A Dream palce -My Hometown Ancient city of Taierzhuang

Taierzhuang in the flourishing period of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty was a beautiful ancient town attracting a large number of businessmen with unique architectural landscape and cultural possessions. People lived here in prosperity. Though being a village at the beginning, it was ever bigger than many towns. Thus King Qianlong of Qing Dynasty called it “The Best Town in the World”. However, the ancient town was leveled to the ground in the Battle of Taierzhuang. To rebuild the ancient town has become a dream for people of several generations. In order to carry forward the Canal Civilization and the national spirit of Chinese and promote the development of culture and tourism industry, on April 8, 2008, it was officially declared to rebuild the ancient town of Taierzhuang by CPC committee and People’s Government of Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province.

The Western Gate of the Ancient Town of Taierzhuang. In the seventh year during the reign of King Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty, the earth city walls of Taierzhuang were transformed to the brick-laying city walls with six city gates. The Eastern Gate is called “Yangsheng”, suggesting that the government and officials live in reliance on the support of the people. The Western Gate is called “Taichengjiuzhi”, indicating that it is the landmark of the Ancient Town. The Southern Gate is called “Huidiji”, referring to the tradition that complying with the will of the heavenly god can bring forth good luck. The smaller southern gate is called “Yingxiang”, referring to the greetings of auspiciousness. The northern gate is called “Zhongzheng”, implying righteousness and benevolence. The Smaller Gate is called “Cheng’enzhanlu”, suggesting the grace of the heavenly god and the enjoyment of the deep dews. We are passing through the Western Gate: Taichengjiuzhi—the landmark of the Ancient Town.

The Ancient Town of Taierzhuang has a planned area of 2 square kilometers in adherence to the philosophy of “preservation, restoration and creation of primitivism”. It has 11 functional sections, 8 scenery zones and 29 scenic spots. The rebuilt Ancient Town of Taierzhuang is presenting itself in the pattern that “water landscape, exhibition halls and themed culture is integrated in all the courtyards”. It is no exaggeration that the Ancient Town of Taierzhuang is a living fossil for the canal culture and the Museum for the Residential Architecture in China.

The rebuilt Ancient Town of Taierzhuang is graceful and primitive with perfect union between the heaven and the earth. It has intensively reflected the four unique cultural and historic values of the city, which justify its attractiveness to the tourists both at home and abroad as an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure and vacation.

The Ancient Town of Taierzhuang bears the largest amount of relics of World War II in China. 53 sites bridge the modernity of Taierzhuang with its bitter history as being a city suffering most in the war. It is also the only memorial city for World War II in China.

Come to Taierzhuang to view the living fossil of Canal Culture, and the largest collections of civilian’s residences in China. Located in the hub of the north and south, Taierzhuang has been known to the world as the “Wharf for Water and Land Transport”, suggesting the frequent exchanges of people, goods and information here and in turn the cultural communication. Taierzhuang deserves its status as a landmark city for canal culture boasting eight architectural styles and seventy-two temples. The eight architectural styles are northern courts, Anhui Style architecture, Southern Shandong residential architecture, Watertown Landscape architecture, Southern Fujian style architecture, Lingnan architecture, European architecture and Religious architecture. The seventy-two temples including those of the major religions in the world, including Catholicism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and folk beliefs of Chinese including Taoism, and God of Guan Yu and other immortal fairies with Wenchang Attic, the Imperial Hall of Guan Yu, Goddess Tai Mount Temple and Goddess Matsu Temple and so on.

Just come to Taierzhuang for the last section of living canal along Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The last 3-kilometer ancient river of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is preserved here in Taierzhuang. A large amount of ancient docks, wharfs and ancient ship locks, among other water conservancy facilities, have been well preserved in the Ancient Town. Therefore, it has been called as the Living Canal by the World Tourism Organization and the Only Relic Village existing along the Grand Canal.

Weclcome to my hometown,a dream palce！

China welcomes you！