In the broader Xiangtan travel region, art, history, landscapes and food culture offer different perspectives on a stay. The Qi Baishi Memorial Hall, Yaowan, the Zhaoshan Scenic Area and the tradition of the dish “water-boiled live fish” each add their own distinctive touch. When choosing a hotel, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip, then check whether a particular accommodation’s location suits your plans.

Art and history in the travel region

The Qi Baishi Memorial Hall is located in Baishi Park on Dahu Road in Yuhu District. Dedicated to the painter Qi Baishi, it was described as a national 3A tourist attraction in a district presentation from 2026. The hall preserves dozens of Qi Baishi’s Chinese paintings and early wood carvings, as well as hundreds of works by modern and contemporary artists. For art enthusiasts, the site combines the memory of one painter with a collection spanning works by other artists and periods.

The Yaowan Historic Cultural and Tourism Street Block in the broader Xiangtan travel region offers a different historical perspective. It is more than 1,700 years old. Unlike the memorial hall, which is dedicated to Qi Baishi and preserves artworks, Yaowan centers on a historic street block. The two cultural points of interest therefore have different starting points: a collection centered on a painter on the one hand, and a street block with a long history on the other.

Panlong Grand View Garden is located in Yuetang District. It is a national 4A tourist attraction and has been recognized as a national education center for study and educational tours for students. This distinguishes it from the Qi Baishi Memorial Hall: Panlong has both a 4A rating and an educational distinction, while the memorial hall is described as a national 3A tourist attraction. Panlong thus broadens the region’s cultural and historical points of interest with a focus on study and educational tours for students.

Landscapes along the Xiang River

The Zhaoshan Scenic Area is located in Yuetang District, on the eastern bank of the Xiang River, within the broader Xiangtan travel region. It was recognized as a Hunan provincial scenic area in 1991 and as a national 4A tourist attraction in 2014. It is also considered an important ecological recreation area in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Green Heart. The two dates represent different distinctions: 1991 marks its designation as a provincial scenic area, while 2014 marks its national 4A rating. Its riverside location, scenic designation and ecological significance make Zhaoshan the region’s clear point of interest for landscapes. Travelers who want to give this aspect greater weight can compare it with the art- and history-related themes.

A traditional fish dish

“Water-boiled live fish” is considered a Xiangtan dish. According to tradition, fishermen at Shibazong Wharf prepared their freshly caught fish with chili and cooked it in a pot. The story links the dish to a specific method of preparation and is presented as a tradition. As a culinary point of interest, it complements the memorial hall, historic street block and scenic area with a different perspective on Xiangtan: a tradition associated with fishing and cooking.

Discover more destinations: Zhangjiajie, Changsha, Chenzhou, Hengyang, Zhuzhou, Shaoyang, Xiangxi, Yongzhou

Back to the broader travel overview: Hunan.