Yangtze River Culture & Folk Customs

As the largest river in China, Yangtze River is the cradle land of Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, Yangtze River Culture comes out with different carries, including Ba & Shu Culture, cultural relics, local folk customs and etc.

Ba & Shu Culture (Bashu Culture)

Tracing back to Spring and Autumn Period, there were people lived along Yangtze River, called Ba and Shu people, which refer to area of Chongqing and Sichuan respectively. With a near distance, Ba and Shu had a convenient communication and have shared agriculture technology and life tools, such as round blade axe, spear, rice pot, kettle, iron pot and so forth.

Meanwhile, the bronze crafts were developed along Yangtze River. Sanxingdui site founded in Guangyuan near Chengdu can tell the ancient Ba & Shu Culture for 5,000 years ago. Besides, some other crafts like painted pottery, bamboo weaving products, shipbuilding were also in great advantages.

Cultural Relics along Yangtze River

From the Bashu Culture to Jingchu Culture and Wuyue Culture, Yangtze River had experienced different ages and dynasties. Therefore there were kinds of cultural relics and historical sites left along the river sides.

Trestle Road along cliff :in ancient times, Yangtze River was such a danger that only riskers could row boat to pass through. Then people lived in Three Gorges created a way towards outsides, which was a pathway along cliff-trestle road. The ancient trestle road is about 50 to 60 km, with a height of a few dozen meters. Now when Three Gorges Dam is storing water, the trestle road will submerged under water.

Hanging coffins:In Three Gorges of Yangtze River, there are some wooden coffins suspending along the cliffs, which were called hanging coffins or suspended coffins. Those mysterious coffins tried to illustrate some kind of burial culture which is unsolved yet.

Besides, there are some other sites like Fengdu Ghost City, White Emperor City, Three Gorges, Shennong Stream and more scenic spots presenting you with different sides of Yangtze Culture.

The Old Hanging Coffin in Three Gorges of Yangtze

Trestle Road: the only way leading to outsides in ancient times

Folk Customs along Yangtze River

From generation to generation, people lived along Yangtze River have a great change about their way of living. While there are some folk customs still kept, like marriage custom and burial custom.

The marriage custom is more like a weeping wedding in the tribe of Three Gorges of Tujia Ethnic Minority. According to traditions, the bride cries in order to show her love to their families and relatives, because after get married, she will leave home and separated from her families.

For burial custom, they will use folk dances and lively songs to make wishes to the deceased for a happy afterlife. The men will dance around the coffin and women are not allowed to dance for the death of an elder.

Tourists can visit the tribe of Three Gorges to explore more local customs and traditions along Yangtze River.