On September 15, the "Explore Hunan by High-Speed Rail" 2026 Hunan Autumn Cultural and Tourism Promotion Event was launched at Changsha South Railway Station. From now until September 24, Hunan's 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture will take turns hosting cultural and tourism promotional events there, transforming the waiting hall into a "cultural tourism lounge" to offer autumn surprises and benefits to travelers passing through.

On September 15, the "Explore Hunan by High-Speed Rail" 2026 Hunan Autumn Cultural and Tourism Promotion Event is launched at Changsha South Railway Station. (Photo provided by the organizer)

At the event, performances featuring Hunan's distinctive culture and cultural tourism promotions took turns on stage. The Hunan Song and Dance Theater presented programs such as "Chili Song" and "I'll Sing the Song of Hunan to You," drawing many passing travelers. The Changde Silk String performance "Meet in Hunan" showcased the charm of this national intangible cultural heritage with its melodious tunes. Ten Hunan tourism annual passes were also given away in a lucky draw, allowing holders to visit 70 scenic spots across Hunan.  

As Hunan's high-speed rail network continues to expand, lines such as the Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua High-Speed Railway, the Shanghai-Kunming High-Speed Railway, and the Huaihua-Shaoyang-Hengyang Railway connect Hunan's famous mountains and ancient towns, opening up a "major transportation artery" for the development of the cultural tourism industry. The event also promoted the 2026 Hunan autumn premium travel routes. The routes cover areas along five high-speed rail lines: the Beijing-Guangzhou, Shanghai-Kunming, Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua, Hengyang-Liuzhou, and Chongqing-Changsha-Xiamen high-speed railways. These itineraries link popular autumn tourist destinations across Hunan's 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture, such as the Colorful Valley in Yanling, Zhuzhou, the Ziquejie Terraced Fields in Loudi, the Golden Whip Stream in Zhangjiajie, the Ginkgo Trees in Tongzi'ao, Yongzhou, and the Datong Lake in Yiyang, offering tourists diverse options for autumn travel.

The "Southern Express" series of railway cultural tourism products, jointly created by the Hunan Culture, Sports, and Tourism Group and the China Railway Guangzhou Group, was also promoted at the site. The series includes three tourist trains—BAI YUN HAO, XIAOXIANG, and HONG MIAN HAO—each with a distinct orientation, creating a new mobile cultural tourism space that integrates transportation, accommodation, culture, and leisure. Changsha South Railway Station also promoted its "An Invitation in a Single Ticket" service, covering convenient services such as multi-ride periodic tickets, green channels, dedicated account managers, luggage delivery service, and tourism multi-ride passes, allowing travelers to explore Hunan with just one ticket.

An NPC dressed in traditional costumes randomly finds a "destined traveler" in the waiting hall for a quick Q&A session. (Photo provided by the organizer)

"What is Zhangjiajie's most iconic landscape?" "In which city or prefecture is Fenghuang Ancient Town located?" NPCs dressed in traditional costumes push small flower carts and randomly find "destined travelers" in the waiting hall for quick Q&A sessions. Travelers who answered the questions correctly could receive a special cultural tourism gift package.

Over the next 10 days, Hunan's 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture will take turns hosting events at Changsha South Railway Station, bringing folk performances, cultural and creative product exhibitions and sales, scenic route promotions, and exclusive preferential policies. The efforts aim to enable travelers to appreciate the spectacular peaks of Zhangjiajie, the charm of Fenghuang Ancient Town, the autumn scenery of Dongting Lake, and the sea of clouds over Xuefeng Mountain while waiting for their trains.

The event is hosted by the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the China Railway Guangzhou Group Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the cultural and tourism authorities of Hunan's 13 cities and one autonomous prefecture and Changsha South Railway Station. This autumn, take the high-speed rail to Hunan—you'll find not only beautiful natural scenery, but also tangible discounts and warm hospitality.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Chinanews