Chunqiu Village Scenic Area

Chunqiu Village Scenic Area

Chunqiu Village Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site protected by Hubei Province.

The ruins of Chunqiu Village are located 13 kilometers north of Donggong Town, Nanzhang County, adjacent to Provincial Highway 250, with the fortress situated at an elevation of 270 meters. The terrain here is unique, blending mountain and water landscapes with broad vistas, possessing the strategic advantage of “one man guarding the pass can hold back ten thousand.” Legend has it that the State of Chu, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, rose to prominence in Nanzhang. The ancestors of Chu “settled in the Jing Mountains, pioneering with great hardship,” and built this fortress to defend against foreign invasions.

Chunqiu Village Ruins

Chunqiu Village Ruins

The name “Chunqiu Village” originates from the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Legend has it that Guan Yu, aspiring to save the world but unable to find a wise ruler, studied the historical text “Spring and Autumn Annals” in this village, hence the name. After the Oath of the Peach Garden, Guan Yu fought in Yuan’an and battled at Dangyang, recruiting Zhou Cang at Tuan Shan Temple in Donggong, Nanzhang, giving rise to a series of moving stories from the Three Kingdoms period.

Chunqiu Village Ruins

Chunqiu Village is laid out in a linear pattern from south to north, stretching 460 meters from north to south and varying between 8 to 50 meters in width from east to west. There are currently 158 existing stone houses. The origin of Nanzhang’s hilltop fortresses is said to be defensive structures built by the State of Chu to guard against enemies, but Chunqiu Village is even more legendary — during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Guan Yu studied the “Spring and Autumn Annals” here, and later generations built the “Chunqiu Tower” in his memory, from which the village gets its name. Research indicates that the construction of Nanzhang’s hilltop fortresses dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, related to peasant uprisings. Chunqiu Village is easy to defend but hard to attack, with water on its eastern, western, and northern sides, and a sheer cliff to the south — its perilous terrain is truly breathtaking.

The terrain of Chunqiu Village is unique, with a blend of mountain and water landscapes and broad vistas, possessing the strategic advantage of “one man guarding the pass can hold back ten thousand.” Legend has it that the State of Chu, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, rose to prominence in Nanzhang. The ancestors of Chu “settled in the Jing Mountains, pioneering with great hardship,” and built this fortress to defend against foreign invasions. The fortress is built along a north-south mountain ridge, surrounded by water on the east, west, and north sides, with a sheer cliff to the south, as if hewn by axe and chisel, inspiring awe.

This fortress boasts exceptionally beautiful scenery, characterized by four major features: grandeur, wonder, peril, and elegance. It stands abruptly on the western side of Lüping, surrounded by water on the east, north, and west. The western and northern faces are precipitous, while the southern side nearly touches Bijia Mountain, forming a unique cliff landscape. Here, “the river is like a green silk ribbon, the mountains like emerald hairpins,” with blue skies, white clouds, clear waters, and rugged cliffs. Watchtowers and ancient fortresses complement the scenery, creating a breathtaking view where cultural and natural landscapes blend seamlessly — a rare wonder of the world.

Its magnificence has been praised by experts as “surpassing the Tianjie of Mount Tai and the North Peak of Mount Hua,” making it the most beautiful ancient hilltop fortress in China and even the world. Chunqiu Village Scenic Area is a rare ancient hilltop fortress tourist destination in China and the world, and a shining jewel on the new Three Kingdoms tourism route.

Address: Lüping Village, Donggong Town, Nanzhang County, Xiangyang City

Type: Mountain Ancient Site

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 3–4 hours

Tel: 0710-5515672

Opening Hours: 8:30–17:30

Donggong Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Nanzhang County, it serves as the coal base of northwest Hubei and a key national timber logging town. Established as Donggong District in 1952, it was incorporated into Xiaoyan District in 1956, became Donggong Commune in 1975, and was officially established as a town in 1984. Located in the southern part of the county, it borders Jingmen City and Yichang City. Covering an area of 252 square kilometers with a population of 21,000, it is traversed by the Nanzhang–Yuan’an Highway. The Zhang River flows through the southwestern part of the town, while the Maoping River runs through its center, providing abundant water sources. It administers Wangjiapan, Shuanghe, Duxigou, Yangdian, YulinTai, Xigou, Weijiawan, Shangquanping, Dadao, Yejiaping, Guojiapeng, Dongyugou, … More details about Donggong Town++