Cities Suitable for Family Travel with Low Expenses

Hunan is rich in tourism resources. Here is a Hunan travel guide to help you have a wonderful trip to Hunan. Popular Attractions 1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: China's first national forest park, featuring stunning peaks, unique rocks, deep gorges, and beautiful streams and waterfalls. You can stroll along Jinbian Stream, admire the strange peaks and clear waters, and possibly encounter wild macaques; take the Bailong Elevator for an exhilarating ride up and down the cliff face; climb Yuanjiajie to explore the prototype of the "floating mountains" in the movie Avatar. 2. Phoenix Ancient Town: A thousand-year-old ancient town with the Tuojiang River flowing through it and ancient stilted buildings built along the mountains. You can take a boat ride on the Tuojiang River, listen to the boatmen's songs, and enjoy the scenery on both sides; stroll on the stone-paved streets at night to admire the splendid lights of the Rainbow Bridge and the ancient town's night view; you can also wear Miao ethnic costumes and take photos at Tiaoyan. 3. Yuelu Mountain: One of Changsha's iconic attractions, known for its clear waters, beautiful mountains, and rich cultural heritage. You can visit Aiwan Pavilion to enjoy the autumn red leaves; tour Yuelu Academy to experience the charm of this thousand-year-old academy; or take a cable car or ropeway up the mountain to overlook the beautiful cityscape of Changsha. 4. Orange Isle: Located in the middle of the Xiangjiang River in downtown Changsha, it is the largest inland isle in the world. You can take a photo with the statue of young Mao Zedong at the head of Orange Isle and feel the spirit of the great leader; on weekend evenings, you can watch the fireworks show over the Xiangjiang River and enjoy the beautiful night scenery. 5. Dongjiang Lake: A famous scenic spot in Chenzhou with clear waters and beautiful landscapes. You can visit Xiao Dongjiang around 5 a.m. to see the mist-covered lake and fishermen casting nets, resembling a traditional Chinese ink painting; in the afternoon, you can go rafting in Longjing Gorge for an exciting and refreshing experience. 6. Yueyang Tower: One of the three famous towers in Jiangnan, renowned worldwide because of Fan Zhongyan's "Yueyang Tower Essay." You can climb Yueyang Tower to enjoy the view of Dongting Lake and feel the sentiments of ancient people; you can also taste local delicacies such as shrimp cakes and sauce-marinated duck on Bianhe Street nearby. 7. Aizhai Wonder: A famous scenic area in Xiangxi Prefecture, consisting of Aizhai Bridge, Dehang Miao Village, and Liusha Waterfall. You can walk on the glass plank road of Aizhai Bridge to experience the thrill of heights; also, you can taste Miao ethnic cuisine and enjoy Miao folk songs and dances in Dehang Miao Village. 8. Shaoshan: The hometown of Mao Zedong, a nationally renowned revolutionary memorial site and key national scenic area. You can visit Mao Zedong's former residence to learn about the great leader's upbringing; you can also pay tribute by presenting flower baskets at the bronze statue square of Chairman Mao. Food Recommendations 1. Changsha: Known as the food capital of Hunan, with many famous food streets such as Pozi Street, Taiping Old Street, and Nanmenkou. You can try stinky tofu, sugar oil rice cakes, spicy crayfish, chopped chili fish head, and stir-fried chili pork. 2. Yueyang: The cuisine mainly features fresh ingredients from Dongting Lake, such as Junshan Silver Needle tea, Dongting silverfish, spicy ginger snake, and Yueyang three steamed dishes. These can be tasted on Bianhe Street near Yueyang Tower. 3. Zhangjiajie: The local cuisine highlights Tujia and Miao ethnic specialties, such as "Sanxia Guo" (three-pot stew), Tujia cured meat, Xiangxi grandma's dishes, and kudzu root noodles. These can be found on Xibu Street in Zhangjiajie city or the food streets in Wulingyuan District. 4. Phoenix Ancient Town: The cuisine features Miao and Tujia ethnic specialties, such as blood duck, Miao sour soup fish, Xiangxi bandit chicken, and Phoenix cold noodles. These can be enjoyed on Hongqiao Road or Nanhuali Food Street within the ancient town. Accommodation Suggestions 1. Changsha: There are many accommodation options in Changsha. You can choose hotels or homestays based on your budget and itinerary. If you want to stay in the city center, hotels or homestays near Wuyi Square are convenient with many nearby food options. If you prefer to stay near Yuelu Mountain, there are hotels or homestays at the foot of the mountain, convenient for visiting Yuelu Mountain and Hunan University. 2. Zhangjiajie: Accommodation is mainly concentrated in Zhangjiajie city and Wulingyuan District. If you want to stay in the city center, choose hotels or homestays in Zhangjiajie city for convenient transportation and complete facilities. If you want to stay near the scenic area, choose hotels or homestays in Wulingyuan District for easy access to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. 3. Phoenix Ancient Town: Accommodation is mainly within and around the ancient town. If you want to stay inside the ancient town, choose inns or homestays to experience the town's charm. If you prefer to stay around the ancient town, hotels or homestays nearby offer lower prices and convenient transportation. Transportation Guide 1. Airplane: Hunan has several airports, such as Changsha Huanghua International Airport, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, and Changde Taohuayuan Airport. You can choose the appropriate airport based on your itinerary. 2. Train: Hunan has a well-developed railway network with many train stations, such as Changsha Station, Changsha South Station, Zhangjiajie Station, and Phoenix Ancient Town Station. Choose the station that best fits your travel plans. 3. Bus: Hunan also has a developed road network with many long-distance bus stations and passenger terminals. You can select the suitable bus station according to your itinerary.