Laitan Ancient Town
涞滩古镇
A well-preserved walled town on the west bank of the Qu River in Hechuan, with a Qing-era barbican and the cliff carvings of Erfo Temple as its main attractions.
Laitan Ancient Town sits on Jiufeng Mountain on the west bank of the Qu River in Hechuan District and is one of Chongqing’s best-preserved ancient towns. The town is a stone-built fortified town from the Qing dynasty. The semicircular barbican outside the city gate has eight gates, which is rare among ancient towns in China. In Erfo Temple in the town, the Song-dynasty cliff carvings center on a seated Shakyamuni Buddha about 12 meters tall, and they are considered a masterpiece of Chan Buddhist sculpture. The old street’s bluestone paving, wooden houses, and town walls are well preserved. Visitors can try Laitan rice candy and tofu pudding. The old town is free to enter, but Erfo Temple charges a separate fee (check on site). It is about 90 km from the city center and can be combined with Diaoyu Fortress on the same day.
Opening hours
All day (Erfo Temple approx. 08:30–17:30)
Nearby sights
- Jindao Gorge
- Pianyan Ancient Town
- Diaoyu Fortress
- North Hot Spring, Beibei
- Jingangbei Ancient Village
- Mount Jinyun
- Chongqing Natural History Museum
- Chongqing Garden Expo Park