Tongren

Tongren combines river history with an exceptionally old urban district: Zhongnanmen Old Street includes buildings from the Ming and Qing periods and is more than 600 years old. Travellers who enjoy combining historic architecture, cultural exhibitions and regional food on their trips will find a variety of themes to explore here. The Zhongnanmen Historic and Cultural Tourism Area is in the centre of Tongren and is defined by its waterside setting. This combination of urban culture and riverside scenery gives Tongren a different character from a trip focused mainly on nature experiences or activities.

Zhongnanmen: Lanes, courtyards and historic buildings

The scale of the district is reflected in specific figures: Zhongnanmen Old Street includes 103 buildings from the Ming and Qing periods, 35 well-preserved four-courtyard compounds, 11 old lanes and a wharf. Zhongnanmen is considered Tongren’s most completely preserved district from these two dynasties. Its many courtyards and lanes make its historic layout a central attraction for anyone interested in urban history and traditional residential architecture.

The houses in Zhongnanmen are predominantly laid out as three- or four-courtyard compounds. Their timber structures are generally classified as the “穿排遣式” type. Roof forms include gable roofs, hip roofs and simple mono-pitched roofs. Brick, wood and stone carvings are other distinctive design features. Those who want to take time to appreciate the architectural details can look at the different materials and roof forms rather than viewing the district simply as a collection of old buildings. Zhongnanmen was designated a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2006.

Culture and exhibitions in Zhongnanmen

The Zhongnanmen Historic and Cultural Tourism Area covers several cultural themes. The Dongshan Ancient Building Group is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Fanjing Academy is also part of the cultural and visitor experience. The Zhou Yiqun Martyr Exhibition Hall, located in Zhongnanmen, focuses on Zhou Yiqun’s story; the hall was selected as a national base for patriotic education.

The Fanjing Starry Sky Art Museum combines astronomy exhibitions with starry-sky art inspired by Van Gogh and space experiences. The Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center has a different focus: it presents Nuo opera, puppetry, lantern theatre, Shuo Chun, Tujia folk songs and 四面花鼓. At Feishan Palace, Nuo opera, Shuo Chun and lantern dance are presented as performances of intangible cultural heritage. If you are choosing between historic architecture, astronomy-themed attractions and traditional performing arts for your trip, Zhongnanmen offers a variety of cultural points of interest.

Riverside scenery, history and regional cuisine

The Zhongnanmen Historic and Cultural Tourism Area is located at the confluence of three rivers. Shipping on the Jinjiang made Tongren an important goods distribution centre and trading port in southwest China during the Ming and Qing periods. The river’s history thus adds an economic perspective to the lanes and residences. The Dongshan Pavilion, later renamed Fan Tian Lanxing Pavilion, was regarded as the foremost of Tongren’s ten scenic spots.

Local snacks are also part of the Zhongnanmen experience. They include fried baba, rice tofu, mung bean noodles, glutinous rice rolls, bingliangfen and shenxian tofu. There is also a matcha experience hall in Zhongnanmen’s cultural corridor. If you enjoy discovering regional food while travelling, these specialities can add to the historic and cultural themes you consider.

A specific river event took place near Zhongnanmen on the Jinjiang on 6 February 2025: visitors saw a bamboo dragon raft more than 280 metres long, decorated boats with bamboo and wooden frames, and flower boats carrying Miao performers. Light and music accompanied the scene, which drew a large number of visitors. The date places this clearly in the recent past.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to explore destinations beyond Tongren: Tianzhu, Bijie, Guiyang, Qiannan, Zunyi, Liupanshui, Qiandongnan and Qianxinan.

For the broader travel overview: Guizhou.