Things to do in Taoyuan

Selected for Fall Viewing Attractions in Hunan

Taohuayuan Scenic Area

Located in Changde, Hunan,Taohuayuan Scenic Area is the otherworldly paradise described by 5th-century author Tao Yuanming in The Peach Blossom Spring. The Yuan River flows in the foreground with the Wuling peaks rolling off into the distance. In between, ancient trees stretch skyward and clear streams flow. A Peach Blossom Festival is held here every spring, when the area is covered with peach blossoms that float around and land on the lush grass. Walking into Taohuayuan is like walking into an exquisite scroll painting.

No. 3 of Hot Springs Attractions in Hunan

Reshi Cloud-Top Hot Spring

Reshi Yunding Hot Spring Tourist Resort, relying on the natural and tranquil ecological beauty of the Yunpan Mountains, continues the rich bathing culture of Reshi's thousand-year-old hot springs, takes mountains and health care as the core theme, launches the two concepts of spring healing and return, and customizes three health care series services: happy living, spring healing, and immersion. It is committed to building the resort into a comprehensive tourist destination that integrates mountain lodging (Wyndham Grand Royal Hotel丨Private Pool Spring Villa丨Luxury Mountain Residence), Reshi Hot Springs, forest diet therapy, tropical rainforest pavilion, Yunding SPA, sky flower sea, cloud-top plank road, butterfly study, red cultivation base, smart conference, parent-child park, etc. The hot spring center of the resort consists of two parts, indoor and outdoor, with a total of 139 indoor and outdoor hot spring pools. The temperature of the hot spring outlet is always constant at 52℃, with a daily water output of 3,000 m³. It has been tested by national authorities as a metasilicic hot spring. The indoor tropical rainforest pavilion covers an area of ​​8,000 square meters. It is a constant temperature hot spring water park that is free from the constraints of four seasons of sunshine and rain, and has a tornado storm slide that spans indoors and outdoors. The park also has a tropical plant pavilion, a bird pavilion, a butterfly pavilion, a cave bath, a spa, a children's happy water fortress and other recreational and leisure experience areas. Outdoors, there are infinity hot spring swimming pools, hidden Private Pool pools and forest flowers to meet the various needs of tourists for fun, rest, health, and study.

Taohuayuan Ancient Town

Taohuayuan Ancient Town is located about 50 kilometers southwest of Taoyuan County, Changde City, Hunan Province, adjacent to Taohuayuan Scenic Area. It was built based on the legend of "Utopia" written by Tao Yuanming. The ancient town covers an area of ​​about 1,600 acres, with a core Ming and Qing style building complex of more than 400,000 square meters. The small bridges and flowing water, blue tiles and white walls, and archway bridges complement each other. It has both the charm of Jiangnan water town and the folk customs of Hunan. Walking through the streets, you can see attractions such as Chenghuang Temple, Fubo Tower, Ancient Theater, and Marriage Tower, as well as cultural venues such as Baichuang Hall and Calligraphy and Painting Academy. Wuliu Lake is located between Taohua Mountain and Taoyuan Mountain. The lake and mountains are interdependent, and the shore is shaded by weeping willows. It is the spiritual place of the ancient town; there is a Taoyuan Craft Museum on the lakeside to display local intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and cultural and creative products. In spring, peach blossoms bloom all over the mountains, in summer, lotus leaves are in the fields, in autumn, red leaves are in full bloom, and in winter, there are green pines and cypresses, each with its own style. The ancient town has developed special projects such as Hanfu experience, Leicha performance, and winemaking skills through the model of cultural tourism integration and rural revitalization, combining the millennium intangible cultural heritage with contemporary cultural creation to create a variety of brands such as "Peach Blossom Spring in Tea" and "Peach Blossom Spring in Wine".

Yiwang Creek

The Yiwang Creek is a scenic spot on the periphery of Taohuayuan; it is one of Changde's top ten scenic spots. Located in Taoyuan County's Xinglongjie Township in Changde City, it is also referred to as Changde's “Little Guilin.” The name Yiwang Creek can be written with different characters but pronounced the same in a way which carries the meaning "seeing it will bring contentment to heart." It sounds as if it is a flow of water that has been forgotten by the world. Some of the mountains of Yiwang Creek are said to have resemblance to elephants, some are like lions, some are like unicorns, some are like bells and drums, all of them are varied and wonderful.

Peach Blossom Mountain Scenic Area

Mopanxi Ecotourism Area

Xingde Mountain

Xingde Mountain is located in Xingxing Village, Reshi Town, Taoyuan County, Changde City, Hunan Province. It is located on the border of Taoyuan, Shimen and Cili counties, and at the junction of "three threes" of Reshi, Guangfuqiao and Mengquan towns. Xingde Mountain is mainly reflected in the "four wonders" - wonders, pines, rocks, and peaks, especially the wonders.

Qin Valley

Qin Valley is approx. 3.7 km long, bordering Qin Creek to the south and adjoining Peach Blossom Mountain to the north.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is named after the natural wonder "Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave." When visiting the attraction, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the winding Heaven-Linking Avenue and the stunning mountain scenery from the cable car. The brave can also walk along the cliff-hugging glass skywalk for an exhilarating aerial experience. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is located close to Zhangjiajie city. The Tianmen Cave in the park is a natural karst cave, and locals believe it leads directly to heaven. For ordinary travelers, Tianmen Cave is not open year-round. During winter each year, due to snow and icy roads, both Tianmen Cave and the Avenue toward Heaven (a winding mountain road with 99 turns) leading to it are closed. The lower station of the attraction's cableway is located in Guanliping, Yongding District, and the upper station isTianmen MountainTop. In 2020, the attraction opened the express cableway. The lower station of the express cableway is near the entrance to Tianmen Mountain, and the upper station is atTianmen CaveNear the parking lot. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is filled with ancient towering trees and intertwined vines. The attraction is divided into several main areas, including Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave, central route, eastern route and western route. Travelers can choose different routes and areas to explore based on their preferences and physical condition. The core attraction along the central route is Tianmen Mountain Temple. Nearby lies the "Child-seeking cave," where folk legends claim Guanyin, the child-giving bodhisattva, manifested her divine power—devout prayers here are believed to grant offspring. The western route's highlight is a 60 m-long glass walkway clinging to sheer cliffs, with fully transparent flooring that induces both vertigo and exhilaration as visitors tread above abysses. Currently, the eastern route and Panlong Cliff each feature their own approx. 60 m glass walkways. No stay is allowed in the attraction, so it can only be visited within one day. There is a "Cherry Bay Restaurant" near Tianmen Mountain Temple, which offers snacks and fast food. Near the lower station of Tianmen Mountain cableway, there is transportation to the "Grand Canyon Theater", where you can watch the live show and magical musical "Tianmen Fox Fairy". Adapted from the mythological tale "Liu Hai cuts firewood", it tells a touching love story between a human and a fox. With live music, lighting effects, and captivating scenes like a giant moon, fox spirit transformations, snowflakes filling the sky, and high-altitude flying bridges, this legendary romance is vividly brought to life.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is where Zhangjiajie tourism starts. "The world knows Zhangjiajie, but who knows Wulingyuan?" Many travelers cannot distinguish the relationship between Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Generally, Zhangjiajie has two concepts: Zhangjiajie City and Zhangjiajie Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie Scenic Area refers to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which together with Tianzi Mountain, Suoxiyu, and Yangjiajie forms the Wulingyuan attraction. Because Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was developed early and is well-known, even Zhangjiajie City was renamed after it, and people are accustomed to using Zhangjiajie National Forest Park or Zhangjiajie Scenic Area to refer to the Wulingyuan attraction. "Three thousand exotic peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters." The three thousand exotic peaks, in particular, are renowned worldwide. The mountains of Wulingyuan are entirely different from famous mountains around the world. Within its 398-square-kilometer area, more than 3,000 dense and intact sandstone peak pillars are scattered throughout, including 243 peak pillars over 1,000 meters tall. When the sea of clouds surges, these peak pillars appear to have no base, rising abruptly from the ground and piercing straight into the sky. Together with the redwood forests of North America and the glacial landscapes of Greenland, they constitute one of the world's four major natural geological wonders. Wulingyuan has a low elevation and is located in the subtropical zone. The area features lush forests and abundant water sources, and is home to a large number of endangered animal and plant species. Every peak pillar is full of vitality. Peak pillars, natural bridges, gorges, waterfalls, streams, pools, caves, and dense broad-leaved forests are often shrouded in mist and clouds on site, enhancing the beauty of the view. Together with the unique landforms, they form a distinctive view characterized by "steep mountains, elegant waters, wondrous peaks, secluded gorges, and beautiful caves," and are hailed as "an enlarged bonsai and a miniature fairyland." On December 14, 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee unanimously approved the inclusion of Wulingyuan in the World Heritage List, filling the gap of China having no World Natural Heritage sites. The recognized outstanding universal value is: the quartz sandstone peak forest landform is rare in the world and has extremely high aesthetic value. UNESCO points out: "In terms of scenery, Wulingyuan can be compared with several national parks and monuments in the United States, such as the Grand Canyon, and can also be compared with the prominent sandstone peak areas of the Kimberley in Western Australia. However, because Wulingyuan has a lower elevation and is located in the subtropics, it has lush forests and abundant water sources. It also possesses a large number of peaks, displaying a more vertical profile than the heritage sites of the United States and Australia." At the end of 2009, the mesmerizing planet Pandora in the globally popular movie "Avatar" attracted countless viewers, and the prototype of its floating mountains originated from Wulingyuan. Meanwhile, Wulingyuan is also a live-action filming location for the Chinese classics "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Journey to the West," as well as for films and TV dramas such as "Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal" and "Monster Hunt." In 2010, the unique landform of Wulingyuan was named "Zhangjiajie landform," becoming a globally recognized term and a rare landform type in the world named after a region. Attraction highlights Yuanjiajie: Landing on Pandora, the planet of Avatar Yuanjiajie is the filming location for the "Hallelujah Mountain" in the movie "Avatar," where you can explore the magical world of floating and scattered mountains from the film. If you happen to encounter a light rain in the mountains, or wait until the sky clears after the rain, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of misty fog and layered peaks even more. The Mihun Platform is an ideal viewing spot; standing on it, you are surrounded by hundreds of towering stone peaks with magnificent momentum. Tianzi Mountain: once you've seen Tianzi, no other mountain will do When visiting Tianzi Mountain, you will see various uniquely shaped geological views and oddly formed peaks, such as Yubi Peak, Fairy Presenting Flowers, Dianjiang Terrace, Hanging Garden, and Immortal Bridge. There is no need to worry too much about whether these natural formations resemble what they are named after, because "the primitive scenery and natural beauty" are what make Tianzi Mountain so captivating. Especially in the hazy fog after a fresh rain, it feels as if you are in a fairyland. By winter, when the mountain is covered in silvery white, the scenery becomes even more enchanting. Huangshizhai: see all the other mountains as small from the summit "If you don't climb Huangshizhai, your trip to Zhangjiajie is in vain." Huangshizhai is a viewing platform in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, surrounded by sheer cliffs and lush trees, and the top of the village is often shrouded in mist and clouds. Standing atop Huangshizhai and looking around, you can experience the lofty sentiment of "seeing all the other mountains as small." Yangjiajie: Thrills found in danger Yangjiajie is primarily known for its pristine natural beauty. With high mountains and narrow paths, it is famous for being "perilous" and is deeply favored by backpackers and adventurers. Wulong Village within the attraction is a very magical place in Zhangjiajie. It was once inhabited by bandits from western Hunan, and was later renamed after the TV series "Tales of Suppressing Bandits in Wulong Mountain." The village is built along the mountain, and there is a path up and down the mountain that requires using both hands and feet to climb to the summit. Suoxiyu: A natural ink wash landscape painting Suoxiyu is also called Suoxi, named because the stream within the attraction is shaped like a rope. Unlike other parts of the forest park, which are so steep and rugged, this place is shrouded in mist and clouds year-round, with clear streams flowing continuously through all four seasons and graceful peaks visible everywhere. Ten-Mile Gallery is the highlight attraction of Suoxiyu; within the 5 km-long gorge, wildflowers fragrance the air and fantastic peaks and unusual rocks abound. Walking through it is like stepping into a natural landscape painting. Golden Whip Stream: filming location of Journey to the West Jinbian Stream Gorge is the earliest developed area in the attraction. A clear stream runs through the valley, with towering peaks on both sides and lush greenery as far as the eye can see. This is also one of the filming locations for the classic version of Journey to the West, where fans can come and see iconic scenes such as the Water Curtain Cave and Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother.