7 Days in Jingzhou

The Western Han gentleman buried around 167 BC, unearthed in 1975, and the 1982 Mashan silk share the museum; climb the wall at the east gate for the moat panorama.

1. jingzhou museum
2. jingzhou city wall

The covered chariot pit at Chuantian runs past 130 metres with dozens of horse-and-chariot burials; on the return, the rammed-earth ramparts of Jinan, Chu's capital for about 400 years.

1. jingzhou chariot formation
2. jingzhou jinancheng ruins

A full day north of the old city at Fanta, opened in 2021 — Chu-legend dark rides, shows and, on selected nights, fireworks over the lake.

1. jingzhou fantawild

The 1572-1582 chief councillor's residence by day, the south-gate Guandi Temple — a working shrine, so visit quietly — and evening snacks on Jing street.

1. jingzhou zhangjuzheng mansion
2. jingzhou guandi temple

In Shashi the 1552 Wanshou Pagoda now stands below the levee crest; river-gate walks, cotton-market history and Yangtze-side tea in the old docks quarter.

1. jingzhou wanshou pagoda
2. jingzhou shashi old docks

East to Honghu lake — Hubei's largest at some 350 square kilometres — for the Ming-Qing lanes of Cujiaowan, boat lines through the lotus marshes and lake-fish lunches.

1. jingzhou honghu cujiaowan

A slow closing loop on the wall's north arc, gates and barbicans underfoot, then Jingzhou station for afternoon trains — or the airport coach from the old-city stop.

1. jingzhou city wall