Anren Ancient Town is located in Anren Town, Dayi County, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 39 kilometers away from downtown Chengdu and 8.5 kilometers away from Dayi County. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. With a history of more than 1,380 years, the ancient town features mostly old-fashioned block buildings constructed in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Due to its unique architectural style combining Chinese and Western elements, it is known as the "Fine Work of Western Sichuan Architectural Culture". The scenic area has a planned area of 4.1 square kilometers, with a core area of 3 square kilometers, and boasts 300,000 square meters of well-preserved historical blocks, manor residences, and ancient architectural complexes.
History and Culture
Anren County was established in the third year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty (620 AD) and was incorporated into Dayi County in the twenty-first year of the Yuan Dynasty (1284 AD). The ancient town has witnessed historical changes and holds rich cultural heritage. As a museum town in China, it houses numerous museum venues with abundant collections. Among them, the Jianchuan Museum Cluster has more than 10 million collections, including 3,616 national first-class cultural relics. In addition, the ancient town preserves traditional Western Sichuan folk culture. For example, the drama Anren Here and Now tells legendary stories of the Anti-Japanese War through unique performances, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in history.
Main Attractions
Anren Planning Exhibition Hall
With a total area of nearly 1,000 square meters, it centrally displays the history, culture, tourism, and future development plan of Anren. It is a comprehensive exhibition hall and also serves as an index of Anren's tourism resources and a local education platform.
Mansion Old Street
Also known as the Republic of China Style Street, it covers an area of about 158,000 square meters, composed of Shuren Street, Yumin Street, Hongxing Street, and Deren Lane, with a total length of about 500 meters. There are 12 well-preserved mansions and more than 210 civilian houses, where visitors can explore 10 Republic of China mansions, the Wei Minglun Literature Museum, etc.
Liu's Manor Museum
Built from 1928 to 1942, it consists of five mansions of Liu Wencai, a modern Sichuan bureaucratic landlord, and his brothers, as well as an ancestral residence of the Liu family. Covering a total area of more than 70,000 square meters with a construction area of 21,000 square meters, it has 545 rooms in total. It is currently the largest, most magnificent, and Chinese-Western combined modern landlord manor architectural complex in China and a national key cultural relic protection unit.
Jianchuan Museum
Covering an area of 0.333 square kilometers, it was built by private entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan. Construction began in 2003, and it was officially opened to the public in August 2005. The museum has more than 30 branch halls in four major series: Anti-Japanese War, Folk Customs, Red Era, and Earthquake Relief. 32 venues have been completed and opened, making it the non-state-owned museum with the most private capital investment, the largest construction scale and exhibition area, and the richest collection in China.
Nanan Meicun
Covering an area of 1.73 square kilometers, it takes the pastoral landscape of Western Sichuan Linpan as the carrier and flowers as the theme. It has multiple formats such as Jinxiu Anren Wonderland Garden, characteristic Honeycomb Hotel, Meicun B&B cluster, and vacation campsite. It is a one-stop rural resort integrating sightseeing, tourism, leisure, entertainment, and vacation.
Tianfu Street
Located at the west entrance of the ancient town, it is more than 1,500 meters long with a permanent population of about 650. Built in the 1940s, it features Western Sichuan residential buildings such as small courtyards, Xiang Lane, and Chun Lane, as well as cultural attractions like the Fu Culture Square.
Anren Academy
Located in the second phase of the Republic of China Style Street, it was founded in January 2015 and currently has nearly 30,000 books. As a branch of the Sichuan Provincial Library, it has an overall Western Sichuan style with a strong Republic of China atmosphere.
Dangdang Car
From the tram terminal (Liu's Manor) to Anren Bazi, the route is 1.8 kilometers long. Composed of wooden doors, sea-green floors, leather seats, and portraits of Republic of China women, it connects the Republic of China Style Street, Liu's Manor, Platform Coffee, Anren Academy, and other attractions in the ancient town.
Anhuili
Built in 2007 on the road connecting the old and new mansions, it has a traditional stone archway at the entrance, an irrigation canal in the street, and shops on both sides mainly operating antiques.
Local Cuisine
Jiudawan (Nine-Dish Banquet)
This is a rural banquet custom in the Chengdu Plain. For weddings, childbirth, housebuilding, and other red and white events, farmers use chicken, duck, fish, meat, eggs, and seasonal vegetables to make Sichuan home-style dishes. Representative dishes include sweet and salty braised pork, steamed pork with rice flour, and steamed pork knuckle, all served in large bowls, hence the name "Nine-Dish Banquet".
You Xuewang (You's Blood Pudding)
Located at No. 58 Shuren Street, Anren Town, this century-old shop mainly serves blood pudding dishes. The pig intestine with blood pudding is known as a unique dish in the ancient town. The blood pudding is tender, made from fresh pig blood killed daily, and the intestines are soft. The vegetarian blood pudding costs 5 yuan per serving, and the crucian carp with agastache is also very fresh.
Huang Jirou (Huang's Chicken)
The signature dish is Jianqing Kouxiang Chicken, which uses authentic free-range local chickens from rural or mountainous areas to ensure green and environmental protection, offering excellent taste. Other dishes in the restaurant, such as Spicy Chicken Slices, Stir-fried Pork Ribs with Mini Chili Peppers, Artemisia Argyi Elbow, and Crucian Carp with Agastache Rugosa, are also highly praised.
Huangji Ludouhua (Huang's Mung Bean Tofu)
It is a well-known time-honored brand in the manor, capable of accommodating over a hundred people at the same time. The bean curd is mellow and delicious, with signature dishes including Tofu Braised with Mud Carp, Braised Meatballs in Brown Sauce, Crucian Carp with Agastache, Sliced Free-range Chicken, Landlord's Spare Ribs, and Pot-stewed Meat.
Tangchang Tofu Cheese
Now renamed "Tangqiao Tofu Cheese", it is made from high-quality spring water from "Xianggujing" in Tangchang Town, combined with modern brewing technology. It features old-fashioned aroma, tenderness, smoothness in the mouth, and appetite enhancement.
Yang Laozao (Yang's Fermented Glutinous Rice)
A characteristic snack in the ancient town, it is sweet, fragrant, and soft, deeply loved by visitors.
Fan Sanniang Tianshuimian (Fan Sanniang's Sweet Noodles)
The noodles are chewy with a sweet taste, a traditional local delicacy.
Tickets
The scenic area is free to enter, but internal projects require separate fees.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours a day, but the recommended visiting time is 09:00 - 18:00.
Tour Routes
Start by taking the Dangdang Car to tour the Republic of China Style Street and admire the Chinese-Western combined architecture; then visit Liu's Manor Museum to learn about the history of modern landlord manors; next, go to Jianchuan Museum to feel the weight of history; in the afternoon, visit Nanan Meicun to enjoy pastoral scenery; and finally, taste special foods in the ancient town at night to experience its nightlife.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From Chengdu East Railway Station, take the Third Ring Road, Yongkang Road, Chengxinpu Avenue, Chengwenqiong Expressway (Shuangliu - Anren), and Da'an Road (Dayi - Anren) to reach Anren Ancient Town; from Shuangliu Airport, take Lingang Road, Chengxinpu Avenue, Chengwenqiong Expressway (Shuangliu - Anren), and Da'an Road (Dayi - Anren); from Tianfu International Airport, take Konggang Avenue, Tianfu Airport Expressway, Chengdu Second Ring Expressway, Chengming Expressway, and Da'an Road (Dayi - Anren).
- Passenger Bus: Take a bus to Chengdu West Station first, then transfer to Dayi Station, and then take buses No. 211, 213, or 215, getting on at High-speed Railway Da'an Road Intersection Station and getting off at Anren Ancient Town Tourist Center Station. There is also an intercity passenger transport between Chengdu and Anren. Chengdu's departure time is 7:20 - 19:40, and Anren's departure time is 5:40 - 18:10, with a fare of 25 yuan per person.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Liu's Manor Museum: The largest modern landlord manor architectural complex in China, with magnificent Chinese-Western combined architecture and rich collections, allowing in-depth understanding of modern landlord life and historical changes.
- Jianchuan Museum: The non-state-owned museum with the most private capital investment and the richest collections, vividly displaying history since the Anti-Japanese War through numerous branch halls and collections, serving as a patriotic education base.
- Mansion Old Street: A historical architectural block from the Republic of China period, with many well-preserved mansions and civilian houses, featuring unique architectural styles that allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of the Republic of China.
Tour Tips
- Learn about the history and culture of the ancient town in advance to better visit the attractions.
- If time permits, stay overnight in the ancient town to experience its quiet night and morning.
- When tasting special foods, try more local snacks and traditional dishes.
- Attend the drama performance Anren Here and Now to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the ancient town.
Notes
- Anren Ancient Town is close to Huashuiwan and Xiling Snow Mountain, which can be visited if time allows.
- The ancient town and Liu's Manor feature strong Western Sichuan architectural and cultural characteristics, so it is recommended to hire a guide for the tour.
- The climate here is changeable, so prepare rain gear in advance before traveling.
- Pay attention to safety when riding the tram in the ancient town.