Ancient Nankang City

Ancient Nankang City

Situated on the western shore of Poyang Lake and at the southern foot of Mount Lu. To the east, it faces Duchang County across the lake; to the south lies Yongxiu County; to the west it connects with Jiujiang and Dean Counties; and to the north it borders Mount Lu. During the Chunyou era (1241–1252) of the Southern Song Dynasty, the earthen city was first built, with two gates on the east — Cangbu and Huize; three on the south — Linjin, Pengli, and Fuxing; one on the west — Jianchang; and one on the north — Wulao; there was also Xunyang Gate in the southeast and Shuimen Gate in the southwest. By the sixth year of the Zhengde reign (1511) during the Ming Dynasty, the walls were rebuilt with stone. In the third year of the Kangxi reign (1664) during the Qing Dynasty, the city was reconstructed. For 150 years until the Tongzhi era, no major repairs were made, and afterward, the city gradually fell into disrepair. A five-character regulated poem titled “Nankang City” vividly depicts the natural scenery and local customs of Xingzi County: “A city nestles by Five Elders’ peaks, / Whose hazy heights exhale a cold so bleak; / The ancient town is now a prefectural seat, / Where mountain folk sell orchids, meagre yet sweet. / Guests come for fiery wine, they buy, / While people dine on simple fare. / The pagoda’s shadow fades in sunset light, / The lake wide, the grass in broad daylight.” It truly stirs nostalgic sentiments.

The county-town scenic area consists of attractions such as the Bell Tower, the Lotus-Loving Pond, the Ziyang Dyke, the Xining Old Street, and Yujing Mountain. Its transportation network comprises both road and waterway routes. There are two main roads: one starts from Nanchang, travels via the Changjiu Expressway, passes through Dean County and the mountain pass, and reaches Xingzi County Town — known as the “West Route”; the other begins in Jiujiang, goes through Weijia, Gaolong, and Haihui, crosses Wulipai, and arrives at the county town — referred to as the “North Route.” The West and North Routes are like a pair of outstretched wings, forming the main ring road artery of Xingzi County. As for the waterway, centered around Poyang Lake and Xingzi County, it runs north-south. One route takes boats from Nanchang, traveling northward along the water, passing through Wucheng in Yongxiu County to reach the county town; another departs from Jiujiang or Hukou and goes southward against the current. The advantage is that travelers can enjoy the picturesque landscapes of Poyang Lake along the way, earning it the nickname “Golden Waterway.”