Ancient Town of Zhaohua

　　   Zhaohua, anciently known as Jiameng, is an ancient town on the Shu Road with a long history. As early as over two thousand years ago, it was the capital of the State of Ju. Since the Qin Dynasty established commanderies and counties, it has consistently served as the seat of local governance. It was renamed Zhaohua during the Song Dynasty. Today, it is Zhaohua Town in Guangyuan City, located at the confluence of the Jialing River and the Bailong River, 30 kilometers southwest of Guangyuan City. The stories described in Romance of the Three Kingdoms—such as Zhang Fei fighting Ma Chao through the night with lanterns lit, the veteran generals Huang Zhong and Yan Yan bravely repelling Cao Cao’s forces, and Jiang Wei suffering defeat at Niutou Mountain—all took place here.

　　   The Ancient Town of Zhaohua is bordered by the river on one side and surrounded by mountains on three sides. The Jialing River meets the Bailong River to the east of the town and flows straight to the ancient Yuzhou (today’s Chongqing). The Jinniu Path runs through the town, and it has long been known as both a water and land transportation hub. The mighty Jianmen Pass stands to the northwest of the town, while the Juba Ancient Ferry guards the southeast. In the past, boats and carts came and went ceaselessly in Zhaohua. It was not only a strategic transportation point but also a key military stronghold. During the Three Kingdoms period, after Liu Bei occupied Jiameng, he recognized its crucial strategic importance. The town lies where two rivers converge and flow eastward around it, with the ancient Jinniu Path running through it, the towering Jianmen Pass standing nearby, and the Juba Ancient Ferry controlling the river. To the north it leans against the Qinling Mountains, to the west it relies on Jianmen, to the south it connects to Langzhong and Ba, making it truly the throat of all Shu. Though small in size, it was as solid as a golden fortress. He used it as a base to launch attacks westward against Liu Zhang, capturing Yizhou, then defeating Zhang Lu to the east and taking Hanzhong, thereby establishing the Shu Kingdom. Ma Chao, the Left General of Shu Han, surrendered to Liu Bei here, and Grand General Jiang Wan once commanded troops from this location. When the Wei generals Zhong Hui and Deng Ai attacked Shu, they were held back east of the Jialing River for a long time by Shu generals such as Zhang Yi and Guan Suo. Multiple battles were fought here, and Guan Suo’s wife, Bao San’niang, died in battle near Tujiba in the vicinity of Zhaohua.

　　   The ancient town of Zhaohua boasts numerous cultural relics and historic sites, especially those related to the Three Kingdoms, with the greatest concentration. Outside the western gate lies the tomb of Fei Yi, a great general of Shu Han; to the north of the town is the tomb of Bao San’niang, wife of the Shu general Guan Suo; five kilometers west of the town on Niutou Mountain stands the “Tianxiong Pass,” described as “embracing Jianmen and bordering Jiameng, sitting above the Jialing and leaning on the Qingshui, truly a naturally formed stronghold.” The pass gate still remains today, retaining its majestic presence from the past, and the “Jiang Wei Water-Praying Well” on the mountaintop is also still preserved. On the right side of the mountain, there is also a collection of Qing Dynasty steles. Despite years of weathering, the stone tablets still stand proudly atop the mountain. These relics attract countless archaeologists, scholars from the “Three Kingdoms Research Association,” and tourists.

　　   Outside the eastern gate of the ancient town of Zhaohua, at the confluence of the Jialing River and the Bailong River, lies the “Juba Ancient Ferry,” a place celebrated by poets throughout history. In ancient times, it was described as “ten thousand people lifting their hands by day, and a thousand lanterns shining by night.” The story recorded in both the Old and New Books of Tang about Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fleeing to Shu and witnessing “two fish carrying his boat across the ford, which some interpreted as a dragon” took place here. Here, the waters of the Bailong River are white, while those of the Jialing River are red. When they first meet, they each retain their own colors, clearly distinct like two dragons intertwining, forming a spectacular sight. Poets throughout the ages, including Du Fu, Yang Shen, and Zhang Wentao, have written poems about this scene. Even today, this wonder remains as vivid as in the past and can be clearly observed.

　　　   Historically, the rise and fall of the Shu Han of the Three Kingdoms has been summarized as “rising in Jiameng, perishing at Jianmen.” The Ancient Town of Zhaohua is regarded as its birthplace, thus drawing the admiration of many.