Tonghai Old Town
通海古城
The old town of Tonghai, a national historic and cultural city, with Juikui Pavilion, the Tonghai Confucian Temple and checkerboard old streets well preserved. Try doumo candy and pickles.
Tonghai Old Town lies at the northern foot of Xiushan. The town was walled in the Ming dynasty, and its checkerboard street layout survives to this day. It was designated a national historic and cultural city in 2007. Juikui Pavilion (bell and drum tower) at the city center is the landmark of the old town, with plaques such as “Crown of the Southern Prefectures” hung on all four sides. To the south, the Tonghai Confucian Temple dates back to the Ming dynasty, and its Lingxing Gate and Dacheng Hall retain their complete layout. Around Wenmiao Street, Majia Lane and West Street, many Qing-dynasty courtyard houses survive, and the Yucheng historic district has time-honored shops and snack stalls. The old town is free to enter and suits a walk of 1–2 hours. Try Tonghai doumo candy, pickles, juanfen (rice rolls) and rice noodles. Getting there: it is about 45 km from the south shore of Fuxian Lake, roughly 1 hour by car, and it is often visited on the same day as Xiushan.
Opening hours
All day (Confucius Temple about 08:30–17:30)