Holiday in Jingzhou

About Jingzhou

Jingzhou is a historic city in Hubei Province and was once one of the strategically most important cities in ancient China. During the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD), Jingzhou was a fiercely contested prize among the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu — the siege and loss of Jingzhou by the legendary general Guan Yu is one of the most famous episodes in Chinese history. The ancient city wall of Jingzhou is one of the best-preserved medieval city fortifications in China. The fully walkable wall stretches over 11.28 kilometers with six city gates and was built in its current form during the Ming Dynasty. A walk along the wall offers views over the old town and the surrounding lakes. The Jingzhou Museum houses one of the most significant archaeological collections in South China, including a perfectly preserved wet mummy from the Han Dynasty (about 2,100 years old), silk paintings, and lacquer works from the Chu Kingdom. The Chu culture (circa 800–223 BC) had its center in this region and left behind masterful art and philosophy. To the south of the city lies the Yangtze Floodplain, a fertile alluvial plain considered the rice chamber of China. Jingzhou borders the Yangtze River and has historically been a hub for trade and military.