Huanghuang Jingchu Song·Journey to Western Hunan·Suoxi Valley·Jiuxi Ancient City Visit
At the confluence of Suoxi and Lujiang River, there is an ancient city wall - Jiuxi City. Jiuxi City is surrounded by water on three sides and backed by mountains on one side, and is completely hidden in a sea of ??green. The city is rich in citrus, especially the golden pomelo, which is one of the five famous pomeloes in the country.
Jiuxi City, formerly known as Suojiang Village, is home to the Miao, Tu and Han ethnic groups. In order to suppress the peasant uprising here in the Ming Dynasty, Jiuxi Guards were set up in the west of the city. There are forty-eight patios in Weizhong. Most of the existing ancient buildings in the city were built in the Ming Dynasty. There is an earthen furnace near the guard station, called the "Sword Casting Furnace". According to legend, it was built by Tang general Wei Chigong when he was forging swords here. There is a stone hole bridge at the east entrance of Jiuxi City, with three official script characters "Qili Bridge" engraved on it. There is Xingguo Temple in the north of the city, which was first built in the Tang Dynasty and greatly renovated in the Ming Dynasty. There is a pavilion in the temple, surrounded by patterns composed of wood carvings. It is simple and elegant, and is called the "Plum Blossom Hall". It is a key cultural relic under protection in Hunan Province. Climbing to the top of the hall, you can have a bird's eye view of the entire Jiuxi River. There is a huge bell next to the Plum Blossom Hall, as big as a bamboo rose. It is said to be an imperial edict from an emperor in the Song Dynasty, and it is called the divine bell. The sound of this bell is like thunder, and its sound can be heard within a radius of 30 miles, so it is also called the "Thirty Mile Royal Bell". In the center of Jiuxi City Street is the Bell and Drum Tower (also known as Liuyang Tower), which is shaped like a pagoda and is seven stories high. The top floor has cornices and copper bells. Whenever the wind blows, there is a tinkling sound, crisp and melodious, that spreads throughout the city. Some people say that the Bell and Drum Tower was the alarm tower of Jiuxi Guards in those days. If there was danger outside the city, the bell would automatically sound.
To the south of Jiuxi City, the water is deep and the current is rapid, and the terrain is dangerous. On the cliff on the other side are three large cursive characters "懇江 ferry" engraved on it. "The old ferry is green with green willows, and boats are sailing on the faint mist." According to the records of Wanli County in the Ming Dynasty, the ferry was built in the eighth year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty. It was once a must-pass for merchants and pedestrians traveling to and from Jiuxi and Jiangya. It is said that after Li Zicheng's defeat, he was chased here by officers and soldiers. He was encountering a violent storm. A small boat floated up at the critical moment, so he boarded the boat to escape the danger.
Beside Jiuxi City, there is also the Fairy Cave. In front of the cave, there is a majestic field of thatch flowers and a torrential stream of water flowing past. The scenery is majestic and beautiful, and the climate is refreshing and pleasant. In summer, local people often come to this cave to escape the heat and enjoy the cool air, saying that the ancient road is now here.