Jianghan Plain

The Jianghan Plain of Jingzhou, Jingmen, Xiantao, Tianmen and Qianjiang has deep Chu culture, a network of lakes and waterways, and abundant produce.

The Jianghan Plain region includes the two cities of Jingzhou and Jingmen and the three provincially administered cities of Xiantao, Tianmen and Qianjiang. Formed by alluvium from the Yangtze and Han rivers, it is a land of fish and rice and the heartland of Chu culture. The Jingzhou ancient city wall is one of the better-preserved ancient city walls in China. The Jingzhou Museum is strong on Chu and Han relics, and the Guandi Temple, the Zhang Juzheng residence and the Jinan City ruins outside the city are all worth a look. The Honghu Wetland, under Jingzhou, is known for its lotus flowers and Red memory. Zhongxiang, under Jingmen, has the Ming Xianling Tomb, listed as World Cultural Heritage as part of the Ming and Qing imperial tombs, and Mochou Lake in the city is also well known. Qianjiang is a famous crayfish-producing area and the hometown of the playwright Cao Yu. Tianmen is known as the hometown of Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, and Xiantao is known for local dishes such as Mianyang san zheng (three steamed dishes) and as a home of gymnastics. The classic trip is one to two days in the Jingzhou ancient city, plus one day at the Ming Xianling Tomb in Zhongxiang, then a stop to taste Qianjiang crayfish along the way, three to four days in all. Getting there: Jingzhou Shashi Airport has domestic routes, and the Wuhan–Yichang railway connects Wuhan, Tianmen, Xiantao, Qianjiang and Jingzhou, reachable by bullet train from Wuhan. Zhongxiang and Jingmen can be reached by expressway self-drive. The plain is hot and humid in summer, so avoid traveling at midday. Rapeseed flowers in spring and rice fields in autumn are the plain's most beautiful sights.

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