Hanzhong Travel Guide

Hanzhong is the central city of a basin spreading at the southern foot of the Qinling range in southern Shaanxi province. Surrounded by mountains, it opens onto fertile flatland formed by rivers. As the land from which the Han dynasty took its name, it is regarded as the birthplace of 'Han,' a name that forms a cornerstone of Chinese culture.

Many historic sites connected with the Three Kingdoms remain in Hanzhong. In Mianxian there is an old temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, and his tomb lies in a quiet forest. The city museum holds old artifacts passed down in this land, and on a hill a platform said to have been used for appointing a general still remains.

Natural scenery is also part of Hanzhong's appeal. In spring rapeseed flowers bloom across the entire basin, and a sea of yellow flowers spreads to the foot of the mountains. Traces of old roads once built along steep mountain routes also remain, and you can follow a path that runs along sheer cliffs.

Hanzhong is a land where the cultures of north and south meet through its basin and mountain roads, and this influence shows in its cooking as well. Today a railway linking Xi'an and Chengdu runs through it, and an airport has also opened. It is a town to explore slowly, taking in both historic sites and flower scenery. From the train window as it crosses the mountains, the views continue to carry a sense of history.