Lúxī

Lúxī lies on the Yuán River in western Hunan, where waterways pass between wooded mountains. Its county belonged to Chénzhōu Prefecture under the Ming and Qing. The river town of Pǔshì became a commercial centre in the district: ironworking helped its trade flourish during the Ming, and by the late Ming and early Qing merchant families had established substantial businesses there. Boats carried goods along the Yuán between the western highlands and Dòngtíng Lake.