Abstract: The fundamental motive of the creation of “The Border City” might be regarded as giving vent to the surpressed desire of inner heart and getting rid of the pressure of city civilization,which shows that its creation is a sort of resistance—nostalgic of the old life of Western Hunan and resistant against modernization.Between the defendence of old values and resistance against new values,“The Border City”,with its poetic charm in story-telling,stands as a peaceful antimodernization fortress.The tragic end of “The Border City” reveals the declining fate of a traditional society under the impact of modernization movement.It is an elegy sung to the old declining Xiangxi(the area in Western Hunan).The author finally betrayed his feelings,destroyed “Border City” moved out of the fortress,and complied with the tide of modernization.The aesthetic value of “The Border City” lies in that its aesthetic radiance lights the remote border city of Xiangxi,lights the faded traditional society,and will forever light the way for modern men in their seeking for a spiritual home.

Key words: SHEN Congwen, border city, modernization, antimodernization