Yǒngxìng

Yongxing lies on the Bian River in southern Hunan. Its old name was Bian County, established under the Han, while the name Yongxing was adopted in 1073 under the Song. The river winds between hills and red sandstone cliffs, and its waters join the Lei River on their way toward the Xiang.

The Bian also gave the county access to a wider trading world. Local records describe silk, cotton yarn, cloth and southern goods arriving by water from places including Changsha and Xiangtan. Boats navigating the river brought the products of distant markets into a county whose history had long been tied to its waterway.