Lao Cai also has a unique intangible cultural heritage and is the only remaining place where handmade compasses are produced in the country. The traditional production technology of Wan'an compass has been inherited for more than 600 years. The process is strictly standardized and the skills are exquisite and meticulous. The compasses, sundials and other products produced have complete specifications, varieties and high precision. They are outstanding representatives and remaining specimens of ancient Chinese folk crafts. Wanan The compass making process was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006 and has high collection and practical value.
The compass is a traditional tool made using the compass principle. It is used both for navigation to identify directions and for site selection and positioning of urban and rural buildings. Ancient Chinese compasses are divided into two categories: inland type and coastal type according to their origin. The coastal type is centered in Zhangzhou, Fujian and Xingning, Guangdong, and its function is mainly used for navigation guidance. The inland type is centered on Xiuning Wan'an, Anhui Province, and its main function is to determine the orientation and layout of housing buildings and tombs. The compass produced by Wanan was historically called "Huipan".
The Wan'an compass inherits the traditional compass making skills of ancient China, and has formed its own technological characteristics during the long-term production practice. , writing disk surface, oiling and glazing, installation of magnetic needles and other technological processes and techniques all have strict regulatory requirements. Famous brand names in the history of Wan'an Compass include Fang Xiushui, Hu Ruyi and Wu Luheng. The compasses and sundials produced by the time-honored Wan'an Compass Shop won gold medals at the Panama International Exposition held in Philadelphia, the United States, in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915 AD). This was also the first time that Chinese handicrafts won international awards.
The Wan'an compass production process was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. Wu Luheng's Old Compass Shop, located at the entrance of Wan'an Old Street, is an important place where Wan'an compass production techniques are taught. It is also a key cultural relic protection unit in Xiuning County. Usnea tea, known as the "originator of fried green tea", is named after it is produced in Usnea Mountain 800 meters away in Wan'an Town. It has a history of more than 500 years. Usnea tea has a long history and is one of the earliest famous teas in China. According to relevant records, it was created by a monk named "Da Fang" who practiced in Songluo Mountain Temple. "Xiuning County Chronicles" written by Wanli of the Ming Dynasty records: "The north of the town is called Usnea, which is named for its many pine trees. There is no tea. The distant foothills are Langyuan, and tea plants are grown nearby. The mountain monk occasionally learned how to make it, so he asked Usnea , became famous for a while. "Usnea tea is the best of fried green tea, and its production process was later widely used by fried green tea production in the mountainous areas of southern Anhui, forming a unique production process in the tea industry in southern Anhui. Usnea tea has been famous for hundreds of years. In addition to being a drink with excellent color, aroma and taste, it also has special medicinal value, such as lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. Therefore, it is widely praised as "The treasure of tea". "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Huizhou Usnea is specially used for food." In 1930, the "Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine" compiled by Zhao Gongshang discussed: "Usnea tea is produced in Huizhou. Functions: eliminate accumulation, stagnate greasiness, eliminate fire, lower Qi, reduce phlegm . ”
Usnea tea has a high status in the history of Chinese tea. In addition to its unique quality, more importantly, its unique production technology is highly praised by future generations. The method of making usnea is the method of making fried green tea later, especially the later rise of export tea "Tunlu", which inherited the basic essentials of this method. Therefore, some experts have said: "Usnea is the ancestor of green tea." The China Tea Museum collects usnea tea salvaged from the sunken ship of the Gothenburg; in 2007, the "usnea tea" trademark was rated as a famous trademark of Anhui Province. In the same year, the usnea tea making technique was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage by the Anhui Provincial Government. The Shuilong Temple Fair is a unique public fire drill in Wan'an Town. There is also the ruins of the Shuilong Temple near the Pawnshop Lane in Laojie. There is also a stone tablet from the ancient construction of the Shuilong Temple embedded on one wall. The Shuilong Temple was originally used to store public fire-fighting equipment, except for the presence of Bodhisattva due to feudal superstition. Every year on the tenth day of the fourth lunar month, all the shops in the town gather to display the fire-fighting equipment in the Shuilong Temple in the open space in front of the temple for annual maintenance. Each shop also takes out its own fire-fighting equipment and displays them on the river. Try out a fire-fighting water gun. At the same time, a theater troupe was invited to perform for three consecutive days and nights, which was called "Fire and Candle Opera". Most of the plays are related to water, such as "Water Floods the Golden Mountain", "Water Floods the Seven Armies", etc.