Lined by ancient mansions, cobblestone streets and historic tea houses, 1,400-year-old Anren offers charm from a bygone era. It is precisely why, having long been overlooked as a visitor destination, the town is set to become one of China’s next tourism stars.
Anren recently received a 5A rating, the most coveted award handed out by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is also held by attractions such as the Great Wall of China and Beijing’s Forbidden City. More than 2,500 destinations have been ranked from 1A to 5A by the government based on their distinctiveness, infrastructure, safety and beauty.
Considered one of China’s best-preserved ancient communities, Anren is among 12 new additions to the 5A category — indicating a destination's attractiveness and ease of access for tourists, accommodation options and transport, among others. Some of the other newly listed spots include remote waterfalls, mountain reserves, protected lakes and dramatic gorges.
There are now more than 300 tourist attractions in China with a 5A classification. That might give the impression that this rating is unremarkable, or easily achieved. Rather, it’s a reflection of China’s colossal size and its wealth of wonderful sites.
The number of 5A locations makes more sense when you consider China is more than 100 times larger than the UAE by land area and has 70 cities with a larger population than Abu Dhabi. For example, many are unlikely to have heard of Chongqing, a city not far from Anren. Yet this giant metropolitan area in south-west China is estimated to be home to 30 million people. Chongqing has an appealing blend of cutting-edge architecture, engaging historic sites, serene public parks, impressive museums and a distinctive food scene anchored by its fiery Sichuan cuisine.
In spite of all this, Chongqing receives relatively few foreign visitors, and it's a similar story in Anren. China’s tourist trail is largely limited to the metropolises of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Suzhou and Guangzhou.
International travellers who venture beyond those destinations, to China’s south-west, mostly head to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province known as a gateway to panda country and the Tibetan Plateau. This, too, is a megacity, with a population of more than 11 million people.
On Chengdu’s western outskirts, Anren has long lingered in anonymity. I have travelled to China 11 times, including four visits to Chengdu, and I'm fascinated by the country’s ancient communities, yet it wasn’t until my most recent trip that I first heard of Anren.
It was also my mother’s first visit to China and, having shown her its modern side in Chengdu and Chongqing, I wanted her to experience one of its old, time-warped towns. A 50km drive from downtown Chengdu transported us to a different era.
My mother was fascinated by the activities taking place along Anren’s weathered stone streets, where life’s simple joys are open for all to see. A group of elderly women sat quietly at a table, inside a wooden porch, concentrating on a game of mahjong. Similarly aged men were more animated as they laughed and bickered while playing cards outside a noodle soup restaurant. Younger ladies danced in unison in a small park filled with flowers. And nearby, boys scooped a fishing net into the narrow creek that flows through the town.
All of these sights were enhanced by the presence of hundreds of colourful paper umbrellas hanging above Anren’s thoroughfares. The town’s historic core is centred on three streets — Yumin, Shuren and Hongxing. Combined, they stretch for about 700 metres and accommodate more than 200 old buildings. Many of these are shophouses — two-level buildings with a store or restaurant downstairs and a home upstairs.
Some of the town’s timeworn structures date back more than 500 years. Anren itself was formed about 14 centuries ago during China’s Tang dynasty period (618 to 907). Today, its most famous attractions are its 27 comparatively youthful mansions, each around 100 years old.
These elegant buildings are embellished by intricate stonemasonry, complex latticework, swooping tiled roofs, rows of archways and serene courtyards. Behind their beauty lies a brutal tale. This cluster of interconnected mansions was commissioned by a landlord who allegedly used violence to seize control of Anren in the 1920s.
His name was Liu Wencai. His former home is now the primary tourist site in Anren, known as Liu’s Manor Museum. Inside, English-language signs say Liu stole the land of local farmers, some of whom were murdered in the process. Alongside this are life-size dioramas that depict these historical horrors.
Yet Anren is not defined by this dark period. Instead, it is a laid-back and picturesque town increasingly popular with Chinese tourists. Those domestic travellers seek out traditional communities like Anren as China's big cities become more modern and increasingly westernised.
The town is especially busy on public holidays, particularly the Chinese New Year. During this festival, Anren’s sleepy streets are enlivened by parades, musical displays and firework shows. But Anren is appealing 12 months a year thanks to its deep history, ancient appearance and soothing atmosphere.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
More on Quran memorisation:
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
