Things to do in Jingzhou

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Huaihua

Disun Miao Village

Disun Miao Village in Sanshui Township, Jingzhou County is about 40 kilometers away from the county seat. There are residential buildings with distinctive ethnic customs and beautiful natural environment. You can see the stilted buildings with very Miao style. These stilted buildings are in line with the mountains. It is built on a hillside, with a hill behind the stockade, a pond in front, and a small hill around it. It is a very good place to live. Many cultural relics and historical sites have been preserved in the village, such as: ancient wells, stone road, ancient oil pressing workshop, ancient school ruins, and buildings such as mountain gates, village gates, flower bridges, waterwheels, etc. are being restored one after another. Miao Village is surrounded by mountains, with lush forests and fresh air. Here, you can experience the tranquility of the village in the mountains and enjoy the tranquil idyllic scenery here.

Wenfeng Tower, Jingzhou

Feishan Mountain

Jingzhou Feishan is one of the famous mountains in western Hunan. It was a fortress fought by ancient military strategists and a religious resort of past dynasties. The flying mountain is magnificent, majestic and straight, with steep three sides, standing abruptly, shaped like a bell and a crown; the top of the mountain is flat and wide, and the twin peaks on it protrude straight into the sky. The breeze and the bright moon are in the clouds.

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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.

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Fanjing Mountain

Fanjing Mountain is located in Tongren City in the northeastern part of Guizhou Province. It is the main peak of the Wuling Mountains, spanning the junction of three counties: Jiangkou, Yinjiang, and Songtao. Its highest peak, Fenghuang Mountain, rises over 2,500 meters above sea level; the Old Golden Summit is over 2,400 meters, and the New Golden Summit, also known as the Red Cloud Golden Summit, is over 2,300 meters. The three peaks stand side by side in majestic grandeur. Fanjing Mountain was originally named "Three Valleys Mountain," derived from "Fanjing Pure Land." Buddhism was introduced to this area during the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, when temples and monasteries dotted the mountain. Because its towering height rivaled the Five Great Mountains, the ancients honored it as "the patriarch of famous mountains." The Red Cloud Golden Summit is the iconic view of the entire mountain—a solitary peak rising straight from the ground and piercing the sky. The Golden Knife Gorge splits the summit from top to bottom into two halves, with only a narrow canyon where one can climb up along iron chains, and the gorge tops are connected by a flying bridge, making it extremely precipitous. At the summit, the Shakyamuni Hall and the Maitreya Hall face each other, serving as the core symbol of the Maitreya sacred site. The three main peaks connect to form a reclining Maitreya statue stretching over 10,000 m, which locals call "Fanjing Mountain." The Mushroom Stone is another representative view—a sandy slate pillar that is large at the top and small at the bottom, shaped like a mushroom, approx. 10 m tall, appearing on the verge of toppling yet having stood for many years. The surrounding stone forest peak clusters, such as the Ten Thousand Scrolls of Scriptures and Eagle Rock, are geological relics formed over a billion years ago and sculpted by wind and rain erosion. The mountain also preserves a well-intact subtropical primary ecosystem, where the Guizhou golden snout monkey is distributed, and ancient rare plants such as the dove tree also thrive and reproduce here. In fall, the layered forests are dyed in brilliant colors, and the red leaves in the mountains set off the ancient temple; you can take a cable car to overlook the autumn colors across the mountain, or follow the mountain trails to experience them up close.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Guilin

Elephant Hill Scenic Area

The Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located in the heart of Guilin, at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. It derives its name from its resemblance to a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the sweet waters of the Li River. In his work "Records of Elephant Hill," Shu Shu, a Qing Dynasty official from the Ministry of Works, wrote: "The marvels of Guangxi lie in its mountains; the marvels of Guangxi's mountains lie in their rocks, and the elephant-shaped hill facing the provincial capital is the most marvelous of all." With its lifelike form, the attraction captivates visitors and stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's landscape. In 1995, it was designated as the city emblem of Guilin. The main attractions in the scenic area include: Elephant Hill and Water Moon, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Love Island, and Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Yunfeng Temple Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Exhibition Hall. Elephant trunk hill and water moon cave "Elephant trunk hill and water moon" is a spectacular wonder here, as described in the poem by Ji Bei Hermit of the Song Dynasty.Harmony of water, moon and caveThe poem reads: "The moon is beneath the water, the moon floats upon the water. The water flows but the moon stays, the moon departs yet the water still flows." On a moonlit night, visiting the Water Moon Cave at the Elephant Trunk Hill attraction presents a magical scene where the moon in the sky, the cave, and the water reflect each other beautifully. Inside the cave, you can find the "Poem and Preface of the Morning Sun Pavilion" by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty and works by Fan Chengda.Inscription on the water and moon caveAnd over 50 precious cliff carvings including Lu You's poetry manuscripts. Xiangshan scenic area - Puxian pagoda Winding up along the rocky cliffs, you can see the Puxian pagoda standing tall amidst the greenery from afar. Built during the Ming dynasty, this 13.6m-high solid brick lama-style pagoda has a history of over 400 years. On the northern side of the pagoda, there is a line-engraved bluestone statue of a bodhisattva, with the mantra "Namo Puxian Bodhisattva" inscribed above it, hence the name Puxian pagoda in the Xiangshan attraction. Buddhist scriptures record that Puxian bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant, making the pagoda's location atop Xiangshan mountain a perfect embodiment of this scripture. Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua liquor This is a natural wine cellar, with two-thirds of the mountain being hollow. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19°C and humidity above 90% year-round. Since the Song Dynasty, it has served as an official cellar for storing Sanhua wine. Sanhua wine is colorless and transparent, with a fragrant yet spicy taste. It drawsLi RiverWith the essence of the mountains and the soul of the Li River, it has become a representative of China's rice-aroma liquor. The cellar liquor was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the three treasures of Guilin. To date, nearly a thousand tons of liquor are stored in the caves. Love island Love island is located on the north side of the attraction, adjacent toLi RiverIt is another scenic viewpoint for distant viewing. The island boasts a beautiful environment and lush vegetation, making it a popular dating spot for locals in the 1970s, hence the name "love island". Today, it serves as an outdoor photography base for wedding celebrations against the backdrop of Guilin's landscape, where couples make their vows of love under the witness of the elephant trunk hill and the moon reflected in the water.

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Libo Xiaoqikong Scenic Area

Libo Xiaoqikong Scenic Area is located among the peaks in the southern part of Libo County and is named after a seven-arch stone bridge built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty over the Xiangshui River. Set against a karst landscape, the scenic area brings together mountains, waters, forests, caves, lakes, and waterfalls, and is known as the "emerald on the Earth's belt." The Xiaoqikong ancient bridge is the attraction's signature view. The seven-arch stone arch bridge, built of bluestone, spans the Xiangshui River. Beneath the bridge, the water of Hanbi Pond is deep blue, and ancient trees tower on both banks, making it a classic photo spot. Following the Xiangshui River downstream, the 68-tier waterfall cascades in overlapping layers, with the river water dropping step by step over the karst rock surface with a roaring sound. Nearby, the Laya Waterfall pours down from the cliff beside the path, and visitors can feel the mist on their faces up close. The water forest is another unique view in the attraction, where trees take root among the streams in the water. Visitors walk along the stone stepping path through the forest, with babbling water beneath their feet and a canopy of green shade overhead. Mandarin Duck Lake is formed by two large lakes, the Male Mandarin Duck Lake and the Female Mandarin Duck Lake, connected with several small lakes. The lake surface is emerald green and serene, and boats can pass through the trees growing in the water. Wolong Pond is the surface outlet of an underground karst river. An arc-shaped stone embankment encloses the underground river water into a deep pond, and the water is as green as jade. Where the water overflows the stone embankment, a rolling-water waterfall forms, creating a striking contrast between the still pond and the moving waterfall. The area around the attraction is home to ethnic minorities such as the Bouyei and Yao, and villages like Yaoshan Ancient Village retain traditional dwellings and ethnic customs, adding cultural richness to the natural scenery. The attractions are distributed along the Xiangshui River; touring from Wolong Pond and Yuanyang Lake all the way down to the Xiaoqikong Ancient Bridge, walking along the stream is relatively effortless.

2026 Global 100 - Night Attractions

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is a collection of over ten natural villages built along the mountainside, inhabited by the "Xi" clan of the Miao people. The village features layers of wooden stilt houses on the slopes, with coffee-colored old houses nestled against lush green mountains. The Baishui River divides the village in two. The side of the river (to the left after entering the Xiaobei Gate for travelers) is mainly a commercial pedestrian street, while the opposite side (to the right after entering the Xiaobei Gate for travelers) is primarily the viewing platform overlooking the village. Upon arriving at Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, you'll see a gate with the plaque "Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village" after getting off at the parking lot. From this gate to the village is a 1.5 km walk, which you can cover either by electric bikes or on foot. After this 1.5 km stretch, you'll encounter another gate similar to the one at the parking lot, also bearing the "Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village" plaque—this marks the true entrance to the village. First drink the welcoming wine, then enter the village. The first thing you see is the commercial pedestrian street, selling a dazzling array of Miao ethnic specialty products. The most eye-catching are the Miao silver ornaments. Kongbai in Xijiang town of Leishan near the Miao village is a well-known silversmith village, where almost all the men master the silver ornament making techniques, and the craftsmanship of Miao silver is exquisite. The performance venue in the pedestrian street area offers Miao ethnic song and dance shows. You can also visit the Xijiang Miao Ethnic Museum and the Drum Head's House (the Miao king's residence, where a bronze drum is enshrined). Alternatively, take a stroll along the Baishui River to see the wind-and-rain bridges with roofed eaves sheltering from the elements, or the low, narrow wooden plank bridges. At the end of the village lies a pastoral landscape, where even during peak season few visitors come. Across the river is a station for electric bikes to the viewing platform, but walking there isn't far, and several spots along the way offer excellent views. Upon reaching the viewing platform, wait for nightfall—the grand spectacle of Xijiang is just beginning. Thousands of lights illuminate from beneath the eaves of wooden stilt houses, dotted like stars to outline the entire Miao village in the shape of an ox head. It's hard to imagine such a brilliantly lit scene in a mountain village. Returning to the viewing platform at dawn, the Miao village is shrouded in mist as the first sunlight gilds the wooden houses golden. Smoke curls up from chimneys, marking the start of a new day. In Miao villages, you can often see Miao women with their hair buns coiled on top of their heads and adorned with large flowers. Just looking isn't enough—you can also rent a few sets of Miao costumes to dress up as a Miao woman yourself. It's especially beautiful and very popular among young women. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village has mature tourism development, with no worries about food and accommodation. For dining, the famous option is the long-table banquet. Restaurants in the village will often ask if you'd like to try it—simply joining tables to make them longer counts as a long-table banquet, serving as a fun experience. The authentic long-table banquet is held outdoors, with dozens of tables connected end-to-end, sometimes so long that you can't see from one end to the other. These are set up during important festivals or when significant group tours visit, so don't miss the chance if you encounter one. The cuisine of southeastern Guizhou tends to be sour, and the village's specialty dishes include sour fish soup, pickled vegetables, and cured meat.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Huaihua

Wanfo Mountain

Wanfo Mountain in Huaihua is located in Taipingyan Village, Linkou Town, Datong County, about 20 kilometers away from Shuangjiang Town, the county seat. In addition, the natural vegetation here is lush, the air is very fresh, and the mountain road is not very steep or steep. For tourists who lack daily exercise in the city, it is relatively easy to climb up. It takes about 2 hours to climb to the top of the mountain, especially Suitable for weekend leisure travel in the mountains. The vegetation in the mountains is lush, and the ground in the jungle is full of fallen leaves for many years. Walking on it is soft, surrounded by pine waves, and sometimes you can hear the chirping of birds, which will make people feel extremely relaxed. Tourists who like excitement can also go for a walk on the plank road on a cliff in the mountain to experience the feeling of excitement. There is also a lake in the scenic area with clear water. Tourists can go fishing by the lake, or set up a tent in the woods and enjoy the leisure and freshness of nature. At the end of June 2016, the "Wanfoshan Hanging Plank Road" was opened in the scenic area. The total length of the plank road is about 350 meters, and the relative height difference is about 120 meters, of which the glass plank road is about 40 meters long. The plank road is located on the main peak of Wanfo Mountain, from the Shilian Reclining Buddha Platform to the northern viewing platform of Wanfo Mountain. Walking on the glass plank road, you can not only enjoy the beauty of the mountains, but also challenge your courage.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guangxi

Longji Rice Terraces

Longji Rice Terraces is a massive cluster of terraced fields in the Guilin area. Several ancient ethnic minority villages are located here, inhabited by the Zhuang and Yao peoples. The famous villages arePing'an Village, Longji Rice Terraces Jinkeng Dazhai, Guzhuang Village, and Huangluo Yao Village. It is relatively convenient to take a self-drive trip to Longji Rice Terraces. Sightseeing here mainly involves hiking, enjoying the views, and taking photos. You can also taste local farmhouse dishes, stay in a homestay with beautiful scenery, and experience the customs of ethnic minorities. Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces scenic area: a classic picturesque pastoral landscape Visit Longji Rice Terraces,Ping'an VillageIt is a classic destination, as tourism was developed here early and the dining and entertainment facilities are more complete. There are 170 households and over 700 residents in this Zhuang village, mostly a settlement of the Zhuang people with the last name Liao. The terraced fields are mostly composed of small plots, and the scenery is quiet and beautiful. In fall, when the crops mature, the fields turn golden, and the fall-colored terraced fields are especially beautiful at this time. The viewing platforms in the attraction are "Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon" and "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers," though visitors need to use some imagination when enjoying them. "Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon" refers to the seven small hills left over from when the fields were first opened, like seven little stars accompanying the moon-shaped terraced fields. "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" refers to the nine small ridges branching off from the main Longji ridge here, and the five slightly protruding hilltops like five tigers, which surround the terraced fields and guard this land. Longji ancient Zhuang village terraced fields: a time-honored pristine landscape Longji ancient Zhuang villageIt is one of the ancient villages with a long history in the attraction, dating back to the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.Longji ancient Zhuang villageWith more than 200 households and over 1,000 residents, this Zhuang village is mostly a settlement of the Zhuang people with the three last names Pan, Liao, and Hou. Due to poor transportation and late development, the original terraced field view is preserved here, and the traditional stilted wooden houses distributed along the mountain ridge are authentic and form a unique view. When visiting, you can walk up along the bluestone path, admire the stone bridges, stone tablets, stone carvings, and other relics that tell of the past, pass by the "Ancestral Field," and reach the "Longgou" viewing platform to overlook the beauty of the entire village. On the way down, you can stand at the "Youlong Xiajiang" viewpoint to see the terraced fields spiraling down like a giant dragon all the way to Jinjiang, which is truly spectacular. Jinkeng Hongyao rice terraces: majestic curves of the fields In addition to the spectacular and grand rice terrace scenery, the long hair of the Red Yao women here is also a beautiful sight. Dazhai Village has 245 households and a population of over 1,130. It is a Yao village, mostly a settlement of the Yao people with the last name Pan. When visiting, you can choose to walk up along the stone path and first go to the "Longji Rice Terraces - Thousand-Layer Sky Ladder" viewing platform to see the terraced fields stacked layer upon layer like a sky ladder reaching the clouds, which is very magnificent. Continuing upward, there is the "Xishan Shaoyue" viewing platform, where you can overlook the panoramic view of the terraced fields, which is truly spectacular. If you want to go to the "Golden Buddha Peak" viewing platform to enjoy the amazing view of the entire mountain sitting upright like a Maitreya Buddha, you need to take the cable car directly from Longji Rice Terraces Jinkeng Dazhai at the foot of the mountain to reach it. Travel route: 1-day tour:Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces or Ancient Zhuang Village Rice TerracesOr Longji Rice Terraces Jinkeng Dazhai + Huangluo Yao Village. If you only have one day to visit Longji Rice Terraces, it is recommended to head straight to one of the villages after purchasing the admission ticket to enjoy the scenery and taste the local farmhouse cuisine. 2-day/multi-day tour: Jinkeng Hongyao Rice Terraces-Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces-Longji ancient Zhuang village terraced fields. If you plan to stay for a few more days, you can visit in order from the farthest to the nearest to Guilin city. Admire the terraced fields, explore ancient villages, and experience the customs of ethnic minorities. Enjoy sunrise and sunset: Watching the sunrise over the rice terraces is a must-do for many visitors here, and even many photography enthusiasts come specifically for the sunrise. In the Jinkeng Red Yao Rice Terraces, there are three sunrise and sunset viewing spots: "Xishan Shaoyue" is a viewing spot that is farther away but offers a broader field of view, making it great for both sunrise and sunset — many promotional videos of Longji Rice Terraces were filmed here; the "Longji Rice Terraces - Thousand-Layer Sky Ladder" viewing platform is relatively close to the foot of the mountain, where you can see the Yao villages and feel the integration of culture and nature, making it suitable for watching the sunset; "Golden Buddha Peak" is a spot for photographing the sunset. Because it is relatively far, not many people used to take photos here, but since the cable car from the entrance of Longji Rice Terraces Jinkeng Dazhai directly to Golden Buddha Peak opened, taking photos here has become much more convenient.