Xiangyang Travel Guide

Xiangyang is a historic city that situated on the middle reaches of the Han River in the north of Hubei province. Across the river, the old city and the district on the opposite bank face each other, and its former name was Xiangfan. It has flourished since ancient times as a strategic point for transport and military affairs, a land that developed along with water transport.Gulongzhong in the west of the city is the place where Zhuge Liang is said to have lived in retreat. Known as where the story of the Three Visits originated, it has the thatched cottage, the Hall of the Three Visits and the Marquis Wu Temple scattered over its hills. Historic sites connected with the Three Kingdoms remain in various parts of the city, offering clues for tracing its history.Along the Han River, the city walls of the Ming dynasty remain, conveying traces of former days together with the city gates. From the riverside promenade, the opposite district and the old city can be viewed. Places to encounter culture are also in place, such as the Mi Gong Shrine honoring Mi Fu, the Northern Song calligrapher, and the Tang City re-creating streets in Tang style. Old temple pagodas remain in the outskirts as well.For food, the northern flavors of Hubei cuisine are popular, such as noodles topped with beef and dishes using pickled vegetables. High-speed rail runs through the city, making it easy to reach from Wuhan and Zhengzhou. It is a city that retains the traces of the Three Kingdoms, where historic sites and the scenery of the Han River overlap.