Culture of Heshun Old Town in Tengchong County

Heshun has already been awarded as The Most Attractive Town in China, National Historical and Cultural Town, National Town with the Most Beautiful Environment, National AAAA Rated Scenic Spot, National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base and Advanced Collectives of the National Tourism Industry in recently years. In 2011, it was awarded as the Ten Most Influential Cultural Industry Demonstration Base by the State Ministry of Culture. It now sets about building the project of “World Famous Heshun”. The new projects with such themes as Wealthy Heshun, Brillant Resort & Spa Heshun, Heshun at Night, Heshun Volcano Scenic Spot and Heshun wetland Scenic Spot were under construction. Heshun will be an international tourism resort with world-class level in a near future.

Ancestral Temples

Heshun has several ancestral temples. The majority of ancestral temples in China were destroyed or damaged during the Cultural Revolution but the ancestral temples of Heshun have fared better. The remoteness of Heshun might have protected them.There are three large ancestral temples that have been built with money sent back by Heshun villagers that sought and found their fortunes elsewhere. This resulted in larger than usual and rather elaborate constructions.Also some of these buildings have been used for other purposes like tea house. They are now, or already have been, restored to their former glory.All three of them are build into the hillside next to the village and are overlooking the reservoirs that provide water to the fields below the village.he three ancestral temples are:

Qian Qiu Wan Ci ancestral temple (“Memorising the ancestors for thousand years” temple).

Yuan Long Ge ancestral temple (“Original Dragon” Temple).

Dao De Kai Ji ancestral temple (“Morals are the base of the family” temple)

All temples are Daoism based with Buddhist influences.

Heshun Library

A proper library is a remarkable feature in any rural village and the Heshun Library (和顺图书馆 ) is such a remarkable feature. Completed in 1928 and containing about 60,000 volumes it aided the spiritual development of the people of Heshun in this isolated and rural part of Yunnan.

The library was largely paid for by overseas members of the Heshun clans and it contains rare copies of Chinese books of the time. The building was very modern at the time with its large windows to let light in. In 2012 the library, suffering from woodworm, underwent an extensive renovation.

Old Town

The most prominent spots along the river have been taken over by newly constructed old buildings selling the usual tourist stuff and jade, the speciality of the area. Ones passed this one can turn left around the big reservoir to the ancestral temples and the Aisiqi museum, or turn right to the old library and the ‘Yunnan-Burma anti Japanese war’ museum. Going straight brings one in the old village with its narrow cobbled alleyways. Cars and busses stay in the parking lot just in front of the village. Inside the village most motorised transport is by motorbike also some locals use a car, most however just walk. The village has an area entry of 80 RMB/person.