On the bank of the Han River, overlooking the ancient city wall of Xiangyang. Photo by Yang Dong
Two young tourists dressed in traditional costumes play in the ancient city of Xiangyang. Photo by Yang Dong
Tourists experience the production of cultural and creative products of Laohekou woodblock New Year paintings in Guanjia Lane of Xiangyang Ancient City. Photo by reporter Guo Guandong
The North Street of the ancient city of Xiangyang is full of tourists. Photo by Yang Dong
Young people dancing in Xiangyin Square, Butler Lane, Xiangyang Ancient City. Photo by reporter Liu Yuhang
The pottery wine vessel unearthed from the Phoenix Tsui site in Xiangyang - 鬶. Photo by reporter Guo Guandong
【Chinese Historic Sites Tour】
Climb the ancient city of Xiangyang Linhanmen Tower, look north, several bridges fly on both sides of the Han River, the Fancheng high-rise buildings on the other side of the river stand in a forest, and the mighty river flows slowly eastward, telling the prosperity and wealth here. Such a scenery reminds people of the poems in the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei's "Han River Overlook": "Chusai three Hunan connections, Jingmen nine factions." Outside the world of rivers, the mountains are in the middle of nothing. ”
Xiangyang, a national historical and cultural city, is located in the northwest of Hubei Province and is the central city of the Han River Basin. Because it is located in the center of the geographical and climatic junction zone between the north and south of China, and has the water transportation of the Han River extending in all directions, it has become the place of "the thoroughfare of the seven provinces, the southern ship and the northern horse", and it is also a place where soldiers and merchants must compete since ancient times.
"The county is floating in front of the pool, and the waves are moving far into the sky. As Wang Wei wrote, Xiangyang is a city that lives and thrives on water. The ancient city of Xiangyang takes the Han River as a natural barrier in the north, and there are moats on the east, west and south sides, with an average width of 180 meters and a maximum width of 250 meters, making it the widest artificial moat in China. The circumference of the existing ancient city wall is 7,331 meters, and it was listed as a key cultural relics protection unit in China in 2001, and is currently jointly declared as the world cultural heritage of "Ming and Qing Dynasty City Wall" with the ancient city walls of Nanjing, Xi'an, Jingzhou and other places. The strong city walls and wide moats created the famous ancient city building defense system in Chinese history. According to historical records, there have been 172 wars in Xiangyang in history, especially the famous "Battle of Xiangyang of Song, Mongolia (Yuan), and the Southern Song Dynasty army relied on strong cities to hold on for six years. This city is also known as the "Iron Xiangyang".
The ancient city of Xiangyang originated from the Beijin Shu ferry of the Chu State in the early Spring and Autumn Period, the Han Dynasty began to build the city, the Tang and Song dynasties added the battlements, added the city tower, the Song Dynasty city wall changed from the earth city to the brick city, and laid the pattern of today's ancient city in the Ming and Qing dynasties. For more than 2,000 years, the ancient city of Xiangyang has carried many cultures such as Chu culture, Three Kingdoms culture, Han water culture, etc., and generations of romantic characters have led the way.
Coming to the Fenghuangzui site archaeological workstation located in Longwang Town, Xiangzhou District, Xiangyang City, Yuan Feiyong, a lecturer at the School of History of Wuhan University, is leading students to carry out archaeological excavations. "The Fenghuangzui site belongs to the early Qujialing culture 5,200 years ago, surrounded by city walls and surrounded by moats. Yuan Feiyong introduced to us, "There are many earthen courtyards found in the site, which reflects the superb construction technology, and the location of the city site is generally from north to south, from the adjacent Han River tributary to the main stream, which also reflects the continuous improvement of the ancestors' ability to conform to nature and use nature." ”
After nightfall, the ancient city of Xiangyang ushered in the most charming moment of the day. Strolling in the north street where shops are lined up and tourists are weaving, the Zhaoming platform that stands majestically in the distance is brilliantly lit, and on the wide street with a total length of more than 1,200 meters, a number of stone arches are located in the middle, and the elegant blue brick horse-head wall on both sides, the bright vermilion column, and the beautiful pier-headed vermilion bird show the ancient and fashionable cultural charm. Follow the alley eastward on North Street, and you will come to the newly opened historical and cultural commercial district of Guanjia Lane. In Xiangyin Square, young performers dance with tourists as music sounds. Liu Yang, the person in charge of the operation of the cultural and leisure block of Guanjia Lane, introduced: ""Poetry and Painting Xiangyang", "Chivalrous Xiangyang", "Dancing Ink Xiangyang" and other 10 special plays with Xiangyang charm are open for free in Guanjia Lane, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Li Bai, Du Fu, Meng Haoran and other more than 30 historical celebrities played, walking the streets and alleys, performing arts interaction, tourists seem to travel to Xiangyang thousands of years ago. ”
Walking through the shops in Butler Lane, you can not only experience the national intangible cultural heritage Laohekou woodblock New Year paintings that can be seen and touched, the handmade silverware of provincial intangible cultural heritage bear silversmiths, but also taste the Xiangyang people from snacks to large beef noodles and Taiping tofu. "We uphold the concept of 'one store, one product' and 'one hundred stores and one state', highlight the local characteristic culture of Xiangyang, and attract more than 20 intangible cultural heritage items and time-honored brands, so that tourists can not only take away Xiangyang gifts, but also experience the charm of Xiangyang's traditional culture. Liu Yang said.
The Han River is slim and the ancient city is majestic. The ancient city of Xiangyang on the bank of the Han River, in the long history of thousands of years, has seen all the changes in the wind and clouds, and the changes in the world. Today, it has the beauty of mountains and rivers and the prosperity of humanity inside, and is radiating new vitality in the new era and becoming a charming cultural city.
Source: Guangming Daily
Editor: Zeng Jiayi
Editor-in-charge: Liu Chengrui Review: Du Hongli Final review: Zou Yan