This ancient city with over 2,000 years of history is often overlooked. Have you visited it?
When it comes to ancient cities, people first think of popular tourist destinations like Lijiang Ancient City, Xi'an Ancient City, Fenghuang Ancient City, and Pingyao Ancient City. However, this ancient city along the Yangtze River is often forgotten—it is Jingzhou Ancient City in Hubei, one of China's historic and cultural cities.
Jingzhou has a long history and is one of the birthplaces of Chu culture. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, the Chu people migrated to the area around the Han River and Jingshan, giving rise to the names 'Jingman' and 'Chuman.' In the early Zhou dynasty, Xiong Yi was enfeoffed in the land of Chuman for his contributions to the Zhou court, making 'Chu' the name of both the state and the ethnic group. Later, the state of Chu grew strong through diligence, evolving from a 'barbarian' group looked down upon by the Central Plains states into a great power with 'a thousand chariots and ten thousand horses.' Although it was later conquered by Qin, its brilliant culture has been passed down to the present day, deeply influencing the land of China, especially the city of Jingzhou.
In many places in Jingzhou, traces of Chu culture can be seen. For example, around the Chu capital of Jinan City and its surroundings, there are five ruins of Chu cities, 73 sites of Chu cultural relics, and over 800 large stone tombs, including the burial sites of 18 Chu kings. Thousands of precious artifacts have been excavated, such as the Sword of King Goujian of Yue, the Spear of King Fuchai of Wu, and Warring States silk, which have played a crucial role in the study of Chu culture.
Moreover, as the birthplace of Chu culture, Jingzhou's display of Chu culture is not limited to ruins. For instance, the Jingzhou Garden Expo Park, located east of Jinan City, is an important platform for inheriting Jingchu culture in another form. The Expo Park is divided into several areas, fully showcasing Chu music, Chu ci poetry, Chu script, Chu clothing, Chu agriculture, and more, presenting the essence of Chu culture to visitors from multiple levels and perspectives. In particular, the Chu Culture Museum, with its three exhibition halls—'Starting from Scratch,' 'Creating a Prosperous Era,' and 'Carrying Forward the Legacy'—comprehensively displays the magnificent 800-year history of Chu, highlighting Jingzhou's profound historical and cultural heritage.
It is worth mentioning that around the Spring Festival this year, the Jingzhou Garden Expo Park will collaborate with Xi'an's Tang Paradise to host a Spring Festival Lantern Show that integrates the distinctive cultures of both places. At that time, the dazzling lantern art and spectacular cultural performances will create a dreamlike world of light and shadow, adding unique charm to the ancient city of Jingzhou and offering visitors a more enjoyable experience and a festive Spring Festival atmosphere.
