邵阳市

Why this place

Shaoyang is an old city in southwestern Hunan, and the surrounding mountains are the source of some of China's most important early Buddhist and Confucian scholarship. Langshan Mountain nearby is one of the finest danxia landscapes in Hunan.

What to see

• Langshan — red sandstone peaks and the Fuyi River, with a cable car and a cliff path
• The Baoqing prefecture heritage and the old city's lanes
• The southern Hunan countryside and its rice terraces

What to eat

• Hunan cooking, with the local cured pork and chilli pastes
• Shaoyang is known for its 'Zhuxi' ham and its rice wine

Best time

April–June and September–November