Things to do in Longshan

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Xiangxi Prefecture

Bamian Mountain

Bamian Mountain stands majestically on the border of Hunan and Chongqing, bordering Youyang County and Xiushan County in Chongqing to the west, and belongs to theWuling Mountains. This is a rare high-altitude plateau: surrounded by steep cliffs, the mountain is long and narrow from north to south with pointed ends, looking like a large ship resting on the peaks of the mountains from a distance; viewed from the direction of Liye, the undulating ridgeline resembles a "sleeping beauty" lying quietly. On the summit, with an average altitude of over 1,200 m, a gently sloping grassland unfolds, with hilly pastures stretching over 50 km², hence the name "grassland in the sky." This grassland, suspended above the cliffs, is the core attraction of Bamian Mountain: with lush pastures and herds of cattle and horses scattered throughout, it has been hailed as "a pearl of the grasslands in southern China." The mountain is also dotted withsights such as Zisheng Bridge, Yanzi Cave, Beizi Rock, Yixiantian, Bijiashan, Wangxiang Terrace, and Xiling Cliff; karst caves, sinkholes, stone forests, and alpine lakes are scattered throughout, and the mountain area is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with scenes of surging cloud seas and glowing skies often encountered in the early morning and evening. Because there are only a few steep passes for entering and exiting the summit, such as Dayanmen, Xiaoyanmen, and Wangxiang Terrace, this place has been easy to defend and difficult to attack since ancient times. It still retains old place names like "Thirty-six Knives" and "Forty-eight Camps," and the anti-bandit battles in western Hunan in the early 1950s also took place around Yanzi Cave here. The average summer temperature at the summit is around 20°C, with cool breezes, making it a favored summer retreat for people in the surrounding areas.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Longshan

Rebala Scenic Area

Rebala Tourist Attraction is an ancient Tujia village with beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage, located in Miaoertan Town, Longshan County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. The Attraction has well-preserved Tujia buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, ancient villages, Baishou Hall and other iconic architectural relics, as well as a wealth of Tujia brocade, Daliuzi and other intangible cultural heritage projects. In addition, the Attraction also provides agricultural sightseeing, Tujia traditional craft experience and other activities, allowing tourists to fully experience the charm of Tujia culture.

No. 10 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Xiangxi Prefecture

Ancient City of Liye

The ancient city of Liye is located in the south of Longshan County, adjacent to Chongqing City in the southwest. It is an important border town on the Youshui River. Historically, it was an important passage from the Central Plains to the southwest, and was known as the "Chu-Shu Tongjin". The ancient city of Liye is also a famous historical and cultural town in China, a famous landscape tourism town with Chinese characteristics, and a hometown with Chinese characteristics. In the scenic area, there are attractions such as Liye Qin Bamboo Slips Museum, Liye Ancient City Ruins, Ming and Qing Ancient Street Streets, Qin Culture Theme Park, and the Back Streets of the Republic of China. Among them, the Liye Qin Bamboo Slip Museum contains more than 8,000 cultural relics unearthed from the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is not only a national second-level museum, but also a branch of the Capital Museum; in 2002, more than 38,000 Qin Bamboo Slips were unearthed from the ruins of the ancient city of Liye. ; The ancient streets of the Ming and Qing Dynasties mainly include "seven streets, six lanes and five elements". Attractions such as Qujia Courtyard, Li Tongfa Store, Chen Yongtai, Tang Fuji and other attractions are located in these seven streets and six lanes./1, 1,Liye Qin Bamboo Slips Museum The Liye Ancient City (Qin Slips) Museum was built in 2006 and opened in 2010. It is a special museum on the history and culture of the Qin Dynasty. The collection contains more than 10,000 cultural relics unearthed from the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties. It comprehensively explains the administrative operations of the Qin Empire and the border counties of the empire from four aspects: "Impression of the Ancient City", "Memories of Moving the Tombs", "Family in Youshui", and "Empire County Administration" The various social aspects of the city. The contents of Chen Zhan's Qin bamboo slips cover various aspects of society, politics, economy, military, postal services, law, officials, arithmetic, calendar, religion and other aspects of the Qin Dynasty. Among them, "Qianling Dongting County", " The three bamboo slips "Nine-Nine Multiplication Table" and "Moving the Mausoleum and Mailing to Dongting" are among the best in the collection and have rewritten many histories. 2. Ruins of the ancient city of Liye The ancient city of Liye was once a strategic location for Qin and Chu to compete for hegemony. It was the seat of Dongting County after the establishment of the Qin Dynasty. It was also a strategic location for garrisoning. According to records, Dongting County moved to Ling County in the 32nd year of Qin Shihuang's reign, with 55,534 households, a total of more than 30 Ten thousand people accounted for 1/70 of the national population in the Qin Dynasty. It can be seen that Dongting County was a large county with a large territory and a large population at that time. The ruins of the ancient city of Qin and Han Dynasties during the Warring States Period in Liye are located on the west bank of the Youshui River. It was built in the Chu State during the Warring States Period. The terrain is rectangular, with a length of 210 meters from north to south and a width of only 107 meters from east to west. It has experienced the Warring States, Qin and Han dynasties as an ancient city. Among them, the moat, The ancient city walls, ancient wells, house foundations and other relics are basically intact. It is the only Qin city ruins discovered so far in my country. At that time, many famous historians and archaeological experts commented: "The value of the ancient city is no less than that of Qin bamboo slips." It has irreplaceable significance for studying the history of China's Qin Dynasty. 3. Qin Culture Theme Park Qin Culture Theme Park, as the name suggests, is mainly about Qin culture. Attractions such as postal stations, zodiac horse posts, shops and thatched houses reflect the characteristics of people's information transmission and architectural composition during the Qin Dynasty. Qin Culture Theme Park and Youshui River are bounded by the river embankment. Standing on the river embankment, you can enjoy the scenery of the theme park and Youshui River at the same time, which is the White River in Shen Congwen's writing.4. Ming and Qing Ancient Streets The Ming and Qing Ancient Street District is located on the west bank of the Youshui River, south of the ruins of the Qin and Han Dynasty ancient city of the Warring States Period in Liye, and mainly includes Zhongfu Street, Buping Street, Wanshou Street, Pijiang Street, Jia Street, He Street, Caihang and Jingfeng Lane, etc. Seven streets, six lanes and five elements.” The core area of ​​the ancient street covers a total area of ​​about 8.99 hectares, with a total length of streets and lanes of more than 3,500 meters. There are more than 910 good existing residential buildings and a construction area of ​​more than 31,940 square meters. Due to the convenient transportation of Youshui River, a trade market had been formed long before the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty and became the trade center and material distribution center of the Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan border areas. This attracted a large number of merchants from Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hubei and Changde in the province to gather in Liye. , trade and business, build streets and build houses. The architectural style is based on local Tujia architecture, while also integrating Western architectural styles from Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Xihe, forming Liye's unique multi-faceted architectural features. 5. Backstreets of the Republic of China The backstreet of the Republic of Liye is based on the "Biantu Republic of China Travel Center, China's B&B Center" as the main line, combined with the landscape of the Youshui River bank, to restore and reconstruct the Biantu Republic of China leisure tourism that integrates culture, experience, folk customs, sightseeing, education, and leisure. Resort town. 6. Yiqinlou Hotel (formerly Liye Mansion) Liye Yiqinlou Hotel, formerly Liye Mansion, is located at No. 8 He Street, Liye Town, Longshan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. The hotel has a unique architectural style and complete facilities. There is an independent chess and card room and a leisure tea bar in the hotel. It is adjacent to the ancient city ruins. Standing outside the room, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Youshui River. It is an ideal choice for leisure vacation.

Wulong Mountain Grand Canyon

The Wulong Mountain Grand Canyon is located in Longshan County of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is where the story in the famous Chinese TV series Putting Down Bandits in Wulong Mountain Grand Canyon begins. Along both sides of the gorge, there are many karst caves like mysterious underground labyrinths, which are regarded as the world's karst cave museum. The scenic area consists of the Qianshan gable column, Wulong cave, Kongfu practicing lot, and many other natural scenes. The stone columns, bizarre rocks, and cliffs are a highlight of the scenic area. Walking into the gorge and enjoying the verdant mountain and clear rivers, you can feel the tranquility and boundlessness of the nature.

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is renowned for its towering Danxia landform resembling a giant elephant and the Guoli River encircling it like a jade belt. Its fame spread far and wide due to the 1,600-year incense continuity at Puzhao Temple on its cliffs and its imperial designation as the "Orthodox Caodong Sect of Zen" by Emperor Guangxu. In the 1920s, renowned scholar Zhang Taiyan was so captivated while studying the "Dragon Tripitaka" here that he praised it as "the perilous Five Streams under heaven, the divine Victoria Peak." After a decade of refinement, the revitalized Victoria Peak attraction officially opened in 2020, featuring three main experiences: scenic meditation, sports leisure, and red-themed trails. Highlights include Guanyin Pavilion offering panoramic views of two counties, the imperial-certified Songyue Pagoda, Cloud-Climbing Ladder, cliffside plank walkway, China's first outdoor inclined viewing ladder, western Hunan's only aerial canyon glass slide, Danxia cliff via ferrata, revolutionary relic Xinglong Bridge (Red Army Bridge), and Sanpaotai. It stands as Longshan's premier tourism destination and a flagship attraction for regional tourism.

Bamianshan Scenic Area - Stargazing Campsite

Laifeng County Xianfo Grottoes Scenic Area

Xianfo Temple Cliff Carvings, a national AAAA-level Attraction and the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, is located in Xianfo Village, Xiangfeng Town, Laifeng County, 4.5 kilometers away from the county seat, at the starting point of Enlai Expressway. The Attraction is located on the bank of Youshui River, adjacent to Xuanen in the east and across the river from Longshan County, Hunan in the south. In 1956, the Hubei Provincial Government announced Xianfo Temple as the first batch of provincial key cultural relics protection units in the province, on par with Wudang Mountain and Yuquan Temple. In June 2006, the Xianfo Temple Cliff Carvings were announced as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Xianfo Temple has always been a religious place in the border area of ​​Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing and Guizhou, and a religious holy place for the Tujia and Miao peoples. It integrates Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and is known as the "Wuling Blessed Land and Bishuixian Cave". Tourists have been flocking since ancient times. Especially on the three major Dharma meetings on February 19, June 19 and September 19 of the lunar calendar, believers come from afar, boats race on the river, the temple is crowded with people, and purple smoke lingers in the sky. Cliff carvings, Beilin and stele forest, auspicious clouds, sunset, Xianfo Temple Xianfo Temple has always been praised for its beautiful scenery. It connects Jingchu and Xiaoxiang, embraces Bashu and Yunnan, gathers the essence of Tujia, and absorbs the charm of Wuxi. �® � The two banks share the same vein, and the three counties are close to each other; the countryside is like a chessboard, with red, orange, yellow and green crisscrossing. Its deep pool is like a mirror, boats are gently rocking, and kingfishers are flying through the green lines; the morning sun shines and the evening is cloudy, and the waves are shining and shining; especially when the moon is in the middle of the sky and the Buddha Pool reflects the moon, the sky is bright, the silver waves are rippling, the ancient cypresses are shrouded in smoke, and the bells are curling. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Wuling Mountain Area. At the same time, you can enjoy a Zen life in the Xianfo Temple Attraction, and enjoy a simple, poor, free and poetic life. You can eat vegetarian food, taste Zen tea, smell sandalwood, and play the vegetarian zither in the Xianfo Temple, allowing you to truly feel the inner peace, stability, and openness, making your life simple and orderly, allowing your soul to be baptized, and giving rise to Unlimited yearning for future life.

Liye Ancient Town (Qin Slips) Museum

Liye Qin Bamboo Slips Museum is located in Liye Town, Longshan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with pleasant scenery. The museum was officially opened on October 28, 2010. It currently exhibits more than 400 precious cultural relics such as bamboo slips, bronzes, and pottery, covering an area of ​​36,000 square meters and a total construction area of ​​7,200 square meters.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is named after the natural wonder "Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave." When visiting the attraction, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the winding Heaven-Linking Avenue and the stunning mountain scenery from the cable car. The brave can also walk along the cliff-hugging glass skywalk for an exhilarating aerial experience. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is located close to Zhangjiajie city. The Tianmen Cave in the park is a natural karst cave, and locals believe it leads directly to heaven. For ordinary travelers, Tianmen Cave is not open year-round. During winter each year, due to snow and icy roads, both Tianmen Cave and the Avenue toward Heaven (a winding mountain road with 99 turns) leading to it are closed. The lower station of the attraction's cableway is located in Guanliping, Yongding District, and the upper station isTianmen MountainTop. In 2020, the attraction opened the express cableway. The lower station of the express cableway is near the entrance to Tianmen Mountain, and the upper station is atTianmen CaveNear the parking lot. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is filled with ancient towering trees and intertwined vines. The attraction is divided into several main areas, including Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave, central route, eastern route and western route. Travelers can choose different routes and areas to explore based on their preferences and physical condition. The core attraction along the central route is Tianmen Mountain Temple. Nearby lies the "Child-seeking cave," where folk legends claim Guanyin, the child-giving bodhisattva, manifested her divine power—devout prayers here are believed to grant offspring. The western route's highlight is a 60 m-long glass walkway clinging to sheer cliffs, with fully transparent flooring that induces both vertigo and exhilaration as visitors tread above abysses. Currently, the eastern route and Panlong Cliff each feature their own approx. 60 m glass walkways. No stay is allowed in the attraction, so it can only be visited within one day. There is a "Cherry Bay Restaurant" near Tianmen Mountain Temple, which offers snacks and fast food. Near the lower station of Tianmen Mountain cableway, there is transportation to the "Grand Canyon Theater", where you can watch the live show and magical musical "Tianmen Fox Fairy". Adapted from the mythological tale "Liu Hai cuts firewood", it tells a touching love story between a human and a fox. With live music, lighting effects, and captivating scenes like a giant moon, fox spirit transformations, snowflakes filling the sky, and high-altitude flying bridges, this legendary romance is vividly brought to life.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is where Zhangjiajie tourism starts. "The world knows Zhangjiajie, but who knows Wulingyuan?" Many travelers cannot distinguish the relationship between Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Generally, Zhangjiajie has two concepts: Zhangjiajie City and Zhangjiajie Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie Scenic Area refers to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which together with Tianzi Mountain, Suoxiyu, and Yangjiajie forms the Wulingyuan attraction. Because Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was developed early and is well-known, even Zhangjiajie City was renamed after it, and people are accustomed to using Zhangjiajie National Forest Park or Zhangjiajie Scenic Area to refer to the Wulingyuan attraction. "Three thousand exotic peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters." The three thousand exotic peaks, in particular, are renowned worldwide. The mountains of Wulingyuan are entirely different from famous mountains around the world. Within its 398-square-kilometer area, more than 3,000 dense and intact sandstone peak pillars are scattered throughout, including 243 peak pillars over 1,000 meters tall. When the sea of clouds surges, these peak pillars appear to have no base, rising abruptly from the ground and piercing straight into the sky. Together with the redwood forests of North America and the glacial landscapes of Greenland, they constitute one of the world's four major natural geological wonders. Wulingyuan has a low elevation and is located in the subtropical zone. The area features lush forests and abundant water sources, and is home to a large number of endangered animal and plant species. Every peak pillar is full of vitality. Peak pillars, natural bridges, gorges, waterfalls, streams, pools, caves, and dense broad-leaved forests are often shrouded in mist and clouds on site, enhancing the beauty of the view. Together with the unique landforms, they form a distinctive view characterized by "steep mountains, elegant waters, wondrous peaks, secluded gorges, and beautiful caves," and are hailed as "an enlarged bonsai and a miniature fairyland." On December 14, 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee unanimously approved the inclusion of Wulingyuan in the World Heritage List, filling the gap of China having no World Natural Heritage sites. The recognized outstanding universal value is: the quartz sandstone peak forest landform is rare in the world and has extremely high aesthetic value. UNESCO points out: "In terms of scenery, Wulingyuan can be compared with several national parks and monuments in the United States, such as the Grand Canyon, and can also be compared with the prominent sandstone peak areas of the Kimberley in Western Australia. However, because Wulingyuan has a lower elevation and is located in the subtropics, it has lush forests and abundant water sources. It also possesses a large number of peaks, displaying a more vertical profile than the heritage sites of the United States and Australia." At the end of 2009, the mesmerizing planet Pandora in the globally popular movie "Avatar" attracted countless viewers, and the prototype of its floating mountains originated from Wulingyuan. Meanwhile, Wulingyuan is also a live-action filming location for the Chinese classics "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Journey to the West," as well as for films and TV dramas such as "Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal" and "Monster Hunt." In 2010, the unique landform of Wulingyuan was named "Zhangjiajie landform," becoming a globally recognized term and a rare landform type in the world named after a region. Attraction highlights Yuanjiajie: Landing on Pandora, the planet of Avatar Yuanjiajie is the filming location for the "Hallelujah Mountain" in the movie "Avatar," where you can explore the magical world of floating and scattered mountains from the film. If you happen to encounter a light rain in the mountains, or wait until the sky clears after the rain, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of misty fog and layered peaks even more. The Mihun Platform is an ideal viewing spot; standing on it, you are surrounded by hundreds of towering stone peaks with magnificent momentum. Tianzi Mountain: once you've seen Tianzi, no other mountain will do When visiting Tianzi Mountain, you will see various uniquely shaped geological views and oddly formed peaks, such as Yubi Peak, Fairy Presenting Flowers, Dianjiang Terrace, Hanging Garden, and Immortal Bridge. There is no need to worry too much about whether these natural formations resemble what they are named after, because "the primitive scenery and natural beauty" are what make Tianzi Mountain so captivating. Especially in the hazy fog after a fresh rain, it feels as if you are in a fairyland. By winter, when the mountain is covered in silvery white, the scenery becomes even more enchanting. Huangshizhai: see all the other mountains as small from the summit "If you don't climb Huangshizhai, your trip to Zhangjiajie is in vain." Huangshizhai is a viewing platform in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, surrounded by sheer cliffs and lush trees, and the top of the village is often shrouded in mist and clouds. Standing atop Huangshizhai and looking around, you can experience the lofty sentiment of "seeing all the other mountains as small." Yangjiajie: Thrills found in danger Yangjiajie is primarily known for its pristine natural beauty. With high mountains and narrow paths, it is famous for being "perilous" and is deeply favored by backpackers and adventurers. Wulong Village within the attraction is a very magical place in Zhangjiajie. It was once inhabited by bandits from western Hunan, and was later renamed after the TV series "Tales of Suppressing Bandits in Wulong Mountain." The village is built along the mountain, and there is a path up and down the mountain that requires using both hands and feet to climb to the summit. Suoxiyu: A natural ink wash landscape painting Suoxiyu is also called Suoxi, named because the stream within the attraction is shaped like a rope. Unlike other parts of the forest park, which are so steep and rugged, this place is shrouded in mist and clouds year-round, with clear streams flowing continuously through all four seasons and graceful peaks visible everywhere. Ten-Mile Gallery is the highlight attraction of Suoxiyu; within the 5 km-long gorge, wildflowers fragrance the air and fantastic peaks and unusual rocks abound. Walking through it is like stepping into a natural landscape painting. Golden Whip Stream: filming location of Journey to the West Jinbian Stream Gorge is the earliest developed area in the attraction. A clear stream runs through the valley, with towering peaks on both sides and lush greenery as far as the eye can see. This is also one of the filming locations for the classic version of Journey to the West, where fans can come and see iconic scenes such as the Water Curtain Cave and Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother.