Things to do in Huaihua

The ancient town is quaint and not overly commercialized, with a beautiful and comfortable surrounding environment, situated by the river. It's relatively quiet, with many shops closed and virtually no restaurants, but this adds to its tranquility.

Compared to Qianxi Ancient Town, I personally prefer Hongjiang Ancient Town, located 25 kilometers away. Originating in the Spring and Autumn Period, it took shape during the Tang Dynasty and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was the most prosperous commercial center in Southwest China after the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style blends elements of Xiangxi, Huizhou, and Western architecture, making it more majestic than the 2,200-year-old Qianyang Ancient Town, which features more folk architecture. The ancient town is home to numerous chambers of commerce from various regions. The saying, "With just a bag and an umbrella, one comes to Hongjiang to become a boss," was a common troupe of entrepreneurs in ancient times (see Figure 1). Figure 2 shows the home of Chen Rongxin, the local tycoon. While the frontage may seem small, the courtyard is quite spacious. Figures 4 and 5 show money shops of the time, Figure 6 shows the Lijin Bureau (now the Tax Bureau), and Figures 7 and 8 show opium dens and brothels. Numerous docks surround the ancient town, demonstrating its vibrant commercial life. In terms of current ancient town management, I personally believe Hongjiang Ancient Town is more effectively managed than Qianyang (with a single ticket system), making it more convenient for visitors.

I drove there by myself. It was nine kilometers from the visitor center to the trailhead. There were not many people. I chose the steepest trail when climbing, which still required some physical strength. The scenic spot prepared a bottle of water for everyone, which was quite considerate.

Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge is located in Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. It is a Dong wind and rain bridge that integrates trade, tourism and leisure. The following is a detailed introduction for you: Historical Origin Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge was first built in the 19th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1591). It was donated by the famous monk Kuanyun. Because the bridge piers and flowing water are shaped like a dragon's mouth spraying water, it is named "Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge". The bridge has been damaged and repaired many times in history. It has always been a traffic fortress on the Hunan-Guizhou Highway, and it is also the most prosperous place for merchants and tourists to travel. It is known as the "No. 1 Bridge in the Southwest of the Three Chus". In early 1999, Longjin Bridge was rebuilt again and completed on November 7 of the same year. Architectural features The bridge is 246.7 meters long and 12.3 meters wide, with a sidewalk width of 5.8 meters. It is a mortise and tenon hollow wooden structure covered bridge. The highest point of the covered bridge is 17.99 meters. There are 7 exquisite bridge pavilions in between. The main building pavilion in the middle is an octagonal five-story bridge pavilion. There are 94 wing-style shops on both sides of the corridor. The architectural style has strong Dong ethnic characteristics. The corridor-style building of the bridge can shelter pedestrians from wind and rain, and the bridge pavilion is a place for people to rest. The entire wind and rain bridge is a full wooden structure without a single nail or rivet, reflecting the contemporary Dong ethnic garden architectural style. Cultural value Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit in Hunan Province. It was included in the Shanghai Guinness World Records in December 2000 and is the world's largest wind and rain bridge. It is a perfect fusion of historical monuments and architectural art, and has become a rare cultural landscape in China.

Passing through the village gate and stepping onto the ancient post road paved with bluestone slabs, it felt as if time had flown back in time. The village is devoid of bustling commercial streets or bustling tourists, only quaint stilt houses and the simple homes of the Dong people. The path paved with bluestone and cobblestones is a popular photo-op in Yutou Dong Village. After a drizzle, the slippery bluestone path stretches through the village, like a crystal-clear stream. Small fish ponds connect to each other along the roadside, each containing a small pavilion. At first, I thought they were architectural models, but later I learned they were "shade pavilions" designed to provide shade for the fish. Walking up the mountain along the bluestone path, I arrived at Yutou Dong Village's most unique structure, the Yashang Drum Tower (also known as the Cliff Drum Tower). Built in 1777, the drum tower is perched on a steep hillside. The Drum Tower follows the slope, half built on the hillside and half suspended in mid-air by 17 pearwood pillars. The six pillars, of varying lengths, provide optimal load-bearing support, ensuring the tower's sturdiness over two centuries. The tower's arching eaves, with their quaint, ancient form, combine both uniqueness and precariousness. Inside the Yashang Drum Tower is a unique sculpture depicting a "monkey holding a melon," said to be the only such sculpture among drum towers. "Melon" means strong in the Dong language, suggesting that the monkeys contribute to the tower's stability. Halfway up the hill, there's a small wooden cabin, within which lies the Qianlong Ancient Well. Built in 1791, the 56th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, the water remains sweet and delicious, suitable for drinking directly. The village's high number of longevity is said to be closely linked to the quality of the well's water. I scooped up a handful of the well water and tasted it; it was indeed refreshing and refreshing.

Over the weekend, I ventured deep into the Grand Canyon, seeking the tranquil, mirror-like waters. Immersed in the canyon, detached from the hustle and bustle, I felt the loving embrace and warm comfort of nature. [Scenery] Stunning

黔阳古城位于湖南省西部的洪江市黔城镇。是一座有着2200多年历史的文化名城，保存完好，拥有🤓10 多处全国重点文物保护单位。古城三面环水，河畔有“楚南第一楼”芙蓉楼，游客不多，站在楼上大声朗诵王昌龄的千古佳局《芙蓉楼送辛渐》，“寒雨连江夜入吴，平明送客楚山孤。洛阳亲友如相问，一片冰心在玉壶”，看着眼前沅舞流清、胜景如画，非常惬意。

市中心的景点，店铺类型比较丰富，值得去逛吃。

Disun Miao Village (3A) Located in Sanqiao Township, Jingzhou County. It is one of the birthplaces of the national intangible cultural heritage Miao Song. The Miao-style stilt houses in the village have distinctive architectural features, the cultural relics are well preserved, and the folk culture is well inherited. In addition to the Miao Song, which is known as the "living fossil of original polyphonic ethnic music", there are also customs with ethnic customs such as playing in the mountains to meet friends, dating in tea stalls, and snatching brides. There are 120 households and 670 people in the village. Sanqiao Miao Song is a polyphonic chorus form that evolved from the sounds of nature. In the ancient Miao village, the beautiful and fresh natural environment and the simple and cheerful life prompted the Miao ancestors to have a strong interest and association with the colorful "harmony" of nature such as birdsong, cicada singing, flowing water, and forest waves. So they imitated the "harmony" of nature and composed high and low overlapping pleasant songs. The area around Sanqiao, Jingzhou, has long been known as the "hometown of mountain songs". The Miao people here love to sing, and they are all experts in composing songs. "Food nourishes life, and songs relax the mind" is the colloquialism of the Miao people. They regard singing as equally important as farming and eating, and singing has become the main way for them to communicate their thoughts, feelings, culture, and art. According to their musical carriers, the songs of the Miao people in Sanqiao, Jingzhou, can be divided into eight types: tea songs, wine songs, mountain songs, water-carrying songs, rice songs, entertainment songs, wedding songs, and three-tone songs. The lyrics are seven-character four or more sentences, and the language is mainly the language of the Miao people with the surname Wu in Sanqiao Township, supplemented by the languages ​​of other surnames. Most of them use rhetorical techniques such as metaphor, exaggeration, and personification, with rich associations, extensive citations, and philosophical meanings. It has rich content and a wide range of themes. There are long-standing story songs, narrative songs praising the deeds of heroes, and love songs expressing the affection between young men and women, etc. There are eleven tunes, which vary from place to place. The singing form mostly starts with the low voice, Enter after the middle and high school sections, and multiple voices flow alternately. Disun Miao Village is a typical layout of the high mountain "Hua Yi Miao" group village architecture. The stilt houses are built along the slope due to the terrain of the mountain. They are side by side on the left and right, staggered in front and back, and the flat and open place in the middle is the public activity venue and public facilities such as wells and ponds. It conforms to the Miao folk house site selection principle of "mountains against mountains, posts against posts, streams against streams, and ponds around ponds". Strategy Transportation: The minibus from Jingzhou County to Sanqiao Township passes by the entrance of the village, and the bus from Sanqiao to Disun goes to the village. Deep in the mountains, the road is good, suitable for self-driving, 18 kilometers of mountain roads, 6 kilometers of winding mountain roads, be careful about driving at night. Ticket price: free Accommodation and meals: Authentic Tujia cuisine, reasonable price, the group village is small and exquisite, the folk customs are simple, and it is suitable for short stays. Time: 2-48 hours. From May to November, there are no programs or night views on weekdays.

Tongdao Huangdu Dong Ethnic Cultural Village is located in Tongdao County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. It has a unique and charming architectural style, strong interest, pleasant scenery and super cost-effectiveness. You can experience the local customs and folkways.