Stepping into Jingping Ancient Village, visitors are embraced by the whispers of history: meandering Bagua-aligned alleys, ancient trees arranged in the Big Dipper formation, a Tang Dynasty well etched with time, and TaiChi stone fish symbols blessing peace. Every footfall here resonates with the village’s serene legacy. Now, on this land steeped in antiquity, a cultural revitalization project is nearing completion, poised to reawaken long-slumbering memories.
Deep within the village, Pan Shiquan’s former residence stand silent. This Qing Dynasty musical theorist spent three decades here compiling Dayue Yuanyin (The Prime Sounds of Great Music), a work later included in the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), becoming Jingping’s most famous cultural imprint.
On the morning of August 12, at the construction site of the National Music Culture Experience Hall, workers were putting final touches on the exhibition spaces. Yu Jingmin, chief curator of the village’s cultural galleries, gazed at the nearing-completion hall with anticipation: “We will not let these stories remain confined to crumbling walls.” The upgrade, he explained, delves into two core cultural strands: the imperial court music tradition Pan Shiquan championed, and the village’s history as a relay post. “These are Jingping’s soul—we hope visitors to touch and feel them.”
To bring culture to life, the project integrates “culture + tech” innovations. “Visitors will discuss with an AI avatar of Pan Shiquan on Dayue Yuanyin, or play a ‘800-Mile Emergency’ courier game at the relay post exhibit, sensing the urgency of ancient messengers,” Yu added. With 75% of work completed, the two core halls are finalizing details and will open on August 15.
On Dayue Yuanyin’s significance, Yu Qi, director of the Zhongfang County Culture and Tourism Bureau, elaborated: “Pan solved a millennia-old problem of musical precision with ‘Pipe Sound Theory,’ and expanded the pentatonic scale to seven notes—a century ahead of similar Western theories.” The book, she noted, merges music with cosmology and ethics: “The ‘twelve tones’ correspond to solar terms; ‘gong-shang-jue-zhi-yu (do-re-mi-sol-la)’ embody ‘benevolence-righteousness-ritual-wisdom-trust.’” Its ancient Guqin techniques and Book of Songs scores offer a chance to hear millennia-old melodies.
Soon, these cultural codes will become tangible. During The 5th Hunan Tourism Development Conference, the Zhongfang Jingping Ancient Village Concert and immersive performances will fuse ritual music with historical relay post scenes. “Five-Tone Theaters” across the village will host theme-specific music and cultural experiences, while daily interactive programs like “Music Along the Post Road” will continue, supplemented by cultural products like “Five-Tone Keepsake” gift boxes and digital albums.
Visitors could collect stamps on their “Five-Tone Passports” at venues, touch instruments recreated from ancient scores, and witness “Drumbeat for Departure” sound-and-light rituals reenacting ancient caravan send-offs. Completed passports could exchange gifts imprinted with historical notation—taking Jingping’s melodies home.
As sunset gilds the ruins of Pan’s home, this upgrade transcends physical renewal—it’s a resurrection of cultural DNA. When visitors tread the Bagua alleys and melodies from Dayue Yuanyin drift from the hall into the moonlit pond, Jingping will finally harmonize with its ritual music heritage, letting every traveler hear echoes from the ancient time.
(Translated by Qu Qiongxue)