A 1,700-year-old town, expected to be submerged in the Three Gorges Project, will be moved completely to a new site five kilometers away.

The moving of Dachang Old Town, in Wushan County of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, began Monday, local sources said.

The local government plans to rebuild the town as it was. All the building materials in the old town, including each tile and brick, will be marked and moved to the new site for rebuilding. Those materials dilapidated will be replaced by imitations of traditional style.

After the rebuilding of the town, some residents will be allowed to move into the new town to help continue its traditional lifestyle. Performances of traditional craftwork, such as liquor distilling and cloth weaving, will be held for tourists.

Dachang Old Town, built in 280 A.D. in the Jin Dynasty (265-420), was located in the basin of Daninghe River, a branch of the Yangtze River. The town boasts well-preserved buildings of Ming and Qing style.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2005)