Guxian 古县

Setting and landscape

Guxian borders Anze (安泽) to the east, Hongtong (洪洞) to the west, Yaodu (尧都) and Fushan (浮山) to the south, and Huozhou (霍州) and Qinyuan (沁源) to the north. The Hong'anjian River (洪安涧河) flows from northeast to southwest across the county into the Fen. Rain falls mostly in July, August and September.

History

A county was first set up here in the first year of the Jianyi (建义) era of the Northern Wei, named Anze after the villages of Anji (安吉) and Zequan (泽泉). In the second year of the Sui Daye (大业) era it became Yueyang (岳阳), for its position south of the Huoyue (霍岳) mountains, and in 1914 it reverted to Anze while keeping its seat in the old town, today's Chengguan village (城关村) in Yueyang. In August 1971 seven townships from Anze and three from Fushan were joined to form the present Guxian, and a new county town was built south of the old one in 1973. The county government names the Warring States minister Lin Xiangru (蔺相如) and the artist Zhao Ziyue (赵子岳) as natives.

What to see

The Sanhe ancient peony (三合古牡丹) was planted in the Tang dynasty more than 1,300 years ago. The plant stands 2.8 metres tall, its clump measures 20 metres around, and the China Flower Association has recognised it as the country's largest single wild peony. The county has held fifteen peony festivals, and the Guxian Peony Cultural Tourism Area (古县牡丹文化旅游景区) is a national 4A scenic area. Other sites named by the county include the tomb site of Lin Xiangru, Yanqing Temple (延庆观), Laoyeding (老爷顶) summit on Mount Huo (霍山), the Ming-dynasty Zhang family compound (张家大院), the Yuni River (淤泥河) battlefield of the Sui and Tang, and the Guandi Temple at Reliu (热留关帝庙), a Shanxi provincial heritage site.

Food and local products

Guxian calls itself the 'home of Chinese walnuts': walnuts have been grown here for more than 2,000 years, the county is one of Shanxi's three traditional walnut areas, and Guxian walnuts, known for large nuts with thin shells and thick kernels, gained national geographical-indication status in 2010. Of its walnut trees, 78 are more than 500 years old. The county also promotes Beiping (北平) green beans, Yueyang tomatoes and Jiuxian (旧县) red chillies.

Highlights

• Sanhe ancient peony 三合古牡丹: Tang-dynasty peony recognised by the China Flower Association as the country's largest single wild peony; part of a national 4A scenic area.
• Tomb site of Lin Xiangru 蔺相如墓址: Named by the county government, which names the Warring States minister as a native.
• Guandi Temple at Reliu 热留关帝庙: A Shanxi provincial heritage site.
• Guxian walnuts 古县核桃: Large, thin-shelled walnuts; national geographical indication since 2010.