Things to do in Yuanling

Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve is located in Jiemuxi Township, Yuanling County, Hunan Province. It has pristine natural scenery, interesting views, beautiful scenery, fresh air and is a natural oxygen bar. It is known as the Jiuzhaigou of Hunan.

Eryou Mountain is located in Wusu Village, Eryou Miao Township, 15 kilometers northwest of Yuanling County. It is named after the confluence of Youshui and Youxi. It is said that when Qin Shihuang "burned books and buried scholars", Fu Sheng, a doctoral official of the court, risked his life to smuggle more than a thousand scrolls from Xianyang, traveled a long way, and hid them in Eryou Cave, so that the cultural classics of the pre-Qin period could be passed down to later generations. Therefore, the idiom "rich in learning, well-versed in Eryou" also comes from here, and this place has become a famous cultural holy mountain. The overall development level is average now, and the transportation is not very convenient. It is recommended that friends who come here should choose to drive by themselves

Zhangjiajie is simply a treasure trove of tourist destinations; I regret not coming sooner. Tianmen Mountain is very well-planned, and perhaps because I visited during the off-season, everything seemed very convenient, haha.

Longxing Lecture Temple is located at the foot of Huxi Mountain in the northwest corner of Yuanling County. It is the oldest existing academy in the world. The architectural decoration art of Longxing Lecture Temple is extremely rich and colorful, especially the hollow stone lotus seat for lectures in the main hall, which is exquisite and exquisite. It is said to have been made in the Ming Dynasty and is rare in China.

Even on the rainy day it's still breathtakingly beautiful! This place isn't big, but every detail of visiting is smart. It's a round-shaped road, so you will definitely see everything without a worry to miss a spot. There's lots of shops, restaurants and lovely coffeeshops. We just grab a snack on the way and found a place to sit to drink some tea with a scenic waterfall view. By the evening there was more and more people, so it could feel really crowded at the nights, so if you, like us, trying to catch a good time wandering around and yet see the evening lighting come around 3pm, it will be right enough time to see the valley and still catch a glimpse of the night beauty too.

beautiful park with the most insane views. obviously can be very crowded at the best peaks so be prepared. tons of food/merch on every corner but don’t feed the monkeys! and don’t carry any food or a plastic bag near them because they will rip it out of your hands. best advice is to go to the quiet west gate and do the park backwards for no queues and a calmer experience. golden whip trail is also stunning and very calm - but again don’t bring food around the monkeys!

Orange Island is a bit of a mixed experience, and I'm honestly not entirely sure whether I'd consider it a must-visit in Changsha.It's a large, green, and pleasant park, with beautiful riverside views and plenty of space for walking. If you enjoy places with historical significance or simply want to experience a different side of the city, it's definitely worth considering.Most visitors seem to take the sightseeing train to the southern end of the island, where the famous Mao Zedong statue is located. That's also where you'll find plenty of people taking photos, so don't expect a particularly quiet experience.The main downside is that visiting the island takes quite a bit of time, especially if you want to explore it properly. And while it's certainly a nice place, I'm not sure the experience justifies spending several hours here if you have a limited amount of time in Changsha and other places you'd like to see.On the other hand, if you're simply looking for a relaxing walk through a green park, with opportunities to stop by the river and enjoy the scenery, it's a lovely option.Overall, I'd say it's worth visiting if you have some extra time or are particularly interested in Chinese history. Otherwise, I wouldn't necessarily put it at the very top of your Changsha itinerary.

The unique geological structure creates the special landscape of Fanjingshan. The three major scenic spots, Old Golden Summit, Red Cloud Golden Summit, and Mushroom Rock, each have their own unique style and charm. The scenic area management, including the entrance, cable car, and shuttle bus, is very mature, and the staff at each point are also very enthusiastic.

Booking tickets in advance was indeed convenient. There was no need to queue on-site; I could simply scan the code to board the scenic area bus and transfer to a sightseeing bus, saving a lot of time and allowing me to appreciate the magnificence of the Three Gorges Dam!

Director Xu's explanations were highly professional, vivid, patient, and captivating. He focused on explaining all the key exhibits, connecting them with historical anecdotes and other details to make them easier to understand. Highly recommended.