Time Guardian: In the Ancient City of Shouxian, Anhui, History is Still Breathing

The ancient city walls, built with bricks and stones, remain remarkably sturdy after eight centuries of exposure to the elements, thanks to the lime mortar made from tung oil and glutinous rice. Each brick joint whispers the echoes of the turbulent Chu-Han era.

Standing on the ancient city wall of Shouxian, I run my fingers over the weathered bricks, feeling a unique texture. The mortar between these bricks, a blend of tung oil, lime, and glutinous rice, has endured eight centuries of weathering, yet it has grown even more resilient and sturdy.

This is the Southern Song Dynasty city wall, which is a century older than the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province, with a circumference of 7,147 meters and a height of 9.7 meters. Inside the wall, time seems to have frozen in the architectural layout of the Song Dynasty; outside, a modern story about the inheritance of civilization and international dialogue is unfolding.

Time has settled a living city

The history of Shouxian Ancient City is a condensed chronicle of China. This city served as the capital five times and the seat of a commandery ten times, with its most glorious chapter being the last capital established by the State of Chu during the late Warring States period.

In 241 BC, under Qin's pressure, King Kaolie of Chu moved the capital eastward to Shouchun, which was renamed Ying. This became the political center of Chu for the last 19 years, witnessing the reigns of its final four monarchs.

What truly distinguishes the ancient city of Shouxian is its "dual life". This city wall serves not only as a military defense structure but also as an ingenious hydraulic facility, protecting the residents within the city from the floods of the Huai River.

The design of the four gates of the city wall is very ingenious. Except for the south gate, the other three gates are equipped with well-constructed barbicans, forming a defensive pattern of "catching turtles in a jar".

There are two water gates known as "moon dams" in the city, which utilize the siphon effect to ensure that domestic wastewater can be smoothly discharged from the city regardless of the water level outside. This design still functions today, making the ancient city of Shouxian one of the few ancient cities in China that still perform their original functions.

The New Attempt of Cross-cultural Communication on the World Stage

In September 2025, a group of World Tourism Miss contestants in traditional Warring States-style robes strolled through the Binyang Gate of Shouxian Ancient City, leaving modern fashion footprints on the ancient city walls. This beauty pageant was not only a visual feast but also a significant opportunity for Shouxian to showcase its culture on the international stage.

The participants visited the Anhui Chu Culture Museum, where they saw precious artifacts such as the Chu Great Tripod and Chu gold coins. They also enjoyed the local intangible cultural heritage delicacy 'Da Jiu Jia' and experienced traditional folk customs like Shouzhou gongs and drums, as well as the carrying of altars and elbow altars.

The globally acclaimed reality show 'Beijing Express', produced by Belgian company Eccholine, has also turned its lens to this ancient city. Producer Davide Alberto Donadini stated:

"We want to tell a story connected to this ancient land, and Shouxian is the city that best fits this idea."

The production team noted that Shouxian has seamlessly blended its cultural heritage, historical legacy, and the warmth of its people. Upon airing, the program is expected to reach over ten million viewers across Europe.

These international activities are not only simple propaganda, they represent the strategic transformation of Shouxian from "self-preserving culture" to "culture going global", and make the stories of the ancient city of a thousand years spread in a way that is more acceptable to the international community by connecting with the global popular culture forms.

Contemporary Challenges and the Realistic Dilemma of the Ancient City Protection

The cultural and tourism development of Shouxian County still faces numerous challenges. A report from the Huainan Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) pointed out that the local Chu-Han cultural tourism resources are small-scale, fragmented, and lack the support of large-scale projects with driving force and impact.

Apart from the Anhui Chu Culture Museum, other attractions have limited scale and struggle to attract large numbers of visitors. Another prominent issue is the insufficient integration of cultural heritage with tourism experiences, resulting in scenarios where 'scenery exists without cultural significance' or 'cultural elements exist without scenic value.'

Immersive cultural experiences utilizing modern technology are relatively rare, and large-scale cultural performances with strong visual impact are scarce, making it difficult for tourists to fully engage and enjoy the experience.

In terms of professional talent, Shouxian County also faces challenges. Although one national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor and two provincial-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors were added in 2024, there remains a shortage of interdisciplinary talents proficient in culture, tourism, and international communication. This constraint hinders the in-depth development and global promotion of the ancient city's cultural resources.

The Future Vision, the Dream and Planning of 5A Scenic Spot

To address these challenges, Shouxian County has developed a series of strategic plans. The primary objective is to upgrade Shouzhou Ancient City into a national 5A-level tourist attraction and to advance the application for its ancient city wall to be listed as a World Heritage Site.

In terms of infrastructure development, the local government is expediting the formulation of multiple plans, including the "Detailed Construction Plan for the Core Area of Shouzhou Ancient City as a 5A Scenic Spot" and the "Protection and Revitalization Plan for Shouxian's Historic Urban Area".

In the field of cultural revitalization, Shouxian County plans to adapt and explore scripts that embody the essence of its historical culture and idioms, with the aim of promoting their adaptation into films and television series.

Continuously organize and host various large-scale cultural activities such as the Ancient City 'Spring Welcome Ceremony', 'City Entry Ceremony', Ancient City Light Show, and Shouzhou Drum and Gongs Competition, utilizing traditional festivals to conduct celebratory events. These activities will present the ancient city's culture to tourists in a more vivid and perceptible manner.

Immersive Experience Makes History Touchable

Shouxian County is exploring various approaches to transform tourists from spectators into active participants. The flagship "Chu Culture Study Tour" route connects cultural landmarks such as the ancient city wall and museums, incorporating representative cultural relics and elements to design and produce distinctive cultural and creative products, including miniature warrior blind boxes, fridge magnets, and stamp collection cards.

The Shouzhou Soy Milk Tea Business Zone was piloted at the Chu Culture Museum and the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Pavilion, while the Shouzhou Cultural and Creative Pavilion was established within the city. More innovatively, the Confucius Temple hosted a live-action educational tour titled 'Achieving Top Rank on the Imperial Examination List,' and the General's Office offered an immersive experience called' Winning the Heave-Dump of the Cauldron.'

Shouxian County plans to invest 100 million yuan in the 'Meet Chunshen Jun' immersive complex project, centered around Bao'en Temple Street (Folk Culture Park), to create a cultural tourism complex integrating cultural promotion, performance experiences, and cultural and creative shopping.

Visitors can don Hanfu or Warring States-style robes, experience ancient etiquette under professional guidance, participate in traditional handicrafts, and even savor authentically recreated historical delicacies.

Outside the Binyang Gate of Shouxian Ancient City, the deep wheel tracks on the bluestone slabs are traffic imprints formed by centuries of repeated wheel rolling. These tracks, like the markings of time, record every commercial journey and cultural exchange that the ancient city has witnessed.

When the sunset cloaks the city walls in golden hues, the moat mirrors the ancient gates, and Shouxian Ancient City awakens from its historical slumber, opening its arms to the world.