Literary master Shen CongwenThe famous novella *Border Town* blends Chadian’s beautiful scenery, kind customs, and simple human warmth to depictan idyllicborder town landscape, attracting countless writers and artists from both China and abroad to visit and draw inspiration.It borders Xiushan County in Chongqingto the west,and Songtao County in Guizhou to the south, separated by a river. The area is predominantly inhabited byTujia,Miao,and Han people,offering a rich ethnic minority culture.Scenic ChadianChadian Town was first built in the eighth year of the Jiaqing reign (1803), entirely constructed from
bluestone,
making it sturdy and majestic. The town backs onto Taishan Mountain, with Jiulong Mountain to its left and Xianglu Mountain to its right, facing Fengming Mountain. Surrounded by mountains, it presents a landscape where hills embrace the town and the town nestles among the hills. The town walls meander, the river flows gently, the bluestone paths are neat and elegant, the stilted houses are quaint, the white pagoda stands tall, ancient ferries ply the waters; on the stone steps under the weeping willows, a few women pound clothes and wash vegetables, while on the clear Qingshui River, four or five fishermen let egrets catch fish—a truly picturesque and magnificent scene.“From Sichuan to Hunan, there is an official road to the east. Near the border of western Hunan, this road reaches a small mountain town called Chadian, where there is a small stream. By the stream stands a white pagoda, and at the foot of the pagoda lives a solitary family—just an old man, a little girl, and a yellow dog.” This is the opening line of Shen Congwen’s *Border Town*, gradually revealing the local customs and way of life of Chadian to readers.Traveling to western Hunan? Don’t just think of the crowded Fenghuang—come visit this real Border Town instead.
“Leaving Sichuan for Hunan, there is an official road to the east. When this road approaches the border of western Hunan and reaches a small mountain town called Chadian, there is a small stream by the roadside, beside which stands a white pagoda. Beneath the pagoda lives a solitary family — just an old man, a young girl, and a yellow dog.” This is the opening passage of Shen Congwen’s *Border Town*, gradually bringing the local customs and scenery of Chadian to life in the readers’ minds.
When traveling to western Hunan, don’t just think of the crowded tourist spot of Fenghuang — why not visit this true Border Town instead?