Tongren: Old Town History, Culture and River Landscapes

Zhongnanmen Historic and Cultural Tourism Area is located in central Tongren, at the confluence of three rivers and in a setting shaped by water. Zhongnanmen combines historic buildings with museums, cultural institutions and a river history dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. You can therefore consider the area from several perspectives when planning your trip: as a historic district, a place for cultural presentations and part of the cityscape along the water.

Historic Lanes and Traditional Architecture

Zhongnanmen Old Street comprises 103 buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, 35 well-preserved courtyard compounds, 11 old lanes and a wharf. It is more than 600 years old and is considered Tongren’s most completely preserved district from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These figures give an impression of the scale of the historic development: in addition to the buildings, the courtyards, lanes and wharf are also listed among the district’s features.

The traditional residences in Zhongnanmen are mostly laid out as three- or four-courtyard compounds. Timber-frame structures of the “穿排遣式” type are commonly used. Roof forms include gable and hip roofs, as well as simple shed roofs; decorative features include brick, wood and stone carvings. The local architectural style is therefore defined by its courtyard layout as well as its construction and ornamentation.

Zhongnanmen was designated a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2006. The Dongshan Ancient Building Group in Zhongnanmen Historic and Cultural Tourism Area also holds this national designation. Dongshan Pavilion, later renamed Fan Tian Lanxing Pavilion, was considered the foremost of Tongren’s ten scenic spots.

Cultural Institutions and Presentations

The Zhou Yiqun Martyr Exhibition Hall in Zhongnanmen was selected as a national patriotic education site. Fanjing Starry Sky Art Museum combines astronomy exhibitions with art inspired by Van Gogh’s starry skies and space experiences. The exhibition and experience program may change. Fanjing Academy is also part of the cultural and experience area; check locally for its current program.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center presents Nuo opera, puppet theater, lantern theater, Shuo Chun, Tujia folk songs and 四面花鼓. The presentations on offer may vary. Feishan Palace is also associated with performances of intangible cultural heritage: a municipal post dated June 24, 2022, mentions Nuo opera, Shuo Chun and lantern dance there. Check current performance dates before visiting.

Zhongnanmen’s cultural corridor includes a matcha experience hall. A municipal post dated June 24, 2022, also lists fried baba, rice tofu, mung bean noodles, glutinous rice rolls, bingliangfen and shenxian tofu among Zhongnanmen’s local snacks.

River History and Trip Planning

The riverside location is more than a feature of today’s cityscape. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, navigation on the Jinjiang River made Tongren an important goods transfer point and trading port in southwestern China. At an event on February 6, 2025, a bamboo dragon raft more than 280 meters long, decorated boats with bamboo and wooden frames, and flower boats carrying Miao performers traveled along the Jinjiang River near Zhongnanmen; check before your trip whether such an event is currently taking place. Light and music accompanied the scene, which was watched by numerous visitors.

If you are looking for a hotel in Tongren, you can first decide whether historic architecture, cultural institutions or river history is the main focus of your trip. This helps clarify your personal travel priorities before you compare specific hotel offers according to your own requirements.

Discover more destinations: Anshun, Guiyang, Tianzhu, Qianxinan, Qiandongnan, Zunyi, Bijie, Liupanshui.

For the overview of the wider region: Guizhou.