Xiangyin boasts profound cultural heritage and abundant cultural resources. Its 19 townships, each with distinctive characteristics, jointly constitute the extensive cultural pedigree of Xiangyin and enrich its splendid human landscapes.

Throughout history, every township has left distinct cultural imprints. These serve not only as the historical backdrop and fertile cultural soil, but also as a legacy of history and an inexhaustible treasure trove waiting for continuous exploration by later generations.

Starting today, our journal launches the special column Charming Townships. It showcases the human and natural scenery of each township, helping more people understand and appreciate this hometown. The column will inspire admiration for Xiangyin’s history, respect and longing for its present development, and spur enthusiasm among local people to build a beautiful Xiangyin.

Zhangshu Town is located in the southwestern part of Xiangyin County. It borders Changsha, the provincial capital, in the south and the Xiangjiang River in the west. The town derives its name from an ancient camphor tree large enough for seven adults to link arms around. Growing against the mountain and beside the river, the tree stretches out a huge umbrella-like crown casting deep shade, remaining luxuriant all year round.

As one of the three key southern urban clusters of Xiangyin within the Lakeside Demonstration Zone for the Two-oriented Society, Zhangshu Town enjoys convenient land and water transportation and prominent geographical advantages. It is home to tourist attractions including Liuzhuang Manor and Fahua Temple, and has recently been named a Famous Tourism Town of Hunan Province.

The town centre is merely 13.6 kilometres from Xiangyin County seat. It takes only 15 minutes to drive to the county along Xiangzhang Road on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River. Changsha Huanghua International Airport is just a one-hour drive away, and the Xiangning Deep-Water Port in Changsha is only 13 kilometres away. Construction is currently underway on the Changsha Armed Police Helicopter Airport.

Zhangshu Port has long been a vital wharf downstream from Changsha leading to Dongting Lake, a hub fiercely contested by merchants. River trade routes extend south to Changsha and Hengyang, north to Yueyang and Hankou, west to Yiyang and Changde, and east to Miluo and Pingjiang.

The town administers 22 administrative villages and 4 neighbourhood committees, covering 284 villager groups with 6,111 households. In 2011, the population stood at 26,909. The total land area is 64 square kilometres, including 24,500 mu of cultivated farmland.

Zhangshu Town is an ancient town with a history of nearly three thousand years, renowned for outstanding people and favourable natural conditions. It contains the military training camp where Guan Yu stationed troops during the Three Kingdoms period, as well as the mysterious Baimei Kiln Site of Yuezhou dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The town was originally named Ai Prefecture. Its recorded history stretches back to the era of Yao, Shun and Yu, featuring the legend of the two imperial concubines weeping for their husband Emperor Shun. Ehuang and Nüying, the two daughters of Emperor Yao, were both married to Shun so that Yao could test his heir’s virtue. Their story has been passed down through the ages as a timeless tale.

When Shun made an inspection tour to the south and suddenly passed away in Hunan (the old claim that he died in Guangxi is inaccurate), the two wives journeyed thousands of miles to search for him. Arriving at the Xiangjiang River in present-day Zhangshu Town, they wept bitterly before throwing themselves into the river. Their tears stained the bamboo stalks, giving rise to the spotted bamboo also known as Xiangfei Bamboo.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, eminent monks of the Tiantai School often preached in Baling Commandery, making northern Hunan a major centre of Tiantai Buddhism. It was during this period that the ancient Fahua Temple was founded, specifically in 626 AD, the ninth year of the Wude reign of Emperor Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty — a history spanning 1,385 years to the present day. The temple still attracts a steady stream of pilgrims from across the country. The life story of the revered monk Jichan, also known as the Eight-Fingered Monk, has been passed down orally among local villagers for generations.

The Town God’s Temple built in the Ming Dynasty still stands here, and the Town God enshrined there has long been revered by local residents.

Before embarking on his official career, Zuo Zongtang lived in seclusion in Zhangshu Town. He built Liuzhuang Manor at Liujiachong, now Xunshan Village. Nestled among rolling hills and green farmland, the manor embraces mountain scenery to the east and absorbs the spiritual essence of the Xiangjiang River to the west. Today it has become one of the town’s top scenic spots.

Zhangshu Town has nurtured numerous outstanding figures. Early republican anti-Yuan activist Zhang Zuhan, together with progressive revolutionaries Yu Ge, Yao Lanjia and Chen Xialin, were all born here.

Chilli is regarded as meat for poor families, and people in Hunan cannot live without spicy food.

Zhangshu Port chilli has a short fruiting period and low yield, featuring rich oiliness, intense spiciness and thick flesh. Food critic Rob Walsh once wrote that fine chillies carry a fresh fruity aroma. When you pluck a fresh chilli and stir-fry it in a dry iron wok without oil, the peel and flesh stay intact, releasing an authentic, fiery flavour.

Zhangshu Port chilli has the crisp freshness of newly shelled water caltrop. Its spiciness is neither wild and explosive like bird’s eye chilli nor mild and faint like lantern pepper. It delivers a deep, lingering heat that penetrates deep into the bones — much like the strong temperament of Zuo Zongtang, who spent 14 years growing vegetables at Liuzhuang Manor in Zhangshu Port.

When cultivated elsewhere, Zhangshu Port chilli always degenerates, just as oranges planted north of the Huaihe River turn into bitter trifoliate oranges.

I once read an old book mentioning that besides the equatorial belt, there is also a chilli belt. Stretching from the Korean Peninsula in the east, it runs through central China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, the Middle East and North Africa all the way to the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to special soil, climate and ancient trade and cultural exchanges, peppers grown in this belt always taste exceptional. I believe my hometown Zhangshu Port lies right within this chilli belt.

Xie Guangtou, who runs a chain of restaurants in Changsha famous for stir-fried pork with chilli, says that the perfect version of this classic dish is made with Zhangshu Port chilli from Xiangyin and Ningxiang flower-bred pork.

In recent years, Zhangshu Town has strictly followed its development strategy: Prosper the town through ecological development, strengthen industries, energize tourism, and maintain stability for the people. Adhering to the principles of long-term planning, phased implementation, coordinated development and overall progress, local cadres and villagers have seized opportunities with a pragmatic work ethic, striding forward on the path of sound and harmonious development within the Lakeside Two-oriented Society Demonstration Zone.