Huaihua, a city located in the western part of Hunan Province, is like a bright pearl inlaid on the land of Wuxi, exuding a unique and charming allure. It not only boasts magnificent and beautiful natural scenery but also carries a profound and long – standing history and culture. Here are the must – visit tourist attractions in Huaihua carefully listed for you.
Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City
The Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City is a highly representative attraction in Huaihua, known as “the First Ancient Commercial City in China”. This ancient commercial city originated in the Spring and Autumn Period, took shape in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. After thousands of years of wind and rain, it remains well – preserved. Stepping into the ancient commercial city is like traveling back in time and entering a commercial picture scroll of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The architecture in the ancient commercial city is unique, integrating the characteristics of Hui – style architecture and local Xiangxi features. The towering fire – proof walls, exquisite woodcarvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings all demonstrate the prosperity and prosperity of that year. The Yinzi House is a typical building in the ancient commercial city. It integrates the functions of living, warehousing, and business. Generally, it is a two – story building. The first floor is used for business, and the second floor is for living. Walking on the bluestone streets of the ancient commercial city, there are various old business sites on both sides. For example, the Lijin Bureau, which was the ancient tax authority, witnessed the prosperity of Hongjiang’s business at that time; the Fuquantang Medicine Shop carried the inheritance of traditional Chinese medicine culture. Here, you can also enjoy the Nuo opera performed by folk artists and experience the ancient and mysterious local culture.
Qianyang Ancient City
Qianyang Ancient City is one of the best – preserved ancient cities of the Ming and Qing dynasties in the country. It is 1400 years earlier than the Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang, Yunnan, and 900 years earlier than the ancient city of Fenghuang in Hunan. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is an important town on the border of Hunan, Hubei, and Miao areas, and is known as the “Gateway to Yunnan and Guizhou” and the “First Ancient Town in Western Hunan”.
There are numerous historical sites in the ancient city. The Furong Tower is its landmark building. This tower was built to commemorate Wang Changling, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, and became famous because of his poem “Seeing Xin Jian Off at Furong Tower”. The river in front of the tower flows gently, as if telling the deep friendship of the poet seeing off his friend back then. The streets and alleys of the ancient city are laid out in a rigorous pattern, in the shape of the “Eight Diagrams”. Walking in it is like being in a maze. Most of the shops on both sides of the ancient street retain the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, selling various characteristic handicrafts and traditional snacks, such as Tuokou bayberries and blood – glutinous rice duck. You can taste the delicious food while experiencing the charm of the ancient city.
Wanfo Mountain
Wanfo Mountain is located in Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, and is famous for its unique Danxia landform landscape. Here, there are numerous peaks, each with a different shape, as if tens of thousands of Buddha statues are sitting on the earth, hence the name. The Danxia landform area of Wanfo Mountain reaches 168 square kilometers, making it one of the largest Danxia peak – forest landforms in China.
Climbing to the top of Wanfo Mountain and looking into the distance, the continuous red peaks come into view, with a magnificent momentum. Under the sunlight, the peaks show a charming red color, setting off against the surrounding green trees and clear waters, forming a colorful picture. The Shenxian Cave in Wanfo Mountain is a natural karst cave. Inside the cave, there are a wide variety of stalactites in various postures. Some are like fairies descending to the mortal world, and some are like coral in the sea, making people marvel at the uncanny workmanship of nature. Walking along the scenic trail, you can also enjoy vivid attractions such as the “Thirty – six – Bay Forest Maze” and the “Qixing Ancient Nunnery”, each exuding a mysterious atmosphere.
Yutou Dong Village
Yutou Dong Village is an ancient Dong village with a history of more than 640 years, and it is an outstanding representative of Dong architectural style and folk customs. The entire Dong village is built along the mountain, like a giant dragon lying quietly on the mountainside. The buildings in the Dong village are most typically represented by drum towers, wind – rain bridges, and stilted buildings.
The drum tower is the landmark building of the Dong village and also a place for Dong people to gather, discuss affairs, and entertain. The drum tower in Yutou Dong Village has a unique shape, with different numbers of floors, mostly odd – numbered, generally more than ten meters high. There are four main columns inside the building, symbolizing the four seasons, and twelve auxiliary columns, representing the twelve months, implying good weather and peace throughout the year. The wind – rain bridge spans across the stream. It not only provides shelter from the wind and rain for pedestrians but also has a high ornamental value. The bridge body is made of mortise – and – tenon structure without using a single nail or rivet, demonstrating the superb architectural skills of the Dong people. The stilted buildings are scattered on the hillside in a scattered and orderly manner. The building is three – story high. The first floor is used to raise livestock, the second floor is for people to live in, and the third floor is for storing sundries, reflecting the unique living culture of the Dong people. Here, you can also experience traditional Dong festivals, such as the Dong New Year and the He Long Banquet, taste Dong – style cuisine, and feel the strong ethnic customs.
Huaihua, this charming city, each scenic spot is like a bright pearl, shining with a unique light. Whether it is the ancient city with a long history, the magnificent and beautiful natural scenery, or the rich and colorful ethnic customs, they are all waiting for you to explore and discover, leaving an unforgettable travel memory.
