(Chinese cultural sacred mountain—Eryou Mountain in Yuanling County, photo by Eryou Miao ethnic group)
Yuanling, located in the northwest of Hunan Province, the northern end of Huaihua City, contributes to the middle reaches of the Yuan River, with the Peach Blossom Source in the east, the Xue Feng Mountain in the south, Phoenix City in the west, and Zhangjiajie in the north. The total area is 5,852 square kilometers, and it is the largest county in Hunan Province with a total population of 670,000.
As the say goes, “Wisdom is born where two rivers intersect,” Yuanling, a thousand-year-old county where the rivers of Yuan and You meet, has produced a glorious history and culture, and it has traditionally been the political, economic and cultural center of the Great Western Hunan.
Yuanling is the resort of “stunning beauty” according to Shen Congwen (1902-1988), a prestigious Hunan writer, a blessed place according to Lin Zexu (1785-1850), statesman, thinker, and poet during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), and the birth place of Conscience Thought by Wang Yangming (1472-1529), famous thinker, writer, philosopher, and military strategist of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
It is known as the “Gateway to Western Hunan” and the “Fortress of Southwest China”.
Yuanling ranks first in western Hunan history and culture, with its thick ancient color and splendid cultural charm. The county was set up in central Qian County in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), and in the 5th year of Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220), Emperor Gaozu set up the county. Besides, it has been the administrative office of county, prefecture, road, government, district, and Western Hunan administrative office. It is the line of geographical, ethnic, cultural and political integration between Central Plains and areas of Southwest ethnic groups. Within the territory of Eryou Mountain lies the Longxing Lecture Temple of Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yaotou Ancient City site, Chenzhou case, Western Hunan Bandits Suppression Relics—four national protection units of the 47th site of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, 100 more other historical and cultural relics, 41 first-level cultural relics (set) of the national collection, “Chenzhou Nuo Opera”, “Yuanling Dragon Boat Race” has been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage.
Yuanling has a lush green atmosphere and a prolonged water charm, contributing to the first county with mountains and rivers in central and southern China. There are three national-level “green business cards”: Wuqiangxi National Wetland Park, Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve, and Yuanling National Forest Park. There are two major water systems, Yuanshui and Youshui, 911 streams converging into five ones and reaching the sea. The “Youshui Gallery” was selected as the “New Xiaoxiang Eight Scenic Spots”.
Yuanling is endowed with rich folklore and mysterious culture. It is the birthplace of the world’s witch and exorcism culture. Yuanling is formerly called “Chenzhou”, which has been a “mysterious kingdom” where dwell the ethnic groups of Miao and Tu, and “witch and exorcism culture” is prevalent since ancient times, as is accounted in Nine Songs written by Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.). As a manifestation of Nuo culture, the song reflects the rich cultural connotation, which is the “living fossil” of national culture. The “Three Wonders” of Chenzhou, such as Danxiang, Thrushcross Bird Festival, Flower Festival, folk songs, chants, etc., have turned Yuanling into the “eternal capital of fans” in the southwestern hinterland of China.
The continuously inherited red gene of Yuanling is from the main battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War in Western Hunan. Yuanling was a temporary provincial capital during the Anti-Japanese War, a place where the Red Second and Sixth Legions supported the intense battle of the Central Red Army’s Long March, and the headquarters of the 47th Army in Western Hunan to suppress bandits. Yuanling was a major county that supported the national “third line construction” from the 1960s to the 1980s. The people of the county made great contributions to supporting national construction, and it is a red hot land with a long revolutionary history and glorious tradition.
The folk customs of Yuanling are simple and the society is harmonious. Yuanling attaches great importance to strengthening the full cycle, comprehensive, and all-factor governance of “visiting sources, police sources, and prosecution sources”, and promoting closed-loop management of conflicts and risks. It explored the establishment of a working mechanism for the “Five Elders” personal mediation room, combined with the construction of a beautiful house, and established over 300 personal mediation rooms. The Party and government conduct is clean and upright, the social environment is harmonious and stable, and the reform and development of Yuanling is full of positive energy.
Yuanling is located at the center of the three major tourism sectors of “Daxiangxi”, “Huandongting”, and “Xuefeng Mountain”. Surrounded by world-class tourism resources, it is the first place to undertake tourism radiation. As the gateway for Huaihua City to undertake tourism in Zhangjiajie, Yuanling has privileged advantages. This year, by hosting the Huaihua Tourism Development Conference, we will increase cooperation with surrounding regions in tourism and achieve a win-win situation in tourism development.
Yuanling is a “key assistance county for rural revitalization work in Hunan Province”. In the process of poverty alleviation, it has successfully explored the model of rural tourism in Jiemuxi and the model of Chenlongguan tea tourism integration industry. This year, Yuanling hosts the Municipal Tourism Development Conference, which will accelerate the high-quality development of the county tourism industry, further explore new models of the tourism industry helping to consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and promote rural revitalization.
At present, Yuanling County has formed five national brand names: Wuqiangxi National Wetland Park, Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve, Yuanling National Forest Park, Woxi National Mining Park, and Mingzhong Village National Historical and Cultural Famous Village. Four national key cultural relics protection units have been identified. It has approved two national intangible cultural heritage protection projects, namely “Chenzhou Nuo Opera” and “Yuanling Traditional Dragon Boat Race”. Provincial-level business cards such as the Jiemuxi Ecological Tourism Demonstration Zone and the Wuxi Lake Scenic Area have been established. It has one tourist attraction of national 4A level and eight of 3A level.
(Longxing Lecture Temple, photo by Liu Ke)
(Chenlongguan Tea Tourism Industrial Park in Guanzhuang Town, Yuanling, photo by Peng Hongdan and Xiang Qi)
(Fengtan Hydropower Station in Mingxikou Town, Yuanling, photo by Huang Tingbo)
(Kuafu Mountain, Wuqiangxi Town, Yuanling, photo by Ou Xiang)
(A large-scale water light show on the Yuanling River, photo by Qu Yun)
(Translated by Tian Xia)