Get to know Huaihua
Photo adjustments
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Hunan
- Chinese name
- 怀化市
- Local areas
- 12 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 27,600.00 km²
- Administrative seat
- Hecheng District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
Mountains cover 70.5 percent of the land. The Xuefeng range arcs across the southeast and the Wuling range runs through the northwest, with hills and basins between. The Huaihua local chronicles office gives the highest point as Subaoding (苏宝顶), the main peak of the Xuefeng range, at 1,934 metres.
History
The city government says the Gaomiao site (高庙遗址) in Hongjiang (洪江) takes Chinese civilisation back 7,800 years, and that the poet Qu Yuan (屈原) was exiled to the Yuan valley here. In December 1934, during the Long March, a leadership meeting at Tongdao (通道) sent the Central Red Army west into Guizhou. On 21 August 1945 Chinese and Japanese representatives negotiated the Japanese surrender at Zhijiang (芷江). In the 1970s Yuan Longping (袁隆平) developed hybrid rice at Anjiang (安江), now part of Hongjiang.
What to see
River trade left Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town (洪江古商城) and the shop-lined South Main Street (南正街) of Qiancheng (黔城), with high-walled lanes of deep 'yinzi' houses (窨子屋). Gaoyi (高椅) in Huitong (会同) is a well-kept Ming and Qing village, and a corridor of Dong (侗族) culture in Tongdao links villages such as Yutou (芋头) with wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers. Longxing Temple (龙兴讲寺) at the foot of Huxi Hill (虎溪山) in Yuanling (沅陵), founded in 628, keeps architecture in styles from the Song to the Qing. In Zhijiang, the stone surrender memorial arch (受降纪念坊) is shaped like the character for 'blood' (血) and was rebuilt in 2010 from old photographs.
Food and local products
Zhijiang cooks braise ducks about two months old with liquor, bean paste and four seasonings known as the 'four generals': Sichuan pepper, large red chillies, Zhi ginger (芷姜) and scallions. The city describes Xupu (溆浦) geese as a large, fast-growing local breed. Dong brocade weaving (侗锦织造技艺), done entirely by hand in Tongdao, entered the national intangible heritage list in 2008.
Getting oriented
The Hunan–Guizhou railway (now part of the Shanghai–Kunming line) and the Jiaozuo–Liuzhou railway, opened in 1972 and 1978, cross in the city, which is nicknamed 'the city pulled in by trains' (火车拖来的城市). Huaihua South station (怀化南站) is on the Shanghai–Kunming high-speed line, and Zhijiang Airport (芷江机场), an Allied air base in the Second World War, was subsequently converted for civilian use.
Sources for this guide
怀化概况 - 怀化市人民政府 · Huaihua Municipal People's Government
自然地理 - 怀化市人民政府 · Huaihua Municipal People's Government (text from the Huaihua Local Chronicles Office)
历史 - 怀化市人民政府 · Huaihua Municipal People's Government
芷江炒鸭 - 怀化市人民政府 · Huaihua Municipal People's Government
溆浦鹅 - 怀化市人民政府 · Huaihua Municipal People's Government
侗锦织造技艺 - 中国非物质文化遗产网·中国非物质文化遗产数字博物馆 · China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (China National Centre for the Safeguarding of ICH)
怀化市 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
抗日胜利芷江洽降旧址 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
龙兴寺 (沅陵) - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
通道会议 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-10-01.
Explore Huaihua
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Memorial Archway of the Surrender of Japan 芷江受降纪念坊
Gaoyi Ancient Village 高椅古村
Qianyang Ancient City 黔阳古城
Wanfo Mountain 通道万佛山
Fenghuang Mountain and Longxing Temple 凤凰山与龙兴讲寺
Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town 洪江古商城
Anjiang Agricultural School Memorial Park 安江农校纪念园
Shanbei Rice Terraces 山背梯田
Memorial Hall of the Acceptance of Japan's Surrender 中国人民抗日战争胜利受降纪念馆
Wanfo Mountain 万佛山
Huangdu Dong Culture Village 皇都侗文化村
Yutou Ancient Dong Village 芋头古侗寨
Disun Miao Village 地笋苗寨
Hecheng District 鹤城区
Zhongfang County 中方县
Yuanling County 沅陵县
Chenxi County 辰溪县
Xupu County 溆浦县
Huitong County 会同县
Mayang Miao Autonomous County 麻阳苗族自治县
Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County 新晃侗族自治县
Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County 芷江侗族自治县
Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County 靖州苗族侗族自治县
Tongdao Dong Autonomous County 通道侗族自治县
Hongjiang 洪江市
Places to explore around Huaihua
Memorial Archway of the Surrender of Japan, Zhijiang · 芷江受降纪念坊正面 Photograph date recorded by the source: 3 October 2017, 11:19:59.Memorial Archway of the Surrender of Japan芷江受降纪念坊
The Zhijiang surrender memorial complex marks the August 1945 negotiations and preparations for accepting Japan’s surrender in the China theatre. The commemorative archway, meeting-site interpretation and museum explain this…
Read the place guide →
Gaoyi Ancient Village · 高椅古村Gaoyi Ancient Village高椅古村
Gaoyi is a living Dong village beside the Wu River in Huitong, with older houses set between cultivated land, water and enclosing hills. Its lanes and domestic buildings reveal a settlement shaped by family lineages and farming…
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Zhongzheng Gate in Qianyang Ancient City · 黔阳古城中正门楼 Photograph date recorded by the source: 4 October 2017, 14:52:26.Qianyang Ancient City黔阳古城
Qianyang’s old city occupies the historic centre of Qiancheng, where the Yuan and Wu river setting helped shape streets, gates and trade. Furong Tower adds a literary memorial associated with Wang Changling, while the…
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Wanfo Mountain通道万佛山
Wanfoshan in Tongdao presents a green Danxia landscape, with rounded red-bed hills and wooded gaps rather than one isolated summit. Named formations such as the Natural Magpie Bridge and Turtle Foraging provide focal points for…
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Fenghuang Mountain and Longxing Temple · 凤凰山与龙兴讲寺Fenghuang Mountain and Longxing Temple凤凰山与龙兴讲寺
This entry pairs two neighbouring sites in Yuanling County, Huaihua, Hunan: Longxing Jiangsi (龙兴讲寺), a Tang temple and academy at the foot of Huxi Hill on the west side of the county town, and Fenghuangshan (凤凰山), the hill on the town's edge where Zhang Xueliang was held after the Xi'an Incident.
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Gate of the Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City in Hongjiang District, Huaihua · 怀化市洪江区洪江古商城牌楼 Source-recorded photograph date: 2016-07-23 12:08:30.Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town洪江古商城
Hongjiang old commercial town (洪江古商城) stands at the confluence of the Yuan and Wu rivers in Hongjiang District, Huaihua, Hunan. It is a nationally protected group of more than 380 Ming, Qing and Republican commercial buildings.
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Anjiang Agricultural School Memorial Park · 安江农校纪念园Anjiang Agricultural School Memorial Park安江农校纪念园
The Anjiang Agricultural School memorial park (安江农校纪念园) occupies the former Hunan Anjiang Agricultural School at Dashaping in Anjiang Town, Hongjiang City, Huaihua, Hunan. It is where Yuan Longping began the work on hybrid rice, and it is protected as a Major Historical and Cultural Site at the National Level.
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Shanbei Rice Terraces · 山背梯田Shanbei Rice Terraces山背梯田
The Shanbei terraces (山背梯田) climb the northern flank of the Xuefeng mountains at Shanbei village in Xupu County, Huaihua, Hunan. They were opened by the Hua Yao, a branch of the Yao people, and are commonly called the Hua Yao terraces after them.
Read the place guide →The Zhijiang Surrender Memorial Archway, part of the site commemorating Japan's WWII surrender in Zhijiang, Huaihua · 芷江受降纪念坊，湖南省怀化市芷江侗族自治县 Source-recorded photograph date: 2017-10-03 11:19:59.Memorial Hall of the Acceptance of Japan's Surrender中国人民抗日战争胜利受降纪念馆
The Memorial Museum of the Chinese People's Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan (中国人民抗日战争胜利受降纪念馆) stands at Qiliqiao village in Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan. It marks the place where Japanese envoys flew in to begin the surrender talks in August 1945.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Wanfo Mountain万佛山
Wanfoshan (万佛山) is a danxia sandstone massif in Taipingyan village, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan, close to where Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou meet. It is the core section of the wider Wanfoshan scenic area, listed by the county government as national natural heritage, a national-level scenic and historic area and a national geopark.
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Huangdu Dong Culture Village · 皇都侗文化村Huangdu Dong Culture Village皇都侗文化村
Huangdu Dong Culture Village (皇都侗文化村) is a group of four Dong settlements in Pingtan township, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan, about 10 kilometres from the county seat. The county runs it as a presentation of Dong village life and lists it as a national AAAA tourist area.
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Yutou Ancient Dong Village芋头古侗寨
Yutou ancient Dong village (芋头古侗寨) stands at Yutou village in Shuangjiang town, about nine kilometres south-west of the seat of Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan. Its timber building group, spread over 11.6 hectares, has been a major national cultural heritage protection unit since 2001.
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Disun Miao Village · 地笋苗寨Disun Miao Village地笋苗寨
Disun Miao village (地笋苗寨) lies in Sanqiao township, some 38 to 40 kilometres from the seat of Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan. It is a settlement of the Huayi branch of the Miao and one of the main places where the gexiong multi-part singing tradition is kept alive.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Huaihua local specialties
怀化市特色美食 · 11 specialties to discover
Yuanling kudzu cakes 沅陵葛粑AI illustration · AI 示意图
Expect a soft, slightly translucent and pleasantly chewy bite, with much of the stronger flavor coming from the accompaniment. A fried finish will differ from a simply steamed one.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Zhijiang braised duck 芷江鸭AI illustration · AI 示意图
The meat is savory and substantial, with a softer skin and a concentrated sauce that suits plain rice. Small bones require unhurried eating.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Hongjiang Duck with Blood Rice Cakes 洪江血粑鸭AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Hongjiang Duck with Blood Rice Cakes (洪江血粑鸭) is young duck stir-fried with Hongjiang sweet bean paste and braised with fried cakes of glutinous rice and duck blood, the dish the old merchant town of Hongjiang (洪江) in Huaihua (怀化), Hunan, serves to honoured guests.
Read the dish guide →
Chenxi Pickled Radish 辰溪酸萝卜
Chenxi Pickled Radish (辰溪酸萝卜) combines sourness, sweetness, chilli heat and a crisp bite.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Yuanling Sun-Dried Pork 沅陵晒兰肉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Yuanling Sun-Dried Pork (沅陵晒兰肉), also called simply shailan (晒兰), is lean pork cut into paper-thin slices, cured with salt, Sichuan pepper and rice wine, and dried until each slice stands up stiff and turns reddish brown.
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Tongdao Dong-Style Cured Fish 通道侗家腌鱼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Tongdao Dong-Style Cured Fish (通道侗家腌鱼) is fish from the rice paddies of Tongdao (通道), Huaihua (怀化), cured with salt and chilli by Dong (侗族) households so that it keeps.
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Jingzhou Carved Candied Fruit 靖州雕花蜜饯
Jingzhou Carved Candied Fruit (靖州雕花蜜饯) is candied fruit carved into pictures, made in Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County (靖州苗族侗族自治县) in Huaihua (怀化), south-west Hunan.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Xinhuang Yellow Cattle Beef 新晃黄牛肉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Xinhuang Yellow Cattle Beef (新晃黄牛肉) is beef from the Xinhuang yellow cattle (新晃黄牛) of Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County (新晃侗族自治县) in Huaihua (怀化), in the far west of Hunan. It is a national geographical-indication product.
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (11)
- Yuanling kudzu cakes · 沅陵葛粑
- Zhijiang braised duck · 芷江鸭
- Hongjiang Duck with Blood Rice Cakes · 洪江血粑鸭
- Chenxi Pickled Radish · 辰溪酸萝卜
- Yuanling Sun-Dried Pork · 沅陵晒兰肉
- Tongdao Dong-Style Cured Fish · 通道侗家腌鱼
- Jingzhou Carved Candied Fruit · 靖州雕花蜜饯
- Xinhuang Yellow Cattle Beef · 新晃黄牛肉
- Mayang Goose · 麻阳鹅
- Xupu Goose · 溆浦鹅
- Huitong Rice Noodles · 会同米粉
More dishes from across Hunan are in the Hunan food guide.
Counties & districts in Huaihua
12 areas belong directly to Huaihua.
12 areas
Hecheng District 鹤城区
Hecheng District (simplified Chinese: 鹤城区; traditional Chinese: 鶴城區; pinyin: Hèchéng Qū) is the only urban district of the prefecture-level city of Huaihua, Hunan Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyZhongfang County 中方县
Zhongfang County (simplified Chinese: 中方县; traditional Chinese: 中方縣; pinyin: Zhōngfāng Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Huaihua.
Explore the area →CountyYuanling County 沅陵县
Yuanling County (simplified Chinese: 沅陵县; traditional Chinese: 沅陵縣; pinyin: Yuánlíng Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China. It is under the administration of Huaihua prefecture-level city.
Explore the area →CountyChenxi County 辰溪县
Chenxi County (simplified Chinese: 辰溪县; traditional Chinese: 辰谿縣; pinyin: Chénxī Xiàn) is a county in Hunan Province, China. It is under the administration of Huaihua prefecture-level City.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Xupu County 溆浦县
Xupu County (simplified Chinese: 溆浦县; traditional Chinese: 溆浦縣; pinyin: Xùpǔ Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China. It is under the administration of Huaihua Prefecture-level City.
Explore the area →CountyHuitong County 会同县
Huitong County (simplified Chinese: 会同县; traditional Chinese: 會同縣; pinyin: Huìtóng Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China. It is under the administration of Huaihua prefecture-level city.
Explore the area →Autonomous countyMayang Miao Autonomous County 麻阳苗族自治县
Mayang ( "Mayang Miao Autonomous County", simplified Chinese: 麻阳苗族自治县; traditional Chinese: 麻陽苗族自治縣; pinyin: Máyáng Miáozú Zìzhìxiàn; usually referred to as "Mayang County", simplified Chinese: 麻阳县…
Explore the area →Autonomous countyXinhuang Dong Autonomous County 新晃侗族自治县
Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 新晃侗族自治县; traditional Chinese: 新晃侗族自治縣; pinyin: Xīnhuǎng Dòngzú Zìzhìxiàn; usually referred to as "Xinhuang County", commonly abbreviated as Xinhuang, 新晃县…
Explore the area →Autonomous countyZhijiang Dong Autonomous County 芷江侗族自治县
Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, usually referred to as Zhijiang County (simplified Chinese: 芷江县; traditional Chinese: 芷江縣; pinyin: Zhǐjiāng Xiàn) (Dong language: Zix jangh) is an autonomous county of the…
Explore the area →Autonomous countyJingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County 靖州苗族侗族自治县
Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 靖州苗族侗族自治县; traditional Chinese: 靖州苗族侗族自治縣; pinyin: Jìngzhōu Miáozú Dòngzú Zìzhìxiàn), usually referred to as Jingzhou County (靖州县; 靖州縣; Jìngzhōu…
Explore the area →Autonomous countyTongdao Dong Autonomous County 通道侗族自治县
Tongdao (the full name: "Tongdao Dong Autonomous County", simplified Chinese: 通道侗族自治县; traditional Chinese: 通道侗族自治縣; pinyin: Tōngdào Dòngzú Zìzhìxiàn; usually referred to as "Tongdao County", simplified…
Explore the area →County-level cityHongjiang 洪江市
Hongjiang, formerly Qianyang County (simplified Chinese: 黔阳县; traditional Chinese: 黔陽縣; pinyin: Qiányáng Xiàn) is a county-level city in Hunan Province, China.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 怀化市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Memorial Archway of the Surrender of Japan and Gaoyi Ancient Village are about 65 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Hunan →More in Hunan
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 怀化市 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 抗日胜利芷江洽降旧址 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 龙兴寺 (沅陵) — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 通道会议 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Memorial Archway of the Surrender of Japan · 三猎 · 三猎 — 受降纪念坊正面.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. The exact downloaded source bytes are separately retained and hashed. Prepared JPEG is proportionally reduced to a maximum 720-pixel long edge; full frame retained, no subject alteration. Final website rendition: full frame retained, proportionally resized to at most 720 pixels and converted to WebP. No additional retouching or subject alteration. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Gaoyi Ancient Village · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Qianyang Ancient City · 三猎 · 三猎 — 中正门楼.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. The exact downloaded source bytes are separately retained and hashed. Prepared JPEG is proportionally reduced to a maximum 720-pixel long edge; full frame retained, no subject alteration. Final website rendition: full frame retained, proportionally resized to at most 720 pixels and converted to WebP. No additional retouching or subject alteration. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Fenghuang Mountain and Longxing Temple · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town · Ninedyz · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Anjiang Agricultural School Memorial Park · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Shanbei Rice Terraces · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Memorial Hall of the Acceptance of Japan's Surrender · 三猎 · 三猎 — 受降纪念坊正面.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. The exact downloaded source bytes are separately retained and hashed. Prepared JPEG is proportionally reduced to a maximum 720-pixel long edge; full frame retained, no subject alteration. Final website rendition: full frame retained, proportionally resized to at most 720 pixels and converted to WebP. No additional retouching or subject alteration. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Huangdu Dong Culture Village · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Disun Miao Village · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
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