Hunan

Hunan is named after situated the south of Dongting Lake, the second-largest freshwater lake in China. With Changsha as its capital, Hunan is a central province of China that shares land borders with Jiangxi to the east, Guangdong and Guangxi to the south, Guizhou to the west, and Chongqing to the northwest, and Hubei to the north. This interior province is surrounded by mountains, and the great Yangtze River crosses it from west to east.

Because of the Dongting Lake and the fertile land, Hunan is considered a Land of Fish and Rice and is full of delicious foods, fruits, and crafts of all kinds.

The most famous attractions in Hunan are The Ancient Town of Fenghuang, and the Wulingyuan Park near the city of Zhangjiajie, consisting of pine trees rising through the mist, surrounded by lush green vegetation. This geographical feature is conducive to many hiking opportunities. These landscapes are said to have been the inspiration for James Cameron’s film “Avatar”.

Hunan is also a territory marked by the presence of minorities rich in authentic cultures: the Miao, Tujia, Hmong, Dong, and Yao ethnic groups, etc.

Hunan is the native province of Mao Zedong and the cradle of the Chinese Communist Party. It consists of lots of revolutionary attractions, so each year a large number of communists come for an ideological re-education.

Useful Information

Area: 210,000 km²
Average annual temperature: 15 degrees
Geography: Central China, a mixture of hills and southern plains
Population: 66,444,800 inhabitants. (2021)
Altitude: 100-800m
Ethnic minorities: Miao, Yao, Dong Hmong, and Tujia
Economy: Agriculture, tourism, real estate, equipment manufacturing

What to visit in Hunan?

Hunan is a beautiful land of discovery and an original destination. It has the advantage of cutting long journeys on East to West circuits from Beijing and Shanghai to Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangxi!

In this great province, you can discover the sumptuous landscapes of Wulingyuan in the northwest mountains and walk the vertiginous glass bridge in Zhangjiajie. You will be attracted by the charming historic village of Fenghuang located at the edge of the water.

How To Get Hunan?

As a province in the center of China, the traffic is very convenient. Lots of high-speed trains cross this province, especially its capital, Changsha. This city is also connected by regular flights from Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. For travelers wishing to visit Zhangjiajie National Park, the city has an airport connected with the main Chinese cities by regular trains. Once there, we recommend that our visitors use a private car with a driver to get around Hunan.

When To Visit Hunan?

Hunan is dominated by a very humid and stifling subtropical climate in summer. It is, therefore, better to avoid the monsoon season to enjoy the beautiful natural landscapes of Zhangjiajie. The months of September and October are regularly offered for a stay in the region, as is spring. In any season, it is advisable to bring a raincoat, an umbrella and good walking shoes in your luggage.

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