Yuanling County
A scenic ancient county in northwestern Hunan where the Yuan and You rivers meet, worth visiting for the primary secondary forest of Jiemuxi and the book culture of Eryou Mountain.
Yuanling County lies in northwestern Hunan and is administered by Huaihua. It is one of the larger counties in Hunan, and the Yuan and You rivers meet here. Eryou Mountain is said to be where people of the Qin era hid their books, giving rise to the saying “learned enough to fill five carts, books reaching to Eryou”. Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve has dense forest and clear gorge streams. The county seat is built along the river, and traditions such as dragon boat racing are distinctive. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit. You can drive via expressway or take a bus from Huaihua or Zhangjiajie.