Longshan in western Hunan hides a "Qin Dynasty secret vault"! After exploring Liye Ancient Town, I finally felt the millennia-old roots of western Hunan. This area, part of the Chu state as early as the Warring States period, was the seat of Qianling County in Dongting Commandery during the Qin Dynasty. Its history is richer than many other ancient towns. Walking along the bluestone streets of "Seven Streets, Six Alleys, and Five Elements," over 400 Ming and Qing dynasty stilt houses stand neatly on either side. Their carved window lattices and horse-head walls reveal ancient craftsmanship. Though most are closed and sparsely populated, this adds to the pristine tranquility. However, I stumbled upon the "Qianling Book Garden," where the owner was incredibly welcoming, inviting me in to view their pen-and-ink drawing exhibition and even making me a cup of hot tea. This truly embodies the ancient town's most precious civic atmosphere. Liye's true "magnificent achievement" is the 37,000 Qin bamboo slips unearthed in 2002—ten times the total number previously found in China, making it "the greatest Qin Dynasty discovery since the Terracotta Warriors."[__LINK_ICON] The most amazing thing is that the bamboo slips actually contain a complete multiplication table, exactly the same as what the ancients memorized over 2,000 years ago! The stones in the ruins park are engraved with small seal script mnemonics, and spending hours reciting them gives you a unique sense of time travel. Super Practical Pitfall Avoidance & Tips 1. Don't Miss the Key Check-Ins: The Liye Qin Bamboo Slips Museum is the highlight. It's free but closed on Mondays. Open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Remember to bring your ID to exchange for tickets. Inside, you can see authentic bamboo slips and precious artifacts like the "Qianling Yiyouxing Dongting" (postal service to Dongting Lake) that document daily life during the Qin Dynasty. It's much more engaging than just visiting the ruins. 2. A Taste of the Ancient Town: Don't miss the Liye Ancient Qin Oil Cakes (youbaba) on the streets. Made from rice and soybean paste, they're fried to a golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Add a bowl of sour and spicy rice tofu with a piece of smoked Tujia bacon for a truly memorable visit. [__LINK_ICON] 3. Transportation & Activities: The ancient town itself is free, so I recommend spending most of the day exploring it. From Furong Town, you'll need to transfer to Longshan County and then take a minibus, a journey of about 3.5 hours. If you have more time, take a 20-minute taxi to Rebala Ancient Village. The Tujia corner towers by the stream are stunning, and you can even watch a waving dance performance. [__LINK_ICON] 4. Accommodation: For convenience, stay near the ancient town.