An aerial view of Yangliuqing Ancient Town in Xiqing district, Tianjin. [Photo provided to exploringtianjin.com]
Yangliuqing Ancient Town is located in the center of Yangliuqing town in Xiqing district, Tianjin. Formerly known as Liukou, it is an important node of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and a famous historical and cultural town in China.
It has more than a thousand years of heritage, diverse folk customs, and a rich, colorful culture. It is bounded by Liukou Road to the east, Qingzhi Road to the west, Zunmei Street to the north, and Yuhe Road to the south.
The ancient town covers about 25.7 hectares and features canal culture represented by the Yangliuqing section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, New Year painting culture represented by Liannian Youyu, courtyard culture represented by the Shi Family Grand Courtyard and the An Family Grand Courtyard, and Gandaying culture represented by the pioneering history of military supply trade between Tianjin and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, all passed down for over a century.
The scenic area includes cultural attractions such as the Shi Family Grand Courtyard, the An Family Grand Courtyard, and the Yangliuqing Folk Culture Museum, as well as distinctive historic sites such as Wenchang Pavilion and Puliang Pagoda. Rich and varied activities include the Yangliuqing Lantern Festival, which has been held for 29 consecutive years.
Since launching the ancient town renewal project in 2024, the town has focused on the theme "Chinese New Year Paintings, China in New Year Paintings", created immersive experiences of "walking out of New Year paintings", and worked to build a distinctive tourism destination for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.