Hunan
Where Xiang-Chu landscapes blend with ethnic cultures, Zhangjiajie's spectacular peaks, Fenghuang Ancient Town and Changsha's food each have their own charm.
Hunan lies south of the middle Yangtze, with mountains on three sides, the Xiang River running through it and Dongting Lake in the north. Wulingyuan in Zhangjiajie is famous for its quartz-sandstone peak forests and is a World Natural Heritage site. Fenghuang Ancient Town and the Tujia and Miao villages of western Hunan are rich in ethnic culture. Changsha is a popular city for food and nightlife, with Yuelu Mountain and Orange Isle as its signature sights. Ziquejie terraces in Xinhua, the Dong villages of Tongdao, Nanshan in Chengbu, Jiuyi Mountain in Ningyuan, the Nüshu script culture of Jiangyong and Shennong Valley in Yanling suit deeper exploration. Spring and autumn are best. Changsha Huanghua Airport and its high-speed rail hub are the main gateways, and Zhangjiajie also has an airport.
Destinations
- Central Changsha
- Zhangjiajie
- Yongzhou Lingling Old Town
- Yueyang Urban Area
- Shaoshan
- Mount Heng (Nanyue)
- Fenghuang & Xiangxi
- Tongdao
- Jiangyong
- Changde
- Chenzhou & Dongjiang Lake
- Mangshan
- Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town
- Langshan
- Anhua
- Liuyang
- Xinhua
- Chengbu & Nanshan
- Ningyuan
- Yanling
- Pingjiang
- Yuanling
- Xupu
- Longshan
- Fuchuan
Itineraries
- Southwest Hunan Road Trip: Xuefeng Mountain to Langshan – A long-distance self-drive loop through terraced fields, Yao villages, ancient commercial towns, Dong villages, Nanshan…
- Changsha, Shaoshan, Yueyang and Liuyang – Three days in Changsha's city center, round-trip high-speed rail trips to Shaoshan and Yueyang, then a night in Liuyang…
- Road Trip: Zhangjiajie to Guilin via Fenghuang & Dong Villages – Drive south from Zhangjiajie through Tujia and Miao villages, ancient commercial towns, and Dong settlements all the wa…
- Classic Changsha, Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Loop – A high-speed rail-focused first-time route connecting Changsha, Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain, and Fenghuang Ancient Tow…
- Changsha, Shaoshan & Nanyue Cultural Pilgrimage – From Changsha to Shaoshan and Mount Heng (Nanyue), covering red history and sacred mountain blessings in one go.
- Yongzhou: Xiaoxiang Ancient Towns & Villages Road Trip – Head south from Lingling to Jiangyong's Yao ethnic villages, visit the Emperor Shun Mausoleum in Jiuyi Mountain, and re…
- Zhangjiajie In-Depth Tour and Furong Town – Two days in Wulingyuan, the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge and Huanglong Cave, plus a high-speed train day trip to Furong To…
- Zhangjiajie Peak Forest and Fenghuang Ancient Town – Four nights in Zhangjiajie covering Tianmen Mountain, Wulingyuan and the Grand Canyon, then the high-speed train via Fu…
- Chenzhou: Dongjiang Lake, Danxia & Mount Mang – A southern Hunan landscape route featuring the morning mist of Dongjiang, Gaoyiling Danxia, Yangtian Lake Grassland, an…
- Changsha Classics – Explore both banks of the Xiang River by district, covering old city lanes, Yuelu Mountain and Orange Isle, and the Hun…
- Zhangjiajie Weekend Express – One day in Wulingyuan covering Yuanjiajie and Golden Whip Stream, and one day at Tianmen Mountain: the two core scenic…
- Zhangjiajie, Wulingyuan & Tianmen Mountain Highlights – A short, focused itinerary covering Tianmen Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Golden Whip Stream, and the Grand Canyon in four days.