Big news alert!! Big news alert!! The Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua (Zhangjihuai) high-speed railway officially commenced construction on December 18. Once completed, it will be the most scenic high-speed railway in Hunan.

With the Zhangjihuai line, you can take in the stunning beauty of western Hunan in one go—all it takes is a single high-speed rail ticket. No dizziness, no fatigue, and you’ll save loads of time too.

Most importantly, once hard-to-reach attractions like Zhangjiajie’s towering rock formations, the authentic Tujia folk culture of Laosi City, the majestic waterfalls of Furong Town, the Hongshiyan National Geopark in Guzhang, the Dehang Miao Village in Jishou, the ancient city of Fenghuang, and the Ming–Qing-era ancient commercial district in Hongjiang, Huaihua, will all be just a stone’s throw away. The enchanting landscapes of western Hunan are waiting to be discovered. Now let’s take a look at what you can explore along the “Zhangjihuai” high-speed railway route.

First stop: Zhangjiajie

As the saying goes, “Visit Jiuzhaigou for its water, and Zhangjiajie for its mountains.” In the core area of Wulingyuan Scenic Zone, 3,000 towering stone peaks rise from the ground, and 800 meandering streams twist through the landscape. Travelers to Zhangjiajie are invariably captivated by its unique sandstone peak forest landforms and magnificent karst scenery.

The beauty of Zhangjiajie’s scenery needs no elaboration. Attractions such as Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie, Huangshizhai, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie, Tianmen Mountain, and Baofeng Lake invite you to slow down and soak in their deep allure.

Second stop: Laosi City Ruins

The second stop is at HuiLongxi Station, which is just 25 kilometers from Yongshun County. Yongshun is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Laosi City Ruins. Known as the “open-air museum” of the Tujia people, it is the largest and best-preserved Tusi king city site in southwestern China.

Laosi City Ruins

Laosi City

After visiting Laosi City, you can take a bus to Buyi Hot Springs, located 1.5 kilometers south of Yongshun County. Here, bizarre rocks tower above, ancient trees stand tall, strange stones are scattered everywhere, and hot spring vapors waft through the air—it’s known as a “natural bonsai created by Mother Nature.”

Third stop: Furong Town

Get off at Yongshun Station and head to Furong Town to experience the charm of a “millennium-old town hanging over a waterfall.” The movie *Furong Town*, starring Jiang Wen and Liu Xiaoqing, was filmed here. Due to the film’s immense popularity, this ancient town, originally named “Wangcun” and with a history of over 2,000 years, was renamed “Furong Town.”

The town has a narrow, damp ancient flagstone street, locally called the **Five-Li Long Street**. Lined with traditional stilted wooden houses on both sides, the street seems barely changed by the passage of a thousand years, still radiating a gentle glow.

Fourth stop: Hongshiyan National Geopark

To reach Hongshiyan, you can drive along a mountain road fragrant with tea or opt for a poetic, winding waterway. The **YouShui Gallery** of Hongshiyan features mountains reflecting in the water and water complementing the mountains, creating a fairyland-like scene shrouded in mist.

The Hongshiyan scenic area is covered with continuous red rocks in a myriad of shapes. Names like Yangzi Ancient Sea, Heavenly Pool, Ordovician Ocean Floor, Hailong Gorge, Lucky Gate, and Kiss Gate evoke wonder. Even more fascinating is how the red rocks change color with the weather, time of day, and season—appearing red on sunny days, black on rainy days, and shifting hues from dawn to dusk.

Hongshiyan

A corner of Hongshiyan in winter

In the ancient dwellings of Hongshiyan Village, walk past millennia-old wells and lanes, sip premium Guzhang Maojian tea in a small courtyard with elderly locals, play with innocent children along the rural paths, and enjoy an authentic countryside meal. Far from the hustle of the city, all you need to do here is savor the tranquility.

A quadrangle courtyard in Hongshiyan Village

Fifth stop: Aizhai Bridge

In Jishou, don’t miss the architectural marvel that is **Aizhai Bridge**. Located about 20 kilometers from downtown Jishou in Aizhai Town, it spans the Dehang Grand Canyon with a drop of over 400 meters and a main span of 1,176 meters, making it the world’s longest steel truss cable-stayed bridge.

Sixth stop: Fenghuang

Visiting Fenghuang feels like stepping back a thousand years. The Tuojiang River flows gently through the town, exuding rich Miao ethnic charm. The stilted wooden houses along the riverbanks retain their ancient appearance, enhanced by dazzling lights that leave visitors in awe.

Night view of the ancient city of Fenghuang

Upstream along the Tuojiang River lies a wealth of natural and cultural resources untouched by commercialization: serene lakes and hills, valley waterfalls, the **Fenghuang Grand Canyon**, the **Shengshi Miao Tang Weiyang City (Phoenix City of the Flourishing Tang)** (Huangsigui Ancient City), the settlement of descendants of the Yang family generals from the Ming Dynasty (**Shujiatang**), Ming–Qing-era Miao military camps (**Lahao Camp**), and ancient Miao villages like Heitan Camp, Ditangjiang, and Matigu Valley along the carefree He River—some built with stone, others with earthen bricks. These are the true sources of Fenghuang.

Fenghuang’s landscape tour—Fenghuang Grand Canyon

Phoenix Mountain and Water Tour—Prosperous Tang Dynasty "Phoenix City (Huangsiqiao Ancient Town)"

Phoenix Mountain and Water Tour—Lahao Garrison

Phoenix Mountain and Water Tour—Carefree River

Phoenix Mountain and Water Tour—Carefree Riverbank Ditang River

Phoenix Mountain and Water Tour—Carefree River Horse Hoof Valley

Stop Seven: Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

[Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City] is a marketplace steeped in luxury and wealth, a commercial capital that interprets history through complete business language and behavior. The ancient city’s architecture uses brick, wood, and stone as materials, topped with green tiles, adorned with delicate window lattices, lattice doors, and carved door panels, along with exquisitely shaped railings and upturned eaves that seem ready to take flight—both practical and beautiful.

Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

Western Hunan is a never-ending poem, filled with poetic charm in both stillness and motion.

The Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua High-Speed Railway runs through the mysterious Western Hunan, blending the diverse folk customs of ethnic minorities such as the Tujia, Miao, and Dong. If you have the time, why not visit Western Hunan and explore its lesser-known places? Here, there are no noisy crowds, no restless hearts—only a serene detachment washed clean of vanity. The gentle soul of Western Hunan will surely leave you with the most beautiful memories.