Located about 20 kilometers east of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, Luodai Ancient Town is a unique and fascinating destination for those who want to explore the culture and history of the Hakka people. It is one of the most famous ancient towns in the region with over 1,800 years of history, bearing the traditional cultural and architectural imprints of this community.
A few features of Luodai Ancient Town, China
Luodai Ancient Town, located in the southeast of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, is an attractive destination due to its rich culture and history. It was once an important trading center during the Han Dynasty and has developed into an ancient town with traditional Chinese architecture, especially the culture of the Hakka people. With a length of about 1 km, Luodai Ancient Town gives the feeling of being lost in an ancient painting with stone-paved roads and ancient houses.
Luodai Ancient Town, China. Photo: @christinaaazheng
One of the features of this ancient town is the famous temples and pavilions such as Guangyuan Temple and Wenchang Pavilion. These architectural works are not only tourist attractions but also places of worship, reflecting the beliefs and customs of the indigenous people. Visitors can stroll in the peaceful space, enjoy not only the beautiful scenery but also learn more about the history and culture of the Hakka people through festivals and traditional performances.
Luodai Ancient Town is also a paradise for food lovers. Here, visitors can enjoy many traditional Sichuan dishes, characterized by their distinctive spicy flavors. In addition, handicraft shops are also an ideal stop for those looking for unique souvenirs. The combination of culture, history and cuisine creates an unforgettable experience when visiting Luodai Ancient Town.
Photo: @lingmomoTransportation to Luodai Ancient Town
To get to Luodai Ancient Town from Chengdu city center, visitors have many different means of transport options, depending on budget and needs.
Bus: This is the most popular and cost-effective form of public transport. From downtown Chengdu, visitors can take buses such as route 219 or route 850 that go directly to Luodai Ancient Town. The bus journey usually takes about 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
Taxi or ride-hailing service: Travelers can also use taxis or ride-hailing apps like Didi for faster and more convenient travel. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes and the fare will be higher than the bus but it is more comfortable, especially when traveling in groups or with a lot of luggage.
Bicycle or Motorcycle: For travelers who love flexibility and want to explore freely, renting a bicycle or motorcycle is an interesting option. The road leading to Luodai Ancient Town is quite beautiful and suitable for a journey to explore the Chinese countryside. However, visitors need to pay attention to traffic safety and comply with road regulations.
Getting to the old town is not too difficult. Photo: @sleap_povy
The best time to visit Luodai Ancient Town
The best time to visit Luodai Ancient Town is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these periods, the weather in Chengdu is very pleasant with mild temperatures and little rain, creating ideal conditions for sightseeing and exploring the ancient town.
Spring: The fresh natural scenery, budding flowers and fresh air make walking around the old town more enjoyable. This is also the ideal time to enjoy outdoor cultural activities and attend traditional festivals.
Autumn: The cool air and romantic scenery with yellow leaves falling everywhere create a beautiful picture for visitors. This time is also very favorable for enjoying local cuisine without being affected by hot weather or heavy rain.
Additionally, visitors may want to avoid visiting during summer (June to August) as Chengdu gets hot and humid, or winter (December to February) when temperatures can drop and the cold air can make sightseeing less comfortable.
You should visit here in spring or fall. Photo: @nathalieletournelTop attractions in Luodai Ancient Town
Four Assembly Halls
Entering Luodai Ancient Street is like opening a fascinating book with an ancient flavor. It is an endless stretch of cobblestone streets, ancient buildings, and traditional snacks and street food. There are four Assembly Halls located in Luodai, representing Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces, and Northern Sichuan.
As a landmark, the Cantonese Assembly Hall is the largest and best preserved assembly hall. You can see several parallel sentences hanging on the stone pillars, and all of them create a nostalgic atmosphere. In contrast to the grey or black tiles of other buildings, the yellow roof of the Cantonese Assembly Hall represents a special status.
Jiangxi Assembly Hall was built in the late Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of about 10 square meters, and has the refined and warm style of the southern Yangtze River Delta. On the small stage of Jiangxi Assembly Hall, there are many seats arranged for the audience to watch ancient performances. Sometimes the audience participates and performs on the stage, so this is the earliest KTV in China.
Facing south, Huguang Guild Hall (Guild Hall of Hunan and Hubei) consists of a stage, Er Tower, Yue Tower, front hall and back hall together with a shaft. Great Yu, famous for subduing floods, is worshiped here, so Huguang Guild Hall is also described as "Palace of Yu". Locals believe that Luodai town is safe from floods because Great Yu is protecting them. Huguang Guild Hall has built a free Hakka museum where you can explore the history of Hakka.
The Northern Sichuan Assembly Hall was relocated here from Wolongqiao Street in Chengdu. It witnessed how the culture developed by the immigrants from Northern Sichuan. The Northern Sichuan Assembly Hall is currently not open to visitors because it is a protected cultural relic.
One of the Luodai assembly halls. Photo: @klook
Hakka Museum
The Luodai Old Town Hakka Museum, located in Huguang Hall, is one of the most comprehensive and important museums in China dedicated to Hakka culture. It documents and presents the entire history of Hakka migration to Sichuan Province, and celebrates their remarkable achievements over the centuries. Through the exhibits and documents, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the challenging migration journey, from adapting to the new land to the cultural and economic development of the Hakka community in this area.
The rich cultural relics displayed in the museum include many precious artifacts such as bronze, pottery, iron, stone carvings and ancient coins. Each artifact carries historical stories, reflecting not only the daily life but also the art and craft techniques of the Hakka people in different periods. Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to admire these unique works of art in detail, from the exquisite carvings on bronze, to the ingenuity in ceramic products, demonstrating the talent and creativity of the ancients.
In addition to viewing the artifacts, visitors can also learn more about the development of traditional Hakka crafts, as well as the unique cultural values that this community brings to Sichuan. The museum is not only a place to preserve relics, but also a source of vivid documents about the history, culture, and life of the Hakka people, creating a space full of educational value and experience for domestic and foreign visitors.
Photo: @klookHighlights in Luodai Ancient Town
Water Dragon Festival and Fire Dragon Festival
The Water Dragon Festival is the most important festival for the Hakka people. It is said that Luodai has favorable weather because the Hakka people have a close relationship with the Dragon King, who is in charge of rainfall. To show their gratitude to the Dragon King, they perform the Dragon Dance in the summer. All the dancers wear only shorts and dance happily while visitors use water guns to shoot water at them and others.
The Fire Dragon Festival always takes place on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. Before the dragon dance, the Hakka people will have a ritual. Then, the main dancer leads the other dancers to visit local families for the New Year. The enthusiasm of the audience is emphasized by the climax when the dancers light firecrackers and throw them at each other. The burn marks on the dancers' bodies not only symbolize courage but also mean an explosive new year. When the Fire Dragon Festival ends, the dancers will burn the dragon.
Water Dragon Festival. Photo: @easytourchina.wordpress
Enjoy local snacks
Shanghai Bean Jelly is the most famous snack in Luodai Old Street . In ancient times, the Hakka people were forced to leave their hometowns to go to Sichuan. Whenever they ate bean jelly made with their traditional techniques, they would feel deeply homesick and become quite sad. Therefore, they named this bean jelly “Shanghai Bean Jelly” (Shangxin means sad in Chinese). However, many other tourists would shed tears when eating Shanghai Bean Jelly. Why? Would people feel homesick if they ate Shanghai Bean Jelly? Of course not, they would only shed tears because this snack was too spicy. Therefore, a bowl of sweet Kaixin (meaning happy) Bean Jelly after Shanghai Bean Jelly is a good choice.
The swan eggs in Luodai Ancient Street are not real swan eggs, but rather powdered snacks that look like swan eggs. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, one bite and you'll want more.
Photo: @zoesiwa
Luodai Ancient Town is not only a tourist destination but also a symbol of the fusion of history and culture. It carries the quintessence of the Hakka people, a living cultural heritage, contributing to enriching the diverse picture of Chinese culture .
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