An aerial night view of Yangliuqing ancient town. [Photo/China Daily]

Once famed for its unique style of woodblock printing, the ancient town of Yangliuqing is now drawing crowds with its well-preserved traditional architecture, Yang Cheng reports in Tianjin.

The first thing that usually springs to mind when people hear the name Yangliuqing is woodblock printing, because the small town on the outskirts of Tianjin is famous for its individual style of printing that dates back more than 400 years to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Literally meaning "poplar willow green", Yangliuqing is a settlement with over 1,000 years of history which is considered to be the origin of the sprawling northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.

Tan Ruwei, a renowned historian and folk culture expert from Tianjin, says: "Yangliuqing is one of the most unique and important cultural landmarks in Tianjin and North China. The water transportation trade along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal helped to boost the town's growth."

Thanks to the canal, the town enjoyed unparalleled prosperity from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) onward and continued to thrive well into the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

"This commercial prosperity fostered cultural awareness and helped the local people there to develop an inclusive and innovative spirit toward business and the arts," he says.

Local performers dance to greet visitors at the town's decorated archway. [Photo/China Daily]

Renovated in recent years, the streets of Yangliuqing ancient town are home to an array of well-preserved old buildings that travelers can wander through and soak up its evocative atmosphere.

Along the main streets of the old town, visitors often come into close contact with local folk artists and watch them demonstrate their cultural arts. Visitors can talk to the artisans about the techniques they use to produce the Lunar New Year paintings that people hang on their walls to bring good fortune, and allow the artists to share their years of experience.

At Yucheng's Woodblock Print Shop, which was founded by the late Huo Yutang, a renowned inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock printing, visitors can view the artworks made by his son Huo Qingshun, who is now China's top woodblock printing expert.

The 67-year-old artisan used to bemoan the fact the renowned Yangliuqing Fine Arts Press, which helped the town find fame for its woodblock printing, had relocated to downtown Tianjin.

"I held out hope for many years that the press would return to the ancient town from Tianjin, and I was very glad when I heard they were planning to move the press back here in the future."