Mawangdui Han Tombs

Mawangdui is an archaeological site located in Changsha, China. The site consists of two saddle-shaped hills and contained the tombs of three people from the western Han dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE): Marquis Li Cang, his wife, and a male believed to have been their son. The site was excavated from 1972 to 1974. Most of the artifacts from Mawangdui are displayed at the Hunan Provincial Museum. It was called "King Ma's Mound" because it was initially (erroneously) thought to be the tomb of Ma Yin (853–930), a ruler of the Chu kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

History

It is no exaggeration to say that the Mawangdui Han Tombs is an open book to the glorious West Han Dynasty. All three tombs were excavated between 1972 and 1974. According to the research this place was a family graveyard from at least two thousand years ago. The tombs are very grand and complicated as well. Number 1 and Number 3 tombs were in excellent condition when excavated and Number 1 tomb is the largest among the three. Number 1 and Number 2 tombs have been in filled. Number 3 tomb has been preserved and covered by a ceiling for the benefit of the visitors.

Structure

The tombs were made of large cypress planks. The outside of the tombs were layered with white clay and charcoal; white clay layering was a practice that originated with Chu burials, while charcoal layering was a practice that was followed during the early western Han Dynasty in the Changsha area. The tombs contained nested lacquered coffins, a Chu burial custom. The tombs also followed the burial practices dictated by Emperor Wen of Han, containing no jade or precious metals.

Historical Relics

More than 3,000 relics have been unearthed from the three tombs, such as silk products, silk books, silk paintings, lacquer works, potteries, bamboo slips used for writing, weapons, herbs, and so on. The number of the lacquer works is the largest, including ancient cooking vessels, boxes, kettles, plates and folding screens, and the like. Red or black colors were painted on them. Most of the potteries contain food. The mouths of the containers were tightly stuffed by grass and mud. Bamboo brands with the name of the food tied on the outside of the containers' necks.

The silk clothes from Number 1 tomb are in a variety of styles and of fine workmanship. One of the most outstanding representatives is a silk coat which is as light as the mist and as fine as gossamer. It is 1.28 meters (about 1.40 yards) in length with a pair of long sleeves, but weighs only 49 grams. Amazing! The coffin excavated from Number 1 tomb is decorated with the odd images of animals and gods on its lacquered surface and has a relatively high artistic value.

The excavation of Number 1 tomb at Mawangdui can not only be considered a wonder in Chinese archeology, but also leave a profound effect world archeological history. The reason is that the corpse of this tomb's owner---a noble lady and other articles buried with the dead were extremely well-preserved for more than 2,000 years, especially the corpse. When disinterred from the tomb, her corpse was complete and the whole body was still moist and supple. Some of her joints could move; her organs and surrounding tissues were still intact, and the skin still flexible; she was as if she had been buried yesterday. This is hard to believe and extraordinarily rare to see both at home and abroad, but definitely true. This female corpse is a special body different from mummies and adipocere. Meanwhile it is also a scientific miracle in the study of antisepsis, shocking the whole world and attracting the attention of both scholars and visitors.

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Mt. Yuelu

Mt. Yuelu is one of the 72 peaks of hengshan Mountain. It is one of the four sacred places to have maple-watching in autumn.Mt. Yuelu, which means the foot of Mt. Hengshan (Southern Mountain), is located on the west bank of Xiangjiang River and lies in the west of Changsha City. It's a highly reputable scenic area in Hunan Province, an area that enables you to have a much clearer understanding of Changsha City once you have paid a visit to Mt. Yuelu.

 

Mt. Yuelu is noted for its picturesque scenery. The towering trees that provide dense shade emerge through heavily planted foliage around the mountains and provide an instant sense of refreshment and vitality to the environment. Besides the natural scenery, Yuelu Mountain abounds with cultural landscape as well. Many literati, ideologists, and hierarchy once visited here and left their tracks. The coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism is the most unique culture in this mountain. The representative tourism spots are the Yuelu Academy, the Lushan Temple, the Aiwan Pavilion and the Orange Island Park.

Yuelu Academy

One of the four famous academies in ancient China, the Yuelu Academy lies at the foot of Yuelu Mountain on the campus of Hunan University. The academy integrates three major functions: giving lectures, collecting books and holding memorial ceremonies. As an important national library and academic center, the Yuelu Academy embraces some historical sites, such as Wenchang Pavilion, Library of Imperial Books and Xiangshui Sutra Proofreading Hall.

The academy has witnessed more than a thousand years of history and is the only one of the ancient Chinese academies of Classical Learning to have evolved into a modern institution of higher learning. The historical transformation from Yuelu Academy to Hunan University can be seen as the epitome of the development of China's higher education, a change which mirrors the vicissitudes of education system in mainland China. As a part of Hunan University, today the academy is a center of publication and research of the ancient Chinese language, and is one of the most important academic and cultural centers in China.

Lushan Temple

The earliest Buddhist temple in Changsha, the Lushan Temple stands half way of Yulu Mountain. It is known as the "oldest historical site of the Han and Wei dynasties, and the first site for holding Buddhist rites". In front of the Guanyin Pavilion in the temple stand two podocarpuses, knows as the "Podocarpus Pass". Spring water flows out from the rock cracks encircled by ancient trees. the spring never goes dry in winter and summer, and it is named “White Crane Spring”.

 

Aiwan Pavilion

Originally known as "Red Leave Pavilion", Aiwan Pavilion is one a small slope of Qingfeng Gorge. With double eaves and eight pillars, this square pavilion is surrounded by maple trees. In spring, Aiwan Pavilion is tucked away in green trees; in summer, it is cool with breezes; and in autumn, it is encircled by red maple leaves. On the pavilion, there is a horizontal inscribed board with an inscription by Mao Zedong, reading "Aiwan Pavilion".

Orange Island Park

A long and narrow island in the Xiangjiang River, the Orange Island Park is the place where the ancient people appreciated "Snow by River at Dusk" – one of the eight scenic spots "Eight Grand Sights in Hunan". Since ancient times, Orange Island has been known as the producer of high-quality oranges. The main tourist attractions in the park include the Poem Tablet, ode to Oranges Pavilion and a square of sculptures named "Who Dominates the Rise and Fall".

Ingeneral, the mountain is an excellent education base for patriotism. So many revolutionists, patriots and great people with high ideals like Huang Xing, Cai E and Jiang Yiwu, who were dedicated to the democratic revolution of the old type, were buried here. And the monuments, graves and cemeteries built for those martyrs make a solemn and stirring scene on the mountain. The permanent charm of Mt. Yuelu remains for all to witness, as no matter what the season it appears to exude natural beauty whilst still remaining a highly valued cultural site. Of couse,it's  a highlight of Changsha City.

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Mt. Shaoshan Scenic Area-----the Hometown of Chairman Mao

Mt. Shaoshan is about forty kilometers west of the county town of Xiangtan, Hunan Province. It is well-known as the hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong where he was born and undertook the revolutionary activities in his youth. Due to the advantaged natural environment and the history, it has become a well-known scenic area, also regarded as a sacred place to commemorate the Chinese revolution. There are four main scenic areas here: Mao Zedong’s Former Residence, Water Dripping Cave, Shaoshan Peak and Limpid Stream. 

Mao Zedong’s Former Residence

A village called Shaoshanchong at the foot of the mountain was where Mao Zedong (1893-1976), the late leader of China was born and grew up. An exhibition hall memorializing Mao‘s life and revolutionary activities has been built at the town of Shaoshan, formerly Shaoshanchong Village, and is now open to visitors who can stay at the local hotel.

Mao Zedong’s Bronze Statue Square, built in 2008, covers an area of 102,800 sq m (about 122,948 sq yd). It is divided into a homage paying area, a commemorating area, an assembly area, and a leisure area. The statue is 3.7 tons (3,700 kg) in weight, and 6 m (about 19.7 ft) in height. The statue's entire height including the bronze base is 10.1 m (about 33 ft), which symbolizes October 1st, the date the PRC was founded. The statue vividly presents Mao's gentle demeanor with shining view and light smiles.

Water Dripping Cave

Water Dripping Cave is Chairman Mao’s villa which is 3 km (around 2 mi) away from his former residence. It consists of Water Dripping Valley, Tiger Resting Lawn (Huxie Lawn), Dragon Head Hill, No.1 Building, and other scenic spots.

The cave is 2.8 km (about 1.5 mi) long with a stream flowing through it. Many trees and flowers grow here. Visitors can find over 30 species of trees including gingko, privet, and the rare cycas a genus of the Cycadaceae family, as well as over 100 species of flowers such as azalea, rose, and chrysanthemum.

Shaoshan Peak

The peak is also called Fairy Peak or Fairy and Elegant Peak. The main attractions include the Steles Forest of Mao Zedong’s Poems, the Temple of Shaoshan Peak, and the rope way.

The Steles Forest of Mao Zedong’s Poems is 3 km (about 1.9 mi) away from his former residence. It covers 20,000 sq m (about 23,920 sq yd), and consists of 100 pieces of white marble and granite on which 50 poems by Chairman Mao have been carved. The different shaped steles present a beautiful landscape together with the scenery of Shaoshan Peak. The whole scenic area is divided into five parts according to Mao’s revolutionary career and four parts by chronological order. At the exit from the forest stands a giant poem stele which is 12.26 m (about 40 ft) in width, 8.3 m (about 27 ft) in height and 0.99 m (about 3.2 ft) in thickness. The width of 12.26 represents Mao’s birthday on December 26, and the thickness of 0.99 represents the date of Mao’s death on September 9.

Limpid Stream Scenic Area

At Qingxi Town of Shaoshan City, there is a boulevard named Hero Road, at the north end of which is the Square of Young Mao Zedong’s Statue and at the south end is Swan Hill, on which the Martyrs Cemetery lies.

Located on the hill which is around 200 m (219 yd) from the local railway station, the 12.26 m (about 40 ft) Statue of Young Mao Zedong was made to symbolize his birthday of December 26th. The statue vividly embodies Mao’s ambitious verve in his youth. The Martyrs Cemetery is built to commemorate the martyrs of Shaoshan, but there are no actual martyrs buried there. Homage is paid to them by the building of pavilions, museums or statuaries.

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Hunan Provincial Museum

Hunan Provincial Museum, the largest museum of history and art in Hunan Province, was set up in the early 1950s. It lies in the Kaifu District of Changsha with an area of 51,000 square meters. The museum boasts abundant collections that feature cultural relics excavated from the marvelous Mawangdui Han Tombs, including the bronze wares of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and the Kingdom of Chu, pottery and porcelain works in the past dynasties, calligraphy works and paintings, as well as modern cultural relics.

This museum has a collection of more than 180,000 objects, over 763 of which are top grade cultural relics. Most of these objects were discovered by archaeological excavation. What's more, the museum has gathered together nearly all the fine works unearthed in different parts of Hunan Province. According to the various textures, the cultural relics in Hunan Provincial Museum can be classified into the following kinds: bronze, silk paintings and books, lacquers, textiles, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy.

These cultural relics include stone implements and pottery from the Neolithic Age, bronze wares of the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) and Zhou Dynasty (11th - 221 BC), and celadon wares from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220) to the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618) and the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Some masterpieces by famous scholars like Wang Xizhi, a famous calligrapher from the Tang Dynasty, and Wang Fuzhi, a great philosopher of the late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) are also on display. Cultural relics unearthed in Mawangdui Han Tombs are the highlights in the museum.

The following cultural relics unearthed in Mawangdui Han Tombs are highly recommended because of the amazement they have brought to people. The first one is the tomb and corpse of Xin Zhui, circa 2,000 years ago, which is well preserved. Her skin is moist and her organs are still well protected, even after having been unearthed for more than 30 years. The second relic is a T-shaped colored silk painting. It is not only still intact but also has gorgeous color. The contents of this painting are various, giving you a full picture of lives in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24). The third one is a plain gauze garment. It is about 128 centimeters (about 4.2 feet) long but only weighs 48 grams (about 1.7 ounces). This garment is perhaps the most significant, because it proves the existence of very advanced textile technology in the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220) when China was called 'the country of silk'.

With a concentration of treasures of cultural relics from the land of Hunan Province, Hunan Provincial Museum paints a panoramic historical picture of Hunan civilization. Serving as an important window to interpret the history and nuances of Hunan culture, it attracts every year hundreds of thousands of visitors from China and abroad.

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Zhangjiajie Scenic Spot

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a unique national forest located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province in China, about 32km away from the downtown of Zhangjiajie City, Hunan province. Covering an area of 480 thousand square meters (185 square miles), it is one of several national parks within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. In 1982 it was recognized as China's first National Forest Park. In 1992, it was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Zhangjiajie is a green treasure house.

 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has been described differently, such as, majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild. The park features grotesque peaks, lucid brooks, abundant fauna and floras and hospitable climate. There are six main attraction spots and over 90 smaller ones in the park to date.

Climate

It belongs to the sub-tropical climate of Central Asia. Splendid mountains and luxuriant trees help form a favorable climate: warm in winter and cool in summer. The average temperature is 13C (55F), the highest 17C (62F ) while the lowest is 10C (50F) on average in winter. The charm of the park varies with the alternation of seasons; therefore, it attracts visitors all year round. Besides its pleasant climate, the environment and air quality also provide visitors a chance to breathe healthy air which is believed to be rich in negative oxygen. It is also believed that hypertension patient may have their blood pressure lowered if they stay in the park for a period of time. This is due to the fact that dust particles in the park are 88% lower and the air 10% mistier than outside.

Foliage and Animals

Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkAbout 98% of the area is covered with vegetation. There are 720 species of the 102 families, including all the five most important floras, namely, the rose family, pulse family, grass family, composite family and orchid family. Some of these trees are rare and regarded as national treasure. For example, the Dove tree, known as living fossil, can be traced back as early as the Fourth Ice Age. The great variety of plants in the park takes up 82% of all the flora families in Hunan Province.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park also boasts a variety of animals. Exuberant forests offer them ideal habitats to live in and procreate their own species. There are more than 149 kinds of chordate animals inhabitants in this park. Among them, 28 kinds are under national protection, amongst which, are the Golden Pheasant, Rhesus Monkey, Giant Salamander and Musk Deer. Visitors will be able to hear birds singing and see monkeys playing in the tree.

Main Attraction Spots

The park is endowed with many attraction spots, such as the Yellow Stone Stronghold (Huangshizhai), Yaozizhai, Yuanjiajie and the Golden Whip Stream.

Yellow Stone Stronghold (Huangshizhai), Yaozizhai is located west of the park. It is named after a story whereby Huang Shi saved Zhang Liang from misfortune when the latter isolated himself from society in this forest.

Occupying an area of 41 acres and 1,200 meters (0.8 miles) above sea level, this stronghold is the largest observing spot of the forest park. One cannot claim to have visited Zhangjiajie without visiting Yellow Stone Stronghold. The main attraction spots include Tranquil Trail in Fir Woods, Imperial Edict and the Precious Box, Needle Peak, the Southern Gate to Heaven, Five-Finger Peak and so on.

Golden Whip Stream

Sceneries along the Golden Whip Stream are most enchanting in the park. Named after the Golden Whip Rock that it flows by, this stream, 5.7 kilometers long (3.5 miles), joins the Lute stream in the west and Suoxi Stream in the east. A 300-meter (984 feet) walk from the gate of the park will lead you to the entrance of the Golden Whip Stream. Flanked by ridges and peaks, the crystal clear water makes it possible to observe every action of the fish in the water. Wild flowers are in abundance here.

Cable Car On the way, girls from Tujia will present visitors traditional folk songs when requested. The main attraction spots here include: the Welcoming Guests Rock, Golden Whip Rock, Reunion Rock and the Purple Grass Pond.

Every year in July, one or two hour after rain, is the best time to travel in Zhangjiajie. On that moment with smoke around, it is like a fairyland. Walking in mountain then is like walking in the clouds, and suddenly the sun bumping out from the clouds, with one part of the mountain sitting in gold sunshine and the other hidden in clouds, is the best scene one can ever imagine.

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Mt. Hengshan Scenic Spot

Brief Introduction

Mt. Hengshan is one of the most famous 'Five Sacred Mountains (Wu Yue)' in China. With its main peak located at Hengyang, Hunan province, Mt. Hengshan is also called Nanyue, meaning South Mountain. It is famous not only for its eminent mountain peaks and wonderful mountain scenery, and also for its historical and cultural meanings.

Natural Scenery

Mt. Hengshan is composed of 72 peaks, among which the first mountain peak you will see when climbing is Huiyan Peak. Going further toward the north, you will feast your eyes on all the graceful scenery. Here in Mt. Hengshan, no mountain peaks are without trees. It is green all over. There are various kinds of precious trees and a vast area of primeval forest. Among all these trees here, some are 300 - 400 years old, which still bloom when spring comes. Some trees are even over 1,000 years old. The trees in the primeval forest are bending with lichen growing on the trunks, resembling old men wearing tattered clothes. From the mountain peaks, you can see the grand view of sunrise, the rolling cloud and the oceans of trees. There magnificent views are called 'four oceans' on Mt. Hengshan: ocean of flowers, ocean of trees, ocean of cloud and ocean of snow.

People summarize all the spectacles here as 'the eight marvels in Mt. Hengshan'. They are the height of the Zhurong Peak, the grace of the Sutra Collection Hall, the profundity of Fangguang Temple, the quietness of Mojingtai, the magic of the Shuilian Cave, the antiquity of Dayu Stele, the majesty of the Nanyue Temple and the steepness of Huixian Bridge. Zhurong Peak is the highest mountain peak of this scenic area. Sutra Collection Hall is located deep in the glen and is surrounded by towering trees. The running spring and flying birds make this place very peaceful and leisurely. Huixian Bridge is in fact a bridge on a big stone. It is narrow and dangerous, and few people are brave enough to go over it.

History and Attractions

It is recorded in Chinese history that one day Emperor Shun (circa 2372 BC) toured his northern domain and was so impressed by Mt. Hengshan that he proclaimed it "Bei Yue". In the following ages, many later emperors had come to visit Mt. Hengshan as well, which made a famous national attraction. Xu Xiake (1587-1641), a renowned Chinese traveler living in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), had also paid a visit to the mountain and left behind Hengshan-inspired writings.

Being a bottleneck to Central Hebei Plain, Mt. Hengshan was once a place of strategic importance in the ancient times and was utilized in national defense planning. Plenty of ancient battlefield relics litter the landscape with passes, fortresses, castles and beacon towers. These make Mt. Hengshan unique among the many famed mountains of China.

This scenic area is also a well known and hallowed Buddhist ground. It has abundant temples including nunneries and Taoist temples. The most notable one is Nanyue Damiao, the largest temple in Wuyue. It was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), but was destroyed by fire. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was renovated imitating the design of the Forbidden City.

Various reputations were gained at this scenic area: a particular religious hallowed ground and a marvelous scenic locale for both summering and touring. Here you can watch blooming flowers in spring, prevent sunstroke in summer, watch sunrises in autumn and enjoy the beautiful prospect of snow in winter. If you are traveling in China or going to travel in China, do not miss the wonderful trip to Mt. Hengshan.

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Wulingyuan Scenic Area

Wulingyuan Scenic Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hunan Province, China designated in 1992. The site is situated in the Zhangjiajie City and lies about 270 kilometres (170 mi) to the northwest of Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province. Wulingyuan forms part of the Wuling Mountain Range. The scenic area comprises several national parks, one of which is the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

The spot boasts of natural beauty where mountains, valleys, forests, caves, lakes and waterfalls exist in total harmony. Over 560 attraction sights can be found here. The strangely-shaped peaks, the absurd stones, the hidden valleys, the wonderful waters and the limestone caves form the 'Five Wonders' of Wulingyuan and they are really worth seeing.

 

Covering an area of 690 square kilometers (266 square miles), Wulingyuan consists of four parts- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve, Tianzi (son of heaven) Mountain Natural Resource Reserve and the newly added Yangjiajie Scenic Area.

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first state-level forest park in China. Over ninety-seven percent of the parks are covered with varieties of trees and other valuable plants. The park is a real treasure house. The Lobster Flower (Long Xia Flower), a sort of flower that can change color five times in a day, is unique in the park. The views in this area include the Golden Whip Stream, Huangshi Fort and Yuanjiajie. The Golden Whip Stream is a poetic stream, with crystal clear water running quietly between strangely-shaped peaks. The Huangshi Fort and Yuanjiajie are both classic spots that can not be missed in the park.

The Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve is the center of the scenic zone and is the largest among the four areas of the park. About 200 attraction spots can be found here. Suoxiyu is transliterated from the language of the Tu Minority Group, and it means 'a mountainous village with dense fog'. This area includes the Ten-mile Gallery (Gan Xi Gou), where vivid pictures formed by its peaks are rather impressive. The West Sea, also called the sea of stone forests, is amazing. Bao Feng Lake is also an excellent place to visit to gain an understanding of the local customs of West Hunan Province.

The Tianzi Mountain Natural Resource Reserve is rich in strange peaks and rocks, and in constant clouds and fog. The reserve lies at a high elevation which makes sightseeing physically challenging. The Yellow Dragon Spring, Teaboard Tower and Lao Wu Chang are areas which have been developed for visitors. This reserve is renowned for four marvelous spectacles-the cloud and mist, the night with shining moon, the winter snow and the morning and evening rosy clouds.

Together with the natural scenery of the four sections of the park, the life and customs of several Chinese minority groups (Tu, Miao, Bai) are also of interest. Their houses, farms and their singing and dancing undoubtedly add an element of happiness and beauty to Wulingyuan.

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