Plan at a glance
Location and entrance
Lichuan Ancient City is in the old town of Lichuan County, Fuzhou. The main entrance is the Lichuan Ancient City Visitor Center. The public streets of the old town are free to enter, while Zhang Henshui Former Residence, the Confucian Temple, the Ancient Bed Culture Museum, and other indoor or smaller paid sites have separate ticket arrangements.
How much time to allow
Allow 1–1.5 hours for Xinfeng Bridge, Henggang Bridge, the Litan River, and part of the Ming–Qing old street. Add Zhang Henshui Former Residence, the Confucian Temple, and a riverside rest and allow 3–4 hours. The ancient city can be entered throughout the day; paid sites commonly show reference hours of about 08:30–17:30, while evening lighting is often around 18:00–22:00. The actual effect and operating status can change.
What kind of trip it suits
Lichuan Ancient City is best taken slowly through the old town: see the arcades and bridges in daylight, then wait near the river for the covered bridges to light up. It is in a different county from Liukeng Ancient Village in Le'an County. Arrange transport to each separately and plan them as separate stops.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The two covered bridges and the Litan River
Xinfeng Bridge and Henggang Bridge cross the Litan River and are the clearest visual markers of the old city. One is larger, while the other retains more of the plain, traditional covered-bridge details. Henggang Bridge Square is a good place to photograph both bridges together; the round opening of Xinfeng Bridge frames the river and buildings on the opposite bank.
The Ming–Qing old street and historic sites
The Ming–Qing old street extends about 1.8 km, lined with Jiangxi-style arcades and streets that are still part of daily life. Zhang Henshui Former Residence suits literature enthusiasts, and the Confucian Temple is one of Jiangxi's four major Confucian temples. Treat both as separate stops with their own opening and ticket arrangements rather than as part of the free street walk.
Food and everyday scenes
Along the river and old street, look for local snacks such as yuci, shuifen, guanxin tang, and Limi ci, as well as dishes such as beef-offal hotpot and duck-five-parts hotpot. Residents still live in the old streets; keep your distance when photographing daily scenes and do not treat a resident's doorway as a photo set.
Build your day
A 1–1.5-hour short route
Enter at the visitor center and walk along the main street to Henggang Bridge Square. Photograph Xinfeng Bridge and Henggang Bridge together, cross Xinfeng Bridge, see a short section of the old street, and return the way you came. This puts the bridges and river first and suits visitors who only want to understand the layout on a short visit.
A 3–4-hour slow route
From the visitor center, walk slowly along the Ming–Qing old street and look for Zhang Henshui Former Residence, the Confucian Temple, and other paid sites that are open. Then go to the Litan River for snacks and a break. In the late afternoon, return to the covered bridges for sunset and the lights; separating the daytime historic sites from the evening view keeps the pace comfortable.
An evening route
If you only want the night view, arrive at the visitor center or bridge area around 18:30. Start with Xinfeng Bridge, Henggang Bridge, and the river reflections, then walk along part of the main street. Lighting times and effects can change by date, and paid sites are generally not suitable for a late-night entry.
A bridge photography sequence
Start at Henggang Bridge Square for a view of both bridges, then move to the round opening of Xinfeng Bridge for the river. Leave the old lanes for softer daylight, when the building details and residents' activities are easier to photograph. Stay in walkable positions on the bridge, by the river, and where people cross; do not stand in vehicle lanes or at an unsafe edge for a picture.
Get there
From Fuzhou or Nancheng
From Fuzhou Railway Station or Nancheng Railway Station, transfer by coach or taxi to Lichuan; the journey takes about 1 hour. Departures are limited, so public-transport return trips are less convenient than those for city attractions. Driving takes about 1.5 hours from Fuzhou and about 2.5 hours from Nanchang; use Lichuan Ancient City Scenic Area as the navigation destination.
Parking and movement inside the old city
There are free parking lots near the visitor center and the old city. Enter through the visitor center after parking. The core area follows one main street and is easy to cover on foot; you do not need a sightseeing vehicle. Public toilets are relatively limited, so the visitor-center toilet is the better choice before starting or before leaving.
Know before you go
Free streets and paid sites
The public areas of the old city are free, while Zhang Henshui Former Residence, the Confucian Temple, and the Ancient Bed Culture Museum may use a combination ticket or separate tickets. The current reference price for a combination ticket is about CNY 20 per person. Confirm the ticket contents, each site's hours, and whether indoor entry is possible at night on the day of your visit.
Transport and crowds
Public-transport departures are limited, and a return taxi may be harder to find at some times in the county town. Driving or arranging the return in advance is more reliable. Weekdays are usually quieter; weekends and public holidays are busier. Leave the car in a surrounding parking lot and walk into the core streets.
Food and local products
The street has snacks, but opening hours, flavors, and prices vary by shop. Jiangxi food may be spicy, so state your preferred level when ordering. Prices for guanxin tang, Limi ci, and other local products are not necessarily uniform; ask at more than one shop, and return to the county town for dinner if choices in the old city are limited.
Check before setting out
Paid sites, combination tickets, lighting times, nighttime activities, public transport, parking, and riverside shops may change. If you plan to enter an indoor site or wait for the night view, confirm which paid sites are open, whether the lights will run that evening, and how you will return.