Border Town

The border town under Shen Congwen's pen, a treasure town that straddles three provinces|||"From Sichuan to Hunan, there is an official road to the east. When this official road reaches a small mountain town called 'Chadong' near the western border of Hunan, there is a small stream, and by the stream stands a white pagoda. Under the pagoda lives a solitary family." This is the opening line of Shen Congwen's 'Border Town', and the customs and traditions of Chadong gradually unfold in the reader's mind. Chadong is located at the junction of Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou, and is known as the town that 'straddles three provinces'. The ancient town still preserves old-style buildings and docks. The mountain town stands majestically, and the river flows gently. In this fast-paced era, it still maintains its slow pace and simple customs and traditions. 1⃣Transportation ✅ Take the high-speed train to Jishou East, then take a bus from Jishou East Bus Station to Huayuan County (42💰, 75 minutes), and transfer to the border town bus at Huayuan Bus Station (6💰, 1 hour) ‼️Taking the bus is quite troublesome as it requires transferring between buses and public transport, so it is personally recommended to carpool directly to the scenic area from the high-speed train station (50-60💰); or rent a car at the car rental point at the high-speed train station for self-driving. ✅ Take the high-speed train to Chongqing Xiushan Station, then take a taxi to the ancient town, which is 36 kilometers away. 2⃣Sightseeing Chadong is not big, suitable for leisurely wandering without a purposeful itinerary. ✔️'Three No-Government Island': On the island's Wind and Rain Bridge, there is a couplet that reads, 'Hunan doesn't govern, Guizhou doesn't govern, I govern; the mountains turn, the waters turn, the culture passes on.' ✔️'Lala Ferry': For thousands of years, it has carried passengers and goods across the borders of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing. Now, it only costs 2 yuan to experience this. ✔️Boat Tour of Three Provinces: 20 yuan per person, about half an hour, can directly reach the stone monument where the three provinces meet. ✔️Three Provinces Boundary Monument: There are two places, the one for checking in is next to the Longshao Restaurant. The real one was issued by the State Council in 1997. ✔️Cuicui Island: The small island is named after the heroine Cuicui in Shen Congwen's work. You need to take a boat to the island, where there is a statue of Cuicui and murals themed on the content of 'Border Town'. ✔️White Pagoda: One of the symbols of the ancient town, frequently described in the book, witnessing the quiet passage of time and the stories of Cuicui and others. ✔️River Street: Stilted buildings stand in rows, high and low, many of which are century-old houses built of stone. ✔️Chahong Bridge: The bridge connects Chongqing and Hunan, with a monument commemorating the 'Border Town of Sichuan, Hunan, and Guizhou'. ✔️Stamping: There is a stamping point in the bookstore where you can stamp your copy of 'Border Town'. 3⃣Food Rice tofu, Xiangxi pickles, cold noodles, rice noodles, oil cakes, and ice powder are all worth trying. The prices here are not high; you can buy four sugar oil cakes for one yuan. Among them, 'One Pot Cooked Three Provinces' combines Hunan's spiciness, Chongqing's numbness, and Guizhou's sourness, cooking a fish from an unknown province, which is fresh, fragrant, sour, and spicy, worth a try.