The Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the second batch of national tourism and leisure blocks on March 1, with 57 blocks shortlisted in total. Two blocks from Hunan made the list, including Liuzi Street in Lingling District, Yongzhou City, and Qianzhou Ancient Town Tourism and Leisure Block in Jishou City, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
Liuzi Street
Liuzi Street is located on the west bank of the Xiaoshui River in Lingling District, Yongzhou City. Liuzi Street and Liuzi Temple together make up the Liuzi Street Historical and Cultural Block. Liuzi Street is 550 meters in length and six meters in width. The street is lined with ancient shops that date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, offering a glimpse into the commercial and architectural heritage of that era. In the past, the street was part of an ancient post road that linked Hunan and Guangxi, serving as an important trade and transportation route for merchants and travelers.In 2013, Liuzi Street Historical and Cultural Block was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. In 2015, it was included in the first batch of 30 national historical and cultural blocks.
Aerial photo of Liuzi Street. (Photo/Zhang Yuelin)
Night view of Liuzi Street. (Photo/Liao Yigang)
Qianzhou Ancient Town Tourism and Leisure Block
Located in the south of Jishou City, Qianzhou Ancient Town is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a provincial historical and cultural protection block. After the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC - 220 AD), the town became an important commercial port in western Hunan, due to its convenient water transport. During the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618 - 1912), Qianzhou became the political, economic, cultural and military center of Miao Territory, ranking first among the four ancient towns in Xiangxi Prefecture. Qianzhou covers a core area of about 0.47 square kilometers and is a window to display mysterious culture of Xiangxi.
Qianzhou Ancient Town
Qianzhou Ancient Town. (Photo/Liu Zhenjun)
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Chinese source: official WeChat account of the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
Photo source: hunan.gov.cn
