Yuanling Old Town
沅陵古城
The 'beautiful little town' described by Shen Congwen, the former Chenzhou prefectural seat. The Malu Lane area preserves the wartime site of Hunan's provincial government and Shen Congwen's former home, Yunlu.
The old town of Yuanling sits where the Yuan and You Rivers meet. It served as the seat of Chenzhou from the Sui dynasty and as the prefectural city of Chenzhou during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the old town, around Malu Lane and Hujia Lane, you'll find the group of sites where Hunan's provincial government set up its temporary capital during the War of Resistance, along with Shen Congwen's former residence, Yunlu. Stone-slab lanes and yinzi houses (sunken-courtyard homes) recall the bustle of the time, when the town was known as 'Little Nanjing.' You can take a stroll along the Yuan River scenic promenade and try local snacks such as pig's trotter rice noodles and sun-dried fish. Rice noodles are usually served in the morning. Yuanling's traditional dragon boat racing is a national-level intangible cultural heritage, and during the Dragon Boat Festival the river races are lively.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Longxing Jiangsi Temple
- Fenghuang Mountain (Yuanling)
- Chenzhou Three Pagodas (Longyin Pagoda)
- Eryou Mountain
- Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve
- Jietan Tea Plantation
- Hujiaxi Ancient Village
- Mingzhong Ancient Village