Ciqikou, Chongqing
Ciqikou (Chinese: 磁器口; pinyin: Cíqìkǒu; literally: "Porcelain Port") is an ancient town in the Shapingba District of Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China.[1] It was originally called Longyinzhen (simplified Chinese: 龙隐镇; traditional Chinese: 龍隱鎮; pinyin: Lóngyǐnzhèn) and was also known as Little Chongqing.
According to an old Chinese proverb: "One flagstone road, and one thousand years' Ciqikou".[citation needed] The name of the town can be traced back to porcelain production during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing Dynasties.[2] Formerly a busy port located at the lower reaches of the Jialing River, a thousand years after its foundation the town remains a symbol and microcosm of old Chongqing (Jiang Zhou).
Location
Ciqikou is located on the west bank of the Jialing River and covers an area of Lua error in Module:Convert at line 272: attempt to index local 'cat' (a nil value).. Three mountains, Mount Jingbi, Mount Fenghuang and Mount Ma'an lie in Ciqikou, whilst Fenghuang Quan and Qinshui Quan run across it. The geography of Ciqikou is considered to have perfect Fengshui by the local people.[citation needed]
History
According to historical records, Ciqikou was first built during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song (r. 998–1004).[citation needed] It gained prominence during the Ming Dynasty as a commercial port and market town, shipping goods both by land and water. Reaching its climax during the end of the Qing Dynasty, the town has been described poetically, in Ciqikou, as "one thousand people greet each other during day ... ten thousand lamps flicker at night".[citation needed]
Ciqikou today
Travelers to Chongqing and locals alike throng to Ciqikou's steep and narrow pedestrian streets. Shops sell porcelain, other handicrafts, and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at what many areas of Chongqing were like before the metropolis became the vast urban agglomeration it is today. A 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple straddles the mountain in the middle of the old town.
Ciqikou is the source of Baci culture.[citation needed] Many well-known people lived here during the Second Sino-Japanese War, including Guo Moruo, Xu Beihong, Feng Zikai, Fu Baoshi, Ba Jin, Bing Xin, etc. Ding Zhaozhong, a Chinese-born American scientist, studied here for many years during his childhood.[citation needed]
Customs
The ancient town abounds in customs, many of which have lasted till now. These include baibazi, xingbang, family's ancestral temple, Pao Brother, temple fair, dragon dance, dragon boat race, friends of Sichuan opera, chuntai drama as well as pingshu and teahouse culture.[citation needed]
Food
Chongqing is known for its wide variety of local food traditions, especially the ubiquitous, spicy "hotpot"; while Ciqikou is one of the best-known places in Chongqing. Jiaoyan Peanut, Maoxuewang, and Qianzhangpi, called the three treasures of Ciqikou, as well as Douban fish, are the most popular.[citation needed]
Landmarks
- Compound of Zhong's (pinyin: zhōng jiā yuàn)
This compound is more than 120 years old. It was built by a late Qing Dynasty eunuch by the name of Zhong Yunting (zhōng yún tíng 钟云亭), who served on the staff of the notorious Ci Xi Empress of the Qing Dynasty (cí xǐ tài hòu 慈禧太后). Traditional Chinese architectural designs used in both the North and the South are featured in this heritage compound.[citation needed]
Visitors walking into the hall and courtyard—and across the separation of time and space—of Bayu Dwellings, built of timber, stone and brick, experience an unmistakable sense of peace.[citation needed]
The Jianwen Emperor of China's Ming Dynasty (jiàn wén dì 建文帝) spent the rest of his life living at this temple after he was ousted from Beijing and went into exile. The four large Chinese characters Da Xiong Bao Dian (dà xióng bǎo diàn 大雄宝殿) hanging on this temple were written by Zhao Puchu (zhào pǔ chū 赵朴初), a famous Chinese calligrapher who served as the president of China's Buddhist Society. The main building at the temple was built 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty and is characterized by its splendor. The whole building was constructed without using a single nail and is regarded as a miracle in China's architectural history. Buddhist believers flock to this temple to pray and undertake other Buddhist activities year in year out, particularly during China's Spring Festival.[citation needed]
The Han Lin Academy in Ciqikou used to be a school, operated by a sun family during the Qing Dynasty. The family's offspring studied there, and three of them, including two other students, were awarded the Qing Dynasty regime in recognition of their outstanding performance in a national examination organized by the Qing Dynasty's Ministry of Education. In large part due to this reputation, the Han Lin Academy in Ciqikou brought together many local academics and students at the time.[citation needed]
See also
References
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing Chinese-language text
- Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text
- Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text
- Articles with unsourced statements from August 2014
- Shapingba
- Visitor attractions in Chongqing
- Geography of Chongqing
- Chinese cuisine
- Restaurants in China
