Qu Yuan's Hometown Cultural Tourism Area is located in Zigui County, Yichang City, Hubei Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of 33.3 hectares. Situated by the Xiling Gorge of the Yangtze River's Three Gorges and facing the Three Gorges Dam across the river, it is the hometown of the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan. The tourism area is themed around Qu Yuan culture and integrates cultural experience, sightseeing, and leisure vacation. It is mainly divided into three major areas: Qu Yuan Temple, Qu Yuan's Hometown, and the Three Gorges Dam Viewing Platform.
History and Culture
Qu Yuan (c. 340 BC – 278 BC) was the first great patriotic poet in Chinese history and the founder and representative writer of Chu Ci (Songs of Chu). He was born in Lepingli, Zigui, and left behind immortal poems such as Li Sao (The Lament), Jiu Zhang (Nine Pieces), and Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions). In 278 BC, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River to die for his country. Local people rowed boats to search for him, which gave rise to the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Qu Yuan Temple in Zigui was first built in the 15th year of the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty (820 AD) and was renovated many times throughout successive dynasties. The existing buildings were relocated and reconstructed in the 1980s, fully preserving the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Qu Yuan Hometown ruins within the scenic area preserve historical sites such as Qu Yuan's birthplace and the Reading Cave, serving as important physical materials for the study of Qu Yuan culture.
Main Attractions
Qu Yuan Temple
The core building of the scenic area, covering 14,000 square meters, built against the mountain with a magnificent momentum. Inside the temple are the mountain gate, stele corridor, main hall, Qu Yuan's tomb, and other buildings. In the center of the main hall stands a 3.92-meter-tall bronze statue of Qu Yuan, with versions of Qu Yuan's works from various dynasties and inscriptions by famous people displayed on both sides. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, a grand memorial ceremony is held here.
Qu Yuan's Hometown
Located in Lepingli Village, it preserves sites such as Qu Yuan's birthplace, the Reading Cave, and the Face-Reflecting Well. Most of the buildings in the village are in Ming and Qing style, simple and elegant. Visitors can experience traditional Dragon Boat Festival folk activities such as making zongzi and sewing sachets here.
Three Gorges Dam Viewing Platform
Located at the highest point of the scenic area, it offers a panoramic distant view of the Three Gorges Dam. The platform covers 2,000 square meters and is equipped with a viewing corridor and rest area, making it an excellent spot for photographing the dam and the Xiling Gorge scenery.
Dragon Boat Festival Culture Museum
The first professional exhibition hall in China themed on the Dragon Boat Festival, with a building area of 3,000 square meters. Through physical objects, pictures, multimedia, and other forms, the museum comprehensively displays the origin, development, and folk culture of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Chu Culture Street
A 500-meter-long antique commercial street whose architectural style recreates the appearance of the Chu State. The street has specialty shops, teahouses, restaurants, and more, where visitors can buy Qu Yuan cultural souvenirs and taste local cuisine.
Dragon Boat Experience Area
Located by the Xiangxi River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, visitors can experience the fun of rowing dragon boats here and feel the cultural atmosphere of Dragon Boat Festival racing. The area also has a Dragon Boat Culture Exhibition Hall.
Tour Route：
Recommended tour route: Visitor Center → Qu Yuan Temple → Dragon Boat Festival Culture Museum → Qu Yuan's Hometown → Chu Culture Street → Dragon Boat Experience Area → Three Gorges Dam Viewing Platform. The entire tour takes about 3-4 hours. During the Dragon Boat Festival, visitors can participate in a rich variety of folk activities.
Tour Suggestions：
Visiting during the Dragon Boat Festival allows you to experience the most authentic folk activities.
Hiring a tour guide is recommended for a deeper understanding of Qu Yuan culture.
There are many stairs in the scenic area, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Allow 3-4 hours for the visit; for an in-depth tour, a full day can be arranged.
From November to April of the following year, navel orange picking can be experienced.
Notes：
Respect memorial etiquette and maintain a solemn and respectful demeanor.
Protect cultural relics and historic sites; please do not touch or carve on them.
Life jackets must be worn for the dragon boat experience; pay attention to safety.
Keep personal belongings safe, especially in crowded places.
Protect the environment; please do not litter.
Transportation：
Self-driving: Departing from downtown Yichang, drive about 60 kilometers along the Three Gorges Expressway to arrive.
Bus: Take a shuttle bus from downtown Yichang to Zigui and get off at the Qu Yuan Hometown stop.
Cruise: Take a boat from Yichang Port directly to the scenic area, enjoying the scenery of Xiling Gorge along the way.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open year-round. Daily opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (peak season, April 1 – October 31) and 8:30-17:00 (off-season, November 1 – March 31 of the following year). Ticket sales stop one hour before closing at each attraction within the scenic area.
Tickets：
Admission is 80 yuan per person.