Tianjin Updates

Yangliuqing ancient township in Tianjin comes to life again

(exploringtianjin.com)

Updated: 2021-04-16

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Tianjin's Xiqing district government holds press conference on April 15.[Photo/exploringtianjin.com]

Tianjin's Xiqing district plans to restore its local ancient canal area and lifestyle based on its Yangliuqing ancient township to carry forward and show significant intangible cultural elements.

Yangliuqing boasts historical resources including canal culture and Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints which feature one of the most popular New Year decorations.

The 29.2-km Xiqing section of the Grand Canal, the world's longest man-made waterway stretching 3,200 kilometers from Beijing to Hangzhou, is the source of abundant traditional craftsmanship and folk art reflecting people's lifestyles.

Yangliuqing Woodblock Prints flourished in Tianjin and the surrounding areas during a period between the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In their heyday, more than 300 workshops created the artwork in the old canal-side market of the town. The canal helped transport the paintings to other places, boosting local tourism and the economy.

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A craftsperson paints a print featuring a plump baby holding a large fish with a lotus in the background-a classic image of Yangliuqing woodblock New Year prints. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Through studying historical books and determining the layout of river channels, ferry crossings and streets, part of the ancient town of Yangliuqing will be restored and its architecture reshaped.

The architecture will strictly follow that of the Ming and Qing dynasties to fully show the historical features, and ancient lifestyles will be reproduced based on The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, a famous ancient Chinese scroll painting.

More than 800 existing old houses will be restored to develop characteristic homestays and showcase Tianjin's cultural heritage.

Folk arts, opera, crosstalk, intangible cultural performances and venues such as theaters will flourish in the area. With a planned area of 1.87km, the park is expected to attract three million tourists each year.

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