Культурно-туристическая зона «Родина Цюй Юаня»

The Qu Yuan Hometown Cultural Tourism Area is a major cultural site in Zigui county, in the mountains west of Yichang, dedicated to the life and legacy of Qu Yuan, one of the most important poets in Chinese history. Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period in the ancient state of Chu, is celebrated as the father of Chinese Romantic poetry and is best known abroad as the figure whose memory is said to have inspired the Dragon Boat Festival. For travelers interested in Chinese literature, history, or the cultural roots of one of the country's most famous festivals, this is one of the most rewarding stops in the Yichang region.

The site is set in Zigui, the poet's traditional hometown, on a stretch of the Yangtze valley that was itself transformed by the Three Gorges project, with much of the old county town now submerged beneath the reservoir. Within the complex, a memorial gate bearing the characters for Qu Yuan's Hometown marks the entrance, and a network of halls, courtyards, gardens, and viewpoints explores different aspects of the poet's life, his political career in the Chu court, his exile, and his eventual drowning in the Miluo River. Exhibits also trace the history of the Dragon Boat Festival and its symbolic connection to the rescue attempts that local people are said to have made in their boats.

The architecture and landscaping draw on Chu-era aesthetic traditions, with heavy timberwork, sweeping eaves, and a layout meant to evoke the lost world of the ancient kingdom of Chu. Theatrical and ceremonial performances, poetry recitations, and seasonal events tied to the Dragon Boat Festival in early summer bring the historical material to life. From several points within the site, views open over the Yangtze reservoir and the surrounding gorges, which tie the poet's story directly to the landscape of this stretch of the river.

Allow at least a half-day to walk through the main halls and gardens, with more time if you want to take in the cultural performances or visit the surrounding old streets of Zigui. Spring and early summer are especially atmospheric, since the Dragon Boat Festival period brings the site to life with races, performances, and commemorative events. For travelers in Yichang, the Qu Yuan Hometown offers a deep cultural counterweight to the engineered sights of the Three Gorges Dam and a direct connection to some of the oldest roots of Chinese literature.