Chongqing Huanghua City Ruins

　　Huanghua City is situated in Huanghua Village, about 4 kilometers east of the county seat of Zhongxian County, Chongqing. In the vast Yangtze River, there rises an isolated island spanning 1.4 square kilometers with an elevation of 272 meters. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the flat island features crisscrossing fields, springs, forests, villages, birdsong, floral scents, remnants of ancient city walls, and stone horses seemingly in motion — this is the picturesque Huanghua City.

　　Not only is the island naturally beautiful with clear waters, but it also possesses a profound historical and cultural essence that lends it a deep and mysterious character.

　　Long, long ago, people called Huanghua City the “Island of Immortals.” If you look at the island from atop Fangdou Mountain in the distance, it resembles a complete Taiji (yin-yang) diagram, with the island appearing as the white dot within the curved black-and-white ring of the Taiji — where white symbolizes yang and black represents yin. Legend has it that in ancient times, when immortals descended to Earth and traveled far and wide, they found that only this island, purified over centuries by the surging river, had become the cleanest Taiji site in the mortal realm. The immortals then descended to bless the island, transforming it into a poetic paradise akin to a celestial realm, and used it as their earthly residence. Hence, people began calling it the Island of Immortals. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Li Daoyuan wrote in his Commentary on the Water Classic: “The Yangtze River flows east and reaches the Huanghua estuary, passing to the left of Shicheng (4 kilometers east of Zhongzhou City).” As a result, people referred to it as “Huanghua Water” or “Huanghua Zhou.”

　　The origin of the name “Huanghua City” dates back to the first year of the Baoyou era (1253 AD) during the Southern Song Dynasty, when Emperor Lizong enfeoffed his son Zhao Shi as the Prince of Zhong in Zhongzhou. Upon hearing that Zhongxian County had a fairy island inhabited by immortals, Zhao Shi personally visited the island. He found it truly resembled a celestial dwelling, with its shape resembling the head and tail of a dragon — vivid and lifelike. Convinced it would bring him good fortune, he began constructing city walls and palaces on the island and took up long-term residence. Sure enough, in the first year of the Jingding era (1260 AD), Prince Zhao Shi of Zhong was enthroned as the crown prince. In the fifth year of Jingding (1264 AD), Emperor Lizong passed away, and Crown Prince Zhao Shi ascended the throne as Emperor Duzong, changing the reign title to Xianchun. In the first year of Xianchun (1265 AD), Emperor Duzong upgraded Zhongzhou to a prefecture, naming it Xianchun Prefecture, which governed five counties: Linjiang, Dianjiang, Nanbin, Longqu, and Fengdu. At the time, Mongol forces launched a major offensive into Sichuan. Emperor Duzong ordered the reinforcement of the mountain strongholds on the island, using the Yangtze River as a moat, and built fortifications on the strategic high ground, relocating Xianchun Prefecture to the island. In the first year of the Jingyan era (1276 AD), Yuan Dynasty general Yang Wen’an, along with the surrendered Southern Song general Xian Ruzhong from Dazhou, led Yuan troops in an attack on Huanghua City. Ma Tingluan, then prefect of Xianchun Prefecture, valiantly resisted the Yuan assault. However, due to the overwhelming enemy forces, the defenders suffered heavy losses, and the city fell. The Yuan army then set fire to the city, reducing it to ruins. Since the city was never rebuilt, its ancient relics have been remarkably well-preserved. Today, visitors can still see remnants such as the city walls, ancient wells, pagodas, and stone carvings. Huanghua City was once the temporary residence of the Southern Song emperor, and even after the fall of the dynasty, loyal officials and scholars retreated here. This is why people fondly refer to it as Huanghua City. The island is also home to cultural relics such as ancient tombs, inscriptions, and pagodas. Huanghua City is a place where history and nature intertwine seamlessly. It is a marvel of nature, nourished by the essence of the sun, moon, heaven, and earth, and crafted as if by supernatural forces — like a radiant pearl embedded in the mighty Yangtze River. Washed by the surging river, it becomes even more stunning. Despite millennia of wind, rain, thunder, lightning, earthquakes, and warfare, not a bit of its brilliance has faded.

　　Huanghua City continues to live up to its reputation as the Island of Immortals. A river-bound celestial island that absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, the spirit of heaven and earth, and is shaped by nature’s masterful hand, it shines like a dazzling pearl nestled in the mighty Yangtze. Through the scouring of the surging waters and the trials of centuries, it remains as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.

　　After the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, it became the only island in the main shipping channel of the Yangtze River within the reservoir area. Currently, our county is seeking well-funded investors to develop this largest island in the main channel of the Yangtze River with high standards, allowing the time-honored Huanghua City to regain its former glory.