12 Most Beautiful Self-Driving Routes in Hunan

Hunan recently announced its "Most Beautiful Rural Roads" and "Most Popular Roads" for 2025. We've compiled 12 routes with their key attractions to help you plan your trip. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path road trip, this guide is a must-have! 

2025 "Hunan's Most Beautiful Rural Roads"

X121 Shuangyuan Village–Jiangkou Village Road, Xingzipu Town, Shuangfeng County

Also known as the "Rainbow Road," this route runs along the Shuifumiao Reservoir. It offers open views with colorful road markings and eight scenic pull-offs for easy stops and photos.

Must-visit spots：

Main attractions: Shuifumiao National Wetland Park, Jiangkou Peach Blossom Island, and Leidashi Mountain 

Highlights: Wide water views are great for bird watching and Peach Blossom Island is family-friendly. 

Shuangqing Eco-tourism Road, Yunxi District

Driving along this road feels like entering a natural green tunnel. The forest coverage along the road exceeds 90%, and ornamental plants such as cherry blossoms and crape myrtles bloom in succession throughout the four seasons. Though the road is not long, its true charm lies in its lush greenery.

Must-visit spots:

Main Attractions: Wujian Mountain National Forest Park and Qingxi River

Highlights: If you don't feel like hiking, take a stroll along the Qingxi River at the foot of the mountain. The area is dotted with fruit-picking orchards and yellow tea plantations, making it a great place to enjoy a traditional farmhouse meal.

Goulan Yao Village (Lanxi Township)–Gongchao Village (Yuankou Township) Road, Jiangyong County

The Lanxi-Yuankou Highway runs alongside the ancient Xiaohe Ancient Road, which served as a vital route connecting the Central Plains and Lingnan for over a thousand years. Nestled in the mountains at the border of Hunan and Guangxi, this highway winds through traditional ancient villages with few signs of commercial development, making it ideal for those who appreciate local culture and tranquility.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Goulan Yao Village, Yuankou Reservoir, and the Zhiqing (Educated Youth) Village.

Highlights: Goulan Yao Village is a main attraction, featuring well-preserved ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties with minimal commercialization. The area around Yuankou Reservoir is ideal for camping and fishing.

Jiexi River (Lixian County)–Lingjintan Town Road, Taoyuan County

Taoyuan County has long been known for boasting favorable ecological environment in Hunan. This road runs along the Yuanshui River, with the wide river views on one side and traditional villages and fields on the other. The road surface is in excellent condition, making it ideal for a wonderful driving.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Yuanshui River Scenic Belt, Shaluo Post Station, and nearby ancient villages.

Highlights: It is recommended to enjoy scenic views of the Yuanjiang River and take the chance to experience the local fishing culture. Shaluo Post Station is a remnant of the ancient post road and is ideal for history enthusiasts.

Zigaifeng Road, Hengshan County

The landscaping along both sides of the road is meticulously designed, featuring crape myrtles, camellias, ginkgo trees, and holly. This creates a scenic corridor where visitors can admire wild cherry blossoms in spring and rime ice in winter. When harvest season arrives, the rice paddies along the roadside turn a golden yellow.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Zigaifeng Peak, Baiyun Lake, and the No. 5 Valley Homestay Cluster.

Highlights: Zigaifeng Peak is the second-highest of the 72 peaks of Hengshan Mountain and offers breathtaking scenery. If your budget allows, consider spending a night at No. 5 Valley, one of Hunan's top rural homestays.

East of Mayang County–Longjiabao Hot Spring Resort Road

Drive along this road, and you'll pass attractions such as the 1,000-mu canola flower field at Buyunping, the Xiafeiyun Orchard, and the Tianmu Hot Spring Resort. Mayang is known as the "Hometown of Sweet Oranges," and you should be able to see many orchards lining both sides of the road right now, a golden sea that evokes a real sense of harvest.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: The 1,000-mu canola flower field at Buyunping, Xiafeiyun Orchard, and Tianmu Hot Spring Resort.

Highlights: This season is perfect for picking oranges at the orchard, then driving to Tianmu Hot Spring Resort for a soak—ideal for a winter weekend.

Boshike–Red Stone Forest Scenic Area Road, Guzhang County

The geology of western Hunan is quite unique. If you're looking to experience breathtaking natural landscapes, this route is the one to take. It connects the Red Stone Forest and Furong Town, offering expansive views of red rock formations that create a truly striking visual impact.

Must-visit stops:

Main attractions: Red Stone Forest, Zuolong Gorge, and Furong Town.

Highlights: The Red Stone Forest is the world's only Cambrian-era red carbonate rock forest (a 4A level scenic area) and Zuolong Gorge is ideal for hiking and exploration.

Lukou District X048 (Xianfeng Group–Taihu Township Route)–X013 (Youxian Changhua–Shuangfeng Shuangaitang Route)

Essentially, it's a major thoroughfare formed by the connection of two local county roads, located not far from downtown Zhuzhou, making it perfect for a weekend getaway. From the air, it resembles a ribbon winding through fields and villages, with unobstructed views—ideal for a leisurely drive with the windows down.

Must-visit stops:

Main attractions: Shuixian Lake, Yunyou Mountain Summit Campground, and Baiguo Garden.

Highlights: It is ideal for camping. The summit campground offers excellent views. Or you can take the kids to Baiguo Garden for a nature study trip.

Xinping Road, Yuetang District

For folks living around the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area, this route is practically right on your doorstep. It starts at the Biyuanchun Tea Garden in Qixing Village, Zhaoshan Town, Yuetang District, Xiangtan City, passes through Qixing Village, Xingfu Village, and Yuping Village, and ends at the Yuping Village Camping Base. The route connects several relatively new and picturesque rural villages, and the road surface is smooth, making for a relaxing drive.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Biyuanchun Tea Garden and Yuping Village Camping Base.

Highlights: The camping base is well-equipped, making it ideal for barbecues with friends or team-building activities; the tea garden is a great place to stroll around and buy some tea products.

Chating Town Industrial Revitalization Road, Wangcheng District

Regular readers are probably already familiar with Chating. This road winds through vast stretches of farmland. Although the most beautiful canola flower season has to wait until spring, the countryside in autumn and winter has a unique, open, and desolate beauty that's perfect for a relaxing getaway.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Chating Flower Sea, Xizi Tower, and Chating Reservoir.

Highlights: The tree atop the Xizi Tower is an iconic landmark and Chating Reservoir serves as a hub for many Changsha anglers and cycling enthusiasts.

2025 "Hunan's Most Popular Roads"

Yangmu Road, Anhua County

Anhua is a mountainous region, and this road winds through the hills. Its most distinctive feature is the view of terraced fields and tea plantations, offering a richly layered landscape where you can also see the Fish Scale Beach and an ancient covered bridge.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Chaxiang Flower Sea, Madu Covered Bridge, Fish Scale Beach, and Tangjiaguan Ancient Town.

Highlights: The Madu Covered Bridge exudes a strong sense of history. Fish Scale Beach was a popular photo spot a couple of years ago, and it was ideal for great photos when the water level was just right.

Pingnian-Dehang Road, Jishou City

Once you hit this road, you're not far from the famous Aizhai Bridge. As you drive along, you'll be flanked on one side by the lush green mountains and valleys of the Wuling Mountainous Area in western Hunan, and on the other by the picturesque, terraced dwellings of the Miao villages. This route also connects several main attractions and is the main thoroughfare from Aizhai to Baojing.

Must-visit spots:

Main attractions: Aizhai Bridge, Dehang Miao Village, and Lvdong Mountain.

Highlights: The scenery of Dehang Grand Canyon is truly spectacular. This route offers a wealth of experiences, so it's recommended to set aside two full days for an in-depth exploration.

Chinese source: Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism