怀化市

Why this place

Huaihua is the transport hub of western Hunan, and it is the base for the Dong minority villages of the surrounding valleys — including the drum towers and wind-and-rain bridges that the Dong are famous for building out of timber without nails.

What to see

• The Dong villages of the Tongdao and Jingzhou valleys, with their drum towers and covered bridges
• Hongjiang ancient city — a Ming–Qing river-trade town with well-preserved guild halls
• Qianyang and the old market towns of the Yuan River
• The Zhijiang surrender memorial, where the Japanese army in China surrendered in 1945

What to eat

• Dong and Miao cooking: sour fish, cured pork, and the local 'oil tea'
• Huaihua is known for its oranges and its 'baba' rice cakes

How to plan

Two or three days for the village country south of Huaihua, with a car.

Best time

April–June and September–November