Best things to do in Hunan Province

Hunan Province: The Absolute Essentials

Hunan Province features diverse landmarks ranging from the dramatic karst peaks of Zhangjiajie and the sacred slopes of Mount Hengshan to the historical corridors of the Yuelu Academy. In the capital, Changsha, the Hunan Museum houses the Han-dynasty Mawangdui tombs, while the Tianxin Pavilion offers views from the city's ancient defensive walls. The region's revolutionary history is centered in Shaoshan at Mao Zedong's former residence, while Dongting Lake remains one of China's largest freshwater bodies.

Hunan Province: The Absolute Essentials — Map

Calton / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Hunan Provincial Museum

The Hunan Museum is the provincial museum of Hunan, China. It was built in 1951 and opened to the public in July 1956.

Zhangzhugang / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Yuelu Academy

The Yuelu Academy is on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, Hunan province, on the west bank of the Xiang River.

TheNeon / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Mount Hengshan

Hengshan, also known as Mount Heng, is a mountain in southcentral China's Hunan Province known as the southern mountain of the Five Great…

huangdan2060 / Public domain

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Tiamenshan Temple

Tianmenshan Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Tianmen Mountain of Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China.

Brücke-Osteuropa / Public domain

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Mao Zedong's Former Residence

Former Residence of Mao Zedong or Mao Zedong's Former Residence was built in the late Qing dynasty.

Army Map Service / Public domain

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Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan Province, China.

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Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport

Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport is an international airport serving Zhangjiajie, Hunan, People's Republic of China.

颐园新居 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Changsha Huanghua International Airport

Changsha Huanghua International Airport is an international airport serving Changsha, the capital of South Central China’s Hunan province,…

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Tianmen Heaven Gate

A natural karst arch eroded through the cliffs of Tianmen Mountain, standing 131 meters high. It is accessible via the "Stairway to Heaven," a steep 999-step climb.

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Tianxin Pavilion

A historic three-story pavilion located atop the only surviving section of Changsha’s ancient city wall. Originally built during the Ming dynasty, the structure served as a military lookout and astronomical observatory.