Experience Culture and Scenery in Western Hunan

Yuanshui Senic Area

Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in northwest Hunan Province, neighboring Zhangjiajie to the east and Huaihua to the south. It is a place with profound cultural deposits and rich ethnic customs.

Yuanshui Scenic Area in Luxi County is a provincial-level scenic spot. It has beautiful natural scenery, numerous cultural landscapes, and unique folk customs. It is the birthplace of Panhu culture, (King of Yao People in ancient time) and the exiled place of Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan, as well as the place where the famous writer Shen Congwen interpreted the stories of ancient mysterious hanging coffins.

30 main attractions include Tieshan River Ferry, Zhenrong Temple, Xiangshui Cave, Quwang Beach, Xinnv Princess Cliff, Hanging Coffins, Rock Tombs, Box-shaped Rock, Xinnv Princess Temple, Panhu Cave and Mazui Rock.

Especially in recent years, through accelerating the development of tourism industry, Luxi County has built Yuanshui Scenic Belt, Ten-li Gallery lighting project, the Seven Star Tower and started the "Xinnv Princess" luxury cruise ship.

Chadong in Huayuan County

Chadong in Huayuan County, popularly known as "Frontier City" (Biancheng Town), is located at the junction of three provinces - Hunan, Sichuan and Guizhou. It is one of the four famous towns in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Tourists can admire the reflection of bridges and towers in the calm river water and bamboo houses propped up with supports in distance. The place is as tranquil and beautiful as paradise.

Qianzhou Ancient Town

Qianzhou ancient town is located in Jishou City in central China’s Hunan Province. Its history can be traced back 4,200 years ago when the original inhabitants lived here. Since the Qin dynasty (221BC-206BC), it has become an important port connecting the inland areas and Miao ethnic minorities.

It was the capital city of Miao Territory. During the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Monarchy would assign senior generals to guard the Qianzhou. Many years passed by, yet Qianzhou Ancient Town remained intact with ancient architectural complex, slates, old streets, river etc, making tourists enjoy themselves so much that they forget to leave.

Furong Town

Furong Town or Hibiscus Town is located in Yongshun County of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It started to become famous after a movie named Furong Town. Furong Town is an ancient town with more than 2,000 years of history. It is on the riverside of Youshui River, 51 kilometers far from county center. Thanks to its convenient waterways, visitors can easily arrive in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces as well as Tongting Lake. Anciently, Furong Town was the business port in Yongshun County. The Town boasts The Great Town of Youyang, Little Nanjing as well as one of Top Four Famous Towns in West Hunan Province.

Red Carbonate-Rock Stone Forest National Geopark

Xiangxi Red Rock Forest National Park is located in Jietong and Duanlong Township in Guzhang County with an area of 30 kilometers square. Its opposite bank is the famous scenic spot “Furong Town”. It is the unique red carbonic acid rock forest in China formed in Cambrian. It is believed that long time ago the forest was covered with water.

Now, Red Rock Forest is being developed into a national geological park where karst, gorge, karst cave, valley and waterfall are distributed together. It is really a resort of both high value of geologic and scientific research, aesthetic appreciation and landscape. Another attracting and mysterious thing is that the color of rocks here can change with weather and temperature. In summer with hot sun, its color turns into fiery red. During cloudy day, it would be maroon and purple. However in heavy rainy day, it is black.

Red Rock Forest can really be called the first marvel in Hunan and it will certainly give you a brand new tourism experience.

The scenic area within Duanlingshan Town of Guzhang County occupies an area of 20 square kilometers or so. Huge rocks in grotesque shapes are found everywhere. The resort is called "The First Marvelous Sight in Mount Wuling" for its exquisite, towering, strange-shape and ancient land formations.

Zuolong Gorge

Zuolong scenic spot is located in Guzhang County, Hexi Town. Zuolong scenic spot and Furong Town are separated by a river. Overall, the length of Zuolong Gorge is about 6,500 meters.

In 1993, Zuolong Gorge was found by an herb digger. According to textual research, its landform is shaped by crust changes and wind erosion in 3 million years.

As time goes by, Zuolong Gorge gained a good reputation - “the first peculiar gorge in south eastern China”. Because of its original ecological environment, fresh air and mysterious Tujia customs, Zuolong Gorge is also called “fairyland on earth”, “ideal world”. In addition, it has a special type of visiting line, that is, all the lines are built in the deep valley, taking full advantage of steep mountains, just like the sculpture carved by nature carefully looking from a distance. So, as you can imagine, walking along this kind of visiting line, you cannot go through all the cliffs solely relying on your hands and feet. Meanwhile, strong will and appreciation of the nature are also essential for climbing Zuolong Gorge. Only when you have an exploration by yourself someday, can you discover how it is like on earth.

Updated on Jan. 26, 2024