The heritage and emergence of Hengyang Ancient City

Reporter Wang Shaoheng reports Hengyang, named after Hengshan, is located to the south of Hengshan. The name comes from an ancient saying, "the south of the mountain and the north of the water is called Yang," hence the name Hengyang. The Northern Song Dynasty prime minister Wang Anshi wrote a poem: "The wild geese of Hengyang return here after a long journey," referring to the Return Geese Peak among the seventy-two peaks of the Southern岳 Hengshan, thus Hengyang is also known as "Wild Goose City."

The ancient city of Hengyang boasts a history of over 2200 years. Unlike provincial capitals like Changsha, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou, which enjoy numerous resources and favor, Hengyang is blessed with natural beauty bestowed by nature. "Charming and elegant" is one of the labels the media has placed on this city. While beauty is superficial, the heavens have not only provided sustenance but also endowed this city with profound cultural depth.

What else does Hengyang have besides the Southern岳 Hengshan? If we don't mention Cai Lun, many people may not know that he, who improved one of China's four great inventions—papermaking—came from Hengyang. If we don't mention the four great academies of China, many wouldn't know that one of them, Shigu Academy, is located in Hengyang. If we don't mention Wang Fuzhi, many wouldn't realize that one of the "four great Enlightenment thinkers of modern China," Wang Chuanshan, hails from Hengyang. If we don't mention the ten founding marshals, many wouldn't know that one of them, Luo Ronghuan, came from Hengyang. If we don't mention "it doesn't matter if you lose your head, as long as the ideology is true," many wouldn't know that the revolutionary martyr Xia Minghan was from Hengyang. If we don't mention the "Hengyang Defense War," many wouldn't know that this city was awarded the title "Anti-Japanese War Memorial City" after the war; only Hengyang holds this title. If we don't mention Nanhua University, many wouldn't know that this non-coastal city of Hengyang produces over 100 naval officers for the country every year...

History can shape a person's character. The 2200 years of Hengyang's history has molded the unique spirit of its people. Their character is scattered, reflecting a casual approach to life without rigid plans, more about adapting to circumstances; yet they gather strength in this adaptability, ready to leap with astonishing power after a long wait. The "Hengyang Defense War" transformed this city almost beyond recognition, but Hengyang rose again from the ruins of war and, at the beginning of the new China, once ranked among the top cities in GDP nationwide. The reason is simple: many large state-owned enterprises gathered in Hengyang, producing "Zhonghua" locks, "Gongnong" hand tractors, "Furong" watches, "Xiangjiang" bicycles... all made in Hengyang.

Hengyang also has its own football stories. In the inaugural Century-old Famous Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament in 2024, Hengyang No. 8 Middle School made it to the finals. In the 2025 Hunan Provincial Youth Football Championship for the women's B group, Hengyang's second team reached the semifinals, facing off against Changsha's second team. This city has national football feature schools, a complete training system, and a relatively smooth pathway for advancement compared to many other cities. Therefore, when the name of the Century-old Famous Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament collided with the thoughts of Ou Liping, the secretary of Chuanshan English School, the unique explosive power of this typical Hengyang man emerged.

It is precisely because of the deep cultural heritage of this city that we have reason to believe they will possess lasting endurance after their explosive growth, continuously building a talent cultivation system for campus football. We have reason to look forward to the "3+4" integrated education model and to expect the establishment of a football vocational college in this city. On August 15, the junior group events of the Century-old Famous Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament will be held at Hengyang's Chuanshan English School; let's look forward to this upcoming explosion.