Zhongxiang

Zhongxiang City is located at the central part of Hubei Province and the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River, covers 4,488 square kilometers, and has a population of 1.05 million. Zhongxiang is an ancient but mystic land, and one of the birthplaces of the Chu culture. With a recorded history of more than 2,700 years, it was called Jiaoying and served as the alternate capital of the Chu state in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221BC), and the prefectural seat of Chengtianfu, one of the three major prefectures directly under the central government, in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The time-honored history created splendid and colorful Chu culture, and turned out historically influential persons like Song Yu, a literateur of the Poetry of the South, and Mo Chounn, an artist of Chu songs and dance, etc. Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty once got on in life here. Zhongxiang boasts numerous cultural relics, including the Xianling Mausoleum, the largest monomer imperial mausoleum in China, and abundant tourism resources, including the national level Dahong Mountain Scenic Area, the national level Dakou Forest Park and other natural landscapes, especially the karst of over 20,000 square meters in the Huangxian Cave.

The long history and splendid culture stored up colorful and special historic sites. In the city, there are 286 cultural relics sites under protection at different levels. Peculiar physiognomy and beautiful mountain and river scenery created fantastic natural landscapes. In the city, there are altogether more than 200 natural scenic spots. These scenic spots and historic sites set off each other and form four famous scenic areas, namely the Chengzhong Historic Site centering on the national level historical and cultural city with, the Kedian Natural Scenic Area centering on the national level Dahong Mountain scenic spot, the Dakou Natural Scenic Area centering on the national forest park, and the Wenxia Reservoir Sight-seeing Area centering on landscapes of mountains and waters.