Liu Bang set up an altar here to appoint Han Xin as the Grand General, which turned the tide against the odds and laid the foundation for the Western Han Dynasty

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, my family set out from Xi'an and drove to Langzhong. Unexpectedly, the roads were crowded with vehicles and people. By the time we passed Hanzhong, it was already noon, so we decided to get off the highway and head directly to Hanzhong for a fish hotpot meal. Since Hanzhong is about a 4-hour drive from Langzhong, we headed straight there after lunch. The journey was too exhausting, so we decided to stay in Hanzhong and continue to Langzhong the next day. Hanzhong is located in southern Shaanxi, and its local customs and dialect are somewhat different from those in the Guanzhong area of Xi'an, resembling those of neighboring Sichuan more closely. During our stay in Hanzhong, we had fish hotpot twice. The Yellow Spicy Fish was fresh and delicious, and the pot base had a distinctive pepper and numbing flavor. After lunch, we visited the Baijiang Altar. This site was once where Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, appointed Han Xin as the Grand General and held the seal-conferring ceremony. It is also the birthplace of great historical value, marking the moment when Liu Bang, who acquired talented individuals, turned the tide and initiated the glorious history of the Western Han Dynasty. Han Xin, along with Zhang Liang and Xiao He, were the three heroes who assisted Liu Bang in establishing his empire. Among them, Han Xin's story is the most poignant. In his early years, Han Xin was not valued under the command of Xiang Yu or Liu Bang. Xiao He, with his talent for recognizing people's abilities, pursued Han Xin under the moonlight and brought him back. Later, Liu Bang followed Xiao He's advice and set up an altar to appoint Han Xin as the Grand General. From then on, Han Xin led the troops to repair the plank roads while secretly crossing the Wei River, winning every battle and competing for the Central Plains. In just four and a half years, he helped Liu Bang finally seize the realm. In gratitude for Hanzhong, Liu Bang named his dynasty 'Han', which led to the terms Han language, Han ethnicity, and Hanzhong being called the ancestral home of the Han people. However, due to Han Xin's achievements overshadowing his sovereign, he was eventually lured to the palace and killed by Xiao He and Empress Lü. Xiao He, ridden with guilt, passed away in sorrow. Of the three heroes of the early Han, only Zhang Liang died a good death. History is indeed full of emotions and sighs. Today's Baijiang Altar features a tall statue of Han Xin, handsome and majestic, placed next to the wordless stele 'Shadowless Spirit Stele'. The stele, after more than 2000 years of erosion, has formed mysterious natural stone carvings, which are also astonishing. It is said that when the stele was first erected, it glowed and cast shadows at night. Folklore has it that the wronged soul of Han Xin is attached to the stele, hence the increasing number of people coming to worship. After more than 2000 years, the Baijiang Altar has now become one of the important historical sites of the Western Han Dynasty in Hanzhong. Inside, there are not only cultural relics but also displays of the history of the altar and the life of Han Xin. It is also an important part of the Hanzhong Museum. The entrance fee is 20 yuan, and it is well worth a visit.