Get to know Hengyang
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Hunan
- Chinese name
- 衡阳市
- Local areas
- 12 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 15,279.00 km²
- Population · 2020 census
- 6,645,243
- Administrative seat
- Yanfeng District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Hengyang is home to University of South China, Hengyang Normal University, and Hunan Institute of Technology, three major provincial public universities in the city.
Tourism
Known as the 'Bright Pearl in Southern China' and as 'Wild Goose City' (the latter because of wild geese that used to rest here while flying south for the winter), Hengyang has been the birthplace of many historical figures, such the revolutionist Luo Ronghuan and a noted Ming scholar Wang Fuzhi. The city was badly damaged during World War II and few historical buildings survive in diverse stage of reconstruction, including Shigu Academy, Dragon Tower, Confucian School on the Dongzhou Island (东洲岛), Laiyan Pagoda and Nantai Temple. Mount Heng, one of the Five Sacred Mountains, lies 45 kilometres north from the city proper.
Transport
Two bus terminals are located in the city. One is Hengyang Western Terminal which is located in the city centre and operates provincial lines and intra-metro lines in northern and western directions. Another is LingHu Terminal which operates lines of southern and eastern directions and locates on the edge of the city.
Hengyang is an important transport hub in southern China. The Beijing–Guangzhou railway and Hunan–Guangxi railway intersect at Hengyang. Hengyang railway station is one of the ten largest railway stations in China and is recognized as one of the extra-premium level stations. More than 100 trains pass by and stop at Hengyang Railway Station, making it one of the busiest stations all over the country and connecting it to most cities of China.
Explore Hengyang
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Mount Heng (Hunan) 南岳衡山
Grand Temple of Mount Heng 南岳大庙
Shigu Academy 石鼓书院
Yueping Park 衡阳岳屏公园
Mount Heng 衡山
Tiantang Mountain 天堂山
Cai Lun Bamboo Sea 蔡伦竹海
Xuanzhou Ancient Town 萱洲古镇
Zhuhui District 珠晖区
Yanfeng District 雁峰区
Shigu District 石鼓区
Zhengxiang District 蒸湘区
Nanyue District 南岳区
Hengyang County 衡阳县
Hengnan County 衡南县
Hengshan County 衡山县
Hengdong County 衡东县
Qidong County 祁东县
Leiyang 耒阳市
Changning 常宁市
Places to explore around Hengyang
Wooded ridges of Mount Heng in Hunan, in a photograph dated 2007 by its source.Mount Heng (Hunan)南岳衡山
Mount Heng in Hunan is the Southern Sacred Mountain, with a pilgrimage landscape rising from Nanyue town towards Zhurong Peak. Temples, wooded slopes and ceremonial viewpoints make the ascent a cultural as well as a mountain…
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The Grand Temple of Mount Heng, seen above the roofs of Nanyue town. Photographed on April 2011.Grand Temple of Mount Heng南岳大庙
The Grand Temple of Mount Heng occupies Nanyue town at the foot of the sacred mountain. Its long central axis leads through gates and courtyards towards the main hall, with Buddhist and Daoist precincts arranged along the sides…
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Entrance and stone bridge of Shigu Academy, Hengyang · 衡阳石鼓书院入口与石桥 Photograph date recorded by the source: 23 May 2013, 16:41:38.Shigu Academy石鼓书院
Shigu Academy occupies a prominent river-confluence setting in northern Hengyang. Its scholarly tradition reaches back many centuries, but the present buildings reconstruct an institution whose earlier fabric was destroyed…
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Yueping Park衡阳岳屏公园
Yueping Park is a central Hengyang hill park where everyday leisure sits beside the city’s memory of the 1944 defence. The wartime memorial at the top gives the climb a historical focus, while planted paths and lower public…
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The Heavenly Southern Gate (南天门) archway near the summit of Mount Heng, Nanyue District, Hengyang · 衡阳市南岳区衡山南天门 Source-recorded photograph date: 2018-02-23 16:26:11.Mount Heng衡山
One of China's Five Great Mountains, in Hengyang, Hunan: Buddhist and Daoist sites, the Nanyue Temple and 1,300-metre Zhurong Peak.
Read the place guide →
Tiantang Mountain · 天堂山Tiantang Mountain天堂山
Tiantang Shan (天堂山) is the peak that gives its name to Hunan Tiantangshan National Forest Park in the southwest of Changning City, Hengyang, Hunan, a 6,695.81-hectare park converted from a former state forest farm.
Read the place guide →
A stone footpath through the bamboo forest at Cai Lun Zhu Hai (Cai Lun Bamboo Sea), Leiyang · 耒阳市蔡伦竹海景区内的石径 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 1 December 2010.Cai Lun Bamboo Sea蔡伦竹海
Cailun Zhuhai (蔡伦竹海), the Cai Lun Bamboo Sea, is a bamboo forest park in the south of Leiyang City, Hengyang, Hunan, named after Cai Lun, the Eastern Han official from Leiyang traditionally credited with papermaking.
Read the place guide →
Xuanzhou Ancient Town · 萱洲古镇Xuanzhou Ancient Town萱洲古镇
A Xiang River trading town in Hengshan County, with old streets and ferry landings in the surrounding Xuanzhou area.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Hengyang local specialties
衡阳市特色美食 · 11 specialties to discover
Hengyang fish rice noodles 衡阳鱼粉AI illustration · AI 示意图
The noodles are soft and slippery, while the fish provides tender flakes and a deeper broth flavor. Small bones can remain among the pieces.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Hengyang layered celebration bowl 衡阳土头碗AI illustration · AI 示意图
It offers a sequence of textures, from soft meat to springy prepared ingredients and broth-soaked vegetables. The serving is generous and meant to be explored.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Hengdong Country Cooking 衡东土菜
Hengdong Country Cooking (衡东土菜) is the home-style cooking of Hengdong County (衡东县) in Hengyang (衡阳), Hunan.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Hengyang Braised-Sauce Rice Noodles 衡阳卤粉
Hengyang Braised-Sauce Rice Noodles (衡阳卤粉) are a rice-noodle dish from Hengyang (衡阳) in Hunan in which the noodles are dressed with a braising liquor instead of being served in soup.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Zhajiang Rice Noodles 渣江米粉Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Zhajiang Rice Noodles (渣江米粉) are thin, fermented rice noodles from Zhajiang (渣江镇), a town in Hengyang County (衡阳县), Hunan.
Read the dish guide →
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Changning Creeping Fig Jelly 常宁凉粉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Changning Creeping Fig Jelly (常宁凉粉) is a clear jelly made from the seeds of liangfen fruit (凉粉果), the local name for creeping fig. In Changning (常宁), it is remembered as a small-bowl treat for hot summer evenings.
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Hengshan Handmade Tofu 衡山豆腐Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Hengshan Handmade Tofu (衡山豆腐) is best documented in Huangni village (黄泥村), Xinqiao town (新桥镇), in Hengshan County (衡山县), Hengyang (衡阳), Hunan, where handmade tofu is fried into golden Shidifang fried tofu ("石地方油豆腐").
Read the dish guide →
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Leiyang Jar-Pickled Vegetables 耒阳坛子菜AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Leiyang Jar-Pickled Vegetables (耒阳坛子菜) are salted vegetables cured in earthenware jars in Leiyang (耒阳), Hunan, a city Hunan Daily's food paper Daxiangcai Bao (大湘菜报) says is known as the "坛子菜之乡" ("home of jar vegetables").
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (11)
- Hengyang fish rice noodles · 衡阳鱼粉
- Hengyang layered celebration bowl · 衡阳土头碗
- Hengdong Country Cooking · 衡东土菜
- Hengyang Braised-Sauce Rice Noodles · 衡阳卤粉
- Zhajiang Rice Noodles · 渣江米粉
- Changning Creeping Fig Jelly · 常宁凉粉
- Hengshan Handmade Tofu · 衡山豆腐
- Leiyang Jar-Pickled Vegetables · 耒阳坛子菜
- Qidong Stir-Fried Pork with Daylily · 祁东黄花菜炒肉
- Hengdong Crisp Stir-Fried Pork Stomach · 衡东脆肚
- Hengyang Spicy River Snails · 衡阳嗦螺
More dishes from across Hunan are in the Hunan food guide.
Counties & districts in Hengyang
12 areas belong directly to Hengyang.
12 areas
Zhuhui District 珠晖区
Zhuhui District (simplified Chinese: 珠晖区; traditional Chinese: 珠暉區; pinyin: Zhūhuī Qū) is an urban district of Hengyang City, Hunan province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictYanfeng District 雁峰区
Yanfeng District (simplified Chinese: 雁峰区; traditional Chinese: 雁峰區; pinyin: Yànfēng Qū) is an urban district of Hengyang City, Hunan province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictShigu District 石鼓区
Shigu District (simplified Chinese: 石鼓区; traditional Chinese: 石鼓區; pinyin: Shígǔ Qū) is an urban district of Hengyang City, Hunan province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictZhengxiang District 蒸湘区
Zhengxiang District (simplified Chinese: 蒸湘区; traditional Chinese: 蒸湘區; pinyin: Zhēngxiāng Qū) is an urban district of Hengyang City, Hunan province, China.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Nanyue District 南岳区
Nanyue District (simplified Chinese: 南岳区; traditional Chinese: 南嶽區; pinyin: Nányuè Qū) is one of five districts in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyHengyang County 衡阳县
Hengyang County (simplified Chinese: 衡阳县; traditional Chinese: 衡陽縣; pinyin: Héngyáng Xiàn; lit. 'south of Mount Heng') is a county and the 5th most populous county-level division in the Province of Hunan…
Explore the area →CountyHengnan County 衡南县
Hengnan County is a county located in the south of Hengyang prefecture-level city, Hunan province, China. It was established in 1952 and named after the south of Mount Heng.
Explore the area →CountyHengshan County 衡山县
Hengshan County is a county in the Province of Hunan, China and it is under the administration of Hengyang prefecture-level city.
Explore the area →CountyHengdong County 衡东县
Hengdong County (simplified Chinese: 衡东县; traditional Chinese: 衡東縣; pinyin: Héngdōng Xiàn; lit. 'east of Mount Heng') is a county located in the east of Hengyang prefecture-level city, Hunan province, China.
Explore the area →CountyQidong County 祁东县
Qidong County (simplified Chinese: 祁东县; traditional Chinese: 祁東縣; pinyin: Qídōng Xiàn; lit. 'the east of Qiyang') is a county and the 8th most populous county-level division in the Province of Hunan, China…
Explore the area →County-level cityLeiyang 耒阳市
Leiyang (simplified Chinese: 耒阳; traditional Chinese: 耒陽; pinyin: Lěiyáng) is a county-level city and the third most populous county-level division in Hunan Province, China.
Explore the area →County-level cityChangning 常宁市
Changning is a county-level city in Hunan Province, China, under the administration of Hengyang prefecture-level City.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 衡阳市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Mount Heng (Hunan) and Grand Temple of Mount Heng are about 7 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.
Background text adapted from Hengyang — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1355485539.
Photo: Mount Heng (Hunan) · TheNeon · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Grand Temple of Mount Heng · 圍棋一級 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Shigu Academy · 人間正道 · 人間正道 — 石鼓书院正门.jpg — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0. 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: Mount Heng · Huangdan2060 · CC0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
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Photo: Tiantang Mountain · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Cai Lun Bamboo Sea · Yin沩 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Xuanzhou Ancient Town · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.