娄底市

Why this place

Loudi is a coal and industrial city in central Hunan, and its surrounding Meishan country has a distinct local culture — the Meishan region was semi-independent for centuries and kept its own folk religion and martial traditions.

What to see

• The Meishan culture sites and the local temples of the hills
• The Ziquejie terraces at Xinhua — rice terraces carved into the mountains, drier and more austere than the famous ones elsewhere
• The Lianshui River and the old canal heritage

What to eat

• Hunan Meishan cooking — heavy on smoked and cured meats and chilli
• Xinhua is known for its 'black rice' dishes and its mountain tea

Best time

April–June and September–November