Róuyuǎn

Rouyuan lay in the Nu River valley southwest of Yongchang, where the river is also known as the Lujiang. The Yuan established Rouyuan Circuit in 1276, with its seat on the river plain. In 1382 the Ming changed it into a prefecture; eight years later it became the Lujiang native commandery. Its fertile valley stands in sharp contrast to the steep mountains rising on either side of the river.