Xiangyang (襄阳; Xiāngyáng), which was called Xiangfan (襄樊; Xiāngyfán), is a city in Hubei Province. It is comprised of two halves, Xiangyang (on the south side of the Han River) and Fancheng (on the north side of the river). Located in central China, it covers about 19,700 km², with a resident population of around 5.28 million, and the local dialect is Southwestern Chinese.
Understand
[edit]Xiangyang has over 2,800 years of history and has been an important economic and military center, earning the title "First City of China." It is the birthplace of Chu, Han, and Three Kingdoms culture, with main tourist attractions highlighting Three Kingdoms heritage, such as the Longzhong scenic area and Xiangyang City. Located along the middle reaches of the Han River, Xiangyang is a central city connecting Hubei, Henan, Chongqing, and Shaanxi, and is a national historical and cultural city, a provincial sub-center, and a new industrial base in northwest Hubei.
History
[edit]It is best known for being the site of an important battle between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Mongol Empire, which the Mongols won decisively, following which they were shortly able to conquer all of China. The Fancheng area is also known for being the site of an important battle during the late Eastern Han Dynasty between the forces of the warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao.
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Climate
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Xiangyang has a humid subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and dry. The average annual temperature is around 15–16°C, and the frost-free period lasts for about 230–250 days. Annual precipitation ranges from 820 to 1,100 mm, mostly falling between May and September. The city enjoys abundant sunshine throughout the year, and the warm, rainy summers provide favorable conditions for crop growth.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Xiangyang Liuji Airport (襄阳刘集机场 XFN IATA), 1 Jichang Road, Liuji Subdistrict, Xiangzhou District (Located about 18 kilometers west of Xiangyang city center), ☏ +86 710 3236737, [email protected]. Xiangyang Liuji Airport is a regional civil airport opened in 1989, with the T2 terminal in 2017 and international flights since 2019. It has a 2,600-meter runway, a 20,000 m² terminal with multiple boarding bridges and stands, handling over two million passengers annually. Airlines serve more than 20 cities, making it a key gateway to Xiangyang.
By train
[edit]- 2 Xiangyang Railway Station (襄阳站), 38 Qianjin Road, Fancheng District (Approximately 6 km from the city center), ☏ +86 710 12306. Xiangyang Railway Station is the main rail hub in Xiangyang, operated by China Railway Wuhan Group. Built in 1958 and renamed in 2011, it connects the Handan, Jiaoliu, and Xiangyu railways. The station has four platforms and seven tracks, with about 78 daily trains to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
- 3 Xiangyang East Railway Station (襄阳东站), 1 Gaotie South Road, Dongjin New District (Approximately 17 km from the city center). Xiangyang East Railway Station is a major high-speed rail hub in central China, opened in 2019. It has nine platforms and twenty tracks, connecting major routes such as Wuhan–Xi’an and Zhengzhou–Chongqing. The station provides self-service ticket machines and dining facilities, with buses and taxis available to the city center and main attractions.
- 4 Nanzhang Railway Station (南漳站), Shahe Village, Nanzhang County (Approximately 45 km from the center of Xiangyang City), ☏ +86 710 12306. Nanzhang Railway Station is an important stop on the Zhengzhou–Chongqing High-Speed Railway, opened in 2022 with two platforms and four tracks. The station is well-equipped and easy to navigate, offering convenient connections to Xiangyang, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, and transfers to cities such as Wuhan, Changsha, and Kunming. It serves as a key transport hub for accessing Nanzhang and nearby areas.
- 5 Yicheng Railway Station (宜城站), Tiehu Village, Yancheng Subdistrict Office (Yicheng Economic Development Zone) (Approximately 40 km from the center of Xiangyang City). Yicheng Railway Station is a passenger station on the Xiangyang–Jingmen section of the Hunan High-Speed Railway. It has two platforms and four tracks, with modern facilities and a comfortable waiting area. Trains from the station provide quick access to Xiangyang East, Jingmen West, and Jingzhou, with convenient transfers to major cities such as Wuhan, Chongqing, and Hangzhou.
By bus
[edit]- 6 Xiangyang Bus Terminal (襄阳汽车客运中心站), 8 Zhongyuan Road, Fancheng District (Approximately 3 km from Xiangyang city center), ☏ +86 710 3223768. Xiangyang Bus Terminal is the largest road transport hub in northwest Hubei and a first-class station recognized by the Ministry of Transport, as well as an AAA-rated station in Hubei. It has multiple ticket counters and online ticketing points, with about 800 daily departures and annual passenger traffic exceeding 2 million, covering routes to 18 provinces. Facilities include luggage storage, dining, and cargo services, and it is connected with city buses and Xiangyang Railway Station for integrated transport.
- 7 Xiangyang South Bus Terminal (襄阳汽车客运南站), Auxiliary Road, Xiangnan Avenue, Tanxi Subdistrict, Xiangcheng District (take Bus 25 to Xiangyang New Energy Park BYD City Center stop, then walk 178 meters to reach the terminal), ☏ +86 710 3513831. 07:00-17:00. Xiangyang South Bus Terminal officially opened on March 5, 2025, taking over all services from the former Xiangcheng Bus Station. It is a major transport hub in Xiangcheng District, operating 19 intercity routes with 154 buses to destinations such as Nanzhang (including Wuzhen) and Baokang. Three city stops—Changhong South Road, Wanshan, and Shengli Street—allow convenient boarding.
Get around
[edit]By bus
[edit]Xiangyang has a well-developed bus system that offers wide coverage and excellent value. Regular routes cost RMB 1–2 per ride, and air-conditioned buses cost RMB 2 in summer and winter. Buses run frequently—every 5–10 minutes during rush hours and every 10–15 minutes off-peak. Major routes reach popular attractions such as Gulongzhong, Xiangyang Ancient City, Xijia Pool, and Tang City, as well as main commercial areas. Passengers can use Alipay, WeChat ride codes, or a physical bus card; no cash is needed. Some older buses lack English stop announcements, so it’s best to check real-time stop information in navigation apps.
By taxi
[edit]Taxis are common and operate 24 hours a day. The base fare is RMB 8 for the first 2 km, then RMB 2 per additional km; at night (23:00–06:00), the base fare is RMB 9 and RMB 2.2 per km thereafter. There is no fuel surcharge. You can hail a taxi on the street or use ride-hailing apps such as Didi Chuxing. Most drivers speak Chinese only, so it’s useful to have the destination written in Chinese. During rush hours (7:30–9:00, 17:30–19:00) or on rainy days, taxis may be harder to find—plan your trip accordingly.
By bike
[edit]Shared bikes and e-bikes are ideal for short trips of 1–3 km, with wide availability across the city and near scenic areas. Scan the QR code to unlock; the cost is around RMB 2–3 per half hour for bikes and RMB 3–5 for e-bikes. Parking is allowed only in designated zones, or extra relocation fees may apply. Some older parts of the city have narrow or sloped roads, so ride carefully. Dedicated bike lanes are available near scenic spots such as Gulongzhong and Xijia Pool.
See
[edit]- 1 Xiangyang Ancient City (襄阳古城), 128 Binjiang North Street, Xiangcheng District (take bus lines 6, 29, or 512 to Shizijie Stop, then walk about 980 meters to reach the site), ☏ +86 710 3500002. 24hours. Xiangyang Ancient City, built during the Western Han dynasty, is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. The city wall stretches about 7.3 km, surrounded by water on three sides with a moat averaging 180 m wide. Known as “Iron Xiangyang,” it served as a key military and administrative center. Notable sites include Zhenhua Gate, Linhan Gate, Zhongxuan Tower, and Zhaoming Terrace. The site is a National Key Cultural Relic and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Free.
- Zheng Wu Shan Temple (真武山). A small but active Daoist temple run mainly by Daoist nuns.
- 2 Xiangyang Museum (襄阳市博物馆), 1 North Street, Xiangyang District (襄城区北街1号) (the nearest bus stop is Shizi Street (十字街), which is served by bus routes 6, 8, 13, 21, 24, 28, 29, 512, 517, 532, 537, 539, g03, and k11), ☏ +86 710 3513330. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:00, closed on Mondays. The Xiangyang Museum, a national first-class museum founded in 1975, features Tang-style architecture and six main exhibition halls covering periods from prehistory to the Qing dynasty. It displays over 4,000 cultural relics, including bronzes, ceramics, jade, calligraphy, and stone carvings, with inscribed pre-Qin bronzes as a highlight. Free.
- 3 Gulongzhong Scenic Area (古隆中景区), No. 461-1 Longzhong Road, Xiangcheng District (take Bus No. 6 to Gulongzhong Tourist Center North Gate Station, then walk about 340 meters to reach the site), ☏ +86 710 3591656. 08:00-17:00. Gulongzhong Scenic Area, a national 5A tourist attraction, is renowned as the retreat of Zhuge Liang during his youth and the site of the famous “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage” and “Longzhong Plan” stories. Key sites include Zhuge’s Cottage, the Hall of Three Visits, and the Wuhou Shrine, with the preserved “Ten Views of Longzhong” from the Ming dynasty adding to its cultural and scenic appeal. ¥82.
- 4 Zhuge Liang thatched hut (诸葛草庐), in Gulongzhong scenic area (古隆中) about 12 km west of old city. 08:30-17:00. The hut where Three Kingdoms warlord/Shu-Han King Liu Bei visited three times to recruit Zhuge Liang. The scenic area is supposedly where Zhuge Liang lived and studied at the time. There's an academy where he studied, temple dedicated to him, a cave, and a well that he used. The hut is a replica but based supposedly on a very old one from Yuan dynasty. The temple has been rebuilt many times after burning down and expanded about once every dynasty. 87 RMB.
- 5 Guangde Temple (广德寺), About 250m southwest of the intersection of Liujiaying Road and Longzhong Avenue, Xiangcheng District (take Bus No. 512 to Sangu Lukou Station, then walk about 439 meters to reach the site), ☏ +86 710 3456557. 08:00-18:00. Guangde Temple, originally built during the Tang dynasty and renamed during the Ming dynasty, features traditional Ming and Qing architectural styles. Highlights include the Mahavira Hall, Sutra Library, and the brick-and-stone Duobao Pagoda, a national protected relic from the Ming period. The temple’s ancient ginkgo tree, revered since imperial times, adds to its rich historical and cultural significance. Free.
- 6 Mi Gong Temple (米公祠), No. 2 Jiefang Road, Fancheng District (take Bus No. 2 to Mi Gong Temple North Station, then walk about 206 meters to reach the site), ☏ +86 710 3433316. 08:00-17:30. Mi Gong Temple, built in memory of Mi Fu, a renowned calligrapher and painter of the Northern Song dynasty, dates back to the Yuan period and features preserved Qing-style architecture. The temple houses numerous stone inscriptions and rubbings, including reproductions of Mi Fu’s works. It’s an excellent place to appreciate traditional Chinese calligraphy and explore Xiangyang’s cultural heritage. ¥25.
Do
[edit]In Xiangyang, visitors can not only explore historical sites but also experience the city’s vibrant culture and diverse activities, discovering its unique charm and vitality.
- 1 Tangcheng Scenic Area (襄阳唐城风景区， 唐城影视基地), Group 4, Shijiamiao Community, Xiangcheng District, ☏ +86 710 3063333. 08:30–17:30 (Day Session), 17:30–22:30 (Night Session). Tangcheng Scenic Area, a national 4A tourist attraction covering about 3.7 million square meters, features grand Tang-style architectural complexes such as the Triumph Tower, Mingde Gate, and Qinglong Temple. It serves as a filming location for many productions and hosts live performances that recreate the splendor of the Tang dynasty. Nearby shops offer costume and photography experiences, allowing visitors to dress up and capture the charm of the Tang era. ¥90.
- 2 Guanjia Lane (管家巷), 50m north of Xiangyang No. 33 Middle School, Gulou area, ☏ +86 710 3555636. 10:00-22:00. Guanjia Lane is a historic street in the Ancient City that blends tradition and modern culture. Featuring Ming–Qing–style architecture, it offers local cuisine, traditional crafts, and immersive performances such as Poetic Xiangyang and Chivalrous Xiangyang. Free.
- 3 OCT Fantasy Land Scenic Area (华侨城奇幻乐园景区), In Wonder Town, OCT Fantasy Resort, Xiangzhou District, ☏ +86 710 3730000. 10:00–18:00 (Day Session)， 16:00–22:00 (Night Session). OCT Fantasy Land Scenic Area is a large comprehensive theme park that combines entertainment, cultural experiences, and leisure vacations. The park features a variety of unique amusement rides and performances, blending technology and creativity to provide visitors with an immersive and fantastic experience. ¥128.
- 4 Xin Shenyun Hanjiang Cruise (新神韵汉江游轮), Longzikou Wharf, Yanjiang Avenue, Fancheng District, ☏ +86 710 3081266. 09:00-20:00. Xin Shenyun Hanjiang Cruise is a luxury sightseeing cruise featuring a ship design inspired by Three Kingdoms culture, with three observation decks and modern facilities. The route along the Hanjiang River offers views of landmarks such as Changhong Bridge, Wolong Bridge, and the ancient city walls. The cruise provides daytime historical and cultural tours as well as nighttime light show experiences, along with traditional performances and interactive activities. ¥78.
Buy
[edit]Xiangyang’s shopping areas include modern large-scale malls as well as traditional streets preserving local characteristics, catering to a variety of shopping needs, from one-stop shopping experiences to specialty handicrafts and local foods.
- 1 Wanda Plaza (万达广场), No. 9 Changhong North Road, Gaoxin District (take bus G02 to Wanda Plaza Station, then walk 205m to reach the destination), ☏ +86 710 3716666. 10:00-22:00. Wanda Plaza is a large comprehensive shopping center that combines shopping, dining, entertainment, business, and leisure, offering a convenient one-stop experience.
- 2 Wuyue Plaza (吾悦广场), No. 77 Changhong North Road, Fancheng District (take bus G02 to Wuyue Plaza Station to reach the destination), ☏ +86 710 3590888. 10:00-22:00. Wuyue Plaza is a shopping center with a wide range of facilities, including supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants, and children’s play areas.
- 3 Xiangyang Beijie (襄阳北街), Xiangcheng District (take bus G03 to Gucheng Shizi Street Station, then walk 412 meters to reach the destination). 24 hours. Xiangyang Beijie is the city’s main destination for local specialty products, offering both traditional foods and culturally inspired handmade and creative items. Visitors can find specialty snacks, handcrafted incense, themed desserts, and intangible cultural heritage crafts, experiencing the unique charm of Xiangyang. Free.
Eat
[edit]Xiangyang’s cuisine blends Jingchu flavors with local characteristics, known for its freshness, richness, and simplicity, reflecting the city’s unique regional taste and cultural charm.
- 1 Yachun Wang (鸭唇王·襄阳特色菜·始于1998), No. 28-1-006-010, Zone 7, Haoran Cultural Street, Dongjin Century City, Dongjin New District, Jingkai District, ☏ +86 710 2867887. 10:00-21:00. “Yachun Wang” is a well-known specialty food brand in Xiangyang, featuring duck lips as its signature dish, combining Sichuan and Jingchu flavors with a crispy exterior and tender interior. The brand also offers dishes such as the “Three Duck Treasures,” pickled fish, and lotus root with pork rib soup, showcasing Xiangyang’s rich, flavorful, and rustic cuisine. ¥50（per person on average）.
- 2 Xiao’s Kitchen (肖家厨房·襄阳菜·唐城·古城美食), 1st Floor, Longxin Jiayuan, Panggong 1st Road, Xiangcheng District, ☏ +86 710 3522258, toll-free: +86 15971005759. 09:00-22:30. Xiao’s Kitchen is a chain restaurant focusing on local Xiangyang flavors, offering classic Xiangyang dishes and homestyle food, combining traditional taste with a cozy atmosphere. ¥66（per person on average）.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Zhen Wu Hotel (真武大酒店), 27 Xiangchen Street East, ☏ +86 710 3530888, fax: +86 710 3518977. Free internet in rooms (with Ethernet cable). Has a good Chinese-style breakfast buffet.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Wudang Mountain (武当山) — a famous Daoist mountain renowned for its martial arts. It can be a day trip out of Xiangyang (2 hour bus each way), but there are also places to stay on the mountain both for tourists and longer-term guests. Wudang Shan is particularly famous for its Taiqi Quan and offers many multi-week classes (register in advance) open to Chinese and foreigners alike.