Explore Luodai Ancient Town: Hakka Culture and Panoramic Views

As the editor, I am delighted to announce the arrival of spring, where the days grow warmer and the spring breeze caresses our faces without a hint of chill. The streets of Chengdu are filled with the essence of spring, with barren trees sprouting and spring flowers budding in anticipation. With the arrival of spring, the blossoming flowers seem to laugh, bringing a lively atmosphere to the season. Embrace the spring breeze and the warm sun, and seize the last moment of the Spring Festival to visit a place with a gentle breeze, in search of a scene that can heal the soul. Spend a lively Lantern Festival in Luodai Ancient Town, Chengdu, and witness the comforting glow of thousands of lights. Recently, Chengdu has been blessed with beautiful weather, with the warm sun shining brightly, as if the Spring Festival is still ongoing. Time flies, and soon it is the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The common people often say that only after the New Year is over does the year truly begin. Coincidentally, this year’s Lantern Festival falls on a weekend. If you wish to go out but not travel too far, come and visit Luodai Ancient Town! Located within the Longquanyi District of Chengdu, Luodai Ancient Town is a national historical and cultural town, just about 40 minutes’ drive from the city center. The beautiful Luodai Ancient Town is one of the four major ancient towns in Chengdu and is also the largest Hakka gathering place in the western region. From a distance, you can admire the undulating hills of Longquan Mountain, and up close, you can experience the vibrant life of Luodai Ancient Town. Known as the first Hakka town in Western China, Luodai Ancient Town has a remarkable reputation. It is the largest Hakka settlement in Sichuan and the entire southwestern region, with a rich Hakka cultural atmosphere and lively Hakka life, forming the ‘Eastern Mountain Hakka’ center in Chengdu. Historically, the ‘Huguang Fills Sichuan’ movement promoted the spread and penetration of Hakka culture in Luodai Ancient Town, creating a unique cultural phenomenon. Scholars therefore consider Luodai Ancient Town to be the last ‘Hakka Kingdom’ in Southwest China and a ‘living fossil’ of Central Plains culture. It is said that Luodai had a street during the Three Kingdoms period, and later it was named ‘Luodai’ because of a river in the area that ‘fell from the sky like a jade belt.’ With a history of a thousand years, the ancient streets of Luodai Ancient Town have remained unchanged for a thousand years, with well-preserved Hakka residential buildings. Notably, the ‘Four Halls and One Garden’ – Guangdong Hall, Jiangxi Hall, Huguang Hall, Sichuan Northern Hall, and the Hakka Park, as well as the ancient temple of Ran Deng and the Wu Feng Building, are of great viewing value. The Luodai Halls showcase the richness of immigrant culture and the diversity of classical architecture. Under the warm spring sun, the slanting rays shine on the doors of the ancient streets.
Red lanterns adorn the streets, embellishing the grey walls and black tiles, while colorful flags flutter in the wind, filling every alley with a festive atmosphere. Navigating through the bustling ancient streets, the sound of vendors selling their wares fills the air, and all around are lanterns displaying the beauty of the new spring. This scene is so captivating that it evokes memories of childhood New Year’s celebrations. Walking on the mottled bluestone pavement, observing the constant stream of people, and watching the never-ending flow of tourists at the stalls, the bustling scene is deeply moving. The Hakka dragon dance in Luodai is a distinctive feature of the area, and witnessing it will undoubtedly leave you in awe. In addition, with the arrival of the Lantern Festival, the ancient town hosts a variety of fascinating Hakka folk performances. Under the golden glow of the setting sun, Luodai Ancient Town exudes a tranquil traditional beauty. Strolling along the ancient streets, one can find a wide array of snacks such as twisted sugar, sugar-coated fruits, glutinous rice chicken wings, pineapple rice, and more. Among them, the most popular are the uniquely Hakka smoked oil-fried goose and Luodai heartbreak cold noodles. It is said that the production process of the oil-fried goose is quite complex, requiring seven or eight steps and over ten hours of cooking to create a delicious smoked oil-fried goose. The heartbreak cold noodles, on the other hand, were created by Hakka immigrants from Guangdong who missed their hometown’s cold noodles, hence the name ‘heartbreak cold noodles.’ However, now tourists jokingly say that ‘heartbreak cold noodles’ are called so because they are spicy and refreshing, with a strong peppery flavor that brings tears to one’s eyes, appearing quite sorrowful, thus the name. Hakka heartbreak cold noodles come in two types: yellow pea noodles and white noodles made from rice, both with a smooth and popular texture. If you do not prefer spicy food, you might want to try another Hakka dish: mushroom noodle skin soup, which is delicious and features tender noodle skin. Blog Building: Visit the same style of Tulou as in ‘Big Fish & Begonia’. Admission: Free. Opening Hours: Blog Building 9:00—18:00 (Blog Town is open all day). Address: No. 999 San’e Street, Luodai Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu. Transportation: 1. Self-driving: Depart from Chengdu via Chengdu Ring Expressway, Chongqing-Chengdu Expressway/Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway, to the Blog Building. 2. Public transport: Take Chengdu Metro Line 4 and get off at Xihe Station, Exit B, then transfer to L024 and get off at Luodai Bus Terminal Central Station, walk 936 meters to reach the destination. There is a divine Tulou in Longyan, Fujian, which is the home of Chun in ‘Big Fish & Begonia.’ In Chengdu, there is also a ‘Big Fish & Begonia,’ which is the Blog Building hidden beside Luodai Ancient Town, a ‘circular fortress’ among the mountains. This is the Hakka Tulou, which once protected the people living inside, shielding them from wind and rain, just like in the movie where Qiu protects Chun, and Chun protects Peng, a circular Tulou that safeguarded the peace of the Hakka people’s home.

Nowadays, Blog Tower has been renovated into a large museum, displaying the local customs and folkways of Hakka people through pictures, utensils, words, etc. Blog Tower is the landmark building of Blog Town. Many people come to Luodai Ancient Town just to check in at the same tulou as in ‘Big Fish & Begonia’ and witness the magnificent scenery of Blog Tower. The three streets and nine lanes of Blog Town, with a hundred courtyards in different styles. In terms of architectural style, it combines the architectural styles of Sichuan, Fujian, Haifeng, Shanxi, and Anhui, appearing extremely elegant. The Blog Tower in Luodai is a four-story Hakka tulou, built with reference to Fujian’s Yongding Tower as a whole, condensing the millennium wisdom of Hakka people. Looking at Blog Tower from a distance, it is huge in scale and magnificent in momentum. In a trance, it seems to find the gap between Blog Tower and the movie ‘Big Fish & Begonia’. Entering Blog Tower and looking up at this circular tulou, red lanterns are hung all around, presenting a peaceful and harmonious picture. Blog Tower and Wufeng Tower face each other across the lake. The blending of two ethnic cultures endows Luodai with colorful cultural connotations. Jinlong Great Wall: A scenic spot resembling the ‘Great Wall of China’ Ticket price: 30 yuan/person, discounted ticket 15 yuan/person Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:00 Address: Xinchangren Road, Luodai Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province Transportation: 1. Self-driving: Start from downtown Chengdu and reach via Chengluo Avenue, Chenghuan Road, and Xinchangren Road. 2. Public transportation: Take bus 853a from Luodai Passenger Transport Center and get off at Jinlong Great Wall Station. Tourist items: 1. Jungle roller coaster: Downhill (adult ticket 50 yuan, child ticket 25 yuan); Uphill (adult ticket 40 yuan, child ticket 20 yuan). 2. Jungle roller coaster: Round trip (adult 70 yuan, child 35 yuan). 3. Jungle slide: Full course (adult 30 yuan, child 15 yuan). 4. Jungle roller coaster (downhill) + jungle slide (downhill): adult ticket 60 yuan, child ticket 30 yuan. People often say that ‘climbing high in the first month of the lunar year’ implies ‘rising step by step’ and continuous good luck. Thus, starting from Luodai Ancient Town, it takes only more than ten minutes to reach Jinlong Great Wall in Longquan. ‘He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.’ In the verdant mountains and forests of Longquan Mountain in Chengdu, there is also a great wall coiling. Since the great wall is located beside Jinlong Lake in Luodai Town, it is also called Jinlong Great Wall. The Jinlong Great Wall is 1680 meters long. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top on foot. This great wall goes up along the front trend of Longquan Mountain. It is vertical and steep. Climbing it requires great perseverance and has gradually become a popular destination for family outings, meaning to exercise children’s willpower. Standing on the top of Jinlong Great Wall and looking into the distance, the mountain range of Longquan Mountain is misty and the rolling mountains are like a naturally formed ink painting.
Overlooking the Longquan Mountains, the lush greenery unfolds an enchanting beauty. The meandering Golden Dragon Great Wall, resembling a coiled dragon, spirals through the mountains, guarding the tranquility of the land. Visiting the Golden Dragon Great Wall not only offers the experience of climbing the wall and appreciating the breathtaking views of Longquan Mountains, but also the thrill of sliding down slides, flying on the Rainbow Boat, whizzing through roller coasters, boating on Jinlong Lake, paragliding, and riding a mini train, all while enjoying the magnificent scenery. At the entrance of the Golden Dragon Great Wall, a small ‘Festival of Lights and Food’ awaits, where amidst a sea of red lanterns, one can savor a variety of snacks. Nearby, children will delight in the dinosaur park and carousel. If climbing the Golden Dragon Great Wall is not your preference, you may opt to take a sightseeing bus to the top at the entrance, and then either ride the amusement facilities down or walk down the wall. No.2 Hidden Cottage: Savor Private Cuisine Delights No.2 Hidden Cottage (Luoshui Branch) operates from 10:00 to 21:00, with an average cost of about 150 yuan per person. Located beside the Luodai Ancient Town, at the Luoshui Wetland Park, San’e Street, Longquanyi District, Chengdu, it is easily accessible by car via Chengluo Avenue, Yuda Street, and San’e Street. Only a taste of delicious cuisine can perfectly conclude a journey. Hidden amidst the bustling city, No.2 Hidden Cottage offers a tranquil and elegant courtyard, a spacious lawn, and a serene environment that transports diners into a picturesque haven. Here, one can savor delectable private dishes and indulge in an atmospheric feast. It is also an ideal spot for basking in the sun, gathering around a table for tea, and enjoying conversations with friends as time gently passes. On the Lantern Festival, why not explore Luodai Ancient Town? Admire the ancient Hakka architecture, stroll through the festive streets adorned with lanterns, taste the crispy oil-fried goose and heartbroken cold jelly; visit the Tulou building featured in ‘Big Fish & Begonia’, climb a mountain and a great wall, and experience the traditional Hakka customs. Amidst the gentle breeze and beautiful scenery, amidst laughter and the sounds of opera, spend a comfortable and joyful holiday. Itinerary: Chengdu City – Luodai Ancient Town – Xinmin Restaurant (for smoked oil-fried goose) – Golden Dragon Great Wall – Blog Building – No.2 Hidden Cottage Restaurant – Return Journey.

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