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.