Echoes of a Thousand Years Along the Zhuqi River: Luoquan Ancient Town, a Living Oriental Epic

In the mountains surrounding the southeastern part of China's Sichuan Basin, a winding bluestone path resembling a dragon has quietly lay along the Zhuxi River for a thousand years. This place is not a common name in travel guides, but a secret garden in the hearts of travelers yearning to touch the true pulse of China—Luoquan Ancient Town. Founded during the Qin Dynasty and with a history of over 1,700 years, this ancient town is affectionately called "the First Dragon Town in Sichuan" by locals. Unlike some overly commercialized water towns that are noisy, it is like a parchment scroll forgotten by time, waiting for those who understand to gently brush off the dust and listen to the echoes of civilization etched in salt, tofu, and the glint of swords. Since 2025, with the advancement of protective development and a series of cultural outreach initiatives, this sleeping "dragon" is slowly opening its eyes, gazing at the world with a calm yet powerful posture.

Origin and Development: A Drop of Salt Brine Brews a Millennium of Prosperity

The story of Luoquan traces back to a drop of brine. Around 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty, the ancestors discovered abundant underground brine resources here, and from then on, they dug wells to extract brine and burned firewood to produce salt. According to the *Yanfa Zhi* (Salt Law Records), "Luoquan Well in Zizhou is an ancient salt production site, established during the Qin Dynasty," indicating that its salt industry history predates even the renowned "Millennium Salt Capital" of Zigong. One can imagine the prosperous scene of "well and stove connected, densely populated" in that era. During the peak periods of the Qing Dynasty, specifically the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns, the town boasted over 1,200 salt wells, producing 2 million kilograms of table salt annually, which was distributed nationwide via the rugged ancient salt and tea trade routes.

The prosperity of the salt industry shaped the unique physical form of Luoquan. The layout of the ancient town resembles a giant dragon swimming in a mountain stream, with five-mile-long bluestone streets serving as the dragon's body, staggered stilt houses as its scales, and the "dragon's eye" —the only temple in China dedicated to commemorating and worshipping the salt deity, Guan Zhong, a renowned prime minister of the Spring and Autumn period—as the finishing touch. Built in the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, this temple itself is a marvel of architectural art: the main hall in Taoist style, the stage in Buddhist style, and the side rooms in Confucian style coexist harmoniously, earning it the title of "Oriental Marvel Temple" in the architectural community. In 2013, the Salt God Temple was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is not only a physical testament to the thousand-year legacy of the salt industry in the ancient town but also a monument to the survival wisdom of the Chinese people— "gathering because of salt, thriving because of salt."

Cultural Treasure: Wushu, Immigration and the Red Symphony

If salt is the flesh and blood of Luoquan, then culture is its soul. Throughout its long historical evolution, diverse cultures have converged and collided here, composing a unique symphony.

First is the martial arts culture, the soul deeply ingrained in the Luoquan people. During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Liu Yan from Luoquan synthesized local and Bashu martial arts, then traveled three times to Henan to study Shaolin Kung Fu, ultimately founding the powerful and self-contained Panmen Sect martial arts. This unique style not only stands out in the martial world but also demonstrated patriotic spirit in critical moments. During the 1911 Luoquan Conference, Panmen disciples took on the responsibility of ensuring the conference's safety. In the subsequent Anti-Japanese War, the ninth-generation inheritors produced many brave warriors who joined the army and earned military honors. In 2009, Panmen Sect martial arts were listed as Sichuan Province's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Today, a martial arts training center planned for the ancient town's City God Temple aims to pass down this ancient skill to the younger generation, ensuring it remains "effective" in their hands.

Next are the immigrant culture and red culture, which infused Luoquan with the genes of openness and resilience. During the "Huguang Filling Sichuan" movement in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a large number of Hakka immigrants arrived in this land. They not only revitalized the declining salt industry but also brought diverse architectural styles and cultural customs. The "Nine Palaces and Eight Temples" we see today are mostly testaments to their efforts to maintain ties with their hometown and worship their ancestors. The "Luoquan Conference" held in August 1911 completely altered the course of China's history. In the Gospel Hall of the ancient town, members of the Tongmenghui and leaders of the Kelaohui secretly gathered, transforming the Sichuan Railway Protection Movement from peaceful petitions into an armed uprising, creating decisive conditions for the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising. Mr.Sun Yat-sen once highly praised: "Without the uprising of the Sichuan Railway Protection comrades, the Wuchang revolution might have been delayed by a year or so." This history has etched Luoquan's name forever into the monument of modern Chinese history.

International Vision:From Ancient Towns and Alleys to the World Stage

For a long time, Luoquan's charm seemed to remain only in the photo albums of a few domestic travelers. However, with the rise of the revival of China's traditional culture, this ancient town of a thousand years is stepping onto the international stage with an elegant and confident stride.

The first to cross national borders was the local taste memory—Luoquan Tofu. This tofu, made with local spring water and traditional brine, is renowned for its "fine, white, tender, and soft" texture. Even with the popularity of "A Bite of China," it has long been a favorite among food lovers worldwide. However, what truly showcased the cultural vitality of Luoquan to the world was the medium-sized rod puppetry of Zizhong. In November 2025, the Zizhong County Puppet Troupe, as the only delegation from China, traveled to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the 10th "Children's Theater Week" and the 29th "Puppet Theater Festival." When the exquisite puppets, under the actors' skillful manipulation, inscribed "Sino-German Friendship," and when the traditional face-changing and fire-spitting techniques were stunningly performed on the puppets, the audience erupted in thunderous applause, leaving German viewers utterly enchanted. Shi Ling, wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Germany, praised it as "a demonstration of the profound heritage of Chinese culture." The Zizhong puppets have visited over 20 countries, marking not only the global outreach of intangible cultural heritage but also a vivid practice of cultural exchange.

Moreover, overseas Chinese media have been actively documenting this cultural phenomenon. Journalists from Canada, Italy, Indonesia, and other countries visited the ancient town, cheering for the spectacular Pan Men Po martial arts performance in front of the Wu Temple and marveling at the unique puppet theater under the ancient stage of the Salt God Temple. As the editor-in-chief of the Italian Overseas Chinese Network remarked, in Luoquan, people experienced a "dialogue spanning a thousand years."

Challenges and Future: Awakening in Protection, Living Forever in Innovation

However, behind the glamorous image of Luoquan's global expansion, it faces the eternal challenges of preservation and development, much like many historic ancient towns. Issues such as fireproofing and moisture-proofing of ancient wooden structures, laying modern pipelines beneath bluestone-paved roads, and balancing the needs of local residents with tourism development—all these require careful consideration.

Encouragingly, a deliberate and systematic cultural renaissance is unfolding here. In 2025, Zizhong County invested approximately 12 million yuan to upgrade the exhibition facilities of its three major temples. Adhering to the strict principle of 'restoring the old as it was,' the renovated Salt God Temple will transform from a cold relic into a dynamic museum integrating worship, gatherings, and educational programs. Meanwhile, Wanshou Palace will showcase Hakka revolutionary culture, while Chenghuang Temple will recreate folk spaces through a blend of virtual and physical elements, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in a millennium-old cultural heritage.

The ancient town's infrastructure is undergoing a quiet transformation. From upgrading water supply and drainage systems to enhancing landscape lighting, smart navigation systems, and barrier-free facilities, Luoquan aims to preserve its rustic charm while elevating visitor comfort. The local government has also launched a competitive consultation for the "Luoquan Historical and Cultural Town Protection Plan," allocating 800,000 yuan to develop a scientific blueprint for the town's future preservation.

The future Luochuan aspires to be a cultural vessel with warmth. It must not only embrace the incense of the Salt Temple, the fistbeats of Panmen Gate, and the shouts of the Luochuan Conference, but also the "comfortable" slow life of local residents—those daily moments of playing cards and sipping tea in old teahouses, those mornings of grinding pulp and preparing brine in tofu workshops. For international tourists, the value of Luochuan lies not in how many modern conveniences it offers, but in whether it can truly make people feel that in this valley of Sichuan, China, history is not a pile of sealed ancient documents, but still breathing, growing, and flowing quietly with the Zhuxi River in daily life.

As the sun sets, the golden afterglow falls on the weathered body of Zilai Bridge, with the eaves of the Salt God Temple on the east side and the silhouette of the City God Temple on the west side reflected in the gentle waves of Zhuxi River. In the distance, it seems as if the drumbeats of a puppet show and the sound of a stone mill from a tofu workshop can be heard. Luoquan Ancient Town, a millennium-old settlement once prosperous because of salt, renowned for conferences, and brave for martial arts, is extending an invitation to the world in its unique way: come here, listen to the echoes of footsteps on the bluestone slabs, taste the tofu passed down for thousands of years, and in every casual turn, encounter that ancient yet vibrant China.