Baqiu Ancient Town — Gontan

Author: Shi Fu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: As authors of culture, we remain committed to preserving ancient towns and are willing to contribute our efforts. Publishing this set of Chongqing Ancient Towns Picture Books is our way of showing our modest contribution. This collection includes 8 books, each featuring 100 to 150 photographic images and corresponding descriptive text of 50,000 to 60,000 words, introducing a historic and cultural ancient town in Chongqing. We aim to achieve a balance where the realism and presence of the images bring depth and transcendence to the text within a specific temporal and spatial framework. Meanwhile, the text stimulates divergent thinking, allowing the visual and intuitive nature of the images to be interpreted from multiple dimensions. If this aspiration is largely fulfilled, then this series will not only help people understand, appreciate, and protect ancient towns but also contribute to enhancing cultural awareness, promoting tourism development, and advancing urban construction. Moreover, when a certain ancient town inevitably disappears, this series can serve as a record. Disappeared ancient towns cannot be reborn, cloned, or replaced, making the remaining ones even more precious. Most of Chongqing's historic and cultural ancient towns are built along mountains and rivers, reflecting the unique architectural style of the Bashu region while absorbing cultural influences from Huguang, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. They embody the humanistic pursuit of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. From the grand selection of locations based on feng shui principles to the intricate details of mountain walls, roof ridges, eaves columns, and door lattices, all residential buildings, ancestral halls, guild halls, temples, theaters, enclosed courtyards, covered bridges, stone-paved streets, half-side streets, and wind-and-rain bridges are simple yet functional. The freestanding houses, suspended wooden structures, and corridor-style wind-and-rain pavilions particularly showcase ingenuity amidst casual designs. The architectural art seamlessly blends with the natural environment, exuding vitality and charm. For centuries, the descendants of local ethnic groups and migrants from other regions have thrived in these areas, weaving countless stories of simplicity and beauty. Under the relentless noise of modernization, they face the risk of disappearing at any moment. However, as long as they endure, the cultural heritage they carry—such as architecture, history, art, and folk customs—remains visible, serving not merely as a means for urban dwellers to seek tranquility and relaxation but as a profound testament to human civilization.