Ancient Towns in Chengdu

　　Ⅲ. Pingle Town -- A collection of housing styles in West Sichuan

　　The ancient town of Pingle is located 19 kilometers southwest of the famous historical city Qionglai. As the first important town west of Chengdu on the South Silk Road, Pingle took shape as early as the period of Emperor Jing during the Han Dynasty (150 B.C.), and has a long history and culture.

　　The ancient town is surround by green mountains, trees and bamboos. The Baimo River, which originates from the national key scenic area Yuxiao Peak on the Tiantai Mountain, passes the town from west to north and forms picturesque scenery year-round. Along the banks of the river, there are very tall age-old trees most of which are banyans aged over a thousand years.. Aged banyans, the Baimo River, the perching houses along the banks, and the slab streets, have cultivated the pastoral disposition of the residents and the natural and fresh quality of the place.

　　As an important main drag of water and land ways, and also a trade port in the past, Pingle has developed its unique housing and street styles, which are different from those of other ancient towns in west Sichuan.. For the convenience of distribution and trade of goods, the streets are mainly built along the river. More than 30 streets are different in length and curve, and their intersections are always ports. All the buildings by the streets are two-storied, the ground floor for merchants, and the first for the residents.

　　Business has prospered in Pingle Town since ancient times, which attracted a number of wealthy merchants. Rich families, such as paper merchants, tea merchants, and ship merchants, all built houses in the town. The Yin's House, the Li's House, and the Zhu's House, are those of Ming and Qing styles which have been preserved to this day, and are called "the biggest age-old housing in west Sichuan." The Li's House, surrounded by bamboos and trees, hides itself among mountains in quiet like a hermit. Yet the royal plaque which reads "honored by the emperor" in the main room tells of the family's fame and history.

　　There are 74 ancient paper workshops ruins in Pingle, which are built on the mountain and appear quite spectacular. Paper making in Pingle dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty, and boomed at the turn of Ming and Qing Dynasties.