孝感市

Why this place

Xiaogan's name means 'filial piety moved heaven', from a legend about a dutiful son. It also holds the Tangjiashan Neolithic site, where pottery and rice remains document one of the earliest farming cultures in the middle Yangtze.

What to see

• The filial-piety sites and the Dong Yong park
• The Tangjiashan Neolithic site and the regional museum
• The Shuangfeng Mountain and the hot springs of the surrounding area

What to eat

• Hubei rice and freshwater fish, with the local braised dishes
• Xiaogan rice wine (mijiu) — the local version is famous in the province

Best time

March–May and October–November