Daxu town was founded at the beginning of the Song dynasty (960 – 1126). It is one of the four famous ancient towns in Guangxi Province. It is located on the east bank of Li River, 23 km (14.3 miles) southeast of Guilin. Due to its good location, it used to be a very important transportation town in old times when boat was the most important transportation mean. A 2.3km-long and 2m-wide stone-paved street runs through the town with various ancient buildings lining the sides of the street. These structures date back to Ming and Qing dynasties. 

This ancient town retains in its antique style from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A flagstone street, lined with old residences, shops and stalls, runs two kilometers along the river bank through the town. Some well-preserved residences hidden behind the street door will surprise you as you explore further into the backstreets. These buildings were used as quarters for businessmen in the past times. These structures in this ancient town are outstanding for their magnificence, refinement and practicality. Along the street and the river still stand many traditional buildings well preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The old residences, shops and stalls, the ancient town keep in its antique style from the past. These wooden architectures with colorfully decorated eaves, elegantly carved doors and windows are still homes of the many locals. The townspeople are very kind to tourists. Further to south, there is an old single-arched bridge in the town named Longevity Bridge which was built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is an excellent place to appreciate the charming scenery of the river.

Daxu Ancient Town began to flourish during the Ming Dynasty when it became the commercial premier in the area. Over the past centuries, it had been one of Li River's four most important harbors. Most of its inhabitants were traders and Daxu's market was well-known all over southern China. It was always a busy trading center in the old times. There are still 13 docks along the old street from which you can imagine its prosperity in former days.

Many local residents still keep their traditional handcraft and business, such as home workshops of rice wine, carpenters, bamboo baskets and traditional Chinese medical clinics. There are about 20 clinics gathered along the street, some of which specialize in gynecology and some in pediatrics. Coming into the clinic, you can smell the scent of medical herbs and timeworn medicine chests tell the history of the clinic. The rice wine workshop remains the old way of brewing wines by using old barrels, baskets and distillery. All of these almost disappear in the cities and can not be seen any more.

Also Daxu Ancient Town is a non-touristy place, so it is a good place to escape from the city.

Admission fee: free;

Opening hours: 24 hours;

How to get there:
Take public buses No. 16, 32, 54, 6, 14, 20, 28, 30, 32B, 35, 36, 52, and 9 to Sanlidian (三里店) circle. There are lots of shuttle buses to Daxu(大圩), with a stopover in front of People's Bank of China(中国人民银行).