10 Things To Do In Chenzhou, China That Will Broaden Your Horizons

1. Get ready your camera to catch the foggy scenery of Wu Man Xiao Dong Jiang

Wu Man Xiao Dong Jiang has been a great photography spot for photographers who come from all over the country. Shots of Wu Man Xiao Dong Jiang have won various photography awards from all over the world, making it a world-renowned photography spot. The view of clouds streaming between mountains and a little boat floating on the lake among the hazy fog, with sunrise or sunset in the background, like an oil-painting, will surely take your breath away. The foggy scenery makes the whole place looks like heaven. Inhaling the fresh air gives you energy for the rest of your day. Visit in May to December, 6.30 am to 8.30 am or 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm as it is the best time to catch the foggy scenery.

Wu Man Xiao Dong Jiang

Address: Dongjiangzhen, Zixing, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Website: Wu Man Xiao Dong Jiang (in Chinese)

2. Open your eyes because you sure don't want to miss the High Chair Mountain Beauty Spot

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High Chair Mountain Beauty Spot is full or DanXia Landform which is formed from red-colored sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age. The mountain forest is reflected by water forming a scenic beauty of red rock and green water. The place is still undeveloped, therefore there are very few facilities and you have to rent a car to get there, but the admission is totally free. You get to see different types of natural landscapes like mountains, caves and cliffs. Be careful when you hike as some places are quite steep, some trainers even bring their students here for Via Ferrata climbing. It will also be a great photography spot, so bring along a camera and a photography buddy.

High Chair Mountain Beauty Spot

Website: High Chair Moutain Beauty Spot (in Chinese)

3. Distribute your love for nature to Mang Shan National Forest Park

Being 99% covered by forest, Mang Shan National Park is China’s biggest national park with the best preservation of biological species. It also contains the largest, best-preserved broad-leaved forest in the world’s humid subtropical regions. The main attractions include Gui Zi Zhai (Devil Fortress), Tian Tai Mountain, Hou Wang Zhai (Monkey King Fortress) and Boulder Stone, which attracts more and more visitors. Its annual temperature is at 17.2℃ (63°F), especially at 900 m (2,952.8 feet) above sea level, which makes the weather neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer. But the climate changes at different altitudes.

Mang Shan National Forest Park

Address: 088 County Rd, Yizhang Xian, Chenzhou Shi, Hunan Sheng, China

Website: Mang Shan National Forest Park (in Chinese)

4. Free youself in the endless prairie of Yangtianhu Grassland Scenic Area

With Yang Tian Lake in the middle, surrounded by grassland, this piece of God’s creation is a place you can run freely like there is no ending point. This endless view of grassland and the sky makes you feel carefree and like all of your worries are thrown to the back of your mind. Every year after spring ploughing, the villagers will let the cows, horses and sheep wander​ freely in the prairie for months and will bring them back just before winter kicks in. So if you visit during this time, you get to see them munching grass in the wide grassland. Every January, there will be a Plateau Snow Festival where you can admire snow in the plateau. In around June and July, there will be ‘Tian Hu Carnival Night’ where there are activities like photography, horse-racing, mountain climbing and more.

Yangtianhu Grassland Scenic Area

Address: Beihu, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Website: Yangtianhu Grassland Scenic Area (in Chinese)

5. Explore the different terrains of Mount Feitianshan National Geopark

The main features of Mount Feitianshan National Geopark are Danxia Landform and Karst Cave. The water and land transportation are convenient with Jing Guang Railway Double-track, Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway and China National Highway passing by. You can find it where Chen Jiang Lake and Dong Jiang Lake intersects. The main type of Danxia Landform here is Zhai (walled). It sits together orderly with steep, red cliffs and is covered by greenery on the top. Standing on top of the Mount Feitianshan’s poly Sendai, from far, you get to see the famous wonder of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ which is formed by the mountain itself that resembles an elegant sleeping beauty. Other than the natural beauty, there are cultural attractions like a village house street and a stone Buddha temple.

Mount Feitianshan National Geopark

Address: Suxian, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Website: Mount Feitianshan National Geopark (in Chinese)

6. Find your way though the mystic Wan Hua Cave

Discover different wonders of the Wan Hua Cave, such as stalactite, stone curtains, stone flowers, stalagmites, and stone pillars that will spike your imaginations as some look like an underwater dragon palace or Guanyin sitting on the lotus. The different colored lights in the cave make it look even more magical and mystical. You will also be fascinated by the three major waterfalls in the cave. Having caves inside the cave and different caves connecting each other, you will find yourself lost in a maze. The chilling air inside the cave makes summer cooler, and winter warmer.

Wan Hua Cave

Address: Beihu, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Website: Wan Hua Cave (in Chinese)

7. Hike with the locals at Su Xian Ridge

During leisure time, the locals here often come to hike. There are always old people working out at the top of the hill. Just through a simple friendly chat with the friendly locals, you can feel the diversity of life. The hike starts from Tao Hua Ju (Peach Blossom Home), where you’ll be facing peach blossoms and a river and surrounded by a bamboo forest. On your way up, there are attractions like Bai Lu Dong (White Foot Cave), San Jue Bei (Three Monuments) and Su Xian Guan (Su Xian View). If you don’t want to hike, you can pay for the touring car or cable car instead.

At the sides of the hiking paths, there are lush plantations and well-pruned flowers. During the night, you can enjoy the beautiful night view of Chen Zhou embellished by the lights of the little houses from the top of the ridge. There is also a Buddhist Temple on top of the ridge where you can burn incense and pray, as Chen Zhou is named as the ‘Eighteenth Place of Buddhism’.

Su Xian Ridge

Address: In Suxian District, Chenzhou 423000, China

Website: Su Xian Ridge (in Chinese)

8. Improve your health by immersing yourself in hot springs at Rucheng Hotspring Cultural Park

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At the junction between Luo Xiao Mountain and Nan Ling Mountain, you will find a large basin and that’s where Rucheng Hotspring Cultural Park is located. With more than 30 kinds of trace elements that are good for our health, it is a natural hot spring for all health conscious people. Its high water temperature with a ​large flow, good water quality and high amount of radon, make it the worlds rarest ‘Radon Spring’. Soaking in the hot spring gets rid of tiredness and strengthens your body. There are activities like the 'primitive ecology celestial bath’, spa food bath and boiling eggs in the hot spring for you to participate in.

Rucheng Hotspring Cultural Park

Website: Rucheng Hotspring Cultural Park

9. Discover how mining works at Hunan Baoshan Mining Park

Hunan Baoshan Mining Park has two core attractions: the Ancient Mining Site and Modern Mining Site, which show the mineral history and culture. The whole park is separated into “one center and seven districts”, which are the Tourist Service Center, Underground Exploration District, Open-pit Scene District, Mining and Metallurgy Expo Park District, Zilong Training Camp District, Gujun Viewing Deck (Pengcai Park District), Mining Custom Park District, and Dressing and Smelting Process Visit District.

The park contains rich minerals of gold, silver, copper, sulphur, iron and more. In fact, it has been the place for refining silver and smelting metal since the Han Dynasty. Occupy yourself with the attractions like the open-air single mining area, the modern shaft and the worlds largest bronze-themed sculpture. Under the shaft, there are colorful malachite and crystal pins, stimulating mine adventures, and 3D movies.

Hunan Baoshan Mining Park

Address: No. 30 Baoshan Road, Guiyang County, Hunan Province, China

Website: Hunan Baoshan Mining Park

10. If you are a plant lover, lose yourself in the plantation of Chenzhou Nanling Botanical Garden

Chenzhou Nanling Botanical Garden collects more than 2,000 types of plants, including the rare species such as Gingko, Metasequoia, Southern Taxus and Psidium. There are also different special plant collection areas like Osmanthus Garden, Cherry Blossoms Garden, Rhododendron Garden, Bamboo Garden and more. If you are crazy about plants, this is your perfect destination. The garden is also engaged in environmental issues and education, and organizes activities such as teaching students how to decorate mini Christmas trees!

Chenzhou Nanling Botanical Garden

Address: Beihu, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Website: Chenzhou Nanling Botanical Garden (in Chinese)

Check Chenzhou, China off your bucket list

Tempted by the pictures of Chenzhou, China? Don’t stop there, plan a trip to Chenzhou to see and experience it yourself, the view will be so much better. Don’t forget to put your camera in your bag so that you can capture the scenery and the precious moments. Let Chenzhou fulfil​ your courageous spirit and inquisitive nature.