Baojing
The Baojing county seat is called Qianling. Probably before Qin Shi Huang unified China, a Qianzhong Commandery was established here, though whether its seat was in Baojing remains uncertain. But about 20 kilometers from Baojing there is a Qian Mountain, explained in the "Dictionary of Chinese Historical and Modern Place Names." From the Han dynasty to the end of the Tang, Baojing mostly had county-level administrative bodies—for example, Qianling County in the Western Han, and in the Five Dynasties...
This article is compiled from the original travel notes on the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com); it is a record of trips from earlier years. Time-sensitive information such as ticket prices, schedules, and accommodation prices is subject to the latest announcements from scenic areas and transportation authorities; the itinerary ideas and attraction introductions still have reference value.
The urban area of Baojing is called Qianling. Around the time before Qin Shi Huang unified China, a Qianzhong Commandery was established here, though whether the commandery seat was in Baojing is still undetermined. However, about 20 kilometers from Baojing there is a Qian Mountain, which is explained in the 'Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Chinese Place Names.'
From the Han Dynasty to the end of the Tang Dynasty, Baojing mostly had county-level administrative institutions. For example, in the Western Han Dynasty, Qianling County was established; during the Five Dynasties, Lingling County and Daxiang County were established; during the Tang Dynasty, Santing County was established, and so on. By 940 AD, after the war between Peng Shichou, the prefect of Xizhou in western Hunan, and Ma Xifan, the King of Chu, the famous Xizhou Alliance was concluded, and its terms were engraved on the Xizhou Bronze Pillar. From this time, Peng Shichou's two sons separately inherited their titles. The eldest son, Peng Shiyu, received the northern district and became the ancestor of the Tusi kings of Yongshun; the second son, Peng Shidai, received the southern district and became the ancestor of the Tusi of Baojing. The Tusi system lasted for 800 years, until the sixth year of Yongzheng (1728), when the Qing Dynasty implemented 'replacing native officials with appointed officials,' and Baojing was again established as a county, beginning to be governed by officials sent by the imperial court. In the ninth year of Yongzheng (1731), the inner and outer city walls were first built.
There were more than 10 Tusi kings of Baojing in total. Among them, Peng Nanmuzhu, Peng Xianzhong, Peng Jiuxiao, Peng Jinchen, Peng Yangzheng, Peng Chaozhu, Peng Zehong, and other Tusi kings were relatively famous in history. After death, they were all buried at Fengzhengping.
Chen Quzhen, the King of Western Hunan, established his command headquarters in Baojing from 1920 and was stationed here for 5 years. During these 5 years, Chen Quzhen governed all of western Hunan with Baojing County as the center, adopting many vigorous measures, such as vigorously reorganizing the military and preparing for war, clearing out bandits, maintaining local stability, energetically establishing education, developing industrial and agricultural production, and vigorously promoting technological innovation, which brought initial vitality to western Hunan. In particular, it brought great changes to Baojing. Various schools in Baojing were run impressively, and the dirty and chaotic streets were also cleaned up. Later, when the Sichuan army passed through western Hunan and warfare broke out, Chen Quzhen moved his command headquarters to Qianzhou in 1925, and Baojing county town subsequently declined and became desolate.
The notable figures of Baojing County mainly include the old Chinese language teacher Yuan Zhongqian, who taught Mao Zedong; Yao Yan, who carried out revolution together with Li Dazhao and also rose in uprising together; Peng Tingheng, Chief of Staff of the Hunan Military Governor's Office; and Tian Baiqing, regimental commander of the Land Reclamation Anti-Japanese Army, among others.
There were also two bandit leaders who were very famous. One was named Tian Yiqing. He was originally considered a person from Huayuan, but later became a commander in Baojing. His father was a Qianzong in Xiaozhai, Chadong. Tian Yiqing was a 'bad boy' since childhood. When young, he joined the Qinghong Gang. Later, he served as a squad leader under the garrison commander Xie Chongguang. Because of his bravery in battle, he was promoted to company commander, and soon after replaced the battalion commander. While stationed in Longshan, he fought fiercely with the troops of Zhang Xueji and Feng Shaolin for 48 days and held the city defense. Later, he threw in his lot with Chen Quzhen, helped Chen suppress bandits and rendered meritorious service, and was highly regarded by Chen Quzhen, who appointed him commander of Baojing County. Tian Yiqing was ambitious. When his father died, he wanted to assassinate Chen Quzhen, who came to offer condolences, and replace him in his position, but his scheme was stopped by his mother and did not succeed. Afterward, Tian Yiqing was sent to Yuanling, where he set up a Hongmen Banquet and assassinated Chen Quzhen's capable general Zhang Ziqing. Chen Quzhen posted rewards everywhere to capture Tian Yiqing but could not subdue him. A year later, Ye Kaixin, the supervisor of 'Western Hunan Rehabilitation,' devised a plan and, using the same method and the same place, finally lured and killed Tian Yiqing in Yuanling. This happened around 1926. Another well-known bandit was called Jia Lazi, a native of Shanmu Creek in Zhaimao Township, Baojing County. He became a bandit at 16 and often carried three guns: two Mauser pistols and one opium pipe. His marksmanship could hit a willow leaf from a hundred paces, never missing, and he had also trained in martial arts, running faster than a muntjac. Jia Lazi was a bandit for 30 years. He once cooperated with the famous western Hunan bandit Qu Bojie and also fought alongside the Huayuan Land Reclamation Army against the garrison army. In 1942, he took refuge with Bai Wenwei, a Kuomintang elder living in Huayuan. Under Bai's guarantee, he reformed and became a new man, and held a nominal position as a 'liaison adjutant.' After Bai Wenwei left, Jia Lazi took refuge with Song Ziyou and became a captain in the county self-defense team. In early 1949, he served as the city defense commander of the 'city faction' and fought against the 'countryside faction' for half a year. At the end of that year, the People's Liberation Army arrived, and Jia Lazi maneuvered and resisted against the PLA for about a year. With no way out, he finally surrendered to the PLA at Maluo Village in the winter of 1950 and was executed shortly afterward.
Baojing's scenic spots and historic sites are mainly famous for many cultural relics and remains, such as the Han Dynasty Sifang City located in Longxi Township, the ancient tomb group located in Qingshuiping, the 'Shoubadong' site located in Zhaimao Township, the Shizi Nunnery located across the You River from the county town, and the large characters 'Tian Kai Wen Yun' carved on the cliff opposite the port during the Guangxu reign, and so on. These places often attract many tourists to come and admire them.