5 Must-Visit Historical Spots in Xiangyang, a Place Tied to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Perfect for History Enthusiasts!

Xiangyang City is a city located in the northwestern part of Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. It is home to an important inland river port along the Han River, historically known as a key transportation hub. The city also features a large castle, which is a classic tourist spot.

Moreover, Xiangyang is frequently featured in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Because of this, there are many tourist spots related to the Three Kingdoms! Xiangyang is known as one of the most attractive cities in China and is also a famous tourist destination. Its picturesque landscape is famously described as "The clear water of the Han River flows through the city, and the green mountains half encircle it."

Whether you're a fan of the Three Kingdoms or not, Xiangyang City offers many fascinating sightseeing spots. Here, we'll introduce five famous tourist destinations.

1.Gu Longzhong

Located about 15km from Xiangyang City, Gu Longzhong, situated east of Longzhong, is the former residence of Zhuge Kongming, the military strategist of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period. The thatched hut and surrounding areas have been developed into a popular tourist spot in Xiangyang.

This is the place where Liu Bei, famously known from the Three Kingdoms, visited three times to invite Kongming as his military strategist, a famous event known as the "Three Visits to the Thatched Hut." Zhuge Kongming moved here from his hometown in Shandong Province at the age of 17 to escape the chaos of war. He lived a life of farming and reading for about 10 years, earning the nickname "Wolong" (Crouching Dragon). Liu Bei, recognizing Kongming’s great wisdom, personally visited his residence three times to invite him to serve as his strategist. This became known as the "Three Visits to the Thatched Hut." Moved by Liu Bei’s dedication, Kongming later became the military strategist of Shu.

The ruins of Gu Longzhong are scattered around the rural mountain areas. Among the many attractions, the must-see spots are the San Gu Hall and the San Yi Temple. The San Gu Hall houses statues of Liu Bei and Zhuge Kongming, while the San Yi Temple features statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei striking heroic poses. For Three Kingdoms enthusiasts, visiting Xiangyang and this site is a must!

2.Xiangyang Castle

Xiangyang Castle, overlooking the southern bank of the Han River in Xiangyang City, is the fortress that Guan Yu attacked during the Three Kingdoms period. With a history of over 2200 years, this ancient castle is one of Xiangyang’s representative tourist attractions.

The rivers surrounding the castle on three sides, except for the north, are 2-3 meters deep and 180-250 meters wide. This large river made Xiangyang Castle difficult to attack. The current structure was rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The castle walls are almost square in shape and are truly impressive in size.

There used to be six castle towers, but now only the Linhan Gate facing the Han River and the North Gate remain. In the northwest corner of the castle wall, there is an area called Furen Castle, built for Lady Han, the mother of General Zhu Xu, in the late Eastern Jin period. This is one of the highlights of Xiangyang Castle.

Xiangyang Castle is another must-visit spot for Three Kingdoms fans. Even if you're not familiar with the Three Kingdoms, you’ll still enjoy visiting this historical site!

3.Shuijing Zhuang (Water Mirror Villa)

Shuijing Zhuang is located about 50 km southwest of Xiangyang city center and is the place where the famous figure from the late Eastern Han period, Sima Hui, retired. This scenic spot offers a harmonious blend of beautiful nature and history, making it a must-visit destination in Xiangyang. The villa is named after Sima Hui's alias "Shuijing," which means "Water Mirror." Sima Hui moved to this area in Xiangyang to live a life of retirement while being known for his talent in discerning people's abilities.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei of Shu, by chance, visited Shuijing Zhuang. Sima Hui advised Liu Bei that if he were to gain the services of either "Fulong" (Zhuge Kongming) or "Fengchu" (Pang Tong), the world would be at peace. This led Liu Bei to invite Zhuge Kongming as his military strategist with the famous "Three Visits to the Thatched Hut." Today, Shuijing Zhuang is preserved as a historical site related to the Three Kingdoms and welcomes tourists.

4.Xiangyang Wangfu Green Shadow Wall

The Xiangyang Wangfu Green Shadow Wall is located in the city of Xiangyang and is a wall in front of the Ming Dynasty Xiangyang Wangfu Mansion. This wall, a type of "screen wall" commonly seen in China, is said to have protective qualities against evil spirits and is one of the main attractions in Xiangyang.

The mansion of Prince Xiang, the fifth son of the Ming Emperor Renzong, once covered 20-30% of the entire city of Xiangyang. However, the mansion was completely destroyed by fire set by Li Zicheng, who later became the Prince of Shun. Miraculously, the Green Shadow Wall survived the fire, making it one of the few surviving parts of the mansion.

The Xiangyang Wangfu Green Shadow Wall is a unique piece of stone-carving art and is a priceless cultural heritage in China. It is now recognized as an important cultural asset by Hubei Province and is a national-level protected cultural site. It is also considered one of China's Four Great Screen Walls. Given its significance, it is a rare and valuable tourist spot not just in Xiangyang, but throughout China. It may even be registered as a World Heritage Site one day.

5.Zhaoming Tower (Xiangyang Museum)

Zhaoming Tower, located in the North Street inside Xiangyang Castle, is a symbol of the city and one of its representative tourist attractions. It is also an important cultural heritage site in Xiangyang. As one of the highlights of Xiangyang Castle, it’s a great spot to visit while exploring the city.

Currently, Zhaoming Tower is a Level 2 National Museum and is famous for its connection to the Three Kingdoms period and the battles between the Yuan Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty. This makes it a must-visit for history enthusiasts. The Xiangyang Museum is divided into five exhibition halls, each focusing on the history of the city. Learning about Xiangyang's history beforehand will certainly enrich your sightseeing experience.

◎ Summary

How did you find the five tourist spots in Xiangyang City? If you're a fan of the Three Kingdoms or history, you’ll likely appreciate them, though many might not immediately associate Xiangyang with tourism.

While other parts of Hubei Province, like the Shennongjia Forestry District, gained global recognition with its World Heritage listing, Xiangyang still lacks such recognition, which affects its popularity. However, the city boasts significant attractions related to the Three Kingdoms, and places like the Xiangyang Wangfu Green Shadow Wall could easily be considered World Heritage-worthy.

Why not plan a sightseeing trip to Xiangyang?

Search

Customer Support

5 Must-Visit Historical Spots in Xiangyang, a Place Tied to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Perfect for History Enthusiasts!