2011-12-26 11:01:10

(National 3A-class)
Walking west along the Xiangxi River, we will reach an ancient Han cultural tour site, the Zhaojun Village.
It’s a national 3A class one, as well as key provincial historical and cultural site, located in the Xiang River side covering about 2.7 km2. This tour site mainly shows the village relics, the well reserved natural sights of the ancient Han Dynasty, the unique local folk customs and the imperial noble beauties’ culture of the Han Dynasty.
The Zhaojun Village is rich in historical and cultural connotations. In the Zhaojun Memorial, the cultural relics collected and exhibited all were unearthed in this village. These relics were made during the Han and Tang Dynasties, and have precious historical and cultural values. The Zhaojun Books Hall reserves different versions of ancient books, recording comments and compliments on Wang Zhaojun from famous literati and celebrities of the past years. These valuable historic and cultural relics make the Memorial as the research center of Wang Zhaojun. No matter in quantities or in qualities, the Memorial’s calligraphy and painting collections are keeping ahead of the same kinds of China. Especially, both the names of village and memorial were written by Guo Moruo, which make this tour site more attractive. Although Wang Zhaojun has been away from this village thousands of years, the folk life custom and working style are still reserved the same as before.
The whole tour site is surrounded by green bamboos and beautiful mountains. It backs on the Shamao Mountain and faces the Xiangxi River. Here, the Wanzi Cliff is surrounded by clouds; the Xiangxi River flows turn after turn; the Empress’ Spring runs smoothly; the place where Zhaojun used to dress is covered by flowers; the statue of Zhaojun stands slimly and gracefully. And another over 20 interesting places such as the Fengdai Lin (lady’s woods), the Jiali (beauty) Island, the Huansha(wash clothing) Place, and Caishi(color stones) beach etc are also beautiful and fantastic. And its mystery, that many beauties came out form this village in the past thousands of years, is attracting humanists and geologist as well as tourists to come in a continuous stream.
The Xiangxi River (The Fragrant River)
The Xiangxi River, originated from Shennong Jia, is the main stream in Xingshang County, the hometown of Wang Zhaojun. Also, it is the mother river of Wang Zhaojun and Quyuan. It’ said that, Wang Zhaojun always washed clothing in this river, making the river fragrant. Through the past years, this river has been full of poem, paintings, legends and stories in every body’s lips. The fist Cha Jing (Classic of Tea) listed top 24 famous tea water of China. And the water of Xiangxi is the 14th. And now, the water reserved by Three Gorges Project has broadened the river course, making the Xiangxi River as a shortcut from Three Gorges to Shennong Jia.
The Zhaojun Dock
This dock was called Taohua(peach blossom) Dock before. It’s said that, here occurred peach blossom fish every year in Spring rainy season. As these fish looked like peach blossom, even the fisherman couldn’t identify clearly. And this fish was only living in Xiangxi River. So people named this dock as “Taohua Dock”. Later, after Wang Zhaojun took boat to the Palace at this dock, for memory, people renamed it as “Zhaojun Dock”. In February of 1986, the TV play series “Wang Zhaojun” was shot here. Only the scene for Zhaojun to leave this dock spent near 300 figurants.
Zhaojun Memorial
The Statue of Wang Zhaojun
Entering the Zhaojun Village, we will see a 2.8m high white marble statue. This is the statue of Wang Zhaojun, carved by Zhang Heng, a famous artificer of Inner Mongolia. And it is brought from Inner Mongolia in November of 1986.
The Platform for Playing Zither
Wang Zhaojun used to play zither in this platform, which was rebuilt in 1992 based on historic site. According to relevant records, Wang Zhaojun had been excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since 12 years old.
The Historical Materials Exhibition Hall
Passing by the Statue of Wang Zhaojun, we will reach the historical materials exhibition hall. First, we will see 4 characters ”Qian Qiu Chui Ze” at top of the door, which mean “good reputation through thousands of years”. The exhibition is divided into 5 sections: “Born beside Xiangxi River”, “Leave hometown to the Palace”, “Life in Palace”, “Prepare marriage to Inner Mongolia”, and “Life in Inner Mongolia”. These real historical materials are showing the whole life of Wang Zhaojun.
Zizhu Yuan (the Black bamboo Garden)
This garden was rebuilt in 1992, and the name “Zizhu Yuan” was written by Guo Moruo. The name came from relevant historic records saying “the black bamboo was only lived in this garden”. This winding path will lead you to the secluded garden. And there are mural painting and tablet inscription here, which all are praising the reputation of Wang Zhaojun.
Zhaojun Zhai (the House of Wang Zhaojun)
According to historic records, the house of Wang Zhaojun was first built in the West Han Dynasty. Later it was ruined and rebuilt for several times during the past thousands of years. And now, this house was rebuilt at the former location in 1994.
This house consists of main hall and two courtyards. The front courtyard is living quarter, such as kitchen, wine workshop, granary, weaving workshop and tea workshop etc, where will show you the tools for production and living. And the back courtyard is sitting and resting quarters, such as bedroom for whole family, dining hall, receiving hall, hook hall etc.
The whole house is of ancient Han-dynasty style, arranged by family relationship in a complicated way. Walking in this building, you are setting yourselves in a complex place of safety, sure, harmony and steady.  It faces to south, baking on the north, which both stands the householder of central importance and meets the relevant Feng Shui requirements.
The Book Hall
Wang Rang, Zhaojun’s father, deposited his all books here. He not only treated books as treasure, but also had good faith in the moral integrity of Confucius and the loyalty of Quyuan. After dinner, he always came here to read books, and sometimes, he might invite teacher from near private school to discuss poem and odes. Under such circumstance, Wang Zhaojun had been polished sine her born.
One day, Zhaojun was painting upstairs, when she heart the teacher reciting poem in the courtyard. However, the teacher forgot the following sentences. So she reminded him by her own sentences, which were welcome by the teacher and followers as a new style poem.
Sanshu Di (three harvests in this land)
It’s said that, Wang Zhaojun asked her fellows to take millet seed to her hometown. And the villagers planted them, and got plenteous harvest only in 3 months; for its short mature period, the villagers continued to plant them again, and got plenteous again. Since then, the villagers would gain two harvests of millet and a harvest of wheat the same year.
This fertile land is either away from flood in summer or frost or snow in winter. So there are different orange fruits on trees at all seasons. In addition, here produces the carmine shaddock with tender meat. It’s said that the carmine color was from the Wang Zhaojun’ lipstick when she was enjoying the common shaddock.
The Dressing Platform
This platform was rebuilt in 1979. It’s said that Wang Zhaojun used to dress and play zither here, while flying birds were attracted to accompany her. There are some stone tables and seats distributed in cypress woods. So it’s a favorable place for a break here.
The Long Corridor
This long corridor is about 310 m in total with style of the Han Dynasty. It was built in 1991. And all balustrades, pillars and beams were decorated by Han Dynasty pictures. And in the middle, there caved “Image Record of Zhaojun to Inner Mongolia”. The lifelike characters are vividly telling us the story of Wang Zhaojun, and hope of peach between Inner Mongolia and China.
Xiuxie Cave (the Embroidered-shoe Cave)
It’s said that, when Zhaojun was going downstream along the Xiangxi River to the Palace, she met large storm in Heilong Pond, where her embroidered shoes were wet by spindrift. Then she left these shoes to her family. And later, those shoes were sent to this cave for memory. Since a couple of forties without child happened to have child after they paid respects to the shoes here. There were lots of people with wishes come here in a continuous stream, hoping wishes come true.
The Carp Stranded Shoal and the Net Casted by Immortal
Once there was no carp living in Xiangxi River. When Wang Zhaojun returned hometown with Emperor full of presents, among which there was a big carp. For kindness, Zhaojun freed that big carp in a pond. And later, the carp grown rapidly and even couldn’t make a return in the pond later. So Zhaojun asked villager to free this carp into Xiangxi River. Strangely, the carp grown much faster, then it was always stranded. One night, several outlanders attempted to catch this large carp at a shoal. But when they were casting net, there occurred thunderstorm and strong wind. In the next morning, people found that, the whole shoal had become the shape of large carp, and the net had become a hummock. Just as what you are viewing. So later, people call this shoal as carp stranded shoal, and that hummock as the net casted by immortal. Why by immortal? It meant even the immortal was not able to catch that large carp.
The Lixiang Tan (the leaving shoal)
The shoal, at the joint of Baisha River and Chengtu River, was called “Xiang Tan” (the thinking shoal”. It’s said that, when Wang Zhaojun received the message that she had been chosen by the Emperor, she came to this shoal every day, thinking whether she could return in future. So people called this shoal as “the thinking shoal”.
There was a folk custom: when young girls would get married, they had to embroider brocade half year before the marriage.  So Wang Zhaojun embroidered the mountains, rivers and homesick in her brocade. Once she missed the hometown, she could watch this brocade.
After picked up Wang Zhaojun at this shoal, the special ship planned to set sail. When there occurred strong wind, blowing peach blossom to surround the ship, which made it hardly move. Wang Zhaojun was deeply moved, and couldn’t help crying. And her tears following into the river magically became the well-know peach-blossom fish. And these fishes were escorting her till the Yangtze River. Zhaojun had been away, but these peach-blossom fish were still in the Xiangxi River. Since then, people called this shoal as “Leaving shoal” (Lixiang Tan).
People often came to this shoal for memory. At the same time, there occurred some wave in the river, just like the river was moved by this memory. The wave was sounding day and night, so people also called this shoal as “the sounding shoal” (Xiang Tan).
Place for Washing Clothing
The Xingshan is well known by the Xiangxi River, while the Xiangxi River is well known by Wan Zhaojun. It’s said that, when she was young, she often came this place with other young girls to wash clothing. So, a poem came out, “Zhaojun used to dress beside the mountain and wash at the river; Zhaojun had been way, leaving a fragrant river”.
The Empress’ Spring
It’s said that, Wang Zhaojun used to get water from this spring. The water comes from rocks, cool and clean. So, people once recorded that, if a young girl drunk this water, she would be a beauty in future.
Wangzi Cliff (Cliff Carved the Word “King”)
Look that Chinese character on the steep cliff. It was craved by nature, meaning the “King”. So people called here the “Wangzi Cliff”.
In the folk legend, the Shaomao Mountain was plain before, and a giant boa lived in the opposite mountain. Because the plain was full of sunshine, so the boa wanted to conquer the plain. But it must first pass the Xiangxi River, if did, it would cause flood disaster. So people turned to the village god for help. The village god turned the plain into a great mountain (the Shaomao Mountain), but it did work. At the critical moment, four thunders hit the Shaomao Mountain, and worked out the character “King” in then steep cliff, which successfully blocked that giant boa. Villagers considered it the help from Wang Zhaojun because of their same dreams. In their dreams, Wang Zhaojun came with a magic tiger and defeated the giant boa. As we know, tiger is the king of animals. So, that is the origin of the name “Wangzi Cliff”.
Nanmu Well
It’s said that this well was excavated by Wang Zhaojun and villagers. There is a Nanmu block under the water, so the well is called Nanmu well. The water is clean and delicious, cool in summer and warm in winter. In hot summer, the cool water will cool your whole body; and in iced winter, you can enjoy the hot water from this reeky well. In 1992, this well was defined as key Provincial Protected Historical and Cultural Site.
With this water, you can cook more delicious rice, soup, tea, and good wine. Through the past years, people believed that this water would either beautify lady or strengthen men. So, young tourists coming here will always have a drink. Much to the entertainment, even in flood season, the well water would be still clean; and the Nanmu block can be neither burnt on nor cut off. In the first month of autumn, there often form a rainbow in this well after rain.
Stone Arhat
Here, at the west wing of Zizhu Yuan (the black bamboo garden), there are 17 stone arhat. If you know about a little Buddhism, you may feel strange. It ought to be 18 arhat, but why 17 here?  In fact, there used to be 18 arhat, which all were settled in Zhaojun Temple. About in the Ming Dynasty, the Zhaojun Temple attracted a daily increasing following, which was hated by a Xiang Family lived in the opposite mountain. In a year of famine, the Xiang people slipped into the Zhaojun Temple, and applied food to the arhat mouth at night; then in the next morning, they puffed that all food was stolen by the 18 arhat. The villager took it as true, and attempted to break all arhat. Although persuaded by the elders, the village broke an arhat completely. And that is the reason for 17 arhats.
Zhaojun Bridge
The bridge at the front of the memorial archway is called Zhaojun Bridge. This highway bridge spans over the Xiangxi River and the Gufu River, connecting three villages named separately Zhaojun Village, Xiangtan Village and Chengjia Wan, joining the national highway, the provincial highway and tour special way. It’s 981.13 m in total length, 12m in width, and 30m in height. And the traffic lane is 9m in width. At each end, there stand twin white marble drums; while along the railing, there distribute 645 white marble blocks. And the balustrades are carved the story of Wang Zhaojun before she went the Palace. With total investment of RMB 15.8 million Yuan, the construction started in May, 1999, and completed in October, 2002.