I have a close friend who travels through mountains and rivers, travels to various places, and has visited hundreds of towns and cities. Occasionally during a casual conversation, he said to me with emotion, 'Gongtan Ancient Town in Youyang is the most comfortable place I have ever been to, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the most beautiful ancient town in China.'. I wonder in my heart why friends who travel thousands of miles would highly appreciate the beauty of Gongtan Ancient Town, which is not as famous as Phoenix and not as well built as Zhouzhuang and Tongli?

With this question in mind, I arrived in Youyang at the end of May and walked into this millennium old town that I have been longing for. When it comes to my first impression of Gongtan Ancient Town, it's not what I saw, but what I heard. The melodious folk songs float around the streets and alleys, little by little, as if filled with nostalgia~

Most people who love folk songs have a gentle heart. As a literary style in the Chinese music industry, folk songs are a simple and pure way of expression, a music that returns to simplicity and seeks its original intention. Only by listening attentively can one truly understand its essence. Gongtan Ancient Town also has these characteristics. After seeing the hustle and bustle of big cities, the hustle and bustle of lights and wine, in this low-key, simple, peaceful and gentle small town, you will see a different kind of beauty in life.

Gongtan Ancient Town is not only a small town suitable for sketching, but also a city of literature and art, where folk songs seem to have found a home. Strolling through the streets and alleys, with open ears, those voices that are either lazy or clear, with warm or deep tones, invisibly add a touch of unknown artistic style to the ancient city. During the walking period, it seems that every corner of the ancient town is filled with jumping notes, as if the next turn can lead to an unexpected encounter with a folk singer.

It is said that 3-4 singers are invited here every weekend to perform, and it is possible that you may collide with them somewhere here, or on the riverside boardwalk of Gongtan Ancient Town, or on the streets and alleys of the ancient town, or on a boat... In short, every weekend, folk singers come here to sing for you~

Someone told me that the most beautiful appearance of the ancient town is in the morning after the rain. At that time, a thin layer of smoke would rise from the surface of the Wujiang River, and the green mountains and water below the two sides would be painted together with the misty white mist in this area, creating a stunning landscape ink painting. Unfortunately, the two days that came were both very sunny. I never saw the scene of holding an oil paper umbrella and walking on the bluestone road in my longing, and I also saw the unparalleled beauty of Gongtan Ancient Town after the rain in Wuyuan. But some journeys have to leave some regrets before there is a chance to go again~

There is no shortage of scenery along the southeast of Chongqing, and there are excellent business cards in Youyang, Pengshui, and Qianjiang. Gongtan Ancient Town is located at the confluence of the Wujiang River and the Apeng River, facing Guizhou along the river across the river. It is known as a shining pearl in the Wujiang Gallery and is currently the only millennium old town well preserved by a major river in the world.

The stone paved street here is full of ups and downs, winding and deep; The Tujia stilt houses here are suspended and magnificent, known as the "musical notes on the cliffs". The ancient buildings here are like artistic sculptures, and can be regarded as treasures in the history of ancient architecture. This is also the famous Chinese painting master Wu Guanzhong's painting "Old Street".

The boatman culture, dock culture, salt merchant culture, and religious culture have a long and rich history here, bearing witness to the 1800 year history of Gongtan Ancient Town. The ancient customs, folk opera, song and dance, and handicrafts of the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups are all inherited here. Teacher Wu Guanzhong called Gongtan Ancient Town "Tang Street, Song City, and the home of grandparents

As a famous historical and cultural town in China, the first historical and cultural town in Chongqing, Gongtan Ancient Town is the core scenic area and shining pearl of Wujiang Gallery. It is known for its "strange mountains, strange rocks, clear waters, dangerous shoals, covered bridges, narrow paths, and hanging burials". The Qing Dynasty poet Mei Ruoweng praised this place in his poem, "The water in the mountains of Shu is unique, and it should be ranked first

On the banks of the Wujiang River at night, Gongtan Ancient Town seems to be like a world in a comic book, with red lanterns hanging high from stilted houses. Time flows slowly here, and the sound of the Wujiang River gurgling, the breeze brushing my face, and a few barking dogs in the distance all make me addicted. If you have lost yourself in urban life, why not come to Gongtan on a weekend, slow down on the bluestone road, stop and look far from the stilted house by the river, and you will find that all the troubles in life are just self seeking troubles!

Would you like this ancient town of Gongtan?

Except for Gongtan Ancient Town. There is also a new popular check-in spot in Youyang, which is the picturesque Stacked Stone Flower Valley. Do you still remember the purple pink and black ocean that flooded your social media last year? That's right, it's the Valley of Stacked Stone Flowers. Located 95 kilometers away from Gongtan Ancient Town, if you have all gone to Youyang, then Dieshi Flower Valley is also an indispensable check-in landmark!

There are layered stones everywhere here, born in the Cambrian 500 million years ago, with unique and artistic shapes. Now the garden is full of flowers, with mysterious layered stones and fields of horsewhip grass and Gesang flower sea. This is a masterpiece of nature, a place that only exists in paintings.

Here, flowers bloom differently throughout the year - earth skin, chrysanthemums, and wisteria, each with its own beauty! What we see now are large patches of Gesang flowers and the mysterious purple sea whip grass. The blooming flowers are not enough to describe its beauty. Even a casual snap in the midst of the flowers can dominate the ticket market~

There are many art works in the Dieshi Flower Valley Park, such as trains, whispers, and passing years, and taking photos is also particularly beautiful

If you're lucky, you might even encounter a flash mob performance at the entrance!

The scientific significance of the Layered Stone Flower Valley is extraordinary. Although we do not understand its mysteries, we can also explore the park and find our own moon gods. Each month points to a moon god, who has their own unique symbols! These mysteries need to be calmed down and slowly experienced~

You can choose to ride the 'General zip line' through the small canyon and feel the carefree summer breeze passing through your hair.

In addition to blooming flowers, there are also stone flowers that bloomed 500 million years ago here.

'Flowers on the Stone' is not a fabricated gimmick, it is a real existence!

Dieshi Flower Valley and Rural Art Tribe are universal tickets that can be played together. The scenic area has free electric scooter transportation, so don't worry~

Artists, together with local villagers, folk craftsmen, and inheritors of intangible culture, have been adapting to local conditions in Youyang for seven months. Jointly create 17 rural art works, each of which embodies the combination of rural and modern elements in the original ecology.

There are also children's performances here. If the time is suitable, why not watch the children's playful performances.

The stacked stone flower valley with blooming flowers will undoubtedly be a popular check-in spot for Chongqing's internet celebrities. The Gesang flowers that cover the mountains and fields are waving at you this season, and the horsewhip grass is also eagerly waiting for your arrival! How about planning a weekend leisure trip for such a beautiful early summer~