Xiushan County Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Hong'an Ancient Town Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Hong'an Ancient Town in Xiushan, Chongqing
⛰【Travel Guide】
📍Detailed address: Bianhong Road, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing
🚗Transportation guide:
🕙Opening hours: All day
💰Ticket price: Free
🌟Highlights: Inside the territory of Hong'an Town, there is the Hong'an Ancient Town, a Chongqing municipal-level historical and cultural famous town; there are also attractions such as the former site of the Liu-Deng Army's entry into Sichuan headquarters, 'Elephant Trunk Drawing Water', and the majestic Jiulong Slope.
📌Small Tips: A very peaceful little town
Hong'an Ancient Town in Xiushan, Chongqing | An ancient and simple old town!
⛩ Hong'an Ancient Town is located at the junction of Chongqing, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces, also known as 'One Step into Three Provinces,' and is the 'gateway to southeast Chongqing.' Across from it is the town of Chadian in western Hunan, which is the prototype location for the novel 'Border Town' by the great writer Shen Congwen.
📷 Attractions check-in:
Old street view: Hong'an in Chongqing at night is very beautiful, and you can even see the moon in the sky.
Lala Ferry: From Chadian in Hunan to Hong'an in Chongqing, the two sides face each other across the river. Take the Lala Ferry for a fun cross-province experience.
Chadian Ancient Town: This area belongs to Huayuan County in western Hunan, with buildings in the form of Miao stilted houses. There are small shops in the alleys, snack and specialty stores, etc. The most beautiful part is by the Qingshui River, where you can rent a boat to tour the scenery on both sides, or take the Lala Ferry to the opposite bank.
Hong'an Tea Cave Bridge: This bridge connects Chongqing and Hunan, with most people taking photos on the Chongqing side, probably because of the 'Sichuan-Hunan-Guizhou Border Town' monument. Turn left out of Chadian Ancient Town and keep walking to get there, passing a small square and the local rural commercial bank on the way.
One Step into Three Provinces: In addition to Hunan and Chongqing, there is also Guizhou territory here. After checking in at the monument by the bridge, you can see the 'One Step into Three Provinces' sign on the right-hand power pole. Follow the arrow direction towards the Qingshui River (use navigation if you have a poor sense of direction), and after passing a few restaurants by the river, you will see the tri-provincial boundary marker.
🚗 Travel tips:
Depart from Chongqing by high-speed train for 4 and a half hours to reach Xiushan, then take a bus to Hong'an for 1 hour, or you can choose to drive yourself.
🍜 Food recommendations:
Corner Fish: Recommended to choose any riverside restaurant at night, personally think it's a must-try in the border town.
Rice Tofu: The ones encountered in Chadian are a bit tastier.
Mung Bean Noodles: A local shop with generous portions, meaty and tasty.
Ice Cream: Affordable, so I had three ice creams one afternoon.
Oil Tuo Tuo: Feels okay, a bit oily.
Hong'an Ancient Town
Hong'an Ancient Town, located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, southeast of Chongqing City, southeast of Xiushan County, 47 kilometers away from the county seat, is the junction of Chongqing, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces, known as the 'Southeast Gate of Chongqing', a place where one foot steps into three provinces. The famous Qing Dynasty scholar Zhang Kai once wrote a poem saying 'There is a near time in the Shu Road, how many places are divided by the spring breeze; the rain from the Qian region is blown here, and it is rolled into the clouds of the Chu sky', depicting the geographical advantage of 'one foot stepping into three provinces'. The ancient architectural group in Hong'an Ancient Town stands, with its unique craftsmanship and shape. The whole town of Hong'an is surrounded by mountains and water, with green trees and clear waves in the river, picturesque scenery. The most flavorful thing in Hong'an Old Street is the Soladu River boat, which is connected to the two banks by a wire, and also ties the power of the ferry. After boarding the passengers, the helmsman uses a two-foot round wood with a thin groove as a winch, and pulls the boat to the opposite bank bit by bit on the river crossing wire.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
For a book, go to a city | The Border Town under Shen Congwen's pen | Step across three provinces in one stride
| The Border Town under Shen Congwen's pen | Step across three provinces in one stride. "Waiting for a city's misty rain, just for you; crossing a lifetime of love, only with you" Strolling through Chadian, I stepped into Shen Congwen's words. In Chadian, I found the real Border Town that Shen Congwen described, no need to crowd into Fenghuang anymore
Chadian has more of the Border Town's artistic conception and feeling.
Location: Chadian Ancient Town Scenic Area, Biaocheng, Huayuan County, Xiangxi
Tickets: Ancient town is free
Lala Ferry (Hunan-Chongqing) ¥2
Boat tour (Step across three provinces) ¥25
Parking: There is a parking lot inside the ancient city
Transportation:
1. Self-driving: Depart from Guilin, take the Baomao Expressway
2. High-speed rail travel: Take a train to Jishou, then a bus to Huayuan County, and finally a bus to Border Town
Attractions:
Cuicui Island, Baijia Calligraphy Park, Riverside Stilted Buildings, Bisha Spit, Lala Ferry, Chongqing Hong'an Ancient City, etc.
How to step across three provinces?
1 "Two provinces" back and forth between Hunan and Chongqing
At the old pier, there are many small awning boats, which have been the traditional means of transportation for people on the riverbank for thousands of years, the "Lala Ferry". A steel cable connects the ancient towns of Chadian in Hunan and Hong'an in Chongqing, and the boatman pulls back and forth on the cable with a bumpy wooden stick. As the cable makes a clanging sound, the boat reaches the opposite shore in no time. A ride only costs 2 yuan, and it takes two to three minutes. If you're not satisfied, you can take a few more rides.
2 "Three provinces" back and forth between Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou, there are many small awning boats beside the Chongqing pier, 20 yuan per person can tour three provinces, stopping at the boundary markers of the three provinces in the middle.
What is the "No Man's Land Island"?
It is an island in the river of about 500 square meters under the Chahong Bridge. Before liberation, it was always a refuge for bandits, mountain thieves, and fugitives from murder cases. Today's "No Man's Land Island" is under the jurisdiction of Hong'an Town, Xiushan, Chongqing, and a hotel called "No Man's Land Island Resort" has been built. Although the no-man's-land area no longer exists, the place names and stories related to "No Man's Land" have been preserved.
How to enjoy Border Town cuisine
Restaurant | A bite of three provinces
Specialty dish | Jiaojiao Fish
Combining the culinary features of Sichuan, Hunan, and Guizhou, the taste is sour and spicy
Border Town Tea Tump | The border town in Shen Congwen's writings
✨The border town depicted by Mr. Shen Congwen is not actually Fenghuang, although Fenghuang Ancient Town is his hometown. The story of the border town actually takes place in a small town at the junction of Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou—Tea Tump.
🚴The most challenging part of visiting the border town is the transportation. It's okay if you drive yourself, but if you take a taxi, you really have to transfer several times
🚗Transportation Guide
1️⃣You can take a high-speed train to Jishou Station from various places (I arrived at 11:30).
2️⃣Take a taxi from Jishou Station to Jishou's West Bus Station (arrived at 12:00)
3️⃣Depart from the West Bus Station at 13:00 and take a one-hour bus ride to Huayuan County (arrive at 14:00)
4️⃣At 14:30, take a half-hour urban-rural bus from Huayuan to Tea Tump (arrive around 15:10 at the border town)🚘
🏨Accommodation Guide
There are small hotels on both sides of the river, which are quite basic. It is more recommended to stay in Hong'an Ancient Town on the Chongqing side, where you can see the night view of the 'border town' across the river.
🥯Food Guide
1️⃣Corner Fish: A blend of the 'sour, spicy, and numbing' flavors from three provinces
2️⃣Old Ferry Hot Pot: Authentic Chongqing hot pot, explosively delightful
✅tips
The transportation in the border town is not very convenient; it is recommended to drive there yourself.
The area is less developed, and the accommodation conditions are quite basic; be mentally prepared. This place is also quite small; two days and one night are enough to explore it. It is a very simple and primitive small town, and the cost of living is really low.
Misty Rain in the Border Town - Chaping
I think, Chaping is probably just like the scene depicted by Shen Congwen. When Shen joined the army, one of his comrades fell in love with the daughter of the owner of a small town tailor shop. However, as the troops set out, their fates dispersed. Many years later, Shen returned to this place, not seeing the tailor's daughter, but her daughter instead, and couldn't help feeling emotional, so he wrote 'Border Town'. Today, Chaping and Hong'an face each other across the water, becoming a junction of Chongqing, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces. During holidays, it's crowded with tourists, yet it doesn't lose the original character of its misty rain.
Ah, it's the Border Town from Shen Congwen's pen, a town that spans three provinces!
Border Town Chadian—This small town located at the junction of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing provinces is the prototype of the famous Chinese writer Mr. Shen Congwen's 'Border Town'. Its profound historical and cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery have made it an ideal destination in the hearts of many travelers.
📍Detailed address:
Chadian Town is located in Huayuan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, nestled in the heart of the Wuling Mountains, by the banks of the You River, surrounded by mountains and water, simple and tranquil. Here, a large number of wooden buildings from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period are preserved, with stone streets and stilted building clusters scattered in an orderly manner, as if taking people back to that simple and pure era.
🍀To visit Chadian, the top recommendation is 'Cuicui Island', a theme park built based on the story of 'Border Town', where you can experience the deeply touching love story of Cuicui and the Nuo ceremony from the novel. In addition, there is the historic Chadian Ancient Ferry, which has witnessed the passage of many years, telling the story of a thousand sails passing by. You can also stroll through the old streets, taste authentic Miao cuisine, and experience the unique Miao culture.
🚗Transportation:
Due to Chadian's relatively remote location, it is recommended to first take a plane or train to Changsha or Zhangjiajie, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Jishou City, and finally take a shuttle bus directly to Huayuan County. After arriving, you can choose to take a taxi or bus to Chadian Ancient Town. Although the journey is somewhat circuitous, once you set foot on this land, all fatigue will be healed by the lush greenery and the vicissitudes of history.
🏨Accommodation:
Recommended is the 'Chadian Renjia' homestay located in the center of the ancient town. The wooden house design retains local traditional features while providing modern comfortable facilities, with picturesque mountain and water views just outside the window. At night, fall asleep to the sound of flowing water, and wake up to the chirping of birds in the morning, truly experiencing a lifestyle in harmony with nature.
🌴Surrounding attractions recommendations:
You might as well take a detour to visit the Dehang Grand Canyon and the Aizhai Bridge. The former is a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship, while the latter is a magnificent embodiment of modern engineering technology. Both complement each other, allowing you to appreciate the grandeur of modern construction while enjoying the ancient charm of the border town.
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For a book, go to a city | The Border Town under Shen Congwen's pen | Step across three provinces in one stride
| The Border Town under Shen Congwen's pen | Step across three provinces in one stride. "Waiting for a city's misty rain, just for you; crossing a lifetime of love, only with you" Strolling through Chadian, I stepped into Shen Congwen's words. In Chadian, I found the real Border Town that Shen Congwen described, no need to crowd into Fenghuang anymore
Chadian has more of the Border Town's artistic conception and feeling.
Location: Chadian Ancient Town Scenic Area, Biaocheng, Huayuan County, Xiangxi
Tickets: Ancient town is free
Lala Ferry (Hunan-Chongqing) ¥2
Boat tour (Step across three provinces) ¥25
Parking: There is a parking lot inside the ancient city
Transportation:
1. Self-driving: Depart from Guilin, take the Baomao Expressway
2. High-speed rail travel: Take a train to Jishou, then a bus to Huayuan County, and finally a bus to Border Town
Attractions:
Cuicui Island, Baijia Calligraphy Park, Riverside Stilted Buildings, Bisha Spit, Lala Ferry, Chongqing Hong'an Ancient City, etc.
How to step across three provinces?
1 "Two provinces" back and forth between Hunan and Chongqing
At the old pier, there are many small awning boats, which have been the traditional means of transportation for people on the riverbank for thousands of years, the "Lala Ferry". A steel cable connects the ancient towns of Chadian in Hunan and Hong'an in Chongqing, and the boatman pulls back and forth on the cable with a bumpy wooden stick. As the cable makes a clanging sound, the boat reaches the opposite shore in no time. A ride only costs 2 yuan, and it takes two to three minutes. If you're not satisfied, you can take a few more rides.
2 "Three provinces" back and forth between Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou, there are many small awning boats beside the Chongqing pier, 20 yuan per person can tour three provinces, stopping at the boundary markers of the three provinces in the middle.
What is the "No Man's Land Island"?
It is an island in the river of about 500 square meters under the Chahong Bridge. Before liberation, it was always a refuge for bandits, mountain thieves, and fugitives from murder cases. Today's "No Man's Land Island" is under the jurisdiction of Hong'an Town, Xiushan, Chongqing, and a hotel called "No Man's Land Island Resort" has been built. Although the no-man's-land area no longer exists, the place names and stories related to "No Man's Land" have been preserved.
How to enjoy Border Town cuisine
Restaurant | A bite of three provinces
Specialty dish | Jiaojiao Fish
Combining the culinary features of Sichuan, Hunan, and Guizhou, the taste is sour and spicy
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