In fact, dating back to more than 300 years ago, moraine mouth has a more mature urban planning, which the West Market Street has a wharf, inns, East Market Street has camels, mules and horses, such as land transportation, the market street has a service of land and water transportation banks, restaurants and so on. Since the Qianlong period, business is increasingly developed, rafts in the Yellow River shuttle, camel bells echoing in the valley, five miles long street, merchants cloud forest, so known as "the first town of the Yellow River".
These prosperous times are mainly due to the moraine mouth of the town's special geographic location. "Moraine mouth has no town, only because of moraine mouth appear broken road." This is in the mouth of the local old boatman heard the most words. Jin-Shaan Grand Canyon in the middle, the Yellow River and Qushui River confluence downstream, the gentle Yellow River water instantly become choppy up, 400 meters wide river turned sharply shrunk to within a hundred meters, the formation of the famous Datong moraine.
The original meaning of moraine is shallow water in the sand and gravel, the local people said Datong moraine rift valley for the "two moraine", Linfen Hukou for the Yellow River "first moraine". Moraine thus named. Datong moraine upstream and Qushui River convergence, facing the Yellow River, north of Wolhu Mountain, formed on the semicircular moraine mouth of the ancient town. After moraine mouth gradually become the Yellow River north trunk waterway transit station. At that time, a large number of materials from all over the northwest by river transport, to moraine mouth, to land transportation by mule and horse to Taiyuan, Beijing, Tianjin, Hankou and other places, and then the local materials from moraine mouth transfer back to the northwest.
Today, standing in the ancient town of Heilong Temple drum tower overlooking the Yellow River from the north, Chu water from the east and to the, surging and intertwined, as if to the tourists continue to tell the past glory. Set in the water of the Yellow River, the ancient town in the sparkling reflection, more mysterious and heavy.
Come to moraine mouth must not be in a hurry to find the attractions, because the old town itself is worth a taste of the natural museum. 2.5 kilometers long Ming and Qing Dynasty old street, full of inns, tickets, pawnshops and other types of commercial buildings and temples, houses, wharves, etc., including almost all the types of the typical folk trade towns of the CaoYun business. Although some stores are closed for business, but from the old buildings and mottled traces, let can find out with the past trade industry is closely related.
The old houses are the first big landscape in the area. Here, the Ming and Qing Dynasty houses are arranged in an orderly manner, forming a peculiar architectural form based on the mountains, streets and alleys are connected to each other. In the streets and alleys, the ancient Yellow River pebbles pave the street surface; outside the streets, the Yellow River water drains downstream, so that people can not help but marvel at the wisdom of the forefathers. The houses and courtyards are dominated by kilns, courtyard in courtyard, courtyard sets of courtyard, up to as many as 6 floors, most of the doors and eaves are carved with beams, brick carvings, wood carvings and stone carvings, and there is culture and art everywhere.
In addition to the 3 main streets, there are dozens of alleys of varying widths spreading around, which are connected to each other, sloping upwards, floating with a kind of ancient charm. Walking in the streets and alleys, the steps are set with slightly convex green stone strips, even if you climb the slope, but also effortless, so that people can focus more on both sides of the residential compounds. Row after row of large urns, a basket of oil, although dilapidated but the bones of the strange. Along the way, from time to time, I came across photography enthusiasts who like the culture of the ancient town, recording the rare and different flavor of northwestern Jin, while taking pictures and marveling at the magical scenery.
Under the guidance of the locals, came to the moraine mouth of the largest oil store, now the ancient inn four and hall. This still existing ancient building was created in the Qing Dynasty during the Daoguang period, more than 180 years ago, because of the four shareholders **** the same capital to open the name, after the creation of the business has been the Northwest's abundance of houma oil. In the Republic of China, it was purchased by the people of Pingyao and changed to "Tianjuyong", continuing to deal in grain and oil. The courtyard is spacious, with more than 20 small kiln holes for storing oil baskets, which have been converted into guest rooms for visitors from all over the world.
Look closely and you'll see that the columns in the courtyard are not uniformly thick and thin, straight and curved, and the kilns are made of stone and brick, also of different sizes. Local people said, because these kilns were used to store goods, not living, so in the selection of materials and aesthetics is not pay attention to, only focus on practicality, maximize savings and use of space. The so-called "Mingzhu Xia eaves high Ohtai", refers to this unique architectural style in northwestern Jin.
Walking around in the old town, the whole environment is relatively ecological, noodles and snacks bowl cake is quite refreshing. The town can also enjoy the historical legacy of theater theater and interesting shadow play, not only can the front stage to watch, but also backstage to observe how to operate, the understanding of the local culture and deepen a layer.
In addition, not far from the moraine town, is the painter Wu Guanzhong year to moraine picking, exclaimed like a living "Han Tomb" Lijiashan village, from the outside look like a desolate Han Tomb, a very old into the kiln is very sophisticated. The village is relatively closed, completely primitive state, the village only left some old people still live here. Perhaps only these niche ancient towns and villages are the real antiquity it, quietly standing in place, waiting for a person to open.
Transportation:
Taiyuan - moraine mouth, in Taiyuan West Railway Station to take the bus first to Lishi, and then take the bus to moraine mouth.
Lvliang - moraine mouth, Lvliang Lishi take a long-distance bus to moraine mouth
Peak season month: May-October