Luodai Ancient Town is located in Longquanyi District, Chengdu, approximately 18 kilometers away from the city center. It is one of the most well-preserved Hakka towns in the suburbs of Chengdu. Strolling through the millennia-old town, tasting local snacks, drinking tea, and playing mahjong in the street-side teahouses while experiencing Hakka culture has become one of the leisure choices for Chengdu citizens on weekends.
The ancient streets and Hakka residential buildings in the town are well-preserved, with the old street featuring a layout of ‘one street and seven alleys,’ lined with shops on both sides. The four major guild halls (Guangdong Guild Hall, Jiangxi Guild Hall, Huguang Guild Hall, and Sichuanbei Guild Hall) and the Hakka Museum still carry the aura of the Hakka people from the past. The Guangdong Guild Hall on the upper street of the ancient town, originally built in the Qing Dynasty, is considered one of the better-preserved and grand guild halls in the country. Local Hakka people often hold Hakka folk activities here, such as ‘eating Hakka food, wearing Hakka clothes, and sleeping on flower-patterned beds.’
Apart from these ancient buildings, Luodai Ancient Town has now become a part of the urban area. There are many street-side teahouses in the ancient town where Chengdu citizens often come on weekends, sit down casually, order a cup of tea, and gather to play mahjong, enjoying a comfortable and leisurely time.
In addition to the teahouses, the ancient town boasts a variety of delicious snacks, such as Jiu Dou Wan, fermented tofu, and salt-baked chicken. The most famous is the ‘Heartbreaking Cold Noodles.’ The term ‘heartbreaking’ refers to the spiciness of the dish that brings tears to the eyes of those eating it, resembling a heartbroken appearance. The ‘Heartbreaking Cold Noodles Flagship Store’ next to the Guangdong Guild Hall is a popular business.
Due to the concentration of Hakka people, Luodai Ancient Town also has many Hakka festivals. The Fire Dragon Festival during the Spring Festival and the Water Dragon Festival in July-August are the lively times of Luodai. The town is open all year round, with parking facilities available at Luodai Ancient Town Parking Lot, with charges applied; the address is Wu Feng Lou Parking Lot, and the number of spaces is subject to the actual situation of the scenic area.
