Jingzhou Introduction

  Jingzhou, previously the famous city of Jiangling, has now been somewhat absorbed by the sprawling growth of 5hashi, but it is still surrounded by its 16-kilometre (ten-mile) long and nine--metre (30-foot) high city wall. Jingzhou is visited from Shashi.Jingzhou was the capital of Jing, one of the nine great Regions into which Emperor Yu, founder of the Xia dynasty (2200--1800 BC), divided China. FromJingzhou the emperor received as tribute exotic gifts of gold, ivory, cinnabar, silver and feathers.

  In the Spring and Autumn period (722-48I BC) the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Chu. 1ts walls, according to tradition, were first built in the third century by Guan Yu, a hero of the Three Kingdoms era. Guan Yu was renowned for hi5strength, height and velour. A thousand years after his death he was deified as the god of war, and his fierce red-faced image appears in many Chinese temples throughout Asia. Stories of his exploits and battles over the city are vividly told in the novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

WHAT TO SEE lN JINGZHOU
  Since Jingzhou was the capital of 20 kingdoms during both the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it is not surprising that valuable artifacts have been found buried in the many tombs on Phoenix Hill. These relics, in particular an important col1ection of lacquer ware, 2,000-year-old silk garments and fabrics, and an a1most perfectly preserved male corpse of a Han-dynasty official, are exhibited at the fine Jingzhou Museum, also an important research centre, and well worth a visit.

• JingZhou Museum