Yongzhou Lingling Old Town

Where Liu Zongyuan wrote his “Eight Records of Yongzhou” — Liuzi Temple, Yu Creek and the old town of Lingling sit side by side, alongside the Wuxi Stele Forest and the azaleas of Yangming Mountain.

Yongzhou lies in southern Hunan Province, where the Xiao River joins the Xiang River. Known in ancient times as Lingling, it is a National Historical and Cultural City. During the Tang dynasty, Liu Zongyuan spent ten years here in exile, writing the “Eight Records of Yongzhou” and “The Snake Catcher,” which made places such as Yu Creek, the Little Rock Pool and Gumu Pool famous for centuries; the calligrapher Huaisu was also born here. The city is divided into Lengshuitan to the north (the new district and high-speed rail station) and Lingling, about 25 km south (the old town), which is where visitors focus. Main sightseeing areas: first, around Lingling old town — on the west bank of the Xiao River are Liuzi Temple, Yu Creek, the Lingling Ancient City shopping streets and the Chaoyang Rock inscriptions; on the east bank are the Dongshan Scenic Area (Confucian Temple, Martial Temple, Gaoshan Temple, Lütian Hermitage) and Huilong Pagoda; to the north is Ping Island, where the Xiao and Xiang rivers meet. Second, the Wuxi Stele Forest in Qiyang, about 45 km northeast, whose prize treasure is the cliff inscription of the “Ode to the Restoration of the Great Tang” in Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy. Third, Yangming Mountain National Forest Park in Shuangpai, about 40 km southeast, with vast fields of azaleas in spring and cool air in summer. Best seasons: Mar–May for spring scenery and the Yangming Mountain azaleas (late April to mid-May), and Sep–Nov for crisp autumn weather; Jun–Aug is hot, humid and rainy. Getting there: Yongzhou Station (in Lengshuitan) has high-speed trains to Changsha, Guangzhou and Guilin, about 2 hours from Changsha; Lingling old town is about 25 km south of the station, reachable by BRT or taxi. For Wuxi and Yangming Mountain, driving or hiring a car is recommended. Plan on 2 days: one for Lingling old town (Liuzi Temple, Yu Creek, Dongshan, Ping Island) and one for Wuxi or Yangming Mountain. Tips: Lingling old town has light displays and performances in the evening, so consider a night visit; the summit of Yangming Mountain is cold and often foggy, so bring a jacket; local dishes include Dong'an chicken, Yongzhou blood duck and Lingling rolled rice noodles.

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