Lingling District 零陵区

History

The name goes back to the Shiji (史记), which says the sage-king Shun (舜) died on a southern tour and was buried at Jiuyi (九疑), "and this is Lingling". The district government dates the building of the city to 124 BC and ranks it second only to Changsha (长沙) among Hunan cities by age. Lingling Commandery (零陵郡) was set up in 111 BC and moved its seat to Quanling (泉陵), the present district, under the Eastern Han. In 589 the Sui replaced the commandery with Yongzhou, and the town stayed a seat of government through the Qing. A giant lingzhi fungus said to have grown at the examination hall in 1267 gave it the nickname "Zhi City" (芝城). The district was named Zhishan (芝山区) in 1995 and took back the name Lingling in 2005.

What to see

The Liu Zongyuan Cultural Tourism Area (柳宗元文化旅游区), a national 4A scenic area, follows the Yu Stream (愚溪). Liuzi Street (柳子街) is a 550-metre street named after Liu and first built in the Tang; the double-arched Yuxi Bridge (愚溪桥) dates from the Qianlong reign. Liuzi Temple (柳子庙) stands on the west bank of the Xiao where the Yu Stream flows in. A shrine to Liu was founded in 1056, moved to this site in 1144 and rebuilt in 1877; its courtyards hold an opera stage and front and rear halls, and it has been a national key protected site since 2001.

Also on the west bank, Chaoyang Rock (朝阳岩) was named by the Tang poet Yuan Jie (元结) and keeps 125 inscriptions, including works by Mi Fu (米芾) and Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚). Pingzhou Academy (蘋洲书院) sits on the island where the Xiao and Xiang meet; Li Da (李达), a founder of the Communist Party of China, studied there. Boats from the old-town pier pass Huilong Pagoda (廻龙塔). The Dongshan Scenic Area (东山景区), a national 4A scenic area on Dongshan hill, covers the Lütian Hermitage (绿天庵), Fahua Temple (法华寺) and a stone inscription of the Thousand Character Classic (千字文) by Huaisu (怀素). About 26 km from town, the Zhou Family Compound (周家大院) is a group of six Ming, Qing and Republican-era courtyards, founded in 1450 by descendants of the Song philosopher Zhou Dunyi (周敦颐).

Food and local products

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism names four local specialities: Lingling blood duck (零陵血鸭), Lingling river snails (零陵嗦螺), Lingling braised beef (零陵牛扣) and Lingling coiled eel (零陵盘龙鳝鱼).

Highlights

• Liuzi Temple 柳子庙: Temple to Liu Zongyuan where the Yu Stream meets the Xiao, rebuilt in 1877; national key protected site since 2001.
• Liuzi Street 柳子街: A 550-metre street named after Liu Zongyuan, first built in the Tang.
• Chaoyang Rock 朝阳岩: Riverside cliff named by Yuan Jie, with 125 inscriptions including works by Mi Fu and Huang Tingjian.
• Pingzhou Academy 蘋洲书院: Academy on the island where the Xiao and Xiang meet; Li Da studied here.
• Zhou Family Compound 周家大院: Six Ming, Qing and Republican-era courtyards founded in 1450 by descendants of Zhou Dunyi.