Timeless charms linger in ancient Subu
IN the center of Liu’an City, Anhui Province, at the eastern edge of the mighty Dabie Mountain lies a serene ancient town, Subu, once known in olden times as “little Nanjing” for its prosperity.
The town was first named after a man surnamed Su, who operated a ferry on the Pei River. Over time, it gradually developed into a bustling trading port, and was flooded with merchants from all over the country.
Subu was built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was one of the most prosperous towns in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In 1932, it was here that General Xu Xiangqian won the Sujiabu Battle against the Kuomintang, one of the most celebrated victories in the history of the People’s Liberation Army.
The old street in the center of Subu Town has retained the same appearance for hundreds of years. When walking on this stone-paved street, one can see ages-old wooden buildings decked with red lanterns.
The Longsheng Rice Store has stood on the street for centuries, along with many other structures that have been listed as historical and cultural sites under government protection.
The smell of sticky corn rice cakes and braised pork is ever present. Dried salted duck, red ramie and seafood dishes are local specialties known across the country.
Just outside the town is Huanglian Temple, which has a history of 1,700 years. Legend has it that when Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) Emperor Taizong ordered the temple torn down, numerous yellow lotus flowers bloomed overnight, shining like gold. This was considered a manifestation of Buddha’s wish that the temple should remain standing. Today, the temple attracts over 100,000 visitors annually.
Time seems to have stopped in this little town where the elderly sit and chat in the sun outside well-preserved buildings.
After 1985, the local government began making plans to boost the economy of Subu while still preserving its ancient character. Its historical streets are all preserved, yet also feature modern shops. Today, local residents hope that this ancient town will shine again with new preservation efforts.
How to get there: It takes about three and a half hours by high-speed train from Shanghai to Liu’an City. Subu Town is 11 kilometers from the center of Liu’an.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
- RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.