Ancient and Modern Towns, Cultural Sacred Sites (Part 1)
Section 1: Distinctive Cities, Ancient Towns and Villages — Central China's Largest Urban Agglomeration: the Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration. Located in northeastern Hunan, it includes the cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, arranged along the Xiang River in a triangular formation with less than 40 kilometers between each pair. Covering 28,000 square kilometers, it is the core growth pole of Hunan's economic development.
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Section One
Featured Cities, Ancient Towns and Ancient Villages
The Largest Urban Agglomeration in Central China — the Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration
The Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration is located in the northeastern part of Hunan Province and includes the three cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan. The three cities are distributed along the Xiang River in a triangular formation, each less than 40 kilometers from the others, forming a compact structure. Covering an area of 28,000 square kilometers, it is the core growth pole of Hunan Province's economic development. The Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration is the junction of China's Beijing-Guangzhou Economic Belt, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is a multi-centered network of cities with superior location and transportation conditions. It is home to 59 universities including the National University of Defense Technology and Central South University, and more than 900,000 professional and technical personnel. Its research in hybrid rice, human stem cells, composite materials, and other fields leads the world.
A City of Mountains, Rivers, and Islets — Changsha
Changsha is one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities in China, with a documented history of over 3,000 years. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was a major economic, cultural, and military town in southern Chu. In 221 BC, when Qin Shi Huang unified China, Changsha Commandery was established as one of the 36 commanderies nationwide; during the Han Dynasty it was the capital of the Changsha Kingdom; during the Three Kingdoms period it belonged to the State of Wu; during the Sui and Tang dynasties it was several times called Tanzhou; during the Song Dynasty it belonged to Jinghu Nanlu; during the Ming Dynasty it was changed to Changsha Prefecture; and during the Qing Dynasty it was the seat of Hunan Province. In 1932, during the Republic of China period, it was designated as the capital of Hunan Province, and in 1933 Changsha City was formally established. On August 5, 1949, Changsha was peacefully liberated. Over thousands of years, the site and name of Changsha have remained unchanged, and the skeleton of the old city's streets and alleys has been preserved to this day, becoming a unique historical and cultural "calling card" bearing this millennium-old city. Changsha is China's only city of mountains, rivers, and islets. The picturesque Yuelu Mountain rises in the center of the urban area, the vast and beautiful Xiang River runs north-south through the city, and the poetic and painterly Orange Isle lies quietly in the Xiang River, making this millennium-old city of Changsha even more enchanting and graceful.
The Largest Transportation Hub in the Jiangnan Region — Zhuzhou
Zhuzhou is the largest railway hub in Hunan and even in the Jiangnan region. Three main railway lines — the Beijing-Guangzhou, Zhejiang-Jiangxi, and Xiang-Gui (Hunan-Guizhou) — converge here, making it a strategic location connecting Hunan with South China, East China, and Southwest China. Zhuzhou's highways extend in all directions: National Highway 106, National Highway 320, Provincial Highway 211, the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, the Litan Expressway, the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, as well as the planned Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway second line, the Shanghai-Ruili Expressway, and the "Three South" highway connecting southern Fujian, southern Jiangxi, and southern Hunan all pass through its territory. The Xiang River, the second-largest tributary of the Yangtze River, flows around the city and is navigable year-round, going upstream to Hengyang and Guangxi, and downstream to Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River. Zhuzhou Port is one of the eight major ports in Hunan Province.
Hometown of a Great Man — Xiangtan
Xiangtan, anciently known as Tanzhou, is located in central Hunan on the middle reaches of the Xiang River, about 40 kilometers from both Changsha and Zhuzhou. The three form a triangular arrangement, constituting the "Golden Triangle" region — the most developed area in Hunan Province in terms of politics, economy, and culture — and one of the important channels from the vast inland regions to coastal areas such as Guangzhou and Shanghai. Xiangtan is the hometown of the great man Mao Zedong, a place of abundant natural treasures and outstanding people. This is the renowned birthplace of Huxiang culture, with a profound historical and cultural heritage. Since ancient times, famous figures have emerged here in large numbers: Zeng Guofan, a key minister of the late Qing Dynasty; Wang Kaiyun, the "peerless great scholar"; founding generals Peng Dehuai, Luo Yinong, Huang Gonglue, Chen Geng, and Tan Zheng; and cultural celebrities Qi Baishi, Li Jinxi, and Xiao San were all born here. It is also the hometown of Ma Ying-jeou and James Soong of China's Taiwan Province. Shaoshan is a world-class tourist destination, a national-level scenic area, and a national excellent tourist city. Red tourism is a major feature and advantage of Xiangtan. Mao Zedong's former residence, the Poetry Stele Forest, the Memorial Park, Dripping Water Cave, and other scenic spots are renowned at home and abroad. The Peng Dehuai Memorial Hall at the foot of Wushi Peak in Xiangtan has also become one of the first national AAA-level tourist attractions.
Home of Nonferrous Metals — Hengyang
Hengyang is located in central Hunan Province and is named because it lies south of Mount Heng, one of China's famous Five Great Mountains. Legend has it that "wild geese flying south stop here to rest and turn back," hence it is also elegantly called "Wild Goose City" and has long enjoyed the reputation of "beauty of the world." Hengyang has a superior location and convenient transportation. "Commanding the two Guangdongs and guarding Jing and Wu," it sits at a vital north-south juncture — a place contested by military strategists and a gathering place for merchants from all directions, and has historically been a major town in southern Hunan. Hengyang is one of the 45 major highway transportation hub cities in China, with roads crisscrossing and extending in all directions throughout its jurisdiction. Hengyang is rich in resources and can be called the "Home of Nonferrous Metals," "Land of Fish and Rice," and a "Tourist Destination." In 2006, it was named one of the "Top 200 Charming Cities in China." In 2008, the "Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow" emblem of "China Excellent Tourist City" was officially established in Hengyang.
China's New Industrial City — Shaoyang
Shaoyang is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,500 years, dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty when Shao Bo governed from Gantang, and the Spring and Autumn period when Bai Shan built the city with rammed earth. Shaoyang, formerly known as Baoqing, is located in central Hunan, slightly to the southwest. To the north it is shielded by the perilous Xuefeng Mountains, to the south it is screened by the beauty of the Five Ridges; the Zi River runs through it, the Shao River converges here, basins are linked like pearls, and hills rise and fall. Since the Western Han Dynasty established a county here, it has served as a commandery, prefecture, and fu, always a major town of the region. It borders Loudi to the north and Yongzhou to the south, connects upward to Yunnan and Guizhou, and downward to Changsha and Hengyang. Since ancient times it has been a vital transportation route and commercial center. Its economy is developed, its culture flourishing, its mountains and rivers elegant, and its products abundant. Rich in resources, with gold flowing in the rivers. Local flavored products are famous throughout the world. It has historically been the home of Xuefeng tangerines, and today it is a modern new industrial city.
China's New Ecological City — Yiyang
Yiyang is located at the lower reaches of the Zi River and the southern edge of Dongting Lake. According to Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty: "It is on the sunny side of the Yi River, and should be the county name." Zhou Shurong of the Qing Dynasty wrote in his "Ode to Yiyang": "Where the Yi River flows, north of the water is yang, and the county is named after this." The great river flowing through Yiyang, the Zi River, was anciently perhaps the Yi River, and the streets and markets are on the north bank, hence the name Yiyang. Known as the "pearl of the central Hunan land and jade of Dongting Lake," Yiyang has enchanting scenery. The South Dongting Lake Scenic Area, characterized by lake and water views, and the Taohuajiang Scenic Area, famous at home and abroad as a national "Home of Bamboo," together form Yiyang's unique tourism resources. The Yiyang Zishan Lake Golf Course, which cost 1 billion yuan and whose facilities have reached world-class standards, has become a calling card of this eco-tourism city, bringing Yiyang more concepts of modernity, openness, and leisure.
Hunan's International Tourist City — Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is an emerging international tourist city located at the northwestern frontier of Hunan, at the source of the Li River and in the heart of Wuling. Its total area is 9,563 square kilometers, with a total population of over 1.5 million. Ethnic minorities are the majority, with Tujia, Bai, Miao, and others accounting for 60% of the total population. Zhangjiajie City is situated in a mid-subtropical mountain-type monsoon humid climate zone, with a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and rich resources. It is one of the nation's top ten hydropower bases and has the reputation of "Home of Marble" and "Home of Eucommia." Zhangjiajie is built on tourism, and its rich and unique tourism resources are renowned far and wide and unmatched in the world. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which combines "precipitous mountains, fantastic peaks, beautiful waters, secluded gorges, magnificent caves, and verdant forests," consists of Zhangjiajie Forest Park, Suoxiyu, and Tianzi Mountain, with a total area of 369 square kilometers. The entire scenic area is dominated by world-rare quartz sandstone peak-forest gorge landforms — three thousand emerald peaks, eight hundred glassy waters, divine postures and immortal bearing, naturally formed, unmatched in the world. It has the reputation of "nature's labyrinth," "natural museum, and Earth's monument."
A Land of Peach Blossom Spring — Changde
Changde is located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province on the western shore of Dongting Lake, historically known as "the throat of Sichuan and Guizhou, the gateway to Yunnan and Guizhou." An essay titled "Record of the Peach Blossom Spring" gave Changde the reputation of "Land of Peach Blossom Spring" and "Cave Heaven and Blessed Land," and Changde thus acquired a beautiful name — the city in the Peach Blossom Spring. The allusion of "Shan Juan yielding the throne" made the folk rhyme "Changde's De Mountain has virtue on the mountain" circulate through the ages, and Changde is thus praised as the birthplace of the Chinese nation's moral culture. The legend of "Liu Hai Chops Firewood" has been passed down from generation to generation, praising Changde's "God of Love" for pursuing a happy life and beautiful love, making Changde a land of passion. Changde has become a model for the construction of medium-sized cities in China. It has successively won the titles of China Excellent Tourist City, National Sanitary City, National Garden City, China's First Charming City, International Garden City, National Model City for Traffic Management, National Model City for Environmental Protection, and City of Chinese Poetry.
Hunan's First National Ecological Demonstration City — Huaihua
Huaihua is located in the southwestern part of Hunan Province, administering 10 counties, 1 city, and 2 districts, as well as one provincial-level development zone and one provincial-level industrial park, with a total area of 27,600 square kilometers. In 2009, its total population was 5,046,300, with an urban population of 2,746,900 and an urbanization level of 34.6%. Among these, the built-up area of the city center is 50 square kilometers with a population of 510,000. It is known as the "bridgehead of the great Southwest, primeval ecological botanical garden, museum of ancient architecture, village of multi-ethnic cultures, birthplace of hybrid rice, and the surrender memorial of the War of Resistance." Huaihua has a unique location and obvious transportation advantages. Since ancient times it has been called the "gateway to Guizhou and Yunnan" and the "throat of all Chu," and is the bridgehead from the eastern and central regions to the great Southwest and an important domestic transportation hub city. In June 2009, Huaihua City became the first prefecture-level city in Hunan Province to pass the assessment and acceptance as a national ecological demonstration city.
The City with the Largest Nonferrous Metal Reserves in Hunan — Chenzhou
Chenzhou is located in the southern part of Hunan Province and is world-renowned for its mineral resources, which are diverse in type, widely distributed, large in reserves, and high in quality. To date, 110 types of minerals have been discovered in the city, and more than 70 types of metallic minerals in 7 categories have been proven. The potential value of the city's mineral resources reaches over 260 billion yuan. Nonferrous metal reserves account for two-thirds of Hunan Province's total reserves, among which tungsten, bismuth, and molybdenum reserves rank first in the country; tin and zinc reserves rank third and fourth in the country respectively; and lead reserves rank third in the country. The Shizhuyuan Nonferrous Metal Mine in Chenzhou possesses the world's largest polymetallic deposit and mineral reserves, and is known as the "World Museum of Nonferrous Metals." Other world-rare minerals within its territory are also extremely rich, such as microcrystalline graphite, associated fluorite, xianghuashi (hsianghualite), lithium-beryllium stone, qianbarium-lithium stone, Qitianling stone, and others. At present, Chenzhou has initially formed a relatively complete industrial system of mining, smelting, and processing.
Historical and Cultural City — Yueyang
Yueyang, anciently known as Baling and also called Yuezhou, is located in the northeastern part of Hunan Province and is a historical and cultural city of over 2,500 years. It sits at another "Golden Cross" on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, second only to Wuhan. In particular, the opening of the Dongting Lake Bridge has formed a convenient transportation network that "connects east and west" and "links north and south." In 1992, Yueyang was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of open cities along the Yangtze River. Chenglingji Port was the only port in Hunan open to the outside world with a customs office as early as the Qing Dynasty. In 1996, Chenglingji Port, one of the eight major deep-water ports on the Yangtze River, was officially approved by the National People's Congress to open to foreign vessels.
China's First Batch of "Best Eco-Tourism Cities" — Loudi
In November 2008, at the Second China Tourism Forum held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Loudi was awarded the title of the first batch of "China's Best Eco-Tourism Cities," becoming the only city in Hunan to receive this honor. Loudi has the first batch of national natural and cultural heritage listings — the Ziquejie Terraced Fields, a Jiangnan rice-cultivation cultural relic; the Five Great Karst Cave Wonders — the Meishan Dragon Palace, the finest karst cave in the world; the Meijiang River, a cliff gallery and a wonder of the three Xiangs; and the Da Xiong Mountain National Forest Park, the hometown of Chiyou who contended with Yan and Huang. It has successively won the honors of "Hunan Provincial Garden City," "Hunan Provincial Sanitary City," "Hunan Provincial Civilized City," "National Model City for Greening," and "National Top Ten Livable Cities."
Hunan's Only Autonomous Prefecture — Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
In August 1952, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established; in April 1955, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was changed to the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture. In September 1957, the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established. It currently administers 8 counties and cities: Luxi, Fenghuang, Huayuan, Baojing, Guzhang, Yongshun, Longshan, and Sangzhi. It is the only autonomous prefecture in Hunan. The Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is Hunan Province's "northwestern gateway," bordering Hubei, Guizhou, and Chongqing, and has always been the "throat of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, and Guizhou." The Charming Xiangxi tour is renowned throughout the country. The Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture is one of the nation's key tung oil production areas and also the "Home of Raw Lacquer." "Guzhang Maojian," "Baojing Lanzhen," and "Seven-Leaf Ginseng" health tea are all national famous teas. Cigarettes are the "flagship" product of the prefecture's industrial production. Luxi Pushi tangerines are one of Hunan's famous tangerines. "Brocade" was once presented as tribute to the imperial court during the Five Dynasties period, and now has become a precious souvenir purchased by tourists. "Xiangquan" and "Jiugui" are fine liquors among wines, national-level famous liquors, renowned at home and abroad. Tujia brocade and Miao embroidery, with their distinctive ethnic characteristics and unique traditional craftsmanship, are popular throughout the country. Xiangxi Prefecture has won the titles of "National Historical and Cultural City," "China Excellent Tourist City," "China Porcelain Capital," and "Home of Ethnic Folk Art."