In the impression of most people, Jiangnan is the ancient town with the first water town in China, and Taizhuang, known as the most beautiful water town in China, is in the north. Its history can be traced back to the Qin and Han Dynasties, where the Tai family in the Tang Dynasty established Taijiazhuang. During the Northern Song Dynasty, iron ore developed rapidly, and iron ore was excavated on a large scale all over the country. It reached its peak in Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it was precisely because the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal promoted the economic development of Taizhuang that the economy of the Ming and Qing Dynasties grew rapidly. Therefore, Gan Long specially went to Taierzhuang and gave it the title of "the first village in the world". Now, on the door plaque on the floor of Taierzhuang, you can see five big characters given by Emperor Qianlong.
Taierzhuang Tucheng was built in 1647, and it was completed in one year, with an area of about 1. 1 square kilometer. Later on 1857, the ancient city was expanded on a large scale, and after construction, it had its own streets, ports and docks. There lived more than 5,000 families and built more than 20,000 houses, but in 1938, a war reduced it to ashes.
Taierzhuang, which we see now, was built after 2008, with an investment of more than 7.2 billion yuan. Now Taierzhuang covers an area of 3,000 mu, with nearly 30 scenic spots in eight scenic spots, including Canal Market, Beicheng River and Guandi Temple. At present, it is the largest ancient city in China, which belongs to the national 5a-level scenic spot and attracts many overseas tourists every year.
In addition, the scenery of Taierzhuang also gives people the feeling of a water town in the south of the Yangtze River, because it was originally a transitional zone between the north and the south and the central reach of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The water network is dense, and many merchants from south to north gather here. After a long time, the north and south cultures meet here and have a unique flavor.
Taierzhuang not only has the style of Jiangnan water town, but also the architecture of Northern Europe. The most striking places to enter Taierzhuang are the Christian Church and the Catholic Church. Although it looks a bit out of place, it is still very rare for the two styles of architecture to blend together.