Chibi

Site of the Three Kingdoms-era Battle of Red Cliffs, paired with Yangloudong, an old brick-tea town on the Tea Road, and the island scenery of Lushui Lake.

Chibi is a county-level city in southeastern Hubei on the south bank of the Yangtze, bordering Linxiang in Hunan and administered by Xianning. Formerly called Puqi, it was renamed in 1998 after the ancient Battle of Red Cliffs (Chibi). The city center sits on the Lushui River; the Red Cliff battlefield lies on the Yangtze about 40 km to the northwest, while Zhaoliqiao and Yangloudong to the southwest are the home of brick tea and one of the starting points of the Tea Road to Russia. There are three main routes. The battlefield route covers the Red Cliff cliff inscriptions on the Yangtze, the statue of Zhou Yu, the Wind Worship Platform and the Battle of Red Cliffs Exhibition Hall, and takes most of a day. The tea route visits the Ming–Qing flagstone street of Yangloudong, the Zhaoliqiao Brick Tea Factory and the old town of Xindian, telling the story of Shanxi and Russian merchants trading brick tea. The city route includes Lushui Lake (the reservoir with the Three Gorges test dam, dotted with more than 800 islands), the old city walls and the Lushui River at night. The best seasons are Mar–May during the spring tea harvest and Sep–Nov in autumn; Jul–Aug is hot and humid. Getting there: Chibi North Station on the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway is about 30 minutes from Wuhan and about 1 hour from Changsha, while Chibi Station on the conventional Beijing–Guangzhou line is in the city center. To reach the battlefield, take a bus from the city to Chibi Town or drive. Plan on 2 days. Local specialties include Chibi brick tea, Chibi fish balls and Lushui Lake fish; check official announcements for ticket prices.

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