Hekou Ancient Town

河口古镇

Hekou Ancient Town has been serving as an important ferry port on the upper reaches of the Yellow River since ancient times. It was not only a key town on the ancient Silk Road， but also a border pass and a water transportation hub for ancient dynasties over the centuries. This small town houses an illustrious history and a rich culture in Lanzhou City， Gansu Province.

Hekou Ancient Town has some well-preserved ancient buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties， including three ancestral temples built during the Qing Dynasty， over 200 ancient residences， and many historical sites ranging from ancient trading wharves， strategic fortresses to transportation infrastructure. The town also still retains many historical relics， including over 100 gauze lamps.

The town is a living fossil for the study of Ming and Qing architecture in northwest China. In particular， the ancient residences in Hekou are some of the most intact  in Lanzhou City， offering both important historical and cultural value. They provide evidence of the evolvement of traditional Chinese society， and offer rare historical insight into the study of traditional agrarian societies.

自古以来，河口古镇一直是黄河上游的一个重要轮渡口。它不仅是古丝绸之路上的一个重镇，而且还是几个世纪的古代王朝的边境关口和水运枢纽。这个位于甘肃省兰州市的小镇有着辉煌的历史和深厚的文化底蕴。

河口古镇有一些保存完好的明清时期的古建筑，包括清代建造的三座祠堂、两百多座古民居，以及许多历史遗迹，有古代商业码头、战略堡垒和交通基础设施。这座古镇还保留了许多文物，包括100多盏纱灯。

该镇是研究明清时期中国西北建筑的活化石。特别是河口古民居，它们中有些是兰州市保存最完好的古建筑，具有重要的历史和文化价值。它们提供了中国传统社会演变的证据，并为传统农业社会的研究提供了珍贵的历史参考。

In recent years， local authorities have launched a range of restoration projects to protect the wealth of ancient relics and residences. At the same time， the locals have established a range of businesses and activities.

Among these activities， the large-scale nightly water-dance show tells the tales of ancient legends through the use of cutting-edge sound and light technology， providing a visual feast for visitors. Whats more， the tourist spot offers “Script Killing”， an interactive game experience that aims to tell local history and culture.

In addition， many cultural events and festivals are often held in Hekou Ancient Town， such as drama performances and photography competitions， attracting tens of thousands of visitors there. In 2014， the town was selected as one of the famous historical and cultural towns in China. After the final phase of renovation work， it was listed as one of Chinas national-level tourism and leisure blocks in 2023.

近年來，当地政府启动了一系列修复项目，以保护众多的文物和古民居；与此同时，还开展了一系列商业活动。

在这些活动中，大型夜间水舞表演通过运用先进的声光技术，讲述古代传奇故事，为游客提供一场视觉盛宴。此外，该旅游景点还提供“剧本杀”，这是一种旨在讲述当地历史和文化的互动体验游戏。

此外，河口古镇还经常举办许多文化活动和节日庆祝活动，如戏剧演出和摄影比赛，吸引了成千上万的游客。2014年，河口古镇被评选为中国历史文化名镇。经过最后阶段的改造工作，该镇于2023年被列为中国国家级旅游休闲街区之一。

Word Bank

illustrious /?'l?stri?s/ adj. 著名的；卓越的

The composer was one of many illustrious visitors to the town.

relic /'rel?k/ n. 遗迹；遗物

intact /?n't?kt/ adj. 完好无损

cutting-edge /'k?t??'ed?/ adj. 尖端的；先进的