About 20 kilometers west of downtown Chongqing, one of the four municipalities under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government of China, is the town known as Zouma, a place enlisted among the first group of National Famous Towns of Historical and Cultural Interest.
Located at the juncture of Chongqing, Bishan, and Jiagjin, Zouma Town once served as a hub of transportation on the ancient postal route in the areas of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, and Chongqing. Paved with stone slabs more than 10 feet in width, the route stretches across mountain ranges and through valleys. For centuries, it has served as a vital path for mail, travelers and cargo, and as an ever-lasting stem to carry forward culture and civilization.
In the era of the post house, where horse-riding mailmen would stop for the night, it was a one-day trek from Tongyuanmen in Chongqing to Zouma Town. Travelers would stay overnight at the town, thus adding to a flourishing local economy and a blossoming culture.
The stone roads in the ancient Zouma linked the big cities of Chengdu and Chongqing. Along the roads are row upon row of centuries-old buildings, the well-preserved structures originally constructed in pleasantly random heights. The nicely-arranged residences, opera theaters, arcades, temples, and various types of wells present a unique art gallery of the Bashu architecture.
Experiencing ups and downs in its history, Zouma Town has remained an important postal hub and a center for land transportation and commodity distribution. Prior to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, there were three opera theaters and 12 teahouses, thus giving rise to non-governmental chambers of commerce with distinctive division of work.
The bustling commerce has nurtured local culture and given birth to numerous scholars, which was evidenced in the abundant folk arts, such as antiphonal songs, story telling, ballads, lion dance, and Sichuan Opera, and the miscellaneous handcrafts, in addition to the unique sacrificial ceremonies and fire-dragon dance of the Pu people. The most noticeable are the folktales popular in Zouma, which, due to the variety and quantity, are highly regarded by UNESCO and relevant departments in China.
The ancient township of Zouma is especially charming in spring when the peach flowers are in full blossom.
In 2002, Zouma Township was enlisted among the first group of National Famous Towns of Historical and Cultural Interest. In 2006, its folktales were designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The ancient postal route, the only of its kind in Chongqing proper, and the well-preserved centuries-old streets are of high value for the study of the folklore, old-fashioned lifestyle, and the society long past. This strongly reflects the historical changes in post services, military affairs, and transportation.
Zouma, the best-preserved ancient township closest to Chongqing, has thus been acclaimed by scholars at home and abroad as the “miniature of the culture along the ancient courier route” and a “highlight of the culture of Sichuan.”
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