Mount Langshan-World Natural Heritage

In the golden autumn of October, Langshan Mountain is clad in lush greenery, and the ancient pavilion radiates timeless charm. On October 9, the preparatory coordination meeting for the historical and cultural drama Jiang Zhongyuan, jointly initiated by the Publicity Department of Xinning County Party Committee, the International Jiang Clan Culture Research Institute, and the Zhongshan Hunan Xinning Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Fangsheng Pavilion of Jincheng Academy.

The creative team of the drama, cultural and historical consultants, local officials, cultural representatives, and local audition hopefuls gathered in the thousand-year-old Fangsheng Pavilion. They looked back on the stirring tales of the Chu Braves and discussed the creation and preparation of the drama.

“Langshan in October boasts splendid scenery; the academy in golden autumn brims with elegant charm,” said Zhou Guanghui, Executive Vice President of Jincheng Academy and host of the event, opening the meeting with an account of Fangsheng Pavilion’s profound cultural heritage. This place witnessed many touching stories, including inscriptions by Zhou Dunyi and poems composed by Fang Yizhi. It was also where Xu Junhu, known as the “Tiger County Magistrate”, proclaimed the peaceful liberation of Xinning. As the pioneer of the Chu Braves and the originator of the Hunan Army, Jiang Zhongyuan stands as a spiritual symbol of loyalty and courage for Xinning. Holding the preparatory discussion at Fangsheng Pavilion, a site of profound cultural legacy, aims to let the ancient architecture and the spirit of the ancient sage shine together, reviving the millennium-old cultural lineage in the new era.

Zhang Caishan, President of Jincheng Academy, delivered a welcome address. He traced the cultural inheritance of Jincheng Academy and recalled how outstanding figures of the Chu Army such as Jiang Zhongyuan, Liu Changyou and Liu Kun studied and grew up here. He recounted Jiang Zhongyuan’s legendary life: upright and righteous, this scholar dedicated himself to the nation, winning glory at Suoyidu and sacrificing his life when Luzhou City fell. He stated that producing Jiang Zhongyuan carries far-reaching significance. It will bring the ancient sage, once confined to dusty historical records, to the public, inject fresh cultural essence into Langshan’s cultural tourism, and build a unique cultural IP for Xinning. Meanwhile, local co-creation can foster a strong sense of local identity and deepen hometown affection.

At the meeting, Zeng Zhi, Chief Coordinator of the crew, Cao Youjia, Art Advisor, Xia Qingquan, Military Advisor, Zeng Ziniu, Director, and Jiang Zelian, Producer, spoke in turn. They shared insights from perspectives including overall project advancement, artistic orientation, verification of wartime historical facts, cinematic narrative design, and exploration of Jiang Clan culture. Suggestions were put forward regarding character portrayal, script refinement and historical detail control. Cultural peers including Mr. Wang Zijun, consultant of Jincheng Academy, renowned writer, screenwriter, member of the Chinese Writers Association and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Written Works Society, offered advice on tapping the core culture of the Chu Braves, integrating local elements and advancing integrated cultural-tourism development.

Relevant officials from the County Publicity Department pointed out that Jiang Zhongyuan is a key native historical figure of Xinning, the founder of the Chu Braves and the originator of the Hunan Army, as well as a representative of the Huxiang Statecraft School. Bringing Jiang Zhongyuan’s life story to the screen and exploring his spiritual essence inherits the local historical and cultural lineage. It also serves as a valuable attempt to implement the “Develop the County through Culture and Tourism” strategy outlined at the 14th Congress of the County Party Committee, advance the integration of culture and tourism, and tell Xinning’s stories well. This preparatory coordination meeting leverages the unique historical and cultural atmosphere of Jincheng Academy and Fangsheng Pavilion to realize a cross-time dialogue between the ancient sage and contemporary creation, offering a new model for implementing the “Develop the County through Culture and Tourism” strategy and growing the cultural tourism industry.

The official urged the creative team to remain faithful to historical facts, polish the work with care, narrate the heroic tale of Xinning and promote the loyal and courageous spirit of Huxiang. The character’s story should be organically combined with Xinning’s mountain landscapes and local customs. The drama should not only depict the sage’s life but also fully showcase local landmarks including Mount Langshan, the Fuyi River and ancient dwellings. Upon release, short-video platforms and new media will be harnessed for nationwide promotion to introduce Xinning’s culture and landscapes, empower research tourism, and truly realize the vision of “one drama promotes a city”. The project will help raise the profile and influence of Xinning’s cultural tourism, support the construction of the Zhang-Lang-Gui Corridor, develop more business forms and high-quality products, and achieve integrated cultural and tourism development.

All parties agreed to work closely in the next stage, further explore the culture of the Chu Braves and local worthies, refine the historical and cultural drama Jiang Zhongyuan, tell Xinning’s stories through cinematic lenses, boost local cultural-tourism integration, and promote high-quality socioeconomic development of the county.