Huangjiawan Scenic Area

Huangjiawan Scenic Area

Huangjiawan Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Xiangyang’s Huangjiawan Scenic Area is located in the western suburbs of Xiangyang City, covering an area of approximately 9.8 square kilometers. It is about 5 kilometers from both downtown Xiangyang and the ancient Longzhong Scenic Area, making it an important part of the Longzhong Scenic Zone.

The Huangjiawan area features a landscape where mountains and water complement each other, with layered forests, lush green grass, sparkling lakes, and picturesque scenery. It is said to be the hometown of Huang Chengyan, a renowned local scholar and father-in-law of Zhuge Liang, as well as the birthplace of Huang Yueying, Zhuge Liang’s talented wife and a celebrated woman of ancient China.

Statue of Huang Yueying

The entire scenic area is developed around the backdrop of the Three Kingdoms culture, with the love story between Zhuge Liang and Huang Yueying as its main theme, and the hermit culture of Huang Chengyan as a secondary thread. It is divided into five functional zones: the Comprehensive Service Area, A’Chou Cultural Square, Three Kingdoms Atmosphere Experience Zone, Riverside Resort Area, and Leisure Sports Area.

Huang Ancestral Hall

Attractions within the scenic area include: A’Chou Cultural Square, Three Star Temple, Matchmaker Temple, Tingtao Pavilion, Songhai Tower, Huang Ancestral Hall, Tianyuan Residence, Chengyan Academy, Hermit’s Thatched Cottage, Twenty-Four Filial Piety Relief Carvings, Happy Land, DIY BBQ, Grass Sledding, Zip Line, Boat Rides, CS Battle Games, ATVs, Archery Range, and more, ensuring visitors have a fun and enjoyable experience.

Huang Ancestral Hall

Statue of Huang Chengyan

On April 15, 2012, the Huangjiawan Peony Garden officially opened. The Huangjiawan Peony Festival “uses flowers as a medium to make friends, promote Xiangyang, and develop the economy,” aiming to enhance Xiangyang’s image, attract investment, boost urban development, stimulate the tourism industry, enrich cultural activities, benefit the public, and better showcase the over 2,800-year-old cultural heritage of ancient Xiangyang.

The Huangjiawan Scenic Area Peony Garden is a demonstration site of the Hubei Western Ecological and Cultural Tourism Circle. It features multiple peony-themed venues including the Peony Culture Museum, Bagua Peony Garden, Dragon-Phoenix Peony Garden, and Scholars’ Peony Garden. With over 10,000 peony plants in 130+ varieties across 5 color series, it is the largest peony base in Xiangyang. Locals can enjoy the blooming peonies right at their doorstep.

Tianyuan Residence

Tianyuan Residence

Tianyuan Residence

Bagua Formation

Chengyan Academy

Matchmaker Temple

Love Valley

Matchmaker Temple

CS Base

◆ Transportation Around the Scenic Area

Bus: Take the No. 801 Huangjiawan Tourist Special Line within the city. Route: Nanhu Square → Huangjiawan Scenic Area. Transfer to No. 801 from No. 512 or No. 6. Operating hours: 6:50 AM – 6:00 PM.

Self-driving: Enter via the intersection of Xianglong Road and Jiazhou Road in Xiangcheng District (near the Longzhong entrance of the Xiangyang–Jingzhou Expressway). There is an ecological parking lot at the scenic area entrance.

◆ Visiting Tips

(1) Pay attention to forest fire prevention. The mountains have ample oxygen and plenty of dry, dead leaves. Do not smoke in the scenic area or have picnics or bonfires outside designated areas to avoid causing wildfires.

(2) Protect the natural environment and do not damage scenic resources. Keep the area clean by not littering.

(3) The water in A’Chou Lake within the scenic area is deep. Swimming or playing in the lake is strictly prohibited.

◆ Ticket Prices and Opening Hours

Ticket price for this scenic area: 27 RMB per person. Group rate: 22 RMB per person.

Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Children under 1.2 meters are free; children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters: 15 RMB per person; primary, middle, and high school students nationwide with valid student ID: 15 RMB per person; seniors aged 65–69 with valid ID: 15 RMB per person; seniors over 70 with ID card, active-duty soldiers and officers with military ID, and journalists with press cards issued by the National Press and Publication Administration are admitted free of charge.

◆ Management Agencies and Inquiry/Complaint Hotlines

Xiangyang City Tourism Bureau. Phone: 3555282

Xiangcheng District Tourism Bureau. Phone: 3606733

Address: Jiazhou, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City (at the Longzhong entrance of the Xiang-Jing Expressway)

Type: Mountain & Lake

Rating: AAA

Recommended visiting time: 3–4 hours

Opening hours:

8:00 – 18:00.

Ticket information:

Children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) are admitted free; seniors aged 70 and above (inclusive) with valid ID are admitted free; students over 1.2 meters with valid student ID can purchase student tickets; seniors aged 60–69 with valid ID can purchase senior tickets.

Huang Yueying, from Bai Shui in Mian Nan, Jingzhou during the Three Kingdoms period (present-day Xiangyang, Hubei), was the daughter of the renowned scholar Huang Chengyan of Mianyang and the wife of Zhuge Liang, as well as the mother of Zhuge Zhan. Her real name is not recorded in history; “Yueying” is the name she is known by in folklore. Huang Chengyan, recognizing her talent, recommended her to Zhuge Liang for marriage, and after Zhuge Liang agreed, they were wed. Legend says Huang Yueying had yellow hair and dark skin but was highly knowledgeable. However, there is also a version that claims she was extremely beautiful, which led to jealousy and slander about her appearance from other young women in the village. It is said that Zhuge Liang’s inventions, such as the wooden ox and flowing horse, were inspired by Huang Yueying’s... More details about Huang Yueying++

Huang Chengyan, a renowned scholar of Xiangyang during the late Han and Three Kingdoms period, was the father-in-law of Zhuge Liang and the father of Huang Yueying. He was the son-in-law of Cai Fu, a prominent gentry figure of Nan Commandery, and was part of the elite social circle of Xiangyang scholars, including Pang Tong (Fengchu), Pang Degong, Sima Hui, and Xu Shu. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms: “Huang Chengyan was an open-minded and noble scholar from Miannan. He said to Zhuge Kongming: ‘I hear you are choosing a wife. I have an ugly daughter with yellow hair and dark skin, but her talent is worthy of you.’ Kongming agreed, and she was promptly brought to him. People at the time laughed about it, and a local saying arose: ‘Don’t be like Kongming choosing a wife, ending up with Cheng’s ugly daughter.’”

Biography

Records of the Three Kingdoms... More details about Huang Chengyan++

Huangjiawan Community: Huangjiawan Community... More details about Huangjiawan Community++