2025 Yuanling Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

Hey guys! Today I must recommend this hidden gem of an ancient town in Hunan—Yuanling! Known as "the strategic pass of Western Hunan with breathtaking cliffs and scenery," it boasts a history spanning over a thousand years from the Warring States period to today. The intangible cultural heritage like Chenzhou Nuo Opera and Yuanling traditional dragon boat racing adds profound depth to its charm. Compared to the overcrowded Fenghuang Ancient Town, Yuanling's slow-paced life, rich cultural atmosphere, and authentic local vibes make it a perfect destination for a getaway! Here’s a comprehensive guide—save it now! 👇 👍🏻 Why You Should Visit: Want to experience the authentic charm of Western Hunan? Yuanling is the place! It’s home to millennia-old historical sites and living intangible cultural heritage. Free from over-commercialization, you can immerse yourself in local life, and every photo you take oozes atmosphere—ideal for a slow, in-depth exploration! 🗺 Attractions: - Dragon Boat Grandstand: Yuanling’s traditional dragon boat racing is a national intangible cultural heritage! The annual races are electrifying, with roaring drums and flying oars, showcasing the locals' passion. Even off-season, you can feel the excitement and cultural legacy here. - Longxing Lecture Hall: Built in the Tang Dynasty, it’s arguably the world’s oldest surviving academy! Every detail here is stunning, from the exquisitely carved wooden doors and windows to the vibrant paintings. The red walls outside are a photographer’s dream for vintage-style shots! - Chenzhou Ancient Street: A lively alleyway filled with enticing aromas from street vendors. Walking on the cobblestone paths feels like stepping back in time—perfect for candid shots or leisurely strolls. - Eryou Mountain: Also called "Ten Thousand Scrolls Rock," legend says it’s where ancient Qin people hid their books. The boat ride there offers breathtaking views of green mountains and clear waters, like a living landscape painting steeped in millennia of culture. - Huxi Academy: Built during the Ming Dynasty to commemorate Wang Shouren’s lectures in Yuanling. The serene academy exudes a scholarly ambiance, perfect for quiet reflection. - Fenghuang Temple: Nestled northwest by the Yuan River and surrounded by mountains, the temple is shaded by ancient trees. Find a quiet corner to sit, listen to birdsong, and soak in the healing views. 🚗 Transportation: Self-driving is highly recommended! From Changsha, it’s about a 4-hour smooth ride on the highway, with scenic stops along the way. In Yuanling, attractions are close, making driving or taxis convenient. 🗺 Itinerary: - Day 1: Start at Longxing Lecture Hall to soak in its ancient charm. After lunch nearby, head to the Dragon Boat Grandstand, then explore Huxi Academy. End the day at Chenzhou Ancient Street, savoring night views and local bites. - Day 2: Visit Chenzhou Twin Pagodas in the morning, then unwind at Fenghuang Temple. In the afternoon, take a boat to Eryou Mountain for stunning riverside scenery and ancient history. 🍱 Food Recs: Yuanling’s food street is a paradise! Must-tries: - Braised Pork Knuckle Noodles: Tender, flavorful pork in rich broth—pure comfort! - Fried Glutinous Rice Balls: Crispy outside, chewy inside, sweet and delicious. - Mugwort Cakes: Unique herbal aroma with a soft texture—a local specialty bursting with happiness! 💰 Costs: Most attractions are budget-friendly, like the affordable Longxing Lecture Hall ticket. Food is a steal—a hearty breakfast on the food street costs just over 10 yuan per person! For self-driving, fuel and tolls vary, but overall, Yuanling offers unbeatable value! 📌 Tips: 1. Check the weather—sunny days = better photos! 2. Wear comfy shoes for exploring ancient streets and academies. 3. Layer up for the Eryou Mountain boat ride—it can get windy. 4. Yuanling cuisine leans spicy; ask for less spice if needed!

The hotel is located at the intersection of Chenzhou East Road and Yingbin North Road in Yuanling, adjacent to Yuanling County North Bus Station, with very convenient transportation. The overall service quality of the hotel is very high. It rained on the day of check-in. The staff helped to cover the umbrella bag and wipe the wet suitcase. They were friendly and the room was cleaned in a timely manner. The cleaning lady was particularly active. Since I planned to use the hotel bags to pack my things, the cleaning lady generously provided two. The hotel's restaurant is on the first floor. The young lady was very welcoming and used to drinking hot American coffee (the hotel only had instant coffee). The young lady said she would report this to her leader in a timely manner. The dishes taste great. Rice noodles are a specialty of Yuanling and are really delicious. I heard that the corn in Yuanling is delicious. I had it for breakfast at the hotel. It was indeed delicious. I ate three small pieces in total, haha.

Today, I suddenly went to Guan Zhuang with a friend. It is a town in Yuanling, about an hour and a half from Taoyuan County. The tea here is particularly famous. Starting from Taoyuan, you will find many tea gardens on both sides of the road along the national highway. Chenlong Pass is the largest one I have ever seen. Because I arrived late, I only took a brief look. The main industry here is tea, so the tea garden scenery of Chenlong Pass is very good. There is a small camping base here, and I think the environment is also very good. There will be atmosphere lights at night. In order to allow us to visit the tea garden better, a small train was designed when planning, but it seems to have stopped operating. There are not many tourists in this tea garden, but the scenery makes people feel very peaceful.

🏡 Huaihua, Hunan Huaihua is located in the southwest of Hunan Province, China, and is a shining pearl of Western Hunan. 🌄 Natural Scenery Mountains and Rivers Huaihua is known for its magnificent mountains and clear rivers, with famous natural landscapes that form charming natural scenery. Forest Coverage Huaihua has a high forest coverage rate and rich biodiversity, making it an ideal place for outdoor activities and ecotourism. In spring and autumn, it is a perfect combination of flower seas and green forests. Beautiful Yuan River The Yuan River runs through Huaihua, with winding waters and picturesque scenery along the banks, making it a great place for people to relax and get close to nature. 🏛️ Cultural History Rich Cultural Heritage Huaihua is home to ethnic minorities such as the Tujia and Miao people in Western Hunan, and its unique ethnic culture and customs give the city a rich cultural connotation. 🍽️ Food Recommendations Huaihua's cuisine is rich and diverse, especially the local Tujia and Miao dishes, which have unique flavors. You can try the following specialties: Tujia Bacon Sour and Spicy Fish Miao Rice Tofu Various Local Snacks 🗺️ Tourist Activities Outdoor Adventures: There are rich resources for mountaineering, rafting, and hiking around Huaihua, suitable for adventurous tourists. Ethnic Festivals: You can experience the traditional festivals of the Tujia and Miao people and feel the strong ethnic customs.

This ancient village in Hunan is actually the hometown of the Queen of the Tang Dynasty On the bank of Youshui River in Hunan, there is a Tujia ancient village with a history of a thousand years. It is also the hometown of Hu Fengjiao, the queen of Emperor Li Dan of the Tang Dynasty. It is the traditional Chinese village - Hujiaxi Tujia Folk Culture and Customs Ancient Village Scenic Area. The history of human settlement in Hujiaxi can be traced back to two thousand years ago. This used to be an ancient Tujia village that spanned five counties, with an official road connecting to the Yuanjiang River, Youshui River, and five surrounding counties. However, the village has not been affected much by modern times and still retains its ancient charm. The Tujia stilt houses in the ancient village are built against the Wuling Mountains. The Youshui River flows past the village. The villagers also retain the traditional customs of the Tujia people. The small bridges, flowing water and houses allow every visitor to feel the rich Tujia folk culture. Recommended Play Points Millennium Coptis Chinensis Tree In the Hujiaxi Ancient Village, there is an old Coptis chinensis tree with towering branches and leaves and branches covered with red cloth. It has a history of a thousand years and requires four people to hug it. It has witnessed the development history of Hujiaxi and is a living fossil in the village. Twenty-seven mill sites The 27 mills located along the river recorded the irreplaceable glorious years of Hujia Creek. Three Wind and Rain Bridges There are still three wind and rain bridges preserved in Hujia Creek, among which the most worth seeing is the Flower Bridge. After getting off the Yuanfeng Highway, you will see the Huaqiao Bridge where three streams meet. Huaqiao spans Hujia Creek and has now been transformed into a concrete bridge, with the piers and stone gates still intact. Smart Fountain It is said that after Hu Ao won the imperial examination three times in a row and became the top scholar in the Ming Dynasty, the spring behind Hu Ao's house became the "Spring of Wisdom". Every passerby would take a sip of the water to express people's yearning for wisdom. Hu Fengjiao's Former Residence Hujiaxi is the hometown of Hu Fengjiao, the queen of Emperor Li Dan of the Tang Dynasty. However, due to its long history, only the stone gate remains at the entrance of the house. Four Seasons Flower Sea Hujiaxi has large flower fields where verbena, crape myrtle, lotus, gardenia and other flowers bloom alternately throughout the seasons. There are also large rice fields in the village where you can experience fishing in the rice fields. Tujia ethnic customs The wine in front of the ancient village gate, the welcoming dance in front of the wind and rain bridge, the folk songs on the stilt houses... The villagers protect the traditional culture of the Tujia people in their own way, and also tell people the unique charm of Tujia folk customs. transportation Hujiaxi is suitable for self-driving. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Yuanling County. You can take the Yuanling Fengtan bus line from the West Bus Station and get off at Hujiaxi Station, then walk 550 meters to the destination.

📍Detailed address: Yuanling County, under the jurisdiction of Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Located in the northwest of Hunan Province, at the northern end of Huaihua City. Longxing Lecture Temple is situated at the foot of Huxi Mountain in the northwest corner of Yuanling County town. It is also colloquially known as Longxing Temple and is the oldest existing academy in the world. 🚉Transportation strategy: Take the high-speed train to Huaihua South Station, then transfer to a bus to Yuanling ❤Recommended reason: Longxing Lecture Temple was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, in the second year after he ascended the throne and was specifically used for teaching Buddhism. The stone archway inscribed with Emperor Taizong's edict 'Order to build Longxing Lecture Temple' still stands above the mountain gate today. To the west of Yuanling is the land of the Wuxi barbarians, and the temple was built to educate the local people. The so-called lecture temple is a place for promoting Buddhism and teaching civilization. Many high officials and distinguished scholars have visited this place throughout the ages. Dong Qichang, the Minister of Rites during the Ming Dynasty's Chongzhen period, passed through Yuanling on his way to inspect Yunnan and suffered from an eye disease. He was treated by monks in the temple, and in gratitude, he wrote the plaque 'Buddha Land before the Eyes' for Longxing Lecture Temple, which hangs high on the front of the main hall. The great scholar Wang Yangming, on his way back from exile in Longchang, passed through Yuanling and was specially invited by the students of Chenzhou to teach 'The Extension of Knowledge' in the temple for a month. The group of buildings at Longxing Lecture Temple is rich in decorative art, especially the hollowed-out stone carved lotus seat for preaching in the Mahavira Hall, which is exquisite and translucent, a rare item from the Song to Qing dynasties, and is rarely seen in China. Longxing Lecture Temple

Yuanling County's Jiemuxi Scenic Area is a tourist destination where natural scenery and cultural landscapes shine together. Located in the northwestern part of Yuanling County, it is known as the 'Ecological Kingdom and Natural Oxygen Bar', with vast areas of primary secondary forests and a forest coverage rate of 89.6%, high in negative oxygen ions. It is now a provincial-level ecological tourism demonstration area and a national 3A-level tourist attraction, hailed as 'Hunan's Jiuzhaigou'. The Jiemuxi Grand Canyon is lush with mountains and the stream is babbling, making it a great place for leisure and summer retreat. Jiemuxi Scenic Area is located within the territory of Jiemuxi Township, which is one of the areas where ethnic minorities are distributed in Yuanling County. There are simple stilted buildings and the honest Tujia and Miao minorities within the territory. 🚉Transportation Strategy: Jiemuxi Township of Yuanling is less than 40 kilometers away from the Zhangjiajie tourist area. Provincial Road 228 runs through it, and you can reach Zhangjiajie Airport by major transportation, then drive or charter a car to get there. 🗓Travel Itinerary: The scenic area is free of charge, and it is recommended to spend 2 days there. Accommodation can be found at the scenic area's visitor center or homestays. 🍽Dining Recommendation: Xiangxi style farmhouse delights 📝Note tips: Pay attention to protecting the natural environment and abide by local customs and traditions

Yuanling Chenlong Pass is where Emperor Kangxi won the victory in the region during his three-time policy to pacify the Southwest King Wu Sangui, and was bestowed the title of 'The First Pass of Chenlong in the World'. Come to Chenlong Pass to see the beautiful mountains and waters, the babbling brooks, and the leisurely green mountains. The Huixian Tower and the Wenxin Pavilion are good places for everyone to stop and rest and enjoy the scenery. At Chenlong Pass, you can also take a ride on the Jinzhou Bay train to tour the scenic area, and walking on the glass plank road is not too thrilling. There is also a green tea production base in the scenic area, with a natural subtropical monsoon climate and mountain springs, which creates good quality organic green tea. Coming to Chenlong Pass for a self-driving tour, or group travel, are both good choices. The ticket price is not expensive, and accommodation is convenient.