千(qian)童(tong)(tong)鎮(zhen),在商(shang)、周、戰國(guo)(guo)時期稱“饒(rao)安(an)邑”,意為“其(qi)地豐繞,可以安(an)人(ren)”。 《史(shi)記·趙(zhao)世家》中講(jiang)到秦(qin)始(shi)皇(huang)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)241年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))“趙(zhao)將(jiang)龐 攻齊取饒(rao)安(an)”即指此(ci)(ci)地。秦(qin)時此(ci)(ci)地稱“千(qian)童(tong)(tong)城”,“始(shi)皇(huang)遣(qian)徐(xu)福(fu)將(jiang)童(tong)(tong)男女千(qian)人(ren)入海求蓬萊,置(zhi)此(ci)(ci)城以居(ju)之(zhi),故(gu)名。”漢高祖五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)202年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))于(yu)此(ci)(ci)置(zhi)縣(xian)(xian)稱“千(qian)童(tong)(tong)縣(xian)(xian)”。北(bei)魏熙平二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元517年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))于(yu)此(ci)(ci)始(shi)置(zhi)滄州州治。千(qian)童(tong)(tong)鎮(zhen)在歷史(shi)上州治縣(xian)(xian)治長達841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),由(you)于(yu)在公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)209年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),徐(xu)福(fu)奉秦(qin)始(shi)皇(huang)之(zhi)命勇率數千(qian)童(tong)(tong)男童(tong)(tong)女及(ji)百工巧(qiao)匠從這里啟航,求長生不老(lao)之(zhi)藥,漂(piao)洋(yang)過海,東(dong)渡成功,移民僑居(ju)日本,開(kai)創(chuang)了中日兩國(guo)(guo)友好(hao)交往(wang)之(zhi)先河,成為中國(guo)(guo)歷史(shi)的僑鄉。
在(zai)民間有源于漢代的(de)“千(qian)(qian)(qian)童(tong)信(xin)子節”,即在(zai)農(nong)歷(li)3月28日(ri)徐福(fu)千(qian)(qian)(qian)童(tong)出海日(ri)舉行隆重的(de)祭祀活動,逢甲(jia)子年(nian)舉辦一(yi)次(ci),每60年(nian)一(yi)個輪回。在(zai)節日(ri)期間,舉辦各種民間文(wen)藝表演(yan),尤其是挑選體強(qiang)膽大、眉清(qing)目秀的(de)童(tong)男童(tong)女(nv),衣著古(gu)裝,綁在(zai)15、6米高(gao)長(chang)桿支撐(cheng)的(de)微型(xing)舞(wu)臺(tai)上表演(yan),登高(gao)望遠(yuan),以(yi)示懷念(nian)和(he)召喚(huan)東渡的(de)親(qin)人(ren)。“千(qian)(qian)(qian)童(tong)信(xin)子節”被專家學者稱為中(zhong)日(ri)友好(hao)交(jiao)流的(de)“活化石(shi)”。從1993年(nian)開始,在(zai)農(nong)歷(li)3月28日(ri),由鹽山(shan)縣在(zai)千(qian)(qian)(qian)童(tong)鎮舉辦“千(qian)(qian)(qian)童(tong)文(wen)化節”,每五(wu)年(nian)一(yi)次(ci)。
千(qian)(qian)童(tong)鎮在歷史(shi)上州(zhou)治縣治長(chang)達841年,由于在公元前209年,徐福奉秦始皇之(zhi)命勇率數千(qian)(qian)童(tong)男童(tong)女及百(bai)工巧匠 從(cong)這里啟航(hang),求長(chang)生不(bu)老之(zhi)藥,漂洋過海,東渡成功,移(yi)民(min)僑(qiao)居日本,開創了中日兩(liang)國(guo)友好交往之(zhi)先河,成為中國(guo)歷史(shi)的僑(qiao)鄉。
千童祠前有原(yuan)全國政協副(fu)主(zhu)席、中日關系(xi)史學會名(ming)譽會長趙樸初題寫碑(bei)名(ming)的(de)(de)“秦千童城(cheng)”碑(bei)、望親臺、千 童祠后(hou)的(de)(de)無棣溝(gou),即(ji)老黃河遺址傳說為當年(nian)的(de)(de)訓童港到鹽山(shan)縣城(cheng)的(de)(de)千童博物館,還(huan)可(ke)參(can)觀秦漢(han)以來的(de)(de)出土(tu)文物。
以金絲小棗(zao)為原料釀造的(de)“千童棗(zao)酒(jiu)”及白酒(jiu)“東渡(du)老酒(jiu)”有特色,在鹽山縣城可以買到,是饋贈(zeng)親友(you)的(de)佳品(pin)。