Ancient Longzhong(Gulongzhong Scenic Area)

Ancient Longzhong is located among the mountains west of Xiangyang city, where Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion during his youth. Legend has it that this place is surrounded by mountains, with only one peak "rising abruptly in the center," standing prominently among the ridges, hence the name "Longzhong." At the age of seventeen, Zhuge Liang came here with his uncle, farming and studying diligently for nearly a decade, earning the nickname "Crouching dragon." Later, Liu Bei visited his thatched cottage three times, and Zhuge Liang proposed the "Longzhong Plan" outlining the tripartite division of the world. Ancient Longzhong thus became known as the "cradle of wisdom" and the "birthplace of the tripartite division strategy."

Today, the attraction still preserves traces of this history: the Wuhou Temple, originally built during the Jin dynasty, rises in tiers along the mountain slope as a site for commemorating Zhuge Liang; the Three visits hall was constructed to honor Liu Bei's three visits, with ancient cypresses in front said to be the very trees where Liu, Guan, and Zhang tied their horses; thatched cottage pavilion, farming fields, small rainbow bridge, hexagonal well, old dragon cave, and knee-embracing rock collectively form the "Ten scenes of Longzhong" passed down since the Ming dynasty—the knee-embracing rock is believed to be where Zhuge sat chanting "Liangfu yin." At the entrance stands a Qing-dynasty bluestone archway inscribed with "Ancient Longzhong," flanked by phrases from "Admonitions to my son"—"Indifference to fame reveals one's ambition" and "Tranquility leads to far-reaching vision"—with Du Fu's famous couplet "Three visits exhausted the world's schemes, two reigns revealed the veteran's heart" carved on pillars, serving as the attraction's iconic photo spot. Hiking up to Tenglong Pavilion atop the mountain offers panoramic views of Longzhong's forests and fields; nestled in the valley lies a thatched-roof theater once staging the large-scale outdoor drama "Thatched cottage: Zhuge Liang," chronicling his life.

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" describes this place as having "hills not lofty but elegant, waters not deep but clear." The leisurely pace of the visit allows you to share the story of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage with your children as you stroll. If you're interested in Zhuge Liang's life, we recommend setting aside half a day to explore the inscriptions and exhibits in detail, which is more rewarding than a hurried visit.