Zhongxiang, a county-level city located in the heart of Hubei in the middle reaches of the Han River, is one of the cradles of Chu culture with a recorded history of more than 2,700 years. The name Zhongxiang means “blessed with propitious omen” and was given to the city by the Jiajing Emperor in the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1521 to 1567. The Jiajing Emperor was born and had lived before his succession to the throne in Zhongxiang, where he ordered the construction of many majestic building complexes, including the largest single mausoleum in China, the Xianling Mausoleum, a construction housing the remains of his father Zhu Youyuan and mother Jiang. The mausoleum complex was included on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000. Zhongxiang is home to a long line of extraordinary people, e.g.,chucimaster Song Yu and dancer and singer Mochou, both with a far-reaching historical influence. The city is proud of numerous attractions, e.g., the national-level Dahong Mountain Scenic Area and Dakou Forest Park, and in particular, the Huangxian Cave – a rare 20,000 m2plus karst cave which integrates various geological wonders into the scene. Zhongxiang has been on the State Council’s list of top Chinese historical and cultural cities since January 1994.