Changshou Ancient Town – The Longevity Culture of China

Changshou Ancient Town (长寿古镇) is located within the Changshou District of Chongqing, covering an area of approximately 530,000 square meters. Once farmland at the foot of Mount Puti, this town has become an integral part of the Puti Mountain – Chinese Longevity Cultural City. Developed as part of the Puti Mountain Scenic Area, Changshou Ancient Town features a modern complex of buildings designed in traditional architectural styles, blending tourism, leisure, dining, and entertainment. The town showcases the culture of Ba and Yu (Chongqing region) with a focus on the longevity culture of China, reflecting thousands of years of cultural heritage from the western provinces, including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Chongqing.

Travel Information about Changshou Ancient Town

Tickets and Opening Hours

Tickets: Free

Opening Hours: Open all day

How to Get There

Location: Changshou District, Chongqing

Transportation: From the Longtousi Transportation Hub (near Chongqing North Railway Station), there are direct shuttle buses to Changshou Ancient Town.

• Departure time from Longtousi to Changshou Ancient Town: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
• Departure time from Changshou Ancient Town to Longtousi: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Attraction Ratings

• Unique Features: ★★★★★
• Leisure: ★★★★
• Cultural Significance: ★★★
• Beauty: ★★
• Romance: ★★
• Excitement: ★

Highlights of Changshou Ancient Town

Core Area of Changshou Ancient Town

Changshou Ancient Town is built along one main axis (Wanshou Road) and two sections: the western ancient city of Qinglong Creek and the Jiangnan water village along Wanshou River. The architecture is elegant and grand, exuding a traditional charm. Within the core area, you’ll find ancient city gates, Wanshou Square, Wanshou Park (featuring Ba-Yu village culture, peach groves, and amusement areas), Sanxing Temple, the Folk Performance Hall (offering dining, music, and entertainment), the County Yamen (Longevity Culture and Folk Museum), Overstreet Buildings, and many other attractions. The town vividly displays Ba-Yu culture, longevity culture, and the beauty of ancient Western Chinese architecture.

• Wanshou Square: At nightfall, bonfires light up the square, and visitors join in the “Baba Dance.” During festivals, the square becomes even more lively with cultural performances and festive activities, such as moon-viewing banquets during the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Water Splashing Festival in the summer.
• Wanshou Park: A great spot for fun, the park offers a wide range of entertainment options, including cave rafting, water curtain movies, the Crazy Bus ride, the Magic Bicycle, parachute towers, carousels, and the thrilling Qingbang Jump.
• Ancient Town Yamen (County Government Office): This unique attraction features reenactments of traditional court cases, where visitors can experience the entire legal process—from filing complaints, gathering evidence, and attending trials to witnessing verdicts and written judgments. It’s an immersive way to learn about the workings of ancient Chinese yamen.

Mount Puti

Mount Puti, located on the western side of Changshou Ancient Town, is a key part of the Puti Mountain – Chinese Longevity Cultural City. The mountain stands at an elevation of around 598 meters, with a concave peak resembling an upturned bowl. At the top, there is an ancient fortress and a temple. During the Ming Dynasty, the monk Dazhi cast an iron pillar over 16 meters long and installed it at the peak, where a lamp would burn, casting light visible from afar at night. The famous line “A lamp shines atop Mount Puti” is still well-known today. Although the original lamp post no longer exists, the name “Lamp Post Fortress” remains.

The scenic area is divided into several sections, including a Buddhist cultural area, a Longevity Culture area, and a health-focused mountain retreat area. Together with Changshou Ancient Town, Mount Puti forms a comprehensive tourist destination offering a mix of dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment.

Changshou Lake

Changshou Lake, a municipal-level scenic area and one of the “New Twelve Scenic Spots of Bashu” in Chongqing, is the largest man-made freshwater lake in southwestern China. Located northeast of Changshou Ancient Town, the lake spans about 65 square kilometers and features 203 islands of varying sizes, resembling mountain peaks scattered across the water. The scenic area is a blend of islands, bays, and shallow beaches, with a natural wildlife reserve.

The core attractions of Changshou Lake are its picturesque landscapes of mountains, islands, and water, with a focus on longevity culture and natural beauty. This harmony between nature and human heritage makes the lake one of Chongqing’s most popular leisure destinations. Over the past half-century, Changshou Lake has become steeped in history, as it was the site where the novel Red Crag was written and where the “Savage Plan” for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam was conceived. Today, visitors can explore ten notable scenic spots, including “Long Causeway Reflections,” “The Footsteps of Premier Zhou,” “Heavenly Longevity,” and “Xiangzi’s Legacy Stone.”

Accommodation in Changshou Ancient Town

The ancient town offers a variety of accommodations, ranging from unique five-star hotels to distinctively styled inns and guesthouses. Visitors can also opt for hotels in the nearby Changshou District, depending on their preferences.

Changshou Country Garden Phoenix Hotel (长寿碧桂园凤凰酒店): Located at No. 7 Wenyuan Avenue, Peach Blossom New City, Changshou District, this star-rated hotel adopts a thematic design concept with a Tuscan-style layout. It is quiet at night, making it an ideal place for a relaxing vacation.

Chongqing Doudouwo Hotel (重庆兜兜窝酒店): Situated at No. 2, Taoyuan West 4th Road, Building 6, Puti Street, in the center of Changshou Ancient Town, this is the first hotel in the area where all rooms are equipped with projection screens. There are various room types, and each room offers complimentary snacks. While the service is generally good, some guests might find the curtains not entirely blackout-friendly. If this is an issue, guests can request a room with better light-blocking curtains in advance.

Cuisine in Changshou Ancient Town

Changshou Ancient Town is filled with numerous food stalls and restaurants. The dining street near Changwu Road is a popular spot, featuring famous local dishes like Dongfang Braised Duck and Xipindao Chestnut Chicken, along with various dining establishments such as Popo Ke Ecological Restaurant, Yijia Private Kitchen, and He Pan Family Cuisine. For those looking to relax with a drink, the area also has Sugar Bar, Base Bar, and several cafes.

The town boasts two bustling snack streets: the first in Phase B and the second in Phase E. Additionally, the ancient theater area is home to many small snack shops. The flavors here are predominantly Ba and Yu-style snacks, offering a wide variety of delicious, affordable, and convenient options for visitors looking to indulge in local cuisine.

Things to Do in Changshou Ancient Town

Changshou Ancient Town offers a variety of entertainment venues, including tea houses, bars, KTV, and saunas, providing ample options for relaxation and leisure. The town hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, with daily small-scale activities, monthly medium-sized events, and quarterly large-scale celebrations.

Traditional performances such as City God parades, lantern riddles, dragon and lion dances, early boat rowing, cockfighting shows, and storytelling showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ba and Yu customs.

For those seeking a quieter experience, the Tea and Chess Street runs along the banks of Wanshou River and Qinglong Creek. Surrounded by lush greenery and lotus flowers, visitors can enjoy a cup of tea in a tranquil atmosphere, letting the serenity wash over them like a gentle stream.

Annual Events in Changshou Ancient Town

Changshou Ancient Town hosts a variety of exciting events throughout the year, offering something for every season. Here is a list of key activities and festivals: