Luodai Ancient Town (洛带古镇) is renowned as the largest and only Hakka town in western China, earning it the prestigious title of “The First Hakka Town in the World.” The town’s history dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, when a large-scale migration known as the “Huguang Filling Sichuan” movement brought Hakka people to this area, shaping the unique cultural landscape that Luodai is known for today.
The town features a traditional layout with intersecting streets, forming a distinctive “One Street, Seven Alleys” pattern, with stone-paved roads and ancient Hakka residences lining the streets. Among the town’s most famous attractions are the four grand guild halls, including the Guangdong Guild Hall and the Jiangxi Guild Hall, as well as Luodai Park.
In addition to its historical architecture, Luodai Ancient Town is vibrant with traditional Hakka customs that have been passed down for centuries. Festivals such as the Fire Dragon Festival and the Water Dragon Festival breathe life into the town, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Hakka people.
Travel Information about Luodai Ancient Town
Ticket and Opening Hours
Tickets: Free entry.
Opening Hours: Open all day, every day.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Luodai Ancient Town is in July. On July 26th and 27th each year, the town hosts the Hakka Water Dragon Festival, one of the most important and unique celebrations in Hakka culture.
How to Get There
Location: Luodai Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu.
Subway: Take Metro Line 2 to Longquanyi Station, then transfer to Bus 850 and get off at Boke Xiaozhen Station.
Scenic Ratings
- Cultural Significance: ★★★★
- Leisure Activities: ★★★
- Unique Features: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★
- Romantic Atmosphere: ★★
- Excitement: ★
Highlights of Luodai Ancient Town
Jiangxi Guild Hall (Wanshou Palace)
The Jiangxi Guild Hall, also known as Wanshou Palace, is located in the middle of the main street in Luodai Ancient Town. Built in 1753 during the 18th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty, this guild hall is an exquisite example of traditional architecture.
The main structure consists of a grand stage, residential halls, a memorial archway, and three main halls (front, middle, and rear), along with a smaller stage. The layout of the guild hall is intricate and compact, featuring beautifully carved beams, painted corridors, and intricately designed screens and stages, all of which leave visitors in awe of its craftsmanship and artistry.
Guangdong Guild Hall
The Guangdong Guild Hall, located on the upper street of Luodai Ancient Town, was built in 1746 during the 11th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty. It is recognized as one of the most well-preserved and grandest guild halls in China.
The main structure of the hall consists of a stage, music tower, side towers, and three main halls (front, middle, and rear), all symmetrically aligned along a central axis. The courtyard exudes an ancient charm, with the stage featuring intricately carved beams and painted structures. The yellow glazed tiles add a sense of solemnity and historical significance, reflecting the grandeur that once filled this place.
Inside the main hall, an antique couplet hangs, inscribed with the words, “Puffing the tobacco leaves, savoring the taste of western Sichuan soil; speaking in Hakka, preserving the ancient tones of the Central Plains.” This couplet emphasizes the deep cultural roots and continuity that the guild hall represents.
Luodai Park
Covering an area of 40,000 square meters, Luodai Park is one of the oldest parks in Sichuan Province. The park is lush with greenery, flourishing flowers, and an abundance of traditional pavilions, corridors, and wooden pillars, all steeped in ancient charm. The park’s most unique feature is the “Women’s Tea House,” a traditional gathering place where Hakka women would relax, drink tea, and chat.
The architectural style of the park is typical of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with each component intricately carved with various designs, including dragons, phoenixes, birds, flowers, and figures from traditional operas. The lifelike carvings are exquisitely detailed, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship and artistic value.
Randeng Temple
Randeng Temple, located in the eastern suburbs of Chengdu, is a renowned ancient temple with a history spanning over 1,400 years, dating back to the Sui Dynasty. The temple is famous for housing a grand statue of the Randeng Buddha. This unique statue features 108 cavities across its body, each designed to hold a wick. When the wicks are lit and fueled with oil, the entire statue glows with light.
Beside the Buddha stands a Ming Dynasty Xuande Bell, known for its simple yet elegant design and resonant sound. The temple also preserves a significant collection of Qing Dynasty stone inscriptions, which primarily document the temple’s history and Buddhist scriptures. The inscriptions feature a variety of calligraphy styles, ranging from delicate and neat to bold and powerful, offering a glimpse into the artistry of the era.
Hakka Museum
The Hakka Museum is the only comprehensive Hakka museum in China, dedicated to showcasing the history and achievements of the Hakka people in Sichuan. It vividly depicts the journey of the Hakka people as they migrated to Sichuan, settled down, and built their lives, highlighting their resilience and industrious spirit.
The museum’s exhibits include a wide array of artifacts, many of which were unearthed in Longquanyi District. These artifacts span various historical periods and include bronze ware, pottery, ironware, stone carvings, terracotta figures, iron coins, and selected relics from Randeng Temple.
Wu Family Mansion
The Wu Family Mansion, built during the Qing Dynasty, is the oldest and best-preserved Hakka residence in Luodai Ancient Town. This historic home is distinguished by its complex layout of duplex-style courtyards, featuring a series of interconnected courtyards of varying sizes. The design is intricately layered, with small courtyards leading to larger ones, and smaller skylights connecting to larger ones, creating a distinctive Hakka architectural style.
The mansion is renowned for its exquisite carvings, including wooden sculptures of curved beams, window decorations, archways, bucket arches, and corridors. These carvings depict lifelike scenes of flowers, birds, insects, and fish, showcasing the remarkable craftsmanship and artistic detail that define this Hakka residence.
Visitor Guide for Luodai Ancient Town
Accommodation in Luodai Ancient Town
Luodai Town offers well-developed tourism facilities, making it very convenient for visitors to find suitable accommodation.
Huajian Life Inn (花涧生活客栈): Located in the picturesque Boke Xiaozhen area of Luodai, this inn is known for its excellent service and charming environment. The courtyard features lush green plants and vibrant flowers, with a few casually placed tables and chairs. A large, semi-transparent floor-to-ceiling window adds to the inn’s cozy atmosphere, creating a green and lively small courtyard perfect for tea, drinks, or barbecue.
Jiudian Art Hotel (九点艺库酒店): Situated in the heart of Luodai Ancient Town’s Art and Leisure Cultural District, this hotel embodies the essence of Sichuan culture with a strong Shu style. The hotel’s design and decor exude a post-modern cultural ambiance, making it a highly artistic, modern, and personalized cultural-themed hotel.
Floral Hotel · Houzhai Youzhu Inn (花筑 ·厚斋友竹民宿): This serene inn is surrounded by flowing clear water and the sounds of birds and flowers, just a 10-minute walk from Luodai Ancient Town. The inn is built in the traditional Chinese Siheyuan (courtyard) style, blending Eastern and Western design elements. It combines residential living with art, offering a unique space that includes features such as French cuisine, tea ceremonies, coffee, wine, porcelain, calligraphy, painting, dance, and cultural creativity. The inn’s owner, who has ten years of overseas experience, specializes in Western cuisine, particularly French steak, and offers a selection of fine wines from their own wine company, creating a hidden Western culinary experience within a traditional Chinese courtyard.
Local Cuisine in Luodai Town
Luodai Town offers a variety of distinctive dishes, each showcasing regional flavors and culinary traditions. Some popular specialties include Jiudou Wan (Nine-Dish Bowl), fermented tofu, salted roast chicken, Mao Mahua (fried dough twists), Hakka “Heartbroken” Cold Noodles, smoked oil-cooked goose, Mama Cold Noodles, and Swan Eggs. Each dish offers a unique taste that reflects the area’s culinary diversity.
Gongxiaoshe Restaurant (供销社饭店): Located at No. 33, Lower Street, Luodai Ancient Town, this restaurant provides a tranquil dining environment with a 1960s decor style. The smoked oil-cooked goose is particularly well-regarded for its savory flavor and excellent balance between smoking and marinating.
The Hakka “Heartbroken” Cold Noodles (客家“伤心凉粉”): This restaurant can be found at No. 53, Upper Street, Luodai Ancient Town. Made using traditional handcraft methods, the noodles are created from ground peas and appear yellow, tender, and melting. The dish is spiced heavily with chili and Sichuan peppercorns, which can be very spicy and might bring tears to those unaccustomed to heat, hence the name “Heartbroken.”
Xinmin Restaurant (新民饭店): Located at No. 155, Upper Street, Luodai Ancient Town, this restaurant is famous for its variety of specialty dishes. Among its highlights are the wild mountain mushroom feast and Hakka-style dishes like water-soaked crispy meat and noodle soup. In summer, when wild mountain mushrooms (locally known as “Chicken Leg Mushrooms”) are in season, food enthusiasts flock here to sample these seasonal delicacies, making it a popular spot for fresh and unique flavors.
Things to Do in Luodai Ancient Town
Water Dragon Festival (水龙节): Held annually on July 26 and 27, this is the most significant and unique Hakka festival. During the festival, 80 men and women dance with four water dragons, which charge into the Wufeng Tower Square. Water spouts from taps around the square and waterwheels parked nearby create a spectacular scene, with water splashing and the crowd cheering.
Fire Dragon Festival (火龙节): This traditional event features the famous “Liu Family Dragon,” named after the Liu clan from Jiangxi who have lived in Luodai for over 300 years, spanning 14 generations. During the dragon dance, performers, bare-chested and coated in oil, wear tight shorts while carrying fireworks to engage with the dragon dancers. The interplay of dragon dancing and firecrackers creates a breathtaking spectacle.
Cultural Performances: The ancient town’s old street and the Jiangxi Guild Hall stage host daily Hakka cultural performances, while the Guangdong Guild Hall features traditional Hakka music. Visitors can enjoy lively performances of Hakka folk songs and dances, often led by friendly Hakka girls dressed in traditional attire with blue-and-white headscarves and embroidered shoes.
Chicken Car (鸡公车): Also known as “Jigu Car,” this traditional transport tool resembles a chicken head and features a simple wooden single wheel. There are two types of chicken cars: one for carrying passengers (short car) and one for transporting goods (tall car). Riding in a chicken car is a unique experience, allowing visitors to connect with the town’s history and culture.