Hunan

Hunan

Changsha | Heart of Chu, City of Fire and Smoke

As the capital of Hunan, Changsha is the birthplace and core of Huxiang culture, blending millennia of history with modern urban energy. Here you find the poetic riverside of Orange Isle, the scholarly calm of Yuelu Academy, and the bustle of Taiping Street and Pozi Street. Stinky tofu, tangyou baba, and other local snacks are famous nationwide—an ideal start to feel both contemporary Hunan life and its historical roots.

Zhangjiajie | Three Thousand Peaks, Eight Hundred Streams

Zhangjiajie is a world-class natural heritage site and geopark, renowned for its unique quartz sandstone peak forest. This itinerary covers Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park: the canyon’s glass bridge is a “cloud miracle,” with waterfalls and streams; Tianmen Mountain boasts the world’s longest alpine cableway, the thrilling Guigu Plank Road, and the mysterious Tianmen Cave—like stepping into Avatar’s fantasy world.

Furong Town | Ancient Town on a Waterfall

Furong Town, formerly Wangcun, is a Western Hunan town with over 2,000 years of history, known as “the ancient town on a waterfall” for the great cascade running through it. Once a key Tusi stronghold, its stone-paved lanes and Tujia stilt houses cling to the hillside. The sound of the waterfall mixes with town life, preserving Tusi culture and authentic Western Hunan customs.

Fenghuang Ancient Town | Border Town Dream on the Tuojiang

Fenghuang lies on the banks of the Tuojiang River—the prototype of Shen Congwen’s “Border Town” and one of China’s most beautiful small towns. This Miao settlement has well-preserved Ming and Qing architecture: Hongqiao Wind-and-Rain Tower, Shen Congwen’s former residence, Yang Family Ancestral Hall. At night, stilt houses glow along the river, Miao songs drift over the water, and the old streets offer a blend of bustle and romance that is uniquely Fenghuang.