A night view of the Yangtze River Bridge in Zhongxian County, with several Three Gorges cruise ships docking along the river. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

Zhongxian - Having spent most of the past decade away from my hometown of Zhongxian County in Chongqing, every trip back feels like seeing it anew.

Familiar streets now lead to new neighborhoods, as the county expands with each visit. In recent years, cultural and tourism projects have flourished, showing a county reinventing itself with creativity and renewed vitality.

Transportation expanding

Zhongxian County sits over 200 kilometers from Chongqing’s downtown, a journey of nearly three hours by road. With no direct railway connection yet, travelers still rely on buses, private cars, or a bullet train to a nearby district before continuing by road to reach the county.

During the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday starting October 1, the county saw a surge of visitors. At Chongqing North Station’s South Square bus terminal, college students returning home mingled with migrant workers bringing their children back to visit family.

Buses to Zhongxian run all day without fixed departure times—each one leaves once it’s full—so passengers usually buy tickets on-site and wait for the next available ride. On October 1, the terminal was packed wall to wall. When I joined the line for the Zhongxian bus that morning, it already stretched nearly a hundred meters, with more people still pouring in.

Construction site of the Zhongxian Station on the Chongqing–Wanzhou High-Speed Railway. (Photo/Zhongxian Integrated Media Center)

As I waited, people around me chatted about the Chongqing–Wanzhou high-speed railway, now under rapid construction. Many said they couldn't wait for it to open, believing the new line would make traveling to Zhongxian much easier.

The county government says the railway, set to open in April 2027, will cut travel to 30 minutes from downtown Chongqing, two hours from Chengdu, and about six from Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.

In fact, Zhongxian has been strengthening its transport links in recent years, laying the groundwork for faster economic growth.

The Yangtze River winds 88 kilometers through the county, and its Xinsheng Port connects eastward all the way to Shanghai's Yangshan Port, serving as a vital gateway for goods from northeastern Sichuan and northeastern Chongqing to export. 

Plans are also underway to link the Liangping–Zhongxian Railway directly to the port, forming an integrated transport network that connects rail, road, and river routes. A general aviation airport is being planned in Zhongxian's Fuxing Town, further expanding the county's reach.

A screenshot of a fleet of drones lighting up the sky above Chongqing's Nanbin Road, depicting Shibaozhai in Zhongxian County on October 3, 2025. (Photo/Chongqing Television)

Emerging tourism

Just as Zhongxian's transport links are racing ahead, its cultural and tourism sector is also hitting the fast track.

Situated in central Chongqing at the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, Zhongxian is cradled by rolling hills and nourished by the Yangtze River. It is also the only semi-submerged county in the reservoir region.

The name Zhong, from Zhongxian, means "loyalty." It honors the historical story of General Ba Manzi, who chose to sacrifice his life to keep his kingdom together. Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty named the county in his memory.

On the evening of October 3, a fleet of drones lit up the sky above Chongqing's Nanbin Road, depicting the breathtaking Shibaozhai—a pagoda carved into the cliffs and rocks and perched atop a hill in Zhongxian County. Resembling a heart-shaped bonsai set in the middle of the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges section, it has long been one of the region's most distinctive landmarks. During the holiday period, the site became a must-see stop along the Three Gorges route, with visitor numbers continuing to climb.

Scene from the live-action performance Feng Yan San Guo, or War Fire of the Three Kingdoms. (Photo/Zhongxian Integrated Media Center)

As dusk settled along the riverside pier, a procession of tour buses arrived to meet travelers stepping off the cruise ships. Some made their way toward the grand live-action performance Feng Yan San Guo, or War Fire of the Three Kingdoms, a dazzling cultural feast themed on Three Kingdoms history and inspired by the spirit of loyalty and righteousness. Others wandered into Zhongzhou Alley, the largest residential street with Bayu characteristics in the Yangtze River Basin in Chongqing.

My father told me that such buses to the riverside pier run every day, with especially heavy traffic during holidays. 

This year, the Feng Yan San Guo scenic area enhanced its interactive experiences for the holiday. Before and after performances, visitors met costumed actors along the trails and in cultural zones, taking photos, asking about Three Kingdoms history, and soaking in the heroic atmosphere. Traditional activities like archery and horseback riding also remained. According to local media, the site received over 6,000 visits from September 30 to October 2.

A scene from the historical drama titled The Governor on Patrol. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

Zhongzhou Alley also hosted a series of events during the holidays, including a historical drama titled The Governor on Patrol, which reenacted the patrols of Tang Dynasty official and famed poet Bai Juyi during his tenure as the governor in Zhongxian. Other activities included long-table feasts, concerts, a poetry gathering, and a fair featuring specialty snacks and cultural and creative products. During this period, stall operators at the fair could receive subsidies and were encouraged to extend their business hours.

A snack vendor told me the alley events drew big crowds and boosted her business. She also runs stalls at other popular spots in Zhongxian, saying her busiest has been Zhongzhoudu—a park that opened on September 21 offering leisure, cultural, and family activities. Local media reported it attracted over 100,000 visits from October 1 to 2.

People relax and enjoy leisure time at Zhongzhoudu on October 3, 2025. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

During the holiday period, Zhongxian launched four major themed activities focusing on culture, sports, tourism, and commerce. Catering to different types of visitors, the county also designed eight tourism routes ranging from one-day to three-day itineraries, alongside a range of policies such as discounted ticket packages and rewards for check-ins.

What strikes me most each time I return is how Zhongxian keeps growing livelier—new leisure spots, more visitors, and a county that feels ever more open and welcoming.

As the only tourist city in the Three Gorges Reservoir area that combines the features of a mountain city, bridge city, water city, and island city, Zhongxian offers a wealth of attractions. Its signature sites include Shibaozhai, Three Gorges Orange Sea, Huanghua Island, Duzhu Peninsula, Three Gorges Bay, and Baigong Temple. 

Like the passengers around me waiting for the bus on the day I returned home, I too eagerly anticipate the opening of the high-speed rail, confident that faster, more convenient transportation will bring even greater growth opportunities to my hometown.