Complete Travel Guide to Zunyi Tucheng Ancient Town!

As a traveler with a strong interest in history and culture, I recently took an in-depth tour of Zunyi’s Tucheng Ancient Town. This millennium-old town is like a pearl carved by time, nestled by the Chishui River, with profound historical heritage and unique cultural charm. Today, let me take you into this legendary ancient town and start a journey through time.

🏛️ How much do you know about the ancient town?

Zunyi Tucheng Ancient Town is located in Xishui County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. It lies north of the Chishui River and south of Dalou Mountain. Since ancient times, it has been an important transportation route between Sichuan and Guizhou, known as the "Key to Sichuan and Guizhou." With a history of over 2,000 years, it gradually developed into a prosperous commercial town due to the booming salt industry. It was also one of the important crossing points for the Red Army’s Four Crossings of the Chishui River, carrying significant red historical memories.

📍 Must-visit attractions revealed

- Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Hall: This is the core attraction of the ancient town and a national patriotic education demonstration base. The hall displays a large number of precious historical relics, photos, and documents, vividly recreating the thrilling historical scenes of the Red Army crossing the Chishui River four times during the Long March. Using modern multimedia displays such as sound, light, and electricity, visitors can immerse themselves in that magnificent revolutionary history and receive a baptism of red culture.
- Bing’an Ancient Town: Facing Tucheng Ancient Town across the river, Bing’an Ancient Town is a Guizhou provincial-level historical and cultural town. Built on a stone hill by the Chishui River, climbing the steep stone steps feels like traveling back to ancient times. There are many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, wooden houses, bluestone-paved roads, and quaint shops, each exuding a strong antique charm. Visitors can enjoy the authentic ancient town scenery here and feel the tranquility of time.
- Ancient Salt Road: The Ancient Salt Road was an important transportation route for the town’s salt industry and a witness to the town’s former prosperity. This ancient road is paved with bluestones and has withstood thousands of years of weathering, witnessing the rise and fall of the salt trade. Walking along the Ancient Salt Road, you can almost hear the sound of horses’ hooves and merchants’ shouts, see salt boats shuttling back and forth, and salt piles stacked like mountains. Today, the buildings along the Ancient Salt Road are still well preserved, including old salt shops, inns, and teahouses. Visitors can experience the slow life of the ancient town and feel the peacefulness of time.
- Chishui River: The Chishui River is the mother river of the ancient town and the main water source for Maotai liquor, known as the "River of Fine Wine." It originates in Zhenxiong, Yunnan, flows through Sichuan and Guizhou, and joins the Yangtze River at Tucheng Ancient Town. Taking a black-awning boat at the ancient town’s dock, you can drift downstream along the Chishui River, enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides, and feel the softness of the water town. The water is crystal clear, the banks are shaded by green trees, stone bridges span the water, and houses are built along the river, forming a poetic and picturesque Jiangnan water town scene.

🚶 Complete walking route guide

- Classic one-day tour: Start in the morning at the Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Hall, visit the Red Army’s Four Crossings relief, exhibition halls, and other attractions to deeply understand the glorious history of the Red Army’s Long March; then head to the Ancient Salt Road to feel the thousand-year history and salt transport culture of the ancient town; have lunch at a local specialty restaurant in the ancient town, trying dishes like spicy tofu pudding and jiao fu; in the afternoon, take a black-awning boat to tour the Chishui River and enjoy the water town scenery; finally, visit Bing’an Ancient Town, stroll along the ancient streets, admire Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, and experience the tranquility and simplicity of the ancient town.
- In-depth two-day tour: On the first day, visit the Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Hall in the morning and the Ancient Salt Road in the afternoon to feel the historical and cultural atmosphere of the ancient town; stay overnight in a local specialty guesthouse, taste local cuisine, and experience the ancient town’s nightlife; on the second day, head to Bing’an Ancient Town in the morning to visit ancient streets, alleys, and buildings, learning about local history and culture; in the afternoon, explore nearby natural scenic areas such as the Red Stone Wild Valley Scenic Area to enjoy nature and relax.

🎫 Ticket information at a glance

Tucheng Ancient Town is free to enter, but the Four Crossings of the Chishui River Memorial Hall ticket costs about 30 yuan, and the black-awning boat ride is 50 yuan per person. You can choose according to your interests.

🚗 Detailed transportation guide

- Public transportation: You can fly to Guiyang Longdongbao Airport, then take a bus to Zunyi Tucheng Ancient Town, about a 4-hour drive; or take a train to Zunyi Station, then take bus K8 to the bus station, and transfer to a long-distance bus directly to Tucheng Ancient Town, about 2.5 hours.
- Self-driving: From Guiyang, drive south along the G75 Lanhai Expressway, pass Zunyi, then take the S10 Chiwang Expressway to Xishui. Exit at the Xishui toll station, then drive along National Highway 321 to Tucheng Ancient Town. The total distance is about 260 kilometers. The road conditions are good, but traffic can be heavy during holidays, so pay attention to traffic safety.
- Taxi / Ride-hailing: From Zunyi Station or Guiyang city center, you can take a taxi or ride-hailing service to Tucheng Ancient Town. Prices vary depending on distance and vehicle type, generally between 300 and 500 yuan. Using related apps to book rides is convenient and can be reserved in advance.

🍴 Food recommendations: Taste of Tucheng

- Spicy Tofu Pudding: One of Tucheng Ancient Town’s specialty snacks, made from locally sourced high-quality soybeans, paired with a special spicy seasoning. The texture is tender and smooth, with a spicy and fragrant flavor, a must-try for visitors.
- Jiao Fu: A traditional local delicacy made mainly from glutinous rice, filled with brown sugar, peanuts, sesame, and other ingredients, prepared through steaming, boiling, and frying. The outer layer is crispy, the inside soft and sticky, sweet but not greasy, loved by tourists.
- Chishui Duck: Made from locally raised native ducks, cooked with water from the Chishui River and various spices. The duck meat is tender, flavorful, firm, rich in protein and nutrients, and is one of the top choices for tasting local specialty cuisine.

🏨 Accommodation guide: Great places to rest

- High-end hotels: Near Tucheng Ancient Town, there are high-end hotels such as Zunyi Marriott Hotel and Xishui Crowne Plaza Hotel, with complete facilities, beautiful environment, and excellent service. These hotels are usually located in the core area of the ancient town or convenient transportation areas nearby, making travel easy. However, prices are relatively high, suitable for visitors with sufficient budget seeking high-quality accommodation experiences.
- Mid-range hotels: Chain hotels like All Seasons Hotel and Hanting Hotel also have branches around the ancient town, with moderate prices and high cost performance. These hotels have relatively complete facilities, providing visitors with comfortable and clean accommodation, usually including breakfast and other services, making them the first choice for most tourists.
- Specialty guesthouses: There are many local characteristic guesthouses in and around the ancient town, such as Tucheng Impression and Ancient Town Family. These guesthouses retain the traditional architectural style and decorative elements of the ancient town, allowing visitors to deeply experience local folk culture and enjoy unique accommodation charm. Some guesthouses also offer personalized services, such as arranging local specialty breakfasts and providing travel consultation, adding convenience and warmth to visitors’ trips.

📝 Practical tips to keep

- Touring tips: The streets inside the ancient town are relatively narrow and crowded with tourists. It is recommended to plan your itinerary in advance and avoid peak hours when visiting main attractions. Also, pay attention to your personal belongings to prevent loss or theft.
- Weather tips: Zunyi’s summer temperatures are relatively high, reaching up to about 35°C, so take care to prevent heatstroke; winters are damp and cold, with lows near 0°C. Visitors are advised to bring appropriate clothing according to the season.
- Cultural tips: When touring the ancient town, you can hire a local guide to explain and gain a deeper understanding of local history, culture, and folk customs, increasing the fun and knowledge of your visit. Guide fees are generally around 100 to 200 yuan per day.
- Food tips: When tasting local food, pay attention to food hygiene and choose reputable restaurants and snack stalls. Also, most of the ancient town’s food is spicy; if you cannot eat spicy food, inform the vendor in advance to adjust the flavor.
- Linkage tips: There are many other attractions around the ancient town, such as Maotai Town and Red Stone Wild Valley Scenic Area. Visitors can reasonably arrange their itinerary based on their time and interests to achieve linked sightseeing between attractions.