The picture shows tourists sightseeing and enjoying themselves in the Ancient City of Xiangyang in Hubei Province on May 2. Photo by journalistYang Dong

The picture shows tourists watching a sea lion performance at the Fantasy Valley in the Xiangyang Overseas Chinese Town Fantasy Resort, Hubei Province, on May 1. Photo by journalist Yang Dong and correspondent Liu Xining

Reported by Xiangyang Daily, journalist Peng Yiwei, and correspondents Xiang Changhai and Wang Haoyue

This May Day holiday, major scenic areas in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, poured their creativity into refreshing old attractions with imaginative new offerings. Immersive cultural tourism performances, hanfu garden parties, culinary trail experiences, and rural wellness retreats each brought their own character — brimming with atmosphere, energy, and the warmth of everyday life — giving visitors from near and far a truly distinctive holiday in this time-honored city’s landscapes.

Entering the Jianghu: Starting a Journey with the Wuxia Spirit

On May 1, Xiangyang Overseas Chinese Town Fantasy Resort’s Fantasy Valley was thronged with visitors. This scenic spot, renowned for its dreamlike ambiance and technological flair, underwent a dramatic transformation: Jin Dan Pavilion, Chinese Paladin Workshop, and the Hall of a Hundred Spirits buzzed with activity.

Cao Ming, who came from Pingdingshan in Henan Province, is an avid fan of Xianxia dramas. At the Chinese Paladin Workshop, she watched a costumed immortal flip a switch, sending “celestial swords” cascading down — and with lightning-fast reflexes, Cao caught five “flying swords,” earning herself a handsome haul of “spirit stones.” “Scenes I used to only see in Xianxia dramas have come to life right in front of me — the experience couldn’t be more immersive!” she exclaimed.

It has been reported that during the 2026 May Day holiday, Xiangyang Overseas Chinese Town Fantasy Resort welcomed over 100,000 visitors.

At the Han City scenic area, a grand Wuxia-themed event called “Tales of the Jianghu World” whisked countless visitors straight into the Wuxia world. Iconic characters from the silver screen — Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Guo, Little Dragon Maiden, Qiao Feng, and Wang Yuyan — “descended” upon the Han City scenic area, with a packed lineup of events: Heroes and ‌Heroines Roaming Han City, the Summit Duel at Mount Hua, Jianghu Challenge Quests, and a Chivalric Cavalcade. Armed with “silver tickets,” visitors became young heroes or ‌heroines themselves, taking on fun Wuxia challenges, testing their lightness techniques, answering trivia on martial arts lore, and playing the classic pot-pitching game — all for a holiday experience unlike any other.

Dialogue Across Time: Starting a Journey Across Time and Space

On May 2, bathed in a cascade of light and shadow, the Mingde Tower at the Tangcheng Scenic Area cut an even more magnificent silhouette. Spectators filled the viewing stands early, eagerly awaiting the grand costumed performance. As light rippled and flowed, the ancient city walls unfurled a thousand-year historical tableau, while a heartfelt narration recounted the glorious saga of the Tang Dynasty at its zenith. Drums thundered, and warhorses neighed as armored warriors marched home in triumphant formation; Tang dynasty court ladies with towering cloud-like coiffures and tinkling jade pendants danced with graceful elegance, celebrating a golden age in motion.

“A Triumphal Song of the Great Tang Dynasty” distills the finest essence of the Tangcheng Scenic Area’s evening performances. Li Yunhe arrived at the scenic area relatively late, happily snapping photos at his leisure — yet he still joined the crowd in witnessing this spectacular show. “I chose the 9:45 p.m. showing. Before coming to Xiangyang, I researched it online and found that ‘A Triumphal Song of the Great Tang Dynasty’ was performed twice nightly during this May Day holiday — at 8:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. — so I deliberately arrived later to take photos and avoid the peak crowd,” he said.

It has been reported that the Tangcheng Scenic Area received over 200,000 visitors during the May Day holiday.

What kind of intellectual sparks might fly if a modern young person came face to face with a 17-year-old “Zhuge Liang”? The Longzhong Scenic Area debuted a nationally pioneering multimedia interactive immersive cultural drama, “Encountering Zhuge Liang,” during the May Day holiday, drawing enthusiastic praise from visitors. The revamped Zhuge Liang Guqin Theater features naked-eye VR (virtual reality), a hydraulic rising stage, and an aroma diffusion system, allowing audiences to absorb the wisdom of the great sage through a youth dialogue that transcends time.

Three Kingdoms NPCs (non-player characters) were deployed at all key positions across the park — at the Longzhong Memorial Arch, the Three Visits Hall, Zhuge Liang Thatched Cottage, the Military Strategy Garden, and other core locations — giving visitors the chance to encounter heroes from the Three Kingdoms era unexpectedly. Visitors can engage them in all manner of theatrical exchanges, unlocking exclusive storyline “easter eggs,” completing challenge quests to win limited-edition “silver tickets,” and discovering further hidden surprises along the way.

It has been reported that during the May Day holiday, Longzhong Scenic Area averaged over 30,000 visitors per day.

Lively Hustle and Bustle‌: Enjoying Authentic Local Flavors

Touring Xiangyang in hanfu and following a food trail through the city have become the most popular ways to explore, championed by visitors everywhere. Along the lanes of the Ancient City of Xiangyang and the Tangcheng Scenic Area, visitors dressed in flowing traditional garments strolled at leisure, recreating iconic scenes from TV dramas and posing for photos against the backdrop of grey-brick, dark-tile architecture and the Ancient City of Xiangyang’s timeless charm — a vivid and moving sight amid the holiday bustle.

Chongqing visitor Xiang Xin is a devoted fan of historical costume dramas, and this May Day, she finally fulfilled her dream of a “classical-era time-travel” in Xiangyang. She selected a flowing pink hanfu, paired it with an exquisite hair accessory, had a professional makeup artist transform her into a classical beauty, and strolled down the flagstone path of North Street, capturing the holiday magic through her camera lens. “This whole look — styling included — cost RMB 298. The makeup was gorgeous, and the hanfu was beautiful. Comparing notes with other travelers online, I found the price is pretty much in line with everyday rates!” said Xiang.

Night markets at Zhakou, Fenghua Road, and other locations blazed with the warmth of street food, drawing visitors to follow the tantalizing aromas on a “tip-of-the-tongue tour.” Spicy, fragrant crayfish became the star of every table, as diners peeled shells and chatted in the gentle evening breeze, savoring the singular holiday flavor that is uniquely Xiangyang.

Meanwhile, rural tourism continued to surge in Baokang, Nanzhang, Gucheng, Yicheng, Zaoyang, and other counties and county-level cities, with many visitors opting to leave the urban din behind and lose themselves in picturesque natural landscapes. They ventured into ecological orchards and mountain bamboo groves, picked fresh cherries, experienced the delight of digging for bamboo shoots, tasted authentic farmhouse cuisine, and immersed themselves in an unhurried pastoral lifestyle — returning home refreshed and deeply content.

In Xiangyang, visitors can immerse themselves in the poetic romance of traversing both ancient and modern eras, while also enjoying the vibrant energy of contemporary interactive experiences. They can further savor the warmth and restorative charm of its hustle and bustle‌. Travelers from around the globe converge here to explore rich cultural heritage, admire breathtaking scenery, savor exquisite local cuisine, and unwind in leisure—embarking on a distinctive and enriching cultural journey.