Imagine time-traveling 2,300 years into the past—welcome to Langzhong, a gem of Sichuan Province where China’s beloved Spring Festival tradition began 🏮. This ancient city, one of China’s four most iconic historical hubs, isn’t just about cobblestone streets and Ming-Qing dynasty architecture (though it’s got plenty of those!). It’s where astronomer Luo Xiahong redefined time itself during the Western Han Dynasty, setting spring’s first month as the official start of the year in his groundbreaking Tai Chu calendar. 🌱✨
Today, Langzhong’s 2-square-kilometer core feels like a real-life museum, with over 100 preserved homes and labyrinthine alleyways whispering tales of lunar new years past. Walk through its stone-paved lanes, and you’ll see why this city’s legacy lives on in every red lantern hung and dumpling steamed during modern Spring Festival celebrations 🥟❤️.
