Luchuan County 陆川县

Setting and landscape

The county takes its name from six rivers within its borders: the Jiuzhou (九洲江), Mima (米马河), Shahu (沙湖河), Rongjiang (榕江河), Diyang (低阳河) and Qinghu (清湖河). Its hot springs have long been praised as the "imperial hot spring" and the "first spring of Lingnan" (岭南第一泉). Hakka people make up about 69% of the county, and the county government stresses their regard for learning.

History

Under the Southern Qi, Luchuan Commandery was carved out of Hepu County, with its seat at Liangguo (良国), now in Beiliu; between the Liang and the Chen it became Luchuan County, which the county government counts as its founding. In 972, under the Song, Luoban County (罗卞县) was renamed Luchuan and absorbed four other counties, and in 994 the seat moved to the old Wenshui (温水) county seat, today's county town. The county government also calls Luchuan the place where the first shot of the anti-Japanese armed uprising in southeast Guangxi was fired.

What to see

Xielu Villa (谢鲁山庄), in Xielu village in Wushi town (乌石镇), dates from 1920; it was listed by Guangxi in 1994 and became a national key protected site in 2013. The Luchuan Pig Museum (陆川猪博物馆) and a Hakka culture quarter of three streets and a park are among the county's growing number of cultural-tourism venues. The Yulin International Spice Market (玉林国际香料市场), based in the county, is described by the county government as the only first-tier specialist spice wholesale market in China.

Food and local products

Luchuan pigs (陆川猪) have been raised here for over 2,000 years. Luchuan iron woks (陆川铁锅) have been made for more than 400 years and are a national geographical-indication product. Wushi soy sauce (乌石酱油) has been brewed by traditional methods for over 300 years, and Luchuan pomelo peel (陆川橘红) is listed as a regional public brand in Guangxi's agricultural brand catalogue. The county groups Hakka culture, hot springs, pigs, woks, spices and soy sauce as its "six fragrances".

Getting oriented

The county town lies more than 150 kilometres from Zhanjiang (湛江), more than 170 kilometres from Maoming (茂名), more than 190 kilometres from Beihai (北海) and 20 kilometres from Yulin Fumian Airport. The Litang–Zhanjiang and Yulin–Tieshangang railways pass through, and the Yulin–Zhanjiang expressway runs the length of the county from north to south.

Highlights

• Xielu Villa 谢鲁山庄: 1920 estate in Wushi town, a national key protected site since 2013.
• Luchuan hot springs 陆川温泉: Praised as the imperial hot spring and the first spring of Lingnan.
• Luchuan iron woks 陆川铁锅: Made for more than 400 years; a national geographical-indication product.
• Wushi soy sauce 乌石酱油: Brewed by traditional methods for over 300 years.