is the Diamond Throne Pagoda in front of Miaozhan *, a national key cultural relic protection unit

In the second year of Tomorrow Shun (1457), during the reconstruction of Miao Zhan *, it was said that "the first rule of the Floating Map was created before *, and this' Floating Map rule 'is the Diamond Throne Tower. The advocate for the construction of the Diamond Throne Tower was Mu Lin, the commander of Yunnan, who was appointed as the Grand Preceptor of Tejin Ronglu, and the funder was Luo Gui, the eunuch in charge of Yunnan. They were both prominent figures ruling Yunnan at that time

The purpose of building a new stone tower is to "create merit", "seek longevity", "follow customs and stabilize the people's hearts", and "not to govern". The phrase 'following customs to stabilize people's hearts' here refers to the folk legend of screw monsters causing trouble, so a tower was built to control them

Among the more than ten existing Diamond Pagodas in China, the Miaozhan Diamond Pagoda is the earliest built and has the longest history

This Diamond Pagoda, together with the two closely eaved brick pagodas of Miaozhan *, not only embodies the spirit of "tolerance is great" and "highlighting density simultaneously", but also has a magnificent layout of high and low buildings, forming the core of the ancient architectural complex in Guandu Town

The Diamond Throne Pagoda was originally a memorial tower for Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment by the banks of the Nyenchen River in Gaya City, India, known as the "Great Pagoda of Togaya". Also known as the "Altar City" or "Divine Altar"@A small square tower is built at each corner of tower 40#

, guarding the tall conical tower in the middle. The five towers represent the five directions *, with the central tower representing the Great Sun Tathagata, and the four surrounding towers clockwise representing the Tathagata of Asura, the Tathagata of Baosheng, the Tathagata of Amitabha, and the Tathagata of Emptiness

Guandu King Kong Throne Tower consists of two main parts: a base and a tower body. The base has a square shape with a side length of 10.4 meters and a height of 4.7 meters. At the bottom of the pedestal, there are four ticket gates connecting east, west, north, and south, allowing pedestrians, vehicles, and horses to pass by@On the pedestal of 44#

, five towers stand tall. A main tower with a height of 16 meters is built in the center, with small towers with a height of 8.84 meters at the four corners. The main tower is grand and majestic, while the small tower is delicate and exquisite. The main tower and the small tower are both composed of Sumeru pedestal, tower body, tower neck, and tower brake, but they have different styles and distinct styles

The large and small towers complement each other beautifully, creating a harmonious atmosphere. The towering and handsome tower spires stand tall, like mushrooms after rain, competing to break through the ground, with a light and beautiful image, and a kind of flying beauty

The Guandu Diamond Throne Tower not only has a graceful overall design, but also evokes contemplation and imagination. The detailed copper cast stone carvings are also very exquisite

Whether it's the five types of animal mounts on the main tower's Sumeru pedestal, the four cornered Vajra strongman, or the statues in the niches, the carving is extremely exquisite, all delicate and realistic, vivid and lifelike

The four Heavenly Kings holding precious swords, pipa, pearl umbrellas, flower fox martens, and other magical tools on the copper umbrella cover, as well as the copper gold wheel with nine statues embedded in the center of the tower base that spans the sky, are exquisitely carved, demonstrating superb craftsmanship

Guandu is the landing place for Tibetan people to enter the Kunming area. The architecture of the Miao Zhan Stone Pagoda has left a deep imprint on the Tibetan style Tantric Pagoda, which is vividly reflected in the tower body of the Lama Pagoda

The later built Jingang Pagoda in Beijing, Biyun Pagoda, and Ciyun Pagoda in Hohhot are all typical Han style multi story dense eaved pagodas, and the Jingang Pagoda with lama tower body is the only example in China

The Guandu Diamond Throne Tower is infused with the spiritual light of religious culture and the poetic charm of architectural art, providing people with spiritual cultivation and aesthetic enjoyment@We can no longer know who designed and built this exquisite masterpiece of art. History only records the names of the initiators and donors, but this stone tower with eternal artistic value will always be a monument to their wisdom and talent in the hearts of future generations

In the Yuan Dynasty, the Confucius Tower was also built in Guandu, which had a profound impact on the reading and writing of Guandu's children. Later, the famous literati Wang Sixun emerged from here

Wang Sixun was a jinshi in the 45th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1706). He served as a scholar in Jiangxi and was once a teacher to Emperor Yongzheng when he was young. Emperor Kangxi gave him ten thousand books. After Wang Sixun returned to his hometown with honor, he built a book hall for collection

Ci Shu Tang still exists. In the Qing Dynasty, Guandu Ancient Town had formed a complex of buildings with a strong cultural color of "six * seven pavilions and eight temples" within the scope of the four villages of Luofeng, Xiuying, Xizhuang, and Shangyi today. These magnificent buildings blend with natural scenery to create a beautiful painting, forming the so-called "Eight Scenic Spots of Guandu", namely "Ancient Ferry Fishing Lanterns", "Stacked Green Snails", "Moonlit Cloud Platform", "Apricot Nursery Shepherd", "Clouds and Smoke", "Southern Yunnan Lawn", "Diamond Night Language" and "Writing on the Sky with Pen"

Back then, when I walked into Guandu, I saw the endless clear waves of Dianchi Lake, seagulls playing with fish and fat; In the vast sky, clouds spread and transform endlessly. Groups of wild birds are playing in the reeds by the lake, and hundreds of cypress trees are stacked along the foot of Luofeng Mountain to the top of the mountain, with emerald green layers

* The sound of bells running out in the temple and the sound of reading loudly in the academy drift through the morning clouds and evening rain; The towering eaves tower and the Diamond Pagoda point straight to the sky, like a master of gods and humans waving a large sum, praising heaven and earth, and blessing the world. In the vast apricot grove by the shore, the shepherd boy plays hide and seek, games, and is filled with childlike joy; Tourists compose poetry, drink alcohol, enjoy music, and the melodious melody of flute

The street market is crowded with people getting on the bus. During temple fairs, not only urban residents come to participate, but also neighboring county residents flock to it. On the grassy open space to the west of Wugu *, there were a sea of people and an unusually lively atmosphere, far beyond what ordinary markets could compare to at that time. At night, a string of bright red lanterns rise from the lighthouse at the ferry crossing, leading official boats and fishing boats to sail slowly; In the moonlit season, the Yuntai Palace is reflected in the mirror clear water pool all year round, with the gentle breeze blowing and the palace shadow rippling; On the Diamond Bridge, occasional whispers of King Kong could be heard@However, as time passed, the shoreline of the lake gradually receded, and the natural landscape of Guandu underwent significant changes. The ancient temple buildings are gradually becoming old and dilapidated, and some have even been demolished. The famous Diamond Throne Tower has also sunk by more than a meter, forming a huge pit@In April 2001, the cultural heritage rescue project of Guandu Ancient Town began. After more than two years of hard work, governments at all levels invested heavily to lift the 1350 ton Diamond Throne Tower by 2.4 meters, rebuild the Miaozhan and West Towers, and restore ancient buildings such as Confucius Temple, Wu Temple, Cishu Hall, Statutory Temple, Tuzhu Temple, Guanyin Temple, and upper and lower attic@The traditional dwellings in town 78#

are also undergoing planned repairs. At the same time, folk cultural activities and traditional snacks are gradually being restored, and the protection of the natural ecological environment is also being planned

We see an ancient yet young new Guandu that connects a long and brilliant history with a bright future

Ancient Town Cuisine

Li Family Maibaba next to the Tuzhu Temple, and Glasses Maibaba directly across from the Tuzhu Temple. Bean jelly, fried potato, baked Stinky tofu, papaya water, pickles, Guandu Baba, preserved papaya, etc., "urine" soaked pears, cold rice noodles, cold noodles, bean jelly, pickles, steamed bean curd, small pot rice noodles, soaked chicken feet, sweet Baijiu, grasping powder......

Ancient Town Intangible Cultural Heritage

Yunnan Weiqi Factory: In the spring of 1980, the school run factory of Kunming No. 12 Middle School was renamed as Yunnan Weiqi Factory, producing "cloud" brand Weiqi, clouds produced by Yunnan Weiqi Factory, with slightly convex front and bottom Flat, natural curve, simple and unsophisticated, comfortable to handle

White stones are crystal clear like jade, black spots are black and translucent, like natural jade ground

In 2012, we relocated to Guandu Ancient Town and founded Yunzi Chess Hall, which is mainly used to host high-end Go competitions, high-quality Yunzi exhibitions, and Yunzi product displays. The Yunzi Chess Hall is uniquely built, with a yin-yang Taiji diagram embedded in black and white Yunzi at the entrance, and a chess game floor paved with black and white pebbles in the lobby. The Yunzi Exhibition Center also collects and displays precious Yunzi of various styles

Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base: Completed in January 2013, it is a public welfare facility and is open to the public free of charge throughout the year. Since 2011, three national exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage have been held here@The 102#

base can be summarized as two museums and three centers: Guandu Folk Museum, Guandu Folk Painting Museum, Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center, Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Center, and Guandu District Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

The base has been awarded the titles of "Yunnan Province Cultural Activity Base Art Demonstration Point", "Kunming Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base", "Guandu Folk Painting Museum", "Guandu District and Airport Economic Zone Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base", and "Guandu District and Airport Economic Zone Ethnic and Folk Traditional Culture Talent Training Base"

Wutong Walking Silver Training Hall: Mr. Jin Yongcai, the inheritor of Wutong Walking Silver, invested 1.2 million yuan in August 2010 to establish a 247 square meter Wutong Walking Silver Training Hall in Guandu Ancient Town. It has trained 286 students and receives over 80000 visitors annually. Wu Tong Zou Yin has been rated as a national intangible cultural heritage. The technique of making black copper with silver plating belongs to the traditional folk metal making craft. When silver plating is done, it means silver plating. When black copper with silver plating is done, exquisite decorative patterns are carved on the copper base, and then silver or gold is plated inside the engraved patterns. The surface of the copper base is then treated black to highlight the brilliant silver (gold) patterns on a solemn and deep black background, making the craft appear elegant, luxurious, and colorful

has a unique and exquisite design, exquisite production techniques, diverse forms of works, and a wide range of types. Due to the exquisite production techniques of black copper and silver finished products and rich cultural characteristics, it has high cultural, artistic, and collectible value. The representative masterpiece of black copper and silver is the landscape painting displayed in the Yunnan Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This painting is 1.2 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. On a shiny black background, Kunming Xishan, Dianchi Lake, and Daguanlou are inlaid with gold and silver respectively, which is very exquisite and can be called an artistic treasure

Guandu Bait Block Study Hall: Established on January 30, 2011, the study hall covers an area of 320 square meters, with a total investment of 800000 yuan and an average of over 300 visitors per day. The Guandu bait block has been rated as a municipal level intangible cultural heritage in Kunming. Baicai chunks are unique to Yunnan and are one of the most famous specialty snacks in Yunnan. As a folk custom, bait blocks are still one of the must eat foods for Yunnan people during the Spring Festival. They can be cooked, boiled, stir fried, braised, steamed, or fried. Due to its delicious taste and easy to eat characteristics, it has gained widespread popularity and gradually evolved into a cuisine that knows no seasons

In 2008, Guandu Baicui was rated as an intangible cultural heritage. Due to its exquisite production process, the finished product is famous for its white and greasy texture, cooking resistance, soaking, and refreshing taste. It is also known as the "Three Treasures of Guandu" along with Guandu rice noodles and Guandu rice cakes

Guandu Dian Opera Lantern Training Center: Established on April 26, 2011, the center covers an area of 500 square meters and has a total investment of over 3 million yuan. It receives more than 100 tourists every day. The Guandu Dianju Lantern Academy is named Gudu Pear Garden, which excavates, protects, and inherits Dianju and lanterns through folk and school traditions. The transmission hall is the first and only one in Yunnan to transmit Yunnan opera and lanterns. The transmission center often holds training classes on the inheritance of Yunnan Opera and lanterns, and also organizes various forms of "Yunnan Opera into Schools" promotional and educational activities to bring traditional culture into schools and students

Inheritance Hall has trained more than 300 students and performed over 650 times. Widely favored by the people of Guandu, the performance venue presents a lively scene that is hard to come by. The various Yunnan operas and lanterns performed here evoke the nostalgia and nostalgia of the people of Guandu for "old Yunnan". Dian Opera has been rated as a national intangible cultural heritage

Honors

In 2000, Guandu Ancient Town was listed as one of the first star small towns in Kunming by the Kunming Municipal Government@In 2002, it was listed as one of the 20 star towns in Kunming City@In 2003, it was listed as a "National Key Construction Small Town and Science and Technology Demonstration Small Town" by five ministries and commissions@In 2004, it was rated as a "National Key Small Town" by six national ministries and commissions

In 2005, the Kunming Municipal People's Government announced it as the "Guandu Ancient Town Han Cultural Protection Zone" and included it in the first batch of Kunming's list of ethnic and folk cultural protection@In 2006, it was named one of the "Top Ten Famous Towns in Yunnan" by Yunnan Daily; In May 2010, it was officially approved by the National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development as one of the first batch of "National Characteristic Landscape Tourism Demonstration Towns"; On April 8, 2011, it was approved by the National Tourism Administration as a "National AAAA Tourist Attraction"; Successfully joined the Yunnan Tourism Scenic Area Association in October 2011 and became an executive director unit; In December 2011, it was awarded the title of "International Leisure and Health Ancient Town" by the International Leisure Industry Association; In January 2012, the "Kunming Intangible Cultural Heritage Base" successfully settled in Guandu Ancient Town. In March 2012, Kerun Enterprise was awarded the title of "Most Promising Cultural Enterprise" in the "Construction Bank Cup" 2011 Yunnan Province Excellent Cultural Enterprise Selection; In August 2012, Guandu Ancient Town was named one of the "Top Ten Legendary Towns in Kunming" by departments such as Kunming Tourism Bureau, Kunming Press and Media Group, and Urban Times; In December 2012, Guandu Ancient Town was awarded the title of "Chinese Food City Guandu Food Culture and Leisure Town"; In August 2015, it was awarded the title of "Yunnan Characteristic Cultural Industry Demonstration Block (Market)" by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture, the Yunnan Cultural System Reform and Development Leading Group Office, and the Yunnan Daily Industry Group...

Transportation Information

Take bus routes 169, 185, 185, or 253 directly to Guandu Ancient Town in the urban area