This file photo shows a street view of Renkang Ancient Street in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. /CFP
Renkang Ancient Street is a significant tourist and leisure street located in Ganzi Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Covering an extensive area of approximately 130,000 square meters, with a total construction area of around 40,000 square meters, the main street stretches for 1,200 meters and varies in width from 2 to 7 meters.
This ancient street has earned numerous honors, being recognized as a national-level cultural heritage site, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage site, a traditional Chinese village, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, and a provincial-level historical and cultural street.
This file photo shows a street view of Renkang Ancient Street in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. /CFP
Recently, Renkang Ancient Street made it onto the list of the second batch of China's national-level tourism and leisure blocks in 2023.
Having played a crucial role in the tea-horse trade in Litang for centuries, Renkang Ancient Street showcases an alluring blend of historical and cultural charm through its ancient buildings. Rich in historical and cultural resources, the street coexists with various cultural elements, making it a truly unique attraction. Visitors can explore ancient houses dating back over 400 years and other captivating historical sites, like the former residence and exhibition hall of the patriotic General Huang Zhengqing.
Aspiring to become a benchmark for tourist and leisure streets in high-altitude regions, Renkang Ancient Street is equipped with open-air recreational facilities, oxygen supply facilities, barrier-free amenities, and children's activity areas, providing visitors with a top-notch experience complemented by comprehensive services.
This file photo shows locals dancing on a square on Renkang Ancient Street in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. /CFP
Within the street, several themed micro-museums display characteristic crafts and art forms, such as Tibetan calligraphy, thangka paintings, stone carvings, pottery, and weaving. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in intangible cultural heritage by engaging in activities like painting thangka, experiencing the art of making Tibetan incense and medicinal tea at the Tibetan medicine museum, and learning how to craft Tibetan opera masks at the Tibetan opera museum.
Furthermore, Renkang Ancient Street offers a diverse array of experiential cultural activities, including poetry printing and clay sculpture making, earning it a well-deserved reputation as a "Tibetan cultural encyclopedia-like tourist destination."