“This is a famous waterfront city in the hinterland of China. This is a city in the real sense. With ancient city walls still kept intact, this city stands against towering mountain and overlooks billowing river. It is free from the lumbersome graveness often seen in the capital cities of old monarchs. The rich water course winding across the city adds a touch of softness to its magnificence. This city, with god-endowed grandiose landscape, also has grown into a cultural center throughout history. Having served as a bustling trade center since ancient times, this city also acts as significant inland traffic and logistics today. This magic city is called Xiangyang – a land with quintessence of natural beauty, human civilization, and commercial prosperity.”

The prize-giving address quoted above was prepared by the judge panel consisting of Jin Yong, Liang Congjie, Feng Jicai, Yi Zhongtian and other famed scholars in 2004 when the first national evaluation for Glamorous City in China was hosted by CCTV. In the high-profile event, Xiangyang stood out from more than 600 rivaling cities and won the highly-deserved title of Glamorous City in China.