Things to do in Hengyang
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Top 10 attractions in Hengyang
Dongzhou Isle
Dongzhou lsland is located in the middle of the Xiang River, dividing it asymmetrically with a slight eastern bias. Its shape resembles a bow drawn eastward, hence its name. The island features attractions such as Fuzhi Tower, a children's play area, Chuanshan Academy, and Luohan Temple, making it one of the eight ancient scenic spots of Hengyang.Hengyang · 6.8km from downtown
Shigu Academy
Shigu Academy is located on Shigu Mountain in the north of Hengyang, at the confluence of the Zheng River and the Xiang River. Surrounded by water on three sides, it has long been praised as "the magnificent Shigu landscape." The academy was founded in the fifth year of the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty (810 AD) and continued to operate until the end of the Qing Dynasty, spanning over a thousand years. It was founded more than a hundred years earlier than the Yuelu and Bailudong academies. During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was granted imperial plaques by both Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong, and was subsequently ranked alongside the Suiyang, Bailudong, and Yuelu academies as one of the "Four Great Academies of China," serving as an important birthplace of Huxiang culture. The buildings were destroyed by fire during the war, and were rebuilt on the original site in 2006 according to the architectural layout of the Qing Dynasty. Crossing the mountain gate, you are greeted by a large stone drum made of granite from Mount Heng. The original drum has long been lost, and the one before you was made by later generations, yet it remains a striking landmark. Following the central axis, you will find the Yu Stele Pavilion, which houses the Yu Stele inscribed with tadpole script; the Wuhou Temple, which commemorates Zhuge Liang; and the shrine dedicated to Li Fu, a famous official of the Southern Song Dynasty. Further in is the Daguan Tower, the main building of the academy. In front of the tower stands a statue of Confucius. The first floor, "Jingye Hall," restores the scene of lectures from the past, while the library on the second floor displays portraits of the "Seven Sages of Shigu"—Li Kuan, Han Yu, Zhou Dunyi, Zhu Xi, and Zhang Shi—as well as calligraphy and paintings by famous figures throughout history. The Hejiang Pavilion at the northern end, also known as the Lüjing Pavilion, is named after Han Yu's poem "The green is so pure one cannot spit," and is a great place to overlook the confluence of the Zheng and Xiang rivers. The Zhuling Rear Cave at the northeast foot was once known as "a thousand poems in the Zhuling Cave," and inscriptions such as "Zhuling Rear Cave" and "Dongya" still remain at the cave entrance. The ancients summarized the scenery here as the "Eight Views of the Academy"—Dawn Sun at Dongyan, Night Toad at Xixi, Breeze at Lüjing, Residual Snow at Wazun, Sound of Books at the River Pavilion, Evening Singing at the Fishing Confluence, Withered Vines on the Plank Road, and Greenery at the Confluence. Most of these are related to the river scenery at dawn or dusk. Among them, "Residual Snow at Wazun" is particularly interesting: after a snowfall, the snow on the mountain melts without a trace, but the snow inside the Wazun Stone, which is solid on the outside and hollow on the inside, remains unmelted throughout the winter. After visiting, the Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake praised this place for having the beauty of both the Pavilion of Prince Teng and the Yellow Crane Tower. Today, the academy often holds cultural activities such as opening-pen ceremonies and study gatherings, making it a particularly suitable place to bring children to experience the scholarly atmosphere of this thousand-year-old institution.Hengyang · 4.8km from downtown
Hengshan Ferry Folk Culture Experience Site
Hengshan Ferry Folk Culture Experience Site is located on the banks of theXiangjiang Riverin Hengshan County. It is an immersive district that integrates ferry memories, local market life, and intangible cultural heritage, combining tourism, commerce, culture, and leisure, and is committed to becoming a new landmark for cultural tourism in Hengshan. In the Intangible Cultural Heritage Zone, intangible cultural heritage projects such as Hengshan shadow puppetry, Yuebei folk songs, and Huagu lanterns are showcased in a dynamic way. Visitors can personally experience interactive activities like shadow puppet painting, oil-paper umbrella making, and palm weaving. The Market Life Zone gathers over 100 types of Hengshan specialty snacks, such as Leisu tea, Xidu Bianba, and handmade fish balls, creating a one shop, one flavor Hunan-style culinary experience. The Ferry Memory Zone uses theXiangjiang Riveras a stage to present live water performances like "Echoes of the Ancient Ferry" and "Phantom Ferry Dreams," as well as large-scale fireworks shows. The district has launched a "1+N" all-day performance matrix, covering ancient street parades, intangible cultural heritage flash mobs, NPC interactions, and core nighttime shows, creating a dynamic cultural space where there are performances every day and something to see at any time.Hengshan County · 256m from downtown
Hengyang Museum
Hengyang Museum was founded in 1973. Its predecessor was Hengyang Exhibition Hall, which had a small building area and old and dilapidated houses. In 1992, with the care and support of Hengyang Municipal Government and all sectors of society, Hengyang Museum moved to the opposite of the picturesque West Lake Park. There are lush trees and beautiful environment here. The building consists of two buildings: the office building (including the cultural relics warehouse) and the exhibition hall. The office building is a six-story brick-concrete structure; the exhibition hall is a two-story courtyard brick-concrete structure. The building has the typical characteristics of southern Hunan residential buildings, glazed green tiles, wind-proof gables, simple and elegant.Hengyang · 3.8km from downtown
Zhurong Town
Zhurong Town is located in the Tianzi Mountain area of Nanyue. It is a large-scale Attraction complex in Nanyue Hengshan that integrates performances and celebrations, tourist gatherings, health vacations, leisure and entertainment, sightseeing, cultural origins, business contacts, study tours, and special shopping. Since it was officially opened to the public on April 24, 2021, it has successively held the first large-scale fire lantern temple fair, the first Nanyue Zhurong Town Flower Drum Opera Festival, the 2021 "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day" Hunan Province Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion and Exhibition Main Event, "Mountains as Witnesses" - "Three Mountains, One Water and Three Painting Academy" The first "Red Five-Star" Art Works Joint Exhibition and many other activities. "Mountain climbing during the day and watching opera at night" has become a reality here, and it has become a new business card and new landmark for Nanyue tourism, opening up broad market prospects for Nanyue two-day tours, three-day tours and holiday experience tours.Hengyang · 40.6km from downtown
Hengyang Defense War Memorial Hall
The entire Lu family's new house covers five acres, nestled against the mountain and beside the water, facing south. It measures 80 meters east to west and 33 meters north to south, covering an area of 2640 square meters. It is a two-courtyard, four-wing layout. The house is constructed of brick and wood, with a three-acre pond in front. All the gable walls and corners are decorated with clay sculptures and painted designs. It consists of a main hall, four side halls, a large gate, three small gates, a courtyard, side rooms, a study, a boudoir, and a pavilion, totaling 33 rooms of various sizes.Hengyang · 2.5km from downtown
Hengyang Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall
The Hengyang Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall is located in the Hengyang Anti-Japanese War Memorial City within Yueping Park, Yanfeng District. It is the core exhibition hall of the only officially designated "Anti-Japanese War Memorial City" in China, officially opened to the public in 2021 and recognized as a national-level anti-Japanese war memorial facility. The site integrates historical stone carvings, thematic exhibition halls, and memorial gardens, featuring diverse commemorative views such as the Anti-Japanese War Memorial City Monument, bronze group sculptures, anti-Japanese cultural walls, and merit-recording pavilions. The hall houses extensive firsthand historical materials on the Hengyang Defense Battle, veteran oral histories, wartime military artifacts, and personal letters, while recreating the 1944 underground command post scene. Multimedia displays vividly restore the 47-day bloody battle of the isolated city. This site commemorates the heroic resistance of 17,000 soldiers against an enemy force ten times their size, blending natural mountain scenery with profound historical significance. It serves as both an immersive destination for learning about Hengyang's anti-Japanese war history and reflecting on national loyalty, as well as a place for citizens to honor martyrs and enjoy leisurely walks. With its historical educational value and urban cultural appeal, it is ideal for family-friendly study trips, red-themed team-building activities, and in-depth exploration by history enthusiasts.Hengyang · 3.5km from downtown
Nanzheng Street
Nanzheng Street is a commercial street that features a wide variety of snacks, food, and various clothing and cosmetics stores.Leiyang · 1.8km from downtown
Hengyang Railway Museum
Hengyang · 7.5km from downtown
Huiyan Peak Scenic Area
Huiyan Peak is the first of the seventy-two peaks of Nanyue Mountain. The ancients always believed that when the wild geese from the north flew to the south, they would no longer fly south, and only waited for the next spring to fly back to the north, hence the name Huiyan Peak. Du Fu once wrote, "The wild geese in Hengyang will return north again this year." Huiyan Peak is close to the shore of the Xiangjiang River, near the highway and railway dual-use bridge on the Xiangjiang River in Hengyang. Standing on Huiyan Peak, you can not only overlook the bridge, but also the whole city of Hengyang. Huiyan Peak is the enshrining point of the "Infinite Longevity Buddha" in China's Shouyue Mountain. There is a poem saying "I want to go to Zhurong to worship the holy emperor, and come to Yanfeng to visit the Longevity Buddha." - Yan Sculpture, Millennium Ancient Temple - Yanfeng Temple, Crown of Eight Scenic Spots in Hengzhou - Yanfeng Misty Rain, One of the Eight Scenic Spots in Xiaoxiang - Pingsha Falling Wild Goose, Hengyang Landmark Building - Huiyan Pavilion, Wangchuanshan Birthplace Memorial Hall and other major attractions . There is an ancient temple called Yanfeng Temple on Huiyan Peak, which has a history of more than 1,500 years. The main entrance hangs the "Yanfeng Temple" written by Zhao Puchu. Mud-gilt horizontal plaque. The temple is divided into two halls: the front hall is the Guanyin Hall, which is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva; the rear is the Longevity Buddha Hall, and the 3-meter-high Longevity Buddha sits on the diamond platform. Together with Huayao Temple, Xichan Temple and Luohan Temple, it is known as the four major Buddhist Zen temples in Hengyang.Hengyang · 4.3km from downtown
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Free things to do in Hengyang
Dongzhou Isle
Hengyang · 6.8km from downtownShigu Academy
Hengyang · 4.8km from downtownHengshan Ferry Folk Culture Experience Site
Hengshan County · 256m from downtownHengyang Museum
Hengyang · 3.8km from downtownZhurong Town
Hengyang · 40.6km from downtownHengyang Defense War Memorial Hall
Hengyang · 2.5km from downtownHengyang Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall
Hengyang · 3.5km from downtownNanzheng Street
Leiyang · 1.8km from downtownHengyang Railway Museum
Hengyang · 7.5km from downtownHuiyan Peak Scenic Area
Hengyang · 4.3km from downtown
What travellers say about Hengyang
E08***0313 March 2026
5.0
There is Chuanshan Academy (a landmark of Hunan culture, with additional fees for the internal exhibition halls), Luohan Ancient Temple, and Fuzhi Tower; in spring, "Dongzhou Peach Blossom Waves" is one of the eight scenic spots of ancient Hengyang, and the thousand-meter-long peach forest is perfect for taking photos in an ancient style; admission to the island is free, and the covered bridge is pedestrian-friendly.
Dongzhou Isle
西格玛 12316 April 2026
5.0
The ancient Shigu Academy, located at the confluence of the Xiang River and the Zheng River, is an important birthplace of Hunan culture. Standing at the confluence and looking north, the river is wide and the view is excellent.
Shigu Academy
老周就是不老22 August 2023
4.0
Hengyang Museum is a national comprehensive museum, a base for popularizing social sciences in Hunan Province, a window unit for the construction of Hengyang spiritual civilization, and a base for patriotism education for minors. There are currently five exhibitions, including "Exhibition of Bronze Ware in the Museum", "Exhibition of Ceramics in the Museum", "Exhibition of Crafts in the Museum", "Exhibition of Paintings and Calligraphy by Hunan Celebrities" and "Exhibition of Hunan Culture". Spending the summer vacation in the museum is both refreshing and informative. We welcome more visitors to visit!
Hengyang Museum
谜蝶香24 March 2026
3.0
This place is no longer called Zhurong Town; it's now called Time City 1944. Locals get in free; it's 50 yuan for adults and 30 yuan for seniors from other areas. It's not a large place.
Zhurong Town
吴立珍19 February 2020
4.0
When I arrived, I was still shocked by the renovated memorial hall. The environment is beautiful, with gurgling streams, lush forests and bamboos, and the renovated Lu Family New House, a southern Hunan building from the Qing Dynasty. The new house contains relatively detailed pictures and cultural relics about the Battle of Hengyang, which is of great help in understanding the Battle of Hengyang.
Hengyang Defense War Memorial Hall
大足熊猫26 December 2019
5.0
It has been 74 years since the Anti-Japanese War. But the contributions made by our nation will never be forgotten. The significance of this war cannot be recorded by any monument. It is an irreplaceable great achievement in the history of the Chinese nation.
Hengyang Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall
卡卡未迭29 October 2021
5.0
Nanzheng Street has a history of 2,205 years. During the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation, Leiyang County's industry and commerce were still developed, and Nanzheng Street was the most prosperous.
Nanzheng Street
老王二手车1 March 2025
5.0
Crossing the century-old railway tracks, feeling the warmth of time
Under the dome of Hengyang Railway Museum
The rusty old tickets tell the story of traveling from north to south
The steam locomotive retains the warmth of our fathers’ long journey
Through the yellowed timetable
Hear the roar of the first whistle of the Hunan-Guangxi Railway
The city memories brought by the train, the time platform will never close
Hengyang Railway Museum
pshr12 February 2025
5.0
Huiyan Peak is located on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River in Hengyang. It is only 96.8 meters above sea level, but it is the first of the 72 peaks of the 800-li Nanyue Hengshan Mountain, and is also known as the first peak of Nanyue. Pingsha Luoyan, one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xiaoxiang, and Yanfeng Yanyu, the first of the Eight Scenic Spots of Hengzhou, are both located in the scenic area. The scenic area is a collection of classical gardens with rich cultural heritage and picturesque scenery. There are major attractions such as Hengyang City's city logo - Yan Sculpture, the thousand-year-old temple - Yanfeng Temple, the crown of the Eight Scenic Spots of Hengzhou - Yanfeng Yanyu, one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xiaoxiang - Pingsha Luoyan, Hengyang's landmark building - Huiyan Pavilion, and Wang Chuanshan Birthplace Memorial Hall. The entire scenic area has complete facilities and ingenious layout. It is far from the mountains but not secluded, close to the city but not noisy. It is a good place to walk in the scenic area, which makes people feel relaxed and happy and linger.
Huiyan Peak Scenic Area
