Yaoling Village

　　Yaoling Village is situated on the banks of the Han River in the northwest of Gao Shibei Town, Qianjiang City. It is the convergence point of two key national projects under the South-to-North Water Diversion Project: the Xinglong Hydraulic Hub on the Han River and the Diverting Yangtze River to Han River project. This offers the village a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for tourism development.

　　 The village enjoys excellent geographical conditions. To the south are Qianjiang City proper and the Jianghan Petroleum Administration Bureau; to the west are Jingzhou and Shayang; to the east is Tianmen; and to the north is Jingmen. The surrounding area is one of the most densely populated and economically developed regions in the province, all within a two-hour drive from Yaoling Village.

　　 The Qianjiang municipal government has planned to build a service area for the scenic zones of the Xinglong Hydraulic Hub and the Diverting Yangtze River to Han River projects in Yaoling Village. The first phase will cover an area of 1 square kilometer, including a core zone of 0.5 square kilometers.

　　 From the Houhu exit of the Han-Yi Expressway, take the road straight toward Shayang to reach Gao Shibei Town. A fast-track road from the town to Yaoling Village will be widened from 30 to 60 meters and is set to commence construction this year to meet the needs of self-driving tourists.

　　 Yaoling Village boasts unique landscapes. In addition to the facilities of the Xinglong Hydraulic Hub (such as spillways, power stations, fishways, and transportation bridges), it also features the Xinglong River Metasequoia Scenic Forest Belt—the most intact and largest plain ecological public welfare forest in the province. The banks of the Han River levee are densely lined with metasequoia trees, and wide forest belts will also be planted along both sides of the Diverting Yangtze River to Han River Canal. The village is crisscrossed with ditches and dense forest belts, offering typical water-town garden scenery. In spring, the fields are covered with rapeseed flowers, and the area enjoys a good ecological environment, attracting large numbers of egrets to nest here every year.

　　 Yaoling Village also has a strong cultural atmosphere. Efforts will be made to restore and rebuild the historic Ancestral Temple. Additionally, the village aims to establish a cultural brand by integrating intangible cultural heritage such as Jingzhou Flower-Drum Opera and Qianjiang Folk Songs, which have already been successfully listed as national-level intangible cultural heritage in Qianjiang.

　　 Dining in Yaoling. Yaoling’s fish restaurants are already well-known in the surrounding area. Thanks to the village’s proximity to the Han River, fishermen deliver freshly caught fish directly to the village, serving them fresh on visitors’ tables. Other local specialties such as broad bean dishes, toasted flatbreads, and meat rolls are also highly distinctive.

　　 According to reports, the Yaoling Village tourist attraction will be developed in coordination with the two hydraulic projects. First, a visitor reception and service center will be established. Second, the facades of villagers’ houses will be renovated to give them distinct regional characteristics. Third, a protective moat around the village with slopes and waterside platforms will be excavated—4 meters wide at the bottom and 10 meters wide at the surface—with special plants and flowers along the bank to allow for boat rides. Fourth, a 20-meter-high observation tower will be built to offer panoramic views of the Xinglong Hydraulic Hub and the Diverting Yangtze River to Han River project. Fifth, a Folk Customs Exhibition Hall of the Jianghan Plain will be constructed to showcase the local customs and culture. Sixth, a Water Conservancy Culture Exhibition Hall will be built. Seventh, a 150,000-square-meter botanical garden will be developed, featuring various trees, flowers, and metasequoia trees. Eighth, a 7,000-square-meter Modern Agricultural Sightseeing Center will be constructed, using glass curtain wall lighting, four-season climate control, and soilless cultivation techniques. Ninth, a children’s playground will be created.

　　 Officials from Gao Shibei Town have stated that they aim to develop Yaoling Village into a beautiful, ecologically harmonious tourist destination that integrates hydraulic projects, folk culture, and natural scenery over the next 3 to 5 years, making it a new star in Jianghan Plain tourism.

　　 Dong Zhengwu, who has run a restaurant near Yaoling Village for four years, is also full of hope. He told reporters that once the new Yaoling tourism village is completed, he plans to tear down his small eatery and build a large restaurant specializing in Han River cuisine to serve guests from all over. “Isn’t it delightful to have friends visiting from afar?” he said, quoting Confucius to express his excitement.