The Wuzhang Plains (五丈原) are plateaus near the Wei River in China. They are now in the Shaanxi province, 56 kilometres from Baoji. The name "Wuzhang" means "five zhang", where zhang (丈) is a Chinese unit of measurement which converts to 3⅓ metre. In actuality, the plains are situated 12 m from sea level, 1 km wide from east to west, and 3.5 km long from north to south. The Qin Mountains are to the plains' south, while the Wei River is at their north, Maili River to their east, and Shitou River to their west.
The hazardous plateaus were the site of the Battle of Wuzhang Plains during the Three Kingdoms period of China, in which the famous Shu statesman Zhuge Liang died of sickness.
At the present, the Wuzhang Plains are a designated scenic region where relics of the Three Kingdoms period scattered across the plains. Many temples were erected there in Zhuge Liang's name, and the sceneries have names that allude to his Northern Expeditions. Because it is known as the site where Zhuge Liang died, many poets of old have journeyed here and left their mark.
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Famous quotes containing the word plains:
“When I say artist I don’t mean in the narrow sense of the word—but the man who is building things—creating molding the earth—whether it be the plains of the west—or the iron ore of Penn. It’s all a big game of construction—some with a brush—some with a shovel—some choose a pen.”
—Jackson Pollock (1912–1956)