At the meeting point of Hunan, Guizhou and Chongqing in southern China lies Chadong Ancient Town.

First established during the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing reign, the small riverside settlement has quietly endured for more than three centuries.

The name comes from the Miao language: “Cha” refers to Han people, while “Dong” means a small patch of flat land in the mountains.
 

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the clear Qingshui River, wooden homes line the riverside while small ferries cross the water, adding to the calm rhythm of life in this border town.