Yongzhou (永州) is a prefecture-level city in Hunan province, known as Lingling (零陵) and Xiaoxiang (潇湘), in the south of Hunan province, bordering Guangdong further south and Guangxi to the southwest.

Understand

Yongzhou sits on the southern bank of the Xiang River, the same river that flows through Changsha and Xiangtan. The prefecture encompasses an area known as Xiangnan (湘南) that is worth a visit, with lush green mountains with caves, waterfalls, beautiful rivers with swimming opportunities and ancient towns with unique literary culture and history.

The most notable feature of Yongzhou might be the Nüshu script, a local script understood only by women in Jiangyong County.

History

Yongzhou has a long history, with origins dating back to around 201 BC, and was once part of the state of Chu. During the Three Kingdoms, Tang and Song dynasties, Yongzhou played an important role as a cultural and economic center. It continued to maintain its geographic and cultural importance during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and its modern history has seen many political and social changes. In modern history, Yongzhou experienced important events such as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Xinhai Revolution. Nowadays, Yongzhou is famous for its landscapes, customs and rich historical relics, attracting tourists and researchers.

Geographic location

Yongzhou is connected to Chenzhou City in the east, Qingyuan City in Guangdong Province and Hezhou City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south, Guilin City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the west, and Hengyang City and Shaoyang City in the north. The Xiangjiang River crosses the Zuqi Basin from west to east, and the Xiaoshui River runs through the whole area from south to north.

Talk

Yongzhou dialect, also known as Xiang Yongzhou dialect, is a dialect spoken in Yongzhou City and its surrounding areas in Hunan Province. The Yongzhou dialect belongs to the Xiang branch of the Chinese language and is somewhat different from the Xiang dialects spoken in other parts of Hunan.

Climate

Yongzhou has a mid-subtropical continental monsoon humid climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is between 17.6-18.6℃, the frost-free period is 286-311 days, and the extreme minimum temperature is between -4.9 and -8.4℃. The number of snowfall days is 3-7, and the number of hours of sunshine is 1300-1740. Precipitation is between 1200-1900 mm, more in the mountainous areas than in the flat areas, and more in the south than in the north.

Get in

Trains north to Changsha are frequent and cheap. Fast trains are available as well. If coming from the north, just go south to Guangxi and you are near to Guilin, where you have all the fantastic karst formation with hiking and climbing opportunities.

By car

When you drive your own private car or rent a car to Yongzhou from neighboring cities, you can conveniently enjoy the scenery along the way. In Yongzhou, most attractions offer free parking, which makes your trip convenient. Please note that parking at shopping malls costs approximately 10 RMB per hour, so you will need to take this cost into consideration when visiting attractions or shopping. Driving to Yongzhou not only gives you more flexibility in organizing your trip, but also allows you to experience this region in depth.

By train

1 Yongzhou Station (永州站), Lengshuitan District, Yongzhou City, toll-free: +86 746 2852042. As the main railroad transportation hub of Yongzhou City, Yongzhou Station provides general-speed train services (non-motorized/intercity trains) from Changsha and other Hunan provinces and several destinations. It takes about an hour to travel from Changsha to Yongzhou by train. Throughout the day, there are multiple trains running in both directions, but the exact frequency may vary. When planning your trip, we recommend that you check the train schedule at Yongzhou Railway Station for the most accurate and up-to-date train information. This will allow you to better organize your travel plans and ensure that you can arrive at your destination conveniently and comfortably. (updated Dec 2023)

Get around

Getting around Yongzhou involves several transportation options.

• Public Transportation: Yongzhou has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and taxis. Buses are a common and affordable means of getting around the city.

See

The city's urban area doesn't have much to offer, but there are a few attractions in Lingling District, 20 km south of the CBD.

• 1 Liuzi Temple (柳子庙), 86 Liuzi Street, Lingling District (零陵区柳子街86号) (bus nos. 13 and 31), ☏ +86 746 6385865. 08:00-18:00, no entry after 17:00. An old memorial temple dedicated to Liu Zongyuan, a famous writer who lived during the Tang Dynasty. ¥25. (updated Jul 2023)
• 2 Yongzhou Museum (永州博物馆), 120 Nanjin Road South, Lingling District (零陵区南津南路120号) (bus nos. 1, 3, 21, 33 and BRT302), ☏ +86 746 6777310. 08:00-12:00, 14:30-17:30, closed on Mondays. The city's main museum. Free. (updated Jul 2023)
• 3 Ningyuan Temple of Culture (宁远文庙), No. 78 Wenmiao Street, Ningyuan County, ☏ +86 746-7326618. 8:00-17:30. This is a Yongzhou cultural heritage with elegant and unique architecture, with history and culture, and is a recommended place for tourists to explore traditional Chinese culture. You can feel the historical heritage of the Temple of Literature here. 23¥. (updated Nov 2023)

Most of Yongzhou's major attractions, including the Nüshu script, are located in the rural counties in the region.

• Jiangyong County (江永县) Visit the old villages dotted throughout, which housed women that once developed a unique literary tradition with the Nüshu script, a phonetic script based on Chinese logograms only understood by them.
• Jianghua Yao Autonomous County (江华瑶族自治县)

Do

Walk along the Xiang river.

• 1 Xiaoxiang Park (潇湘公园), Lengshuitan District Center City Hedong Meiban Street, ☏ +86 746-8366566. 24 hours. Xiaoxiang Park is a comprehensive park in the center of the city, where you can experience local food and a variety of amusement rides. Locals often have picnics and walks here. 0￥. (updated Nov 2023)

Buy

Yongzhou is a city with many shopping venues with a wide range of brands to choose from.Prices are listed in no particular order and discounts are often available.

• 1 Wanda Plaza (万达广场), Southeast corner of the intersection of Yongzhou Avenue and Zhongxing Road, Lengshuitan District, toll-free: +86 746-8226888. 09:30-22:00. Wanda Plaza stores all over the country, but here in Yongzhou is the first. In the busy streets, the flow of people is very large, business is also a lot of, many are the first in Yongzhou, some brands inside the price is also more pro-people people. (updated Nov 2023)
• 2 Better Life (步步高), No.3, Yucai North Road, Lengshuitan District, ☏ +86 15211611979. 10:00-22:00. This is a well-known supermarket chain in Hunan province, which is known for providing a diverse selection of products, quality service and a convenient shopping experience. Locals from Yongzhou often go here for shopping. (updated Nov 2023)

Eat

Food here resembles that found in Guangxi. As in the rest of Hunan, people here enjoy fen (粉, a noodle made of rice), which comes with different ingredients. This particular fen is different throughout the province, and it is fun trying out the varieties. The ones here have somewhat of a Guangxi style. Hunanese people love spicy food, so if you cannot handle that, make sure to ask the eatery to use less chili.

1 Laolao Braised powder (佬佬卤粉), No. 1013, Phoenix Road, Wutong Street, Lengshuitan District (directly opposite the Merchants Building), ☏ +86 177071467888. 5:00-2:00. This is a long-established Yongzhou lo mein with a variety of toppings, generally quite spicy. Chicken claws, chicken legs, and dried herbs are popular with many people. If your tastes are more diverse, you can also order it with your own small ingredients. There are many types, including beef lo mein, pig's trotters lo mein and stir-fried fat intestines lo mein. ¥10-15. (updated Oct 2023)

2 Ningyuan (yongzhou) duck blood (宁远鸭血). Yongzhou duck blood is a specialty dish of Yongzhou City. It is appetizing, and made with cool blood. ¥45-298. (updated Nov 2023)

Specialty foods

Yongzhou has many local specialties and you can experience the rich and authentic local culture of the city.

• Dongan Chicken(东安鸡):Dong'an Chicken is a specialty of Dong'an County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, and is listed as a National Geographical Indication Product of China. It is known for its tender and flavorful chicken meat and is one of the local delicacies, reflecting the unique ingredients and culinary traditions of Dong'an County.
• Drinking snails(永州喝螺):Drinking snails is a local traditional food in Yongzhou that has been around for 2,000 years. (It is recorded in the county records of Yongzhou also known as Ziling County.) Drinking snails are processed and cooked with iron snails, which have the characteristics of crispness and tenderness, fresh soup and beautiful taste, with a strong local flavor.
• Foreign Snake Wine(永州异蛇酒):It is made of different snakes of Yongzhou specialties, with a variety of valuable Chinese herbs and aged grain wine, and refined by using modern technology and raw dipping live snakes. The wine can dispel wind and dampness, soothe tendons and activate bones. It is one of the good specialties.

Drink

• 1 ChaPanda (茶百道), Southwest corner of the intersection of Ziling Middle Road and Wenchang Road, Lengshuitan District, toll-free: +86 13317467936. It is a chain of milk tea stores in China with a variety of milk tea flavors. It is a milk tea store often patronized by local people. 10￥-20￥. (updated Dec 2023)
• 2 YH.TANG (益和堂), No. 4, Huanggushan Middle Road, Zuoling District, ☏ +86 15226371119. 09：00—22：00. It is a chain of milk tea stores in Hunan Province, which is loved by many people for its affordable and good taste. There are many unintelligible flavors to pick from, and this store is a good choice if you don't have enough budget. 8¥-18¥. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Vienna International Hotel (维也纳国际酒店), 577 Sycamore Road, toll-free: +867468636666. There are free parking lots, high-end meeting rooms, and Western restaurants set up. Provide laundry service, and the front desk operates 24 hours. Standard single room for one night is approximately ¥198. 198-368¥. (updated Dec 2023)
• 2 Huazhu/HanTing Hotels (华住/汉庭酒店), No.139, Cuizhu Road, Lengshuitan District Zip, toll-free: +86 746 8378888. The Huazhu/Hanting Hotel is centrally located in Yongzhou, making it easy for travelers to get around. And this hotel also has a transfer service, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. It is a good choice. 176-213¥. (updated Dec 2023)

Connect

• Yongzhou Public Security Bureau, toll-free: +86 746 836 2017. (updated Nov 2023)
• Yongzhou Tourism Bureau, toll-free: +86 746 8365355. (updated Nov 2023)
• Yongzhou Public Service, toll-free: +86 7468379055. (updated Dec 2023)

Go next

• Changsha:The capital of Hunan Province, with its historical heritage, culinary culture and natural landscape, where you can experience a lot of historical culture and traditional cuisine.
• Guilin:There are karst formations near Guilin with opportunities for climbing and hiking.
• Hengyang: It takes only two hours by train to Hengyang, where you can visit the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Hengshan.