The city of Xiangfan (renamed Xiangyang in 2012) was founded during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. Located in central China, it showcases numerous examples of the blending of southern and northern Chinese cultures.
Due to its strategically important location, the area around Xiangfan has been the site of numerous battles since the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BCE). Particularly famous are the Battles of Fancheng (219 BCE) and the Siege of Xiangyang (1267-1273). Xiangfan plays a central role in the Chinese epic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," as it was where the strategist Zhuge Liang lived. Since then, Xiangfan has been the seat of various local governments.
http://en.hubei.gov.cn/hubei_info/administrative/201305/t20130521_449956.shtml
