Six-Chi Lane (Tongcheng)
六尺巷
The origin of the saying 'Giving up three feet costs nothing.' This 100-meter narrow lane embodies the courteous family ethos of Tongcheng and is a nationally known check-in spot.
Six-Chi Lane lies on West Back Street in Tongcheng city, about 100 meters long and 2 meters wide. According to tradition, during the Kangxi era, Zhang Ying, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, had a land dispute with his neighbors, the Wu family. When his family sent a letter to Beijing, Zhang replied with a poem: 'A thousand li, a letter for a wall. Let him have three feet, what harm is that? The Great Wall still stands today, yet the First Emperor of Qin is nowhere to be seen.' The Zhang family yielded three feet, the Wu family was moved and yielded three feet too, and the lane was created, becoming a symbol of humility and courtesy. The lane is free to visit, with a memorial gate and poem stone at each end. Next to it, the Six-Chi Lane Culture Park displays the deeds of Zhang Ying, his son Zhang Tingyu, and the Tongcheng School. Visitors can also tour the Tongcheng Confucius Temple and the Tongcheng School Memorial Hall. It is about 60 kilometers from Anqing city, roughly an hour by expressway, and suits a half-day or day trip.
Opening hours
Open all day (culture park about 8:30 AM–5:30 PM)
Nearby sights
- Jushi Mountain
- Dalongshan National Forest Park
- Chen Duxiu Tomb Park
- Anqing Museum
- Linghu Park
- Former Anhui University Red Building & Jingfu Academy
- King of Ying Mansion
- Daopashi Historic Street