All Eyes Converge: This Free and Open Ancient City Has Become Guizhou's Latest 5A Scenic Area
Guizhou Province and Hunan Province are adjacent, and they share many similarities in terms of scenery. Hunan has a very famous ancient city called Phoenix Ancient City, while Guizhou also has one, although it is not as well-known as Phoenix Ancient City, but its scenery is also very good, and it was recently upgraded to a 5A-level tourist attraction. More importantly, this ancient city is free to enter, with no ticket fees.
This ancient city is called Zhenyuan Ancient City, located in the eastern part of Guizhou Province, adjacent to Xinhuang County in Hunan Province. When it comes to Zhenyuan’s history, many cities in China are pale in comparison. Zhenyuan was established in the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin (around 277 BC), and has a history of nearly 2300 years. Zhenyuan is now just a county-level city, but it served as the seat of the prefecture from the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty for 700 years. In 1956, when ( Autonomous Region) was established, Zhenyuan served as the seat of the prefecture, and it was relocated to Kaili two years later.
Zhenyuan Ancient City has a very peculiar terrain, with the Wuyang River flowing through the ancient city, dividing it into north and south. In the past, there were city walls on both sides, with the northern one being a prefectural city and the southern one being a county city. The Wuyang River in the ancient city presents an S-shaped appearance, which, when viewed from a distance, looks like the Tai Chi symbol. The two city walls were built in the Ming Dynasty and are still well-preserved with many city gates and city walls.
Zhenyuan was once a vital water and land transportation hub for goods traveling from the Central Plains to the Southwest. Many ancient residences and dwellings were left behind in the ancient city due to its prosperity. Now, there are over 50 ancient buildings and 33 ancient dwellings remaining in the ancient city, along with 12 ancient piers.
Due to its location in the mountains, the roads in the ancient city are not smooth, and the buildings are built on the mountainside, one on top of the other, which is very beautiful. Many ancient residences were left by merchants, and deep courtyards are scattered in the winding alleys. Twenty-plus ethnic groups live in harmony in Zhenyuan, where Central Plains culture, Jiangchu culture, and Ba culture have blended together.
Today, the Wuyang River, Zhenyuan’s mother river, is no longer used as a transportation route, and the ancient-style wooden boats on the surface are used for sightseeing cruises. Many hanging houses with a unique architectural style are preserved on both sides of the river.
Of course, to see the most beautiful side of Zhenyuan Ancient City, you must come at night. The Wuyang River at night will give you a completely different experience of Zhenyuan, with all the lights on the shore, making the ancient city look stunning. Every visitor to Zhenyuan is captivated by this night view.
If you want to visit the concentrated ancient sites of Zhenyuan, you cannot miss Qinglong Cave. Qinglong Cave is actually a mountain located next to the Wuyang River. There are five steps to a floor, and ten steps to a gallery. The ancient buildings are built on the mountain, and blend with the cliffs, ancient trees, vines, rocks, and caves, a truly ingenious work. Viewing Zhenyuan Ancient City from Qinglong Cave gives you a different perspective.
