My Hometown

My Hometown

湖北省钟祥市第一中学  班级：高二(2)班 　　姓名：阳金格   指导老师：沈艳平

Situated in the heart of Hubei Province, my hometown ZhongXiang, is a fascinating city with substantial historic sites and tourist attractions. Covering a vast area of approximately 4488 square kilometers, ZhongXiang is a mostly agricultural city with a large population of no less than 1,100,000.

The reputation of ZhongXiang lies in its abundant culture. For those who have passion for history, preferable alternatives include the Song Yu Well, the Ming Tombs, LanTai Academy etc. Amongst all the attractive landscapes here, it is the Ming Tombs that enjoys great popularity across the entire country.

The construction of the Ming Tombs was in the command of the Emperor Shizong of Ming Dynasty. There is an impressive story behind the architecture. The Emperor Shizong was in fact the cousin of the Emperor Wuzong, who passed away at a pretty young age, leaving no son to succeed to the throne. After heated debates, the ministers made a decision that whoever from the royal house made it to Beijing first would be the heir. The Emperor Shizong adopted to the proposal offered by one of his advisers that he should approach the capital on a prison van so as to avoid extra attention and save time. Consequently, the Emperor Shizong won the match for being the first to arrive. Hardly had he come to power when he designed the Ming Tombs in memory of his parents. The landscapes there remain their old styles in the ancient times. Thus it is evident that a trip to the Ming Tombs enables you to acquire a knowledge of Ming Dynasty and widen your vision. To their credit, in the year of 2000, the Ming Tombs was included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List by UNESCO.

If you feel like relaxing yourself, ZhongXiang is certainly able to satisfy your needs. In the morning, bicycling around the MoChou Lake (named after a notable musician, MoChou, who lived in the Warring States Period) is to be an enjoyable option. In the evening, don’t forget to visit the MoChou Village for delicacies, in which varieties of cuisines are available. In addition, the bonfire evening party held every Saturday presents a festive atmosphere enjoyed by all the visitors. Wandering among the traditional Chinese architecture here, you might be under the impression that you have gone back to the Ming Dynasty.

Currently, a great deal of work has been done by the local residents and government for the preservation of the city landscapes here. Through their joint efforts, ZhongXiang is becoming an increasingly attractive city. Come and have a nice trip in ZhongXiang, and you will fall in love with the city at first sight.