Yuanjiang-Taohuajiang Scenic Area

　　       Yiyang City is situated on the shores of Dongting Lake in the northeastern part of Hunan Province, where the Zi River flows vigorously into the lake. The city was established as a county during the Qin Dynasty. Its name comes from its location north of the Yi River (an ancient name for the Zi River)—the Chinese character “阳” (yáng) traditionally refers to the south side of a mountain or the north side of a river, hence the name Yiyang.     Yiyang boasts abundant cultural and historical tourism resources. There are 42 provincial- and county-level cultural heritage sites within the city. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, 23 cultural sites and over 500 ancient tombs have been excavated here, yielding more than 3,000 relics including pottery, jade artifacts, woodenware, ironware, bronze swords, silk paintings, lacquerware, and glassware from various dynasties. There are also many historical sites from the Three Kingdoms period in Yiyang, such as the famous “Grinding Sword Pavilion” of Guan Yu and the “Lu Su Dyke” of Lu Su.     The Yuan River is a well-known river that runs through the Yiyang region. It has been famous since ancient times, earning its name meaning “the river where flowing waters come to rest.” Major cultural and scenic spots in downtown Yuanjiang include the Kuixing Tower, Lingyun Pagoda, Zhenjiang Pagoda, and the Dongting Lake Museum. The north bank of the Yuan River is a vast alluvial plain of Dongting Lake, crisscrossed with rivers and canals, and dotted with a grid-like pattern of farmland and woods—quite a spectacular sight. The area also features a 350,000-mu reed plantation, where endless stretches of reed marshes bring a sense of peace and wonder.     About 28 kilometers west of Yiyang City lies Taojiang County, home to the 58-kilometer-long Taohuajiang (Peach Blossom River). In the early days of modern Chinese music, the musician Li Jinhui composed a song titled “Taohuajiang Is the Valley of Beauties,” which won the hearts of overseas Chinese during its 1928 tour in Nanyang. The Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company later used the song title as a brand name, producing special “Taohuajiang” cigarettes, which helped spread the fame of the river across China and Southeast Asia. Beside the Taohuajiang River lies Xiu’nü Mountain (Blushing Maiden Mountain), where azaleas bloom brilliantly every spring.     Thirty-five kilometers south of Taojiang County sits the Taohuahu Lake, covering over 10,000 mu, where peach blossoms line the shores in spring, their reflections tinting the water and dyeing half the sky pink. Taojiang is also famous in Hunan as the “Land of Nan Bamboo.” Five kilometers from the county seat, Hongshan Mountain boasts 50,000 mu of bamboo forests. When the wind blows through, the rustling bamboo creates a majestic sea of green.     The best time to visit the Yiyang–Yuanjiang–Taohuajiang tourism area is from March to September each year. The region enjoys well-developed land and water transportation, making travel convenient.     Appendix: The Ten Scenic Spots of Yiyang     Guanlai Surging Rapids, Zhixi Sails Descending, Huilong Sunset Glow, Peiting Cloudy Trees, Bailu Evening Bell     Qingshou Evening Song, Xiwang Spring View, Bijin Morning Ferry, Ganlei Moonlit Night, Shizhou Rising Waters