Jinggang Ancient Town

靖港古镇

A riverside trading town on the Xiang River that once rivalled Hankou. It has flagstone streets, old workshops, and the site of Zeng Guofan's naval battle at Jinggang. It is the most intact ancient town in the Changsha suburbs.

Jinggang Ancient Town is on the west bank of the Xiang River in Wangcheng District, where the Wei River meets the Xiang River. It is about 30 km from downtown Changsha. The town was founded in the Tang dynasty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties it was a rice market and trading port in Hunan, nicknamed “Little Hankou.” In 1854, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army fought fiercely here. Zeng was defeated and threw himself into the water. The town is an important site in modern Hunan history. After restoration in 2008, it retains 8 flagstone streets and over 1,000 m of riverside lanes, with grey-brick houses, black-tiled roofs, wharves, and guild halls. It feels more authentic than Changsha's old streets. Highlights include:

Ningxiang Guild Hall, Bayuan Hall (an ancient opera stage in the guild hall, with Hua Gu opera and shadow puppetry at weekends), the Jinggang Folk Customs Museum, the Genealogy Exhibition Hall, the site of Zeng Guofan's naval battle at Jinggang, and the Xiang Army's river fort.

Workshops still operating on the old streets: woodwork, sweet rice wine, dried tofu, ginger candy, and fire-baked fish.

Jinggang dried tofu, sesame and bean tea, and fresh river fish from the Wei River are local specialties. The wharf where the Wei meets the Xiang is peaceful at sunset.

Tickets: The town is free to enter, and combined tickets for some exhibition halls cost about 50 yuan.

Getting there: Take Metro Line 4 to Guanzhuling Station in Wangcheng, then transfer to bus W202 or W105 to Jinggang. The trip takes about 1.5 hours. Driving takes about 50 minutes. You can also combine it with Tongguan Kiln Ancient Town, which lies across the river.

Tip: Plan half a day. Set off in the morning, eat river fish and dried tofu at lunch, then head back or visit Tongguan Kiln in the afternoon. The full visit takes 4 to 5 hours.

Note: The town is not heavily commercialised, and some workshops only open at weekends. Mosquitoes are plentiful in summer.

Jinggang Ancient Town

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby