1. Fengtan Hydropower Station

The station is located at Fengtan Gorge, in the middle reach of the You River, Hunan Province. The construction of the concrete hollow gravity dam began in 1970, and the power plant started energy production in 1979 with generators being initially installed with a total capacity of 400 MW. The upper reach of the dam has gradually formed a tourist attraction. In October 2006, Li Yining, a leading economist at Peking University, visited Fengtan Gorge and described it as a luminous pearl of the You River. Huang Yongyu, one of the best-known artists in the second half of the 20th century in China, also spoke highly of its picturesque green mountains and water. In 2006, Fengtan Hydropower Station was listed as a national 3A tourist attraction, a national industrial tourism demonstration site, and “a best place to visit in China”. In 2016, it was rated as a national 4A tourist attraction.

2. Jiemuxi National Reserve

Located in Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua Ecological and Cultural Tourism Zone, Jiemuxi spans Jiemuxi Town and Mingxikou Town, adjacent to Zhangjiajie and Xiaoxi National Nature Reserve at Yongshun County, covering an area of 32 square kilometers with a forest coverage rate of 90%.

Jiemuxi enjoys exuberant vegetations and forests through which the streams wind. There are more than 460 kinds of ornamental plants and 108 kinds of rare wild animals in these exceptionally rare primitive secondary forests. It is home to flora and fauna in East China, South China and Southwest China. It is an “animal and botanical garden” with the most complete natural specimens in Hunan Province, and one of the 200 ecological zones of international significance identified by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Taking advantage of the tourism resources, Jiemuxi has developed ecotourism projects integrating outdoor musical, water amusement, agritainment, serene forest oxygen bar, and pristine forest exploration, enriching tourists’ adventures. It was approved by the State Council as a national nature reserve in 2008, was rated as a national 3A tourist attraction in 2016, and was listed on the third batch of “China’s Forest Oxygen Bars” in 2017.

3. Longxing Lecture Temple

Located at the foot of Huxi Mountain, northwest of the ancient county seat, Longxing Lecture Temple was built in the second year of Zhenguan Period in the Tang Dynasty (628 AD), covers an area of 28,000 square meters. Emperor Taizong (the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he was in power for 23 years from 627 to 649 AD) gave it the name-Longxing Temple, which had a profound political meaning. The emperor hoped to use Buddhism to civilize the barbarians in the southwest of the country who rebelled against the empire for several times, achieving reginal stability, therefore, the temple became the first Buddhist academy in China. Facing south, its buildings, which were constructed in the Tang and Song dynasties and are the oldest and best-preserved wooden ones in Hunan Province, include the mountain gate, east and west wing rooms, Zhantan Pavilion, Maitreya Pavilion, Guanyin Pavilion and Daxiong Hall, all built on the mountain. The temple has also preserved calligraphies of famous scholars in Chinese history such as Dong Qichang (a brilliant scholar and a prominent of scholar-official) and Wang Yangming (a Chinese scholar-official whose idealistic interpretation of neo-Confucianism influenced philosophical thinking in East Asia for centuries) of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). It was rated as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council in 1996 and a national 3A tourist attraction in 2016. In 2017, the Huxi Academy (Zhiliangzhi Lecture Hall) inside the temple was listed as a patriotism education base in Hunan Province.

4. Phoenix Mountain

As an important part of Yuanling National Forest Park, Phoenix Mountain is located to the south of Yuanling County. It is named after the mountain’s resemblance to a phoenix with open wings. Known as one of the “Eight Scenes of Western Hunan”, the scenic spot is full of ancient trees, teeming with life. When one climbs to the top of Phoenix Mountain, one will be able to admire the beautiful scenery and panoramic view of the county as well as the Yuan River and the You River. Zhang Zhiyao, a poet of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), wrote a poem to describe the scenery, “The clear peak is indistinctly out of the clouds, while wild path meanders through valleys.” Besides natural sceneries, the Phoenix Mountain is also known as a famous historic site. After the Xi’an Incident, the patriotic general Zhang Xueliang was put under house arrest by Chiang Kai-shek at the Phoenix Mountain for 20 months since 1938. The Phoenix Mountain was listed as a provincial scenic spot in 1993, a provincial cultural relics protection unit in 2002, the first national 3A tourist attraction of Yuanling County in 2003, and a patriotism education base in Hunan Province in 2011.

5. Yun Cottage, Former Residence of Shen Congwen

During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Shen Congwen (1902-1988, author of fiction and prose who is commonly considered the greatest lyric novelist in modern China) fled from Beiping (now Beijing) to Yuanling and settled down at Yun Cottage, where he wrote Yunlu Chronicle. The novel depicted the local customs of Yuanling and life at Yun Cottage. During the war period, Yuanling County, known as “small Nanjing”, was the rear area and served as the temporary capital of Hunan Province. Government institutions, factories, schools, newspaper offices were relocated to Sichuan and Guizhou by way of Yuanling. Some of them chose to stay at Yuanling. Many famous scholars such as Jin Yuelin, Wen Yiduo and Lin Huiyin visited Yun Cottage on their way to Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan to avoid the devastating war. In the novel, Shen Congwen did explain how the cottage got its name. The cottage has been expanded as Yunlu Hotel.

6. Relics of Qianzhong Prefecture 

Located in the Qianzhongjun Village of Yuanling Town, the relics sits on a peninsula at a sharp bend of the Yuan River, surrounded by water on three sides, with hills to the north. It serves as a strategic passage linking Hunan with Sichuan and Guizhou. It’s exceptional geographical location and feng shui (geomancy) made it the administrative center of the Qianzhong Prefecture of the Chu State (one of the powerful states of the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period (770-276 BC) of the Zhou Dynasty). According to the Historical Records of Su Qin, Qianzhong Prefecture of the Chu State is located twenty li west of Chenzhou...” After the Qin State conquered the Chu State in 223 BC and united China in 221 BC, the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) establishing 36 prefectures in the country and expanding the territory of Qianzhong Prefecture to encompass the Yuan and Li River basins in Hunan, the Qing River basin in Hubei, the Qianjiang River basin in Sichuan, and the northeastern region of Guizhou. In 1993, a joint expert team from the Changsha Institute of Geotectonics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hunan Provincial Institute of Archaeology utilized advanced technologies such as geological radar to explore the ancient city of Qianzhong Prefecture. They discovered that within a 120,000-square-meter area, there were over 40 gigantic tombs (40x40 meters) and thousands of smaller tombs from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220), exceeding even the grandeur of the Han Tomb at Mawangdui in Changsha. Additionally, the team partially excavated remnants of ancient city walls, streets, residences, altars for worship, underground pipes, and other urban structures, revealing the grandeur of a city in the Qin Dynasty. It is especially rare to find such a large-scale cemetery adjacent to an ancient city since few of the then 36 prefectures have survived the ravages of war. As tourism develops across the region, the veil of mystery surrounding the prefecture is about to be lifted.

7. The Former Site of the Temporary Provincial Capital of Hunan Province during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945)

Malu Alley in Yuanling County was once the road where officials rode horses in the past dynasties. The ancient alley, nearly 3 meters wide and less than 500 meters long, witnessed the 1902 Chenzhou Anti-Christian Case and used to house a Catholic church, a Protestant church, a mosque, the Baiyuan Buddhist Temple, and a Taoist temple. Different religions coexist in the same alley harmoniously, forming an intriguing religious and cultural phenomenon that is rare in the history of Chinese and foreign religions. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, many parts of Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province, were destroyed by fire in 1938, and the temporary provincial capital was relocated to Taichang in Yuanling and then to Malu Alley. Yuanling later became the political, economic, and cultural center of the province and a rear area, playing an important role in Anti-Japanese War. The Communist Party of China also established the Western Hunan Working Committee and the Yuanling County Committee in Yuanling to organize the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement. In 2011, the Hunan Provincial People’s Government announced the site as a cultural relics protection unit. In 2019, the State Council announced it as a national key cultural relics protection unit. Located at No. 5 Mafangjie residence in Longxing Community, Yuanling Town, the former site of the Resistance Daily News Agency covers an area of over 200 square meters. Resistance Daily was founded by Tian Han, Liao Mosha, and Xu Teli, the representative of the Eighth Route Army Office in Hunan in Changsha on January 28, 1938. After the Changsha Fire on November 12, 1938, Comrade Zhou Enlai instructed Liao Mosha, Zhou Libo and other Party members to relocate the Resistance Daily News Agency to Yuanling, which was the wartime provincial capital of Hunan. Under Zhou Enlai’s instructions, Resistance Daily was republished in Yuanling, carrying the banner of national salvation. As a four-page newspaper, Resistance Daily published many articles, including Mao Zedong’s On the New Stage, to support the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Many literary giants such as Tian Han, Jian Bozan, Ouyang Shan, Lei Xia, Lin Yuesheng, Cao Min, and Shen Suinan worked for the newspaper. It was listed as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 2003.

8. Gate of Victory

Located on the Wutong Mountain in the north of Yuanling County, the site was originally the location of the Chenzhou Prefecture and was later converted into Zhongshan Park in the Republic of China era. In the winter of 1949, the 47th Army Corps of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was ordered to enter western Hunan to suppress bandits. The Administrative Office of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the headquarters of the 47th Corps were set up in Yuanling. After a year of bloody battles, the 47th Corps eliminated over 80,000 bandits and liberated 22 counties in western Hunan, ending a three-hundred-year-long scourge of banditry and saving 3.5 million people in Western Hunan from dire straits. To commemorate the great achievements of the soldiers of the 47th Corps and cherish the memory of the revolutionary 1,024 martyrs who bravely laid down their lives in the campaign, Zhongshan Park was renamed the Victory Park for Xiangxi Bandit Suppression in 1951. The park covers an area of 26,712.4 square meters with the Gate of Victory, a group of white jade reliefs and a memorial tower extending along a central axis and memorial pavilions, leisure corridors and leisure plazas on both sides of the axis. The memorial tower stands 16.96 meters tall, with a 3.2-meter-high fiberglass statue of a PLA soldier at its front, firmly gripping a rifle proudly. Inscriptions on the front of the statue read Preface to the Memorial Tower for the Victory in Suppressing Bandits. The other three sides bear inscriptions by Party and military leaders. The memorial park is solemn and dignified, evoking a sense of reverence in those who visit. In 2009, it was listed as a national key protection unit for martyr memorials, and in 2019, it was designated as a national key cultural relics protection unit.

9. Three Pagodas of Chenzhou

The three pagodas of Chenzhou, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), are respectively the Fengming Pagoda on the Xianglu Mountain on the south bank of the Yuanshui River, the Longyin Pagoda on the Hezhangzhou Island surrounded by water on all sides, and the Luming Pagoda on the Chang’an Mountain on the north bank of the Yuanshui River. The three pagodas vary in height but are connected by a single line, with a total length of over 8,000 meters, forming a unique sightline. Among them, the Longyin Pagoda, with a height of 42 meters and a tower base diameter of 7.6 meters, is a seven-story, four-sided pagoda. It is the tallest and best-preserved brick-and-wood structure Buddhist pagoda in Hunan Province. The three pagodas standing on the bank of the Yuanshui River form not only a beautiful scenery, but also silently guard the ancient Chenzhou and its people. In 1996, the Longyin Pagoda was listed as a cultural relics protection unit in Hunan Province.

10. Compound of the Wang Family

Located in Baiyanjie Village, Yuanling Town, the compound was the residence of Wang Chengfan, a wealthy local landlord in the Republic of China era. This residential compound, with a history spanning over 200 years, was first built during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng (1851-1861) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and represents the best-preserved iconic ancient architectural complex in Yuanling County. Facing south and nestled against the mountains, this compound is composed of five courtyards with patios, occupying an area of 5,316 square meters, with a building area of 2,100 square meters and an exhibition area of 1,000 square meters. The entire structure is made of stone, brick, and wood, with wooden houses separated by brick walls adorned with overhanging eaves and upturned corners. The tiered firewalls with upturned corners resemble cranes ready to take flight, preserving the original architectural style of western Hunan. The courtyard is tastefully laid out with pavilions and terraces, creating an elegant environment. The distinctive double-sided carved doors and windows, as well as the stone pillars and plinths etched with patterns, are rare among ancient residences in western Hunan. In December 1934, when the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps attacked Yuanling, the compound served as the operational headquarters, where He Long commanded the attack on the county seat. On January 23, 1934, the Central Revolutionary Military Committee issued instructions: The Western Army has crossed the Bo River and is advancing rapidly upstream towards Quanzhou. You should advance to the Yuanshui River area, which is vital to the enemy’s transportation and economy in Hunan, and strive to occupy Yuanling. On December 5, 1934, He Long, Guan Xiangying and Xiao Ke led the main forces of the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps southward from Yongshun and Dayong to enter Yuanling, with the headquarters of the two armies set up in the compound of the Wang Family at Baiyanjie. At around 5 p.m. on December 7, the Red Army launched a fierce attack, with Lu Dongsheng, the commander of the Fourth Division, first capturing the enemy positions at Yuanyang Mountain and Dingjia Temple and occupying the commanding heights in the north of the county seat. After intense battles, over 200 enemy soldiers were killed, with more than 50 casualties on the Red Army. He Long, Guan Xiangying and Xiao Ke led a feint attack on Yuanling, successfully distracting enemy troops in Hunan and achieving the strategic goal of supporting the Central Red Army’s strategic “Transfer in Tongdao”. The military action of the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps attacking Yuanling disrupted the Nationalist counter-revolutionaries’ plan to encircle and suppress the Central Red Army, enabling the latter to successfully evade the pursuit and blockade of enemy troops and change the marching direction and head toward Guizhou. The battle of the Red Army attacking Yuanling strategically supported the Central Red Army’s strategic transfer, leaving an indelible mark in the annals of history. In 2003, Compound of the Wang Family was listed as a key relics protection unit at the county level by the People’s Government of Yuanling County.

11. Hujiaxi Ancient Village

Located at Mingxikou Town, Yuanling County, Hujiaxi Ancient Village of Tujia Culture is the birthplace of the Hu family in western Hunan and the Youshui River basin. Legend has it that Hu Fengjiao, the imperial concubine of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was born here, and Jietan Tea produced at Yuanling County became a tribute tea in the Tang Dynasty and the following dynasties and gained fame both at home and abroad. Hu Ao, an imperial scholar in the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), won the top places in three imperial examinations and later became governor of the prefecture. As a famous historical figure of the Hujiaxi Village, he was erudite and filial, earning Hujiaxi the reputation of the famous village of the filial piety culture in western Hunan. To this day, the village still preserves ancient buildings and cultural relics such as the Hu Ancestral Hall, Hu Ao’s former residence, wind and rain bridge, Tujia stilted buildings, ancient post roads, ancient patios and ancient docks. In 2016, it was recognized as a Traditional Chinese Village by the State Council. In 2018, the village started to develop rural tourism. In the same year, it was rated as a national 3A tourist attraction.

12. Baihe Valley

Located in the Youshui River section of Wuqiangxi National Wetland Park, Baigu Valley is a perfect blend of natural wonders and cultural spectacles laying at the 28th parallel of north latitude, making it one of the most beautiful destinations for water-based activities and rural tourism. Known as the White River, Youshui River is the mother river of the Tujia people. Its water is as clear as spring water, reflecting the verdant mountains on both banks. To cruise here as depicted by literary giant Shen Congwen is liking boating in natural art gallery. In 2014, Baigu Valley Tourist Resort was established, offering cultural experiences and water-based sightseeing tours. It has become a unique health resort. In 2017, it was rated as a national 3A tourist attraction.

13. Eryou Mountain

Eryou Mountain is situated within Eryou Town and at the confluence of You Creek and Youshui River. Legend has it that when Qin Shihuang (First Emperor of Qin and the first monarch to unify China) ordered the infamous burning of books and burying of scholars in an attempt to suppress dissent and promote his own ideology, Qin people hid thousands of bamboo slips in a cave on the mountain, which were later presented to the Han imperial court after the fall of Qin Dynasty and the rise of Han. The Records of Jingzhou records, In the cave of Xiaoyou Mountain, there are thousands of books, which are said to have been hidden by the Qin people. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Zhang Hengjia, the Imperial Inspector of Education in Hunan, visited Eryou Mountain and inscribed Ancient Book Repository on a tablet and put it at the entrance of Eryou Cave. The name of the mountain “Eryou” became synonymous with “being extremely learned and knowledgeable”, and Eryou Mountain is hailed as the Noah’s Ark that saved the five-thousand-year Chinese civilization, making it a sacred mountain of Chinese culture. Since then, Eryou Mountain has gained fame as a pilgrimage destination for Chinese scholars. In 2003, the area was developed into a tourist attraction. Efforts are being made to build the mountain as a national cultural park. Eryou Mountain is now a national 3A tourist attraction, and Eryou Cave is a provincial cultural relics protection unit.

14. Lianhuachi Village

Lianhuachi Village is the ancestral home of the Xiang clan from Yuanling County, Changde City, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture and Guizhou Province. The architectural complex in the village was initially built during the Five Dynasties period (907-960), with the existing Laoguantang (Old Official Hall) constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The complex comprises over 20 buildings, occupying approximately 1,800 square meters. Starting from the highest point of Laoguantang, which faces southeast from its northwest location, the complex radiates outward in a fan shape towards both sides and the foot of the mountain. The structures normally feature only a single story with some buildings having two and three stories. Most of door tablets bear patterns reflecting lotus culture, and the buildings are separated by two- or three-tiered horse-head walls. In 2019, the ancient architectural complex of Lianhuachi Village was approved as one of the 10th batch of cultural relics protection units in Hunan Province.

15. Wushe Mountain

Wushe Mountain used to be the tea mountain of the Wuling Mountains in the western part of Hunan Province. According to The Classic of Tea written by Lu Yu (733-804, the Sage of Tea, a well respect Chinese tea master who lived in the Tang Dynasty), many tea trees grow on the Wushe Mountain, which is located 175 kms northwest of Xupu County in Chenzhou. According to the customs of local tribes, during times of celebration, relatives and clans gather to sing and dance on the mountain. In 2011, a provincial tea expert team visited Yuanling to investigate the exact location of Wushe Mountain, and initially concluded that the mountain is situated at the junction of Yuanling, Luxi and Guzhang counties, centered around Tian’ao Village in Eryou Town. Since then, Yuanling County has attached great importance to the research of local tea culture, with the County Political Consultative Conference taking the lead to establish a special research team. After a year of research and field visits, the team compiled a book of over 100,000 Chinese characters titled The Search for Wushe Mountain. The expert team, using abundant and detailed first-hand materials on history, geography, ethnicity, climate and dialects, made a credible conclusion that the Kumu Mountain in Tian’ao Village, Eryou Town, Yuanling County is the Wushe Mountain mentioned in Lu Yu’s The Classic of Tea.

16. Chenlong Pass

Known as the strategic pass in the south, Chenlong Pass is located in Guanzhuang Town and is a national 3A tourist attraction and a county-level cultural relics protection unit. It is part of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road in the South, a cultural landmark in Southwest China, and the birthplace of the folk custom of presenting "Spring Oxen" in southwestern regions of China. Historically, it was a vital route connecting central and eastern China with the southwestern regions, earning it the titles of "Key to Western Hunan" and "Throat of Yunnan and Guizhou." During the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the government opened a post road from the capital to Kunming, and a boundary pavilion post was established here. In 1673, when the Qing dynasty tried to check three southern kingdoms, Wu Sangui led them in the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. The Qing troops were hindered at Chenlong Pass until local villagers guided the troops to break through. Emperor Kangxi then bestowed upon it the title of "The First Chenlong Pass Under Heaven." Nowadays, Yuanling County has rolled out many cultural tourism programs such assuch as the Chenlong Pass Tourism Resort and Study Tour Base, Xiaoxiang Health Trail, RV Base, hiking trails from Tea Fairy Valley to Bijiashan Mountain, the "Double Clean Archway" at the Boundary Pavilion Post, and Wenxin Homestay to develop local tourism industry. An investment of 80 million yuan has been made to upgrade and transform the Chenlonggu Nuo Culture Film and Television Base. Cultural festivals and events like the "Flower Festival," "Tea Tourism + Sports" cycling competition, and "Tea Culture + Study Tour" have been held to attract tourists.

17. Wangjiatian Red Amry Miao Village

Located in Chenzhouping Village, Guanzhuang Town, Yuanling County, the Wangjiatian Red Army Miao Village boasts over 20 stilt houses with distinct features of ethnic minorities in western Hunan. The houses, featuring overhanging eaves and projecting corners, are adorned with corridors on two or three sides, suspending wooden railings intricately carved with auspicious patterns. Taking advantage of the slope, the Miao Village has built houses against the hillside, creating more usable space while presenting an uneven skyline that harmoniously coexists with the natural environment. In November 1935, when the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps passed through Chenzhouping Village at night, local villagers dismantled wooden houses to make torches, illuminating the marching path for the Red Army. Xiang Kaiji, a villager from Wangjiatian Miao Village, voluntarily joined the Red Army and was later killed in battle at Xupu. After the founding of New China, the Yuanling County People’s Government recognized Xiang Kaiji as a revolutionary martyr. On September 1, 2014, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China posthumously awarded the Martyr Certificate to him. To commemorate this revolutionary martyr, the Yuanling County Party Committee and the County Government have renovated his former residence, and made it a memorial hall. Furthermore, a Red Army Martyr Square has been constructed in front of Xiang Kaiji’s former residence.

18. Woxi Mine Park

Located in Guanzhuang Town, Yuanling County, Woxi Mine Park covers an area of 13.8 square kilometers. Woxi Mine boasts a mining history of over 140 years. Chenzhou Mining Group, whose predecessor was Xiangxi Gold Mine Company, is one of China’s four major century-old gold mining companies. Chenzhou Mining Group is one of the top five gold producers in China, the world’s largest antimony producer, and gold-antimony-tungsten intergrowth mining enterprise. In 2017, the Chenzhou Mining Exhibition Hall, the first comprehensive exhibition hall in the Hunan, was established. Covering an area of about 1,000 square meters, it vividly displays the development history of Chenzhou Mining Group by adopting modern technological means such as sound, light, and electricity. It presents the entire process of gold mining and processing, and unveils the mysteries behind the origins of gold and gold jewelry. It is a rare tourist attraction related to gold mining in China.

19. Qimeijie Park

Situated at the intersection of Xuefeng and Wuling mountain ranges, the park lies in the eastern, central, and northeastern parts of Yuanling County. It encompasses three regions: Qimeijie Mountain, Kuafu Mountain, and Fenghuang Mountain. The park covers a total area of 10,283.75 hectares, including 9,712.64 hectares of forests and 561 hectares of water areas, with a forest coverage rate of 90.30%. This forest park is abundant in resources, featuring numerous historical relics as well as geomorphological, hydrological and human landscapes. Ecologically, the park is home to 1,382 species of vascular plants belonging to 726 genera in 201 families, organized into 3 vegetation type groups, 8 vegetation types, and 40 formations. Among them, 16 species are nationally protected wild plants. There are also 204 species of wild vertebrates belonging to 158 genera in 77 families across 30 orders, with 16 species under national protection. The park’s landscape is characterized by rolling mountains, crisscrossing streams, shady forests, and a symphony of birdsong and fragrance, resembling an unadulterated landscape painting.

    20. Furong Pass

Furong Pass is located in Nanmupu Township, Yuanling County. In November 1935, the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps began to withdraw from the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Soviet Area and embark on the Long March to escape the encirclement of the Nationalist troops. Starting from November 19, the vanguard forces successively crossed the Yuanjiang River, broke through the blockade, and entered Yuanling. Among them, the 4th and 5th Divisions, led by He Long, occupied Nanmupu, seizing a favorable bridgehead position for the Red Army to rush across the Hunan-Guizhou Highway during the Long March. On November 25, the Red Army crossed Furong Pass and left Nanmupu. To commemorate the Long March of the Red Army and the martyrs of the Red Army in Nanmupu, in October 1986, the Nanmupu Township People’s Government built the Red Army Long March Monument at Furong Pass to mark the 50th anniversary of the Long March. The front of the monument is inscribed with an inscription, and the left and right sides bear inscriptions from Red Army veterans such as Wang Fayu and Zhang Huixue. As a revolutionary history education base, the Furong Pass Red Army Long March Monument attracts local primary and middle school students every year to receive revolutionary tradition education. During the Red Army’s stay in Nanmupu, they received the support of the local poor people, who guided the Red Army, prepared raincoats and torches for the Long March, and some young people voluntarily joined the Red Army. According to statistics from the civil affairs department, 170 young adults with known names from Nanmupu joined the Red Army in 1935, of whom 165 sacrificed their lives during the Long March.

21. Zhongshangang Village

Zhongshangang Village is now located at the Madiyi exit of the Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway. With Yixi River flowing around the village, it boasts a beautiful environment nestled against the mountains and rivers. In November 1935, when the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps passed through Yuanling during the Long March, they split into three routes to break through the encirclement of the Nationalist troops. The right route, led by He Long, comprised the 4th and 5th Divisions of the Second Red Army Corp with over 8,000 people, occupied Chuanxi Post and Chenxi County on November 25 and Zhongshang Village on November 27 for its strategic position.

22. Wuxi Lake

Wuxi Lake, located in Yuanling County, encompasses the water surface of Wuqiangxi Reservoir and its surrounding fluctuation zone, Youshui River and its banks, the Yuan River section downstream of Wuqiangxi, and Yanyutan Reservoir. It is a uniquely charming mid-subtropical wetland and forest complex ecosystem composed of rivers, artificial lakes, swamps, and forests. With a vertical length of 160 kilometers from east to west and a width of approximately 60 kilometers from north to south, it covers a total area of 20,613.9 hectares, including 197,893 hectares of wetland area. It is one of the 23 key national wetland parks in China and the largest wetland park in terms of wetland area among the existing national wetland parks in Hunan Province. It is also a key area of terrestrial biodiversity with international significance. The region boasts extremely rich biodiversity, with 4 species of nationally protected plants at the first-grade level, 12 species at the second-grade level, 22 species of Orchidaceae plants, 15 species of nationally protected animals at the first and second-grade levels, and 106 species protected by Hunan Province, all of which are listed in international conservation treaties. The vast expanse of water and the towering peaks in the wetland park form a unique scenery. Sailing on the lake feels like being in a painting, making it the best destination for wetland tourism. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has identified Wuqiangxi National Wetland Park as one of the 200 globally significant ecological regions.

23. Kuafu Mountain

Located by the Yuanshui River within Wuqiangxi Town, Yuanling County, and bordering Taoyuan County in Changde City, Kuafu Mountain is one of the three major areas of Yuanling National Forest Park, covering an area of 680 hectares. This scenic area boasts a typical Danxia landform, with natural landscapes comparable to those of Guilin. It is rich in mythological stories and folklore anecdotes, earning the praise of Shen Congwen, a prominent literary master. According to legend, Kua Fu was a giant who was known for his strength and speed. One day, he decided to chase the sun. He ran and ran, but the sun was always just out of reach. Finally, he became so tired and thirsty that he could not run anymore. He collapsed and died, and his body turned into a mountain. Chinese Myths and Legends states: After Kua Fu’s death, his remains became Kuafu Mountain in Yuanling County of Hunan Province. The idiom “Kua Fu Chasing the Sun” originates from this tale.

24. Dabie Strem

Dabie Stream is located in Wuqiangxi Town, Yuanling County. In 2012, local villagers raised funds to develop the rafting project spanning about 4.25 kilometers along the stream, starting from Herenping Village and ending at the downstream of Wuqiangxi Dam. Along the rafting route, the mountains are high and the forests are dense, filled with the sounds of birds and blooming flowers. Given the abundant gold deposits, it is known as the Rafting on the Golden Stream. In 2013, it was rated as a national 3A tourist attraction.

25. Mingzhou Ancient Village

Located in Lixi Township, Yuanling County, Mingzhong Ancient Village boasts a cluster of ancient residential buildings dating back to the middle and late Ming and Qing dynasties. Nestled in the southeast of Yuanling County, it is 20 kilometers away from the Changyu Expressway and National Highway 319. The residential cluster faces north and is arranged in a rectangular pattern from north to south, following the contours of the mountain, covering a total area of approximately 3,000 square meters. The ancient residential courtyards include the Dai courtyard in Minzhong Village and the Xia courtyard in Xiajiaxi. Surrounded by horseshoe-shaped fire walls and with gates facing the north, the buildings are exquisite in craftsmanship, especially the carved decorations and totemic patterns on the through-post beams, which highlight the unique architectural features of ancient residences in western Hunan. These old houses, all facing east, are composed of multiple courtyard complexes with patios. A stream flows around the corners of the houses, with an ancient well by the stream. Outside the walls and courtyards, towering ancient trees provide shade. The ancient buildings in the village, enclosed by stone walls, are known as Yinzi Houses. The villagers living here still maintain their simple folk customs. In January 2019, Mingzhong Village was selected as one of the seventh batch of Famous Historical and Cultural Villages in China.

26. Jiulong Mountain

The main peak of Jiulong Mountain is located in Yongping Town, the intersection of Yuanling County, Xupu County and Chenxi County, with an altitude of 1,214.4 meters. When climbing to the top of the peak, one can overlook the surrounding mountains, which rise in tiers, resembling nine dragons playing with a pearl.

27. Shengren Mountain

Shengren Mountain serves as the watershed between Yuanling and Xupu. Running from south to north, its main peak, Tianping Peak is 1,355.3 meters above the sea level. The mountain got its name because Yu the Great (a legendary ruler known for his successful endeavors in flood control) climbed to the peak of the mountain and looked north towards Dongting Lake. It is said that Yu the Great was buried on the mountain.

28. Jietan Mountain

Jietan Tea became famous in the Tang Dynasty (618-906) and known as "Chenzhou Jietan Tea" during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, originates from the mountainous region of Jietan in Yuanling, Hunan Province, which is situated along the banks of the Yuanshui River. The name "Jietan" derives from the "reefs standing upright like monuments in the shoals." Nestled by the Yuanshui River, Jietan Mountain boasts towering peaks, verdant forests, dense clouds, and heavy mists. The turbulent waters of the Yuanshui River churn up layers of spray at the shoals, which are then atomized by the river breeze, creating a misty veil that perpetually shrouds Jietan Mountain.

29. Taopingjie Village

Located in Tujia Ethnic Township, Yuanling County, the village covers an area of 17 square kilometers, with a total of 412 households and 1,560 residents, 93% of whom are Tujia people. Influenced by the Wuling Mountains, Taopingjie is mountainous, with an average altitude of 150 meters and a mild climate throughout the year. Nestled amidst mountains and rivers, the village boasts a picturesque blend of farmland and nature, where old houses, stilted buildings, ancient trees, and flagstone paths intertwine. With crisscrossing paths and the sounds of chickens and dogs echoing through the air, it resembles an idyllic paradise. The village boasts a rich and time-honored history, serving as the ancestral homeland for the descendants of the prestigious Yuan clan during the Qing Dynasty. The well-preserved Yuan Ancestral Hall, despite the ravages of time, still showcases its unique architectural features. Over a hundred traditional ancient dwellings remain largely intact in Taopingjie, all of which are built in the stilt style, a unique Tujia architecture prevalent in western Hunan Province. The entire complex is built with stone, and some buildings bear inscriptions on the threshold stones, recording the year of construction. The village is renowned for its simple folk customs and upright family traditions. The Yuan Family Rules and Precepts of Taopingjie have been passed down through generations, using straightforward language to admonish future generations to uphold family values, regardless of whether they pursue careers in politics, business, or education. Influenced by the Yuan family’s teachings, the villagers of Taopingjie are diligent, kind-hearted, and hospitable. Whenever guests arrive, the Tujia people greet them in their finest attire, singing Tujia folk songs and offering the "Gate-Blocking Wine" as a token of respect, immersing visitors from afar in the rich Tujia culture and customs.

30. Former Site of Qijiaping Nuo Culture

Chenzhou Nuo Opera (also known as Tujia Nuotang Opera) is a ritualistic theatrical form evolved from the song and dance performances of shamans during Nuo rituals for fulfilling vows in the Wuxi region of Hunan Province. It represents an original theatrical style that bridges the gap between the ancient primitive dramas of western Hunan (exemplified by Maogusi) and modern operas, serving as a "living fossil" preserved from the period of theatrical evolution. Currently, it is only found in Qijiaping Town and its surrounding areas in Yuanling County, and is considered the ancestor of many local theatrical genres in the region, such as Chenhe Opera, Qi Opera, Yang Opera and Huagu Opera. Chenzhou Nuo Opera boasts a rich repertoire and a quaint form, with its rituals and librettos embodying profound cultural anthropological connotations. The existing Chenzhou Nuo Opera in Qijiaping Town, Yuanling County, is divided into two major sects: Shanghe Sect and Henan Sect. Currently, there are only 17 primary practitioners.

(Translated by Yang Hong)