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Xiangyang Longkou Wharf
Xiangyang, Hubei, China
At the mid-section of Hanjiang Avenue in Fancheng District, the stone steps of Longkou Wharf descend into the Han River. This structure, also known as Longzikou Wharf, is a preserved sub-site of the Xiangfan Wharves Ruins. It sits directly south of the Zhongzhou Guild Hall and near the rear of the Mi Fu Memorial Temple.
In the nineteenth century, during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, laborers transformed this site from a steep-slope dirt wharf into a permanent stone structure. They laid heavy strip stones in a distinct V-shape, creating a double-tiered pathway. Each tier contains exactly seventeen steps, spanning a width of approximately four meters. Above, a brick-built gate stands with a rolled-shed roof and simple, short, upturned eaves. Historically, two wharves shared the Longkou name. This single structure survives now.
The wharf was a busy transit node on the Wanli Tea Road. Here, tea merchants unloaded fragrant cargo from southern waterways and transferred it to northern overland routes, a system known as "southern boats meeting northern horses." The air once carried the rich scent of dried tea leaves and the sound of wooden hulls scraping against the stone. In 2019, the wharf received national protection as a Major Historical and Cultural Site.
The stone steps now serve a different purpose. The wharf is a boarding point for Han River sightseeing cruises, including the New Shenyun fleet. It is also the center of the annual Chuantian Festival, held on the twenty-first day of the first lunar month. During this spring holiday, local citizens gather to board boats and search the riverbanks for smooth, water-worn stones with natural holes. On these cruises, people like retired history teacher Li Zhihe wear handmade masks and sing traditional Hancai songs. The sound of their voices carries over the water, connecting modern celebrations to the centuries-old stones of the wharf.