Xiangfan - A Cultural City

With 2,800 years of history, Xiangfan consists of two parts, on each side of the Hanshui—Xiangyang on the south bank and Fancheng to the north of the river.

Located at the intersection of Hubei, Henan, Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, Xiangfan has an excellent transportation network. In ancient times, it was known for its waterways in the south and roads in the north. Xiangfan was also of strategic importance, and since the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), over 200 battles took place there, including the famous one where Yuefei (1103-1142), a patriotic military commander of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), recaptured the city. Since the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), it has been a seat of local governments. Today, Xiangfan still plays an important role in transportation.

Xiangfan lies in central China. In terms of its culture, traditionally people in the north worshipped the dragon, and in the south people venerated the phoenix. Xiangfan mingles both northern and southern cultures. Unique Xiangfan Stone Lines reflect both the delicate skill from the south and the grand and powerful features of the north.

Its long history has endowed Xiangfan with abundant cultural artifacts. There are 111 historical sites under protection in the area. The city, first built during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.C. 220), is one of the most well preserved ancient towns in China. The north side of the wall faces the Hanshui, and a city moat surrounds the other three sides of the city. The 4,700-meter-long moat has an average width of 180 meters and at its widest is 250 meters, the widest in China. In addition, Xiangyang has the longest ancient-style cultural street in China.

Five km south of Xiangyang, Xijiachi, the ancient residence of an official, Xi Yu from the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), is a garden-like structure built in both the northern and southern style. Xi Zaochi, a historian during the Jin Dynasty (265-420), finished his great work, History of the Han and Jin Dynasties, there. Ten km west of the city, Gulongzhong is where Zhuge Liang, an outstanding statesman and strategist during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), lived for 10 years. It is also where Liu Bei, founder of the Shu Han Kingdom (221-263) during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), made three calls at Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage to solicit his help in taking the throne. With its rolling hills, crystal clear water and green forests, Gulongzhong boasts enchanting scenery.

At the northwest corner of the city, is Furencheng, a city built in commemoration of the mother of Zhuxu, a general in charge of defending Xiangyang during the Jin Dynasty. On the other side of the Hanshui is Migongsi, the Memorial Hall to Mi Fei, a great calligraphy master during the Northern Song Dynasty(960-1127). An ancient building decorated with red walls and covered with dark tiles, it faces the Furencheng. In Migongsi, visitors can appreciate the different styles and skills of four great calligraphy masters Mi Fei, Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian and Cai Xiang, from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Their calligraphy and paintings are engraved on stone steles.

There are more than 50 historical sites in Xiangfan, including Baishuisi Temple; the hometown of Liu Xiu (6 B.C.-A.D. 57), founder of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220); Duobao Buddhist Pagoda, a cultural site under state protection; and artifacts from the ancient imperial city and battlefields.

Xiangfan is endowed with a favorable climate, fertile land, rich resources and numerous outstanding talents. The famous calligrapher and painter Mi Fei created some new styles of calligraphy and painting with his bold innovations.

Xiangfan is truly a city steeped in culture, and is a place where visitors feel a profound culture everywhere. The people of Xiangfan are working diligently to make a bright future on the basis of their traditional culture.