Snapshot of authenticity

Walking down the streets in Langzhong, you can notice all kinds of traditional courtyard houses, in which local people live their everyday lives, and they are not just shops or restaurants catering to tourists. Photos by Liu Lu / China Daily

Built in 314 BC, Langzhong Ancient Town has held onto its original name and flavor, including a layout that harkens back to the Feng Shui principles of the Tang Dynasty

If you have been disappointed by many other artificial "ancient towns" that were built in recent years, the old houses and courtyards in Langzhong in Nanchong, north of Sichuan province, will offer you an original flavor of a real Chinese ancient town.

The Langzhong Ancient Town was built in 314 BC and is the only town in China that has retained its original name. Although it is a major tourist attraction in Sichuan and is surrounded by a large modern city, the town is very well maintained and has not been ruined by commercialization. You will find spending a couple of days in this time-honored town a pleasant experience and a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

It is located in the middle reaches of the Jialing River, a branch of the Yangtze River. The county lies in the west bank of the river with mountains on four sides and rivers on three sides. For 2,300 years, it has been the "throat" of the south of the Shudao (the road of Sichuan).

Langzhong Ancient Town is very small - it covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers - but it has an illustrious history. It is the burial place of the famous general Zhang Fei, who was one of the legendary heroes depicted in the Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He had guarded Langzhong for about seven years before he died. It is also birthplace of the inventor of the Chinese lunar calendar, Luo Xiahong.