Guangyuan (Gǔangyúan, 广元) is an ancient fortress city, set in the mountains that straddle the border between northern Sichuan and Shaanxi. Empress Wu Zetian (Wǔ Zétiān, 武则天) was born here and Huangze Temple, carved into the cliffs along the Jialing River (Jīalíng Jiāng, 嘉陵江), stands to commemorate China's most powerful (and only) female ruler.
Today Guangyuan is a sunny, slightly mountainous city with a bustling city center and a reputation for the best beef noodles this side of Gansu. The highway leading from Chengdu to Guangyuan will eventually link the capital of Sichuan with Xi'an and Lanzhou.
Poverty has its disadvantages, but also a few positive notes. The area north and east of Guangyuan is some of the least explored and most beautiful land in Sichuan. The historical importance of this part of Sichuan, sandwiched between Chongqing and Shaanxi, has been lost over the centuries. However, you can still see traces of Guangyuan's former glory, including Jianmen Fortress and the Anyue Grottoes.
History
Guangyuan was the defensive bulwark for the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period that followed the fall of the Han Dynasty, more than 1800 years ago. The nearby fortress, Jianmenguan, was built by the Shu Kingdom's legendary strategist, Zhuge Liang and was considered impregnable.
The fortress sits at the end of the Shu-Han Road, a wooden plank road leading from Guangyuan to Hanzhong in Shaanxi Province. This was once of the most vital roads for military, economic and poltiical exchange between the might Hanzhong region, where the great city of Chang'an (modern day Xi'an) was located, and the Shu-Han Kingdom (present day Sichuan).
Guangyuan and its fortress lost importance as the Three Kingdoms period gave way to successive dynasties based far away to the east.
Climate
Sichuan guide | Guangyuan guide | Guangyuan attractions
Guangyuan flights (Chengdu) | Guangyuan hotels
Chengdu tours & activities | Guangyuan on the China Travel Blog