Hanzhong

Hanzhong lies in a fertile basin of southern Shaanxi, cradled between the Qinling and Daba mountains along the upper Han River. It was the birthplace of the Han dynasty's name, granted here to its founder Liu Bang, and later a strategic base for the Three Kingdoms strategist Zhuge Liang, whose tomb and temple survive. The explorer Zhang Qian, who opened the Silk Road, also rests here. The climate is mild and humid, greener than the north. For an international student, Hanzhong offers deep history and lush river-valley scenery.