Bawang Valley Scenic Area

Bawang Valley Scenic Area

Bawang Valley Scenic Area is located on the west bank of the Wu River, adjacent to the Lizhi Gorge of the Wu River. It can be reached by traveling 2 kilometers west from the “H Human-shaped Waterfall.”

The mountain formations in Bawang Valley are extremely peculiar, closely resembling historical figures from the Chu-Han Contention period. The scenic layout encompasses nearly all the major events of the Chu-Han struggle, an amazing coincidence. Vivid representations of figures such as the Overlord of Western Chu, Yu Ji, Fan Zeng, Yu Ziqi, Huan Chu, the Eight Thousand Youths, Liu Bang, Zhang Liang, Han Xin, Xiao He, Zhou Bo, and Fan Kuai bring to life dramatic historical scenes from the period — including the pursuit of Han Xin, Liu Bang’s appointment as general, the feigned repair of the plank road while secretly crossing Chen Cang, the Chu-Han border confrontation, the siege of Xiang Yu by songs from all sides, the farewell of the Overlord to Yu Ji, and his suicide at the Wu River. Bawang Valley is also an ideal site for scientific study of karst landforms.

In the 37th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign (210 BC), the First Emperor of Qin died during his final eastern tour to the southeast. His youngest son, Hu Hai, usurped the throne and declared himself the Second Emperor. The Second Emperor of Qin implemented harsh policies, which the people could no longer endure. In July of 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose in rebellion, and various forces responded, rising up against Qin. Among them, the forces led by Xiang Yu and Liu Bang under the nominal rule of King Huai of Chu were the most powerful.

Xiang Yu (232–202 BC), whose given name was Ji, was a native of Xiaxiang (present-day southern Suqian, Jiangsu). He was the grandson of Xiang Yan, a great general of the Chu Kingdom, and came from a lineage of Chu generals. Following his uncle Xiang Liang, he rose in revolt. Xiang Liang ordered Xiang Yu to summon eight thousand youths from Wu region to cross the river and campaign northward in support of Chen Sheng. After Chen Sheng’s death, Xiang Liang enthroned Xiong Xin, the grandson of King Huai of Chu, as the new King Huai of Chu, using him as a unifying figurehead. Later, Xiang Liang was killed by the Qin general Zhang Han, and Xiang Yu then defeated Zhang Han at Julu, annihilating the main Qin forces. The various rebel forces subsequently acclaimed Xiang Yu as the “Supreme General of the Feudal Lords.”

In 208 BC, King Huai dispatched Xiang Yu and Liu Bang to attack Qin through separate routes, agreeing that “whoever first enters and pacifies Guanzhong shall be made its king.” As a result, Xiang Yu annihilated two hundred thousand Qin troops at the Battle of Julu, while Liu Bang entered Qin territory via Wuguan. Using strategies advised by Zhang Liang, Liu Bang adopted policies that aligned with public sentiment, winning over surrendered Qin officials, advancing indirectly, and avoiding direct assaults on fortified positions. In the end, he was the first to successfully enter Guanzhong. Under pressure, Ziying killed Zhao Gao and surrendered to Liu Bang, leading to the fall of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC. After entering Xianyang, Liu Bang enforced military discipline, abolished the harsh laws and severe punishments of Qin, and proclaimed, “Let us establish three simple laws with the elders: those who kill shall die, those who injure others or steal shall be punished. All other Qin laws are abolished,” which led to the reaction: “The people of Qin were overjoyed and vied to offer cattle, sheep, wine, and food to the soldiers” (Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Emperor Gaozu).

After defeating the main Qin forces, Xiang Yu heard that Liu Bang had captured Xianyang and promptly led his troops through the Hangu Pass to confront Liu’s army. “At that time, Xiang Yu had four hundred thousand troops stationed at Xin Feng Yuanmen (present-day northeast of Lintong, Shaanxi), while the forces of the Marquis of Pei (Liu Bang) numbered one hundred thousand at Bashang” (Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Xiang Yu). At the Feast at Hongmen, Xiang Yu attempted but failed to assassinate Liu Bang. Later, he “led his troops westward, massacring the people of Xianyang, killing the surrendered Qin prince Ziying, and burning the Qin palaces, the fires of which raged for three months without ceasing” (Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Xiang Yu). Amid the then fragmented power structure among warlords, Xiang Yu believed he had secured the empire. Thus, in April of 206 BC, he divided the land and enfeoffed various lords, honoring King Huai of Chu as the Righteous Emperor (though later sending men to assassinate him) and proclaiming himself the Overlord of Western Chu, establishing his capital at Pengcheng. He also appointed eighteen other kings. Liu Bang was made the King of Han, while Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi — three surrendered Qin generals — were enfeoffed in Guanzhong to block Liu Bang’s eastward advance. Xiang Yu took the looted treasures and beauties back to Pengcheng and ordered the feudal lords to disband their armies and return to their respective fiefs. However, his enfeoffment did not satisfy the people, nor even those who received titles. Liu Bang was extremely dissatisfied that Guanzhong was given to the three surrendered Qin generals while he himself was demoted to the remote region of Hanzhong. Tian Rong of Qi, Chen Yu of Zhao, and the rebel general Peng Yue, among others, were furious for not being granted titles. As soon as the enfeoffment process concluded, Tian Rong rebelled in Qi in May of 206 BC, drove out Tian Du, killed Tian Shi, and proclaimed himself King of Qi. Soon after, Peng Yue, Chen Yu, and others also rose up against Xiang Yu. A period of chaotic warfare among the feudal lords thus ensued.