Hunan Province Hotels China

Hunan Province lies in central south-east China with the Yangtze river running through it - most of Hunan Province lies in the basins of four major tributaries of the Yangtze River. Its capital is Changsha, which has many attractions of its own, and the province covers almost 82,000 sq miles, with a population of 64m. It is a major rice-producing area and grows tea and oranges; there is also some mining and mineral extraction. For thousands of years, Hunan has been a major centre of Chinese agriculture. The east, south and west sides of the province are surrounded by mountains and hills, which comprise more than 80% of the area; the rest is plains.

The central and northern areas are a low lying basin, with Lake Dongting at the centre, the largest in the province and the second largest freshwater lake in China. Land reclamation for agriculture has seen Lake Dongting divided into a number of smaller water bodies, but there are efforts now to reverse this and restore wetland habitats around the lake. Because of Hunan's mix of mountains and water it is considered the most beautiful of provinces in China.

The province is acclaimed for its skilled crafts people who make embroidered silks, carved jade, and other hand made artifacts of high quality. Changsha is rich in heritage; it has an ancient city wall, tomb sites, and religious temples and buildings. It was the home city of of Chairman Mao Zedong and its other famous legacy is the Yuelu Academy, dating from 976 and built precariously on the scenic Yuelu Mountain.

There are several major cities to visit in Hunan, all with their attractions. Be prepared for hot peppery foods in this province, as much on the street as in restaurants. The local people are proud of their cuisine.

Northwest Hunan has the Zhangjaijie National Forest Park which includes the magical and mystical landscapes of Wulingyuan, a World Heritage site with its 800m high quartz sandstone pillars sculpted by nature and set among green trees and frequent floating clouds. Hunan has a sub-tropical climate with mild winters and lots of rain. January temperatures average 3 to 8’ while July temperatures average around 27 to 30’C.

Buses are a good way to travel, especially as the driving etiquette is quite foreign, and it’s worth bearing in mind that rivers in towns and cities tend to be a major hub of activity.