Zhoucun Ancient Commercial Town Scenic Area is located in Zhoucun District, Zibo City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of approximately 60.5 hectares, and the core protected area covers 19.7 hectares. The scenic area features "ancient streets of the Ming and Qing dynasties and commercial port culture" as its core, and is known as the "Dry Wharf" and "a living museum group of ancient commercial streets". There are about 50,000 square meters of existing ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including more than 10 ancient streets such as Dajie Street, Sishi Street, and Yinzishi Street, and over 30 historical buildings such as Qianfo Pavilion, Kuixing Pavilion, and Datong Ticket Office. As an important commercial town in northern China from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China, Zhoucun was once known as one of the "Four Great Dry Wharves of China" along with Foshan, Jingdezhen, and Zhuxian Town. Its history of commercial prosperity, described as "earning a dou of gold a day", has been recorded in history. Today, it still retains the typical northern commercial port architectural patterns such as "shops in the front and residences at the back" and "four waters returning to the hall".
Historical Culture
The commercial history of Zhoucun can be traced back to the Warring States Period. A village had been formed by the Han Dynasty, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, due to its location at the transportation hub in central Shandong, it became an important birthplace of Lu merchant culture. During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, Zhoucun thrived due to silk trade, with the scene of "mulberry trees all over the fields, every household raising silkworms, the sound of looms everywhere, and every family weaving silk" lasting for hundreds of years, hence the name of Sishi Street (Silk Market Street).
In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Zhoucun's commerce reached its peak, with hundreds of shops and workshops covering more than 20 industries such as silk, tea, banks, and pawnshops. Among them, Yinzishi Street (Silver Market Street) gathered 108 ticket offices and banks, becoming an important financial center in northern China. During the Qianlong period, Zhoucun was granted the plaque "The First Village Under Heaven" by the emperor, and its commercial influence radiated to Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Northeast China, and Northwest China.
In modern times, as an important commercial port along the Jiaoji Railway, Zhoucun witnessed the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. The existing sites such as the old site of the British-American Tobacco Company and the shops with Republican-style architecture have witnessed the process of modern commercial transformation. Zhoucun's merchant gang culture and silk craftsmanship (such as the production technique of "Zhoucun Sesame Cake") have been included in the intangible cultural heritage, continuing the spirit of Lu merchants of "honest operation and collective development".
Main Attractions
Dajie Street
Dajie Street is the core street of Zhoucun Ancient Commercial Town, with a total length of 400 meters and a width of 8 meters. The bluestone slab pavement has been polished smooth as a mirror after hundreds of years. There are more than 200 shops in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties on both sides of the street, mostly two-story brick-wood structures with blue bricks, gray tiles, and overhanging eaves, retaining architectural decorations such as "five ridges and six beasts" and "walking boards". Among them, the "Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum" displays the production techniques of century-old sesame cakes, and the former site of "Da Ran Fang (Big Dyeing Workshop)" restores the dyeing scene in the TV series "Da Ran Fang". Tourists can experience traditional dyeing techniques (experience price: 30 yuan per person).
Yinzishi Street
Yinzishi Street was the "financial street" of northern China in the Qing Dynasty, with a total length of 130 meters. It got its name because a large number of ticket offices and banks gathered here. The Datong Ticket Office in the street (originally set up by the Qiao family in Shanxi) has a construction area of about 600 square meters, with well-preserved facilities such as "counters", "accounting rooms", and "treasuries", showing the financial operation mode in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Next to it, the former site of "Fushunhao" Bank has a currency exhibition, displaying more than 200 pieces of currency from the Qin Dynasty's Banliang coins to the Republic of China's banknotes, intuitively presenting the commercial and financial history of Zhoucun.
Qianfo Pavilion
Qianfo Pavilion is located in the northern part of the Ancient Commercial Town. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and is one of the oldest existing buildings in Zhoucun. The pavilion faces south, with a height of 20 meters and a three-story brick-wood structure. The first floor is an arched passage (passable), and the second and third floors enshrine more than 1,000 glazed Buddha statues (more than 300 existing). Among them, the glazed statue of "Medicine Buddha" from the Ming Dynasty is 1.5 meters high with exquisite craftsmanship. The top of the pavilion is covered with green glazed tiles, and the ridges are decorated with auspicious beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and lions, reflecting the architectural characteristics of the integration of Buddhism and Taoism. Climbing the pavilion, you can overlook the entire view of the Ancient Commercial Town.
Kuixing Pavilion
Kuixing Pavilion stands at the east end of Sishi Street. It was first built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, with a height of 15 meters. It is a hexagonal pavilion-style building with an archway on the first floor and a statue of Kuixing (holding a red pen, symbolizing literary fortune) on the upper floor. The wall of the pavilion is inlaid with a stone plaque "Wen Guang She Dou (Literary Light Shines on the Dipper)", and the surrounding carvings of "qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting" reflect the tradition of Zhoucun merchants of "valuing both commerce and culture". In history, Zhoucun merchants often worshiped here, praying for their children's success in imperial examinations, and now it has become one of the iconic landscapes of the Ancient Commercial Town.
Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum
Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum is located in the middle of Dajie Street, with a construction area of about 800 square meters, divided into three exhibition areas: "Historical Origin", "Production Workshop", and "Folk Custom Exhibition". The museum tells the history of Zhoucun sesame cakes evolving from the "Hu Cake" of the Han Dynasty through old photos and physical tools (such as century-old griddles). The "transparent workshop" allows visitors to watch the entire process of making sesame cakes with the characteristics of "as thin as a cicada's wing, fragrant and crispy" by old masters (about 200 pieces per hour). Visitors can also participate in making them by themselves (experience price: 20 yuan per portion, including 5 cakes).
Food
Zhoucun Sesame Cake
Zhoucun Sesame Cake is a national geographical indication product, which originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties, known for being "thin, fragrant, crispy, and crunchy". The traditional method uses millet flour and sesame as raw materials, through three processes of "rolling, dipping, and baking" (the griddle temperature needs to be controlled at about 200℃), to make round cakes with a diameter of about 16 cm and a thickness of less than 1 mm, covered with evenly distributed sesame seeds, which melt in the mouth. At the "Zhoucun Old Sesame Cake Shop" (No. 1 Dajie Street) in the scenic area, you can taste freshly baked sesame cakes. The original flavor is priced at 10 yuan per bag (200 grams), and there are also sweet and salty varieties, suitable as souvenirs.
Zhoucun Boiled Pot
Zhoucun Boiled Pot is a characteristic snack in northern China, originating from the "staff meals" of Zhoucun commercial firms in the Qing Dynasty, named after being cooked in a large pot. The traditional boiled pot uses beef soup as the base, with ingredients such as meatballs, tofu, fried meat, and vermicelli, seasoned with sesame paste and leek flower, and served in special small pots (about 15 cm in diameter) for individual meals, reflecting the wisdom of market diet of "one pot boiling a hundred flavors". The "Old Zhoucun Boiled Pot" restaurant (No. 8 Yinzishi Street) in the Ancient Commercial Town offers single-serving boiled pot (35 yuan per serving), which tastes better when paired with sesame cakes.
Silkworm Pupa Dishes
Silkworm pupa dishes are characteristic foods derived from Zhoucun's silk culture. They are made of fresh tussah silkworm pupae, which are deep-fried, stir-fried, or braised, and are rich in protein. Traditional dishes include "dry-fried silkworm pupae" and "five-spice silkworm pupae", with a crispy texture and a slight nutty flavor, being a "drinking dish" in local banquets. You can taste them at the "Farmhouse Restaurant" around the scenic area (south section of Sishi Street), with a price of 25-30 yuan per portion, suitable for tourists who want to try local specialties.
Millet Pancakes
Zhoucun millet pancakes are made from local millet, ground into pulp by stone mills and baked on griddles, thin, soft, and tough, which can be rolled with green onions and sauced meat. Different from pancakes in other parts of Shandong, Zhoucun pancakes are seasoned with sesame and Chinese prickly ash leaves, with a unique aroma. They are sold at street stalls in the Ancient Commercial Town (middle section of Dajie Street) for 5 yuan per piece, made and eaten on the spot, allowing you to experience the flavor of the market.
Tickets
It is open for free, but some attractions require separate charges. It is recommended to buy a combined ticket of 50 yuan per person, which includes access to Da Ran Fang, Zhuangyuan Mansion, Folk Custom Exhibition Hall, Ticket Office Exhibition Hall, and Kaka Magic Mirror Hall.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "周村古商城" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The overall opening hours of the scenic area are 8:30-17:30 (April 1 - October 31); from November 1 to March 31 of the next year, the opening hours are 8:30-17:00. Among them:
Admission to pavilion attractions such as Qianfo Pavilion and Kuixing Pavilion stops at 16:30; the latest start time for the production experience project at Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum is 16:00.
Tour Route
It is recommended to arrange a half-day itinerary: Arrive at the south gate of the scenic area at 9:00 am, first visit Dajie Street (1 hour), visit Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum and experience making sesame cakes; go to Yinzishi Street at 10:30 am to visit Datong Ticket Office and Fushunhao Bank (1 hour); have lunch at Old Zhoucun Boiled Pot at 11:30 am; visit Qianfo Pavilion at 1:00 pm (30 minutes) and climb to overlook the whole view; go to Sishi Street at 1:30 pm to visit Kuixing Pavilion and the former site of Da Ran Fang (1 hour); buy specialties such as silkworm pupa dishes and sesame cakes at Sishi Street at 2:30 pm; leave from the east gate at 3:00 pm to end the trip. The total walking distance is about 2 kilometers, and you can take a rickshaw in the ancient street (50 yuan per hour, negotiable) for transportation.
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus No. 34, 42, or 96 in Zibo City to "Zhoucun Ancient Commercial Town Station" directly, with a journey of about 30 minutes (from Zibo Station) and a fare of 2 yuan per person; take bus No. 1 or 238 in Zhoucun District to "Dajie Street Station" and walk for 5 minutes to reach.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Zibo, get off the highway at Zhoucun Interchange, drive east along Xinjian West Road for 2 kilometers to the scenic area parking lot. The parking fee is 5 yuan per hour. It is recommended to arrive before 9:00 am during peak seasons (May Day and National Day).
- High-speed rail + bus: Take bus No. 160 from Zibo North Station (high-speed rail station) to Zhoucun Bus Station, then transfer to bus No. 238 to "Dajie Street Station", with a total journey of about 1 hour and a total fare of 5 yuan per person; or take a taxi to the scenic area, costing about 30 yuan with a 25-minute drive.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Dajie Street: Wander through 400-meter ancient streets with Ming and Qing shops, experience the dyeing process at Da Ran Fang, and feel the commercial atmosphere of the "Dry Wharf".
- Yinzishi Street: Visit Datong Ticket Office, learn about financial operations in the Qing Dynasty, and see the "treasury" facilities of century-old banks.
- Qianfo Pavilion: Climb the Tang Dynasty pavilion to see glazed Buddha statues, overlook the entire view of the Ancient Commercial Town, and feel the architectural art of integrating Buddhism and Taoism.
- Zhoucun Sesame Cake Museum: Watch the production technique of sesame cakes, participate in baking by yourself, and taste freshly baked crispy sesame cakes.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are April-May (with bright spring scenery, suitable for taking photos) and September-October (with cool climate, which can be combined with a Zibo barbecue food tour), avoiding heavy rains in summer and severe cold in winter.
- Shops such as "Zhoucun Sesame Cake" and "Da Ran Fang" in the ancient street provide Hanfu rental (50 yuan per hour). Wearing Hanfu for taking photos is more atmospheric, and it is recommended to take photos in front of Kuixing Pavilion and Qianfo Pavilion.
- For in-depth experience, it is recommended to participate in the "Lu Merchant Culture Study Tour" of the scenic area (120 yuan per person), which includes professional guide explanations, ticket office bookkeeping experience, sesame cake making, etc., suitable for families and cultural enthusiasts.
- For dining, it is recommended to choose time-honored restaurants in the scenic area, such as "Old Zhoucun Boiled Pot" and "Sesame Cake Family", with an average consumption of about 50 yuan per person, allowing you to taste all local specialties.
- For shopping, focus on Zhoucun sesame cakes (it is recommended to buy freshly baked ones with a 15-day shelf life) and silk scarves (average price 80-200 yuan in shops on Sishi Street). Compare prices and avoid buying overpriced souvenirs.
Notes
- The bluestone slab roads in the ancient street are slippery on rainy days, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes; the sun is strong in summer, so you can wear a hat for sun protection and carry drinking water with you.
- Smoking and touching Buddha statues and cultural relics are prohibited in ancient buildings such as Qianfo Pavilion and Kuixing Pavilion. Please abide by the "no photography" signs.
- When experiencing activities such as dyeing in Da Ran Fang and making sesame cakes, follow the guidance of the staff and avoid touching high-temperature tools (such as griddles and dye vats).
- There are many tourists in the ancient street during holidays (especially Spring Festival and National Day). Take good care of the elderly and children, keep your belongings safe, and prevent crowding and trampling.
- There are multiple parking lots around the scenic area. Parking spaces are tight during peak seasons, so it is recommended to travel green; motor vehicles are prohibited in the ancient street, and only rickshaws and bicycles are allowed to enter.