Things to do in Yanling
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Top 10 attractions in Yanling
Mausoleum of Emperor Yan
Mausoleum of Emperor Yan, located in Yanling County, Zhuzhou, is the resting place of Emperor Yan Shennong, one of the ancestral founders of the Chinese nation. The site features towering ancient trees and picturesque scenery. For thousands of years, sacrificial ceremonies before the mausoleum have endured without decline, with offerings and incense continuing year-round. The attraction includes key sites such as the Emperor Yan Mausoleum Hall, Imperial Stele Garden, Huangshan Stele Forest, Angel Mansion, Sacred Fire Altar, Shennong Grand Hall, Pilgrimage Square, Shengde Forest, Emperor Yan Mausoleum Archway, Chongde Archway, Luyuan Slope, Dragon Brain Stone, Dragon Claw Stone, and Herb-Washing Pool—all aligned along a north-south central axis. The Emperor Yan Mausoleum Hall, situated at the western foot of Yanling Mountain (also known as Huangshan), serves as the main attraction. The grand hall, with its golden tiles and red walls, showcases distinct Qing-style architecture, exuding solemnity and grandeur. Passing through the Noon Gate, Ceremony Pavilion, Mausoleum Hall, and Tombstone Pavilion leads to Emperor Yan's tomb mound. The tombstone, inscribed in 1827 by County Magistrate Shen Daokuan during the Qing Dynasty, stands before the lush, grassy mound surrounded by flourishing flowers and trees. As one of the ancestral founders of the Chinese nation, Emperor Yan has been revered and honored by emperors and commoners alike since ancient times. Legends trace folk worship of Emperor Yan back to the Xia Dynasty, official ceremonies to the Zhou Dynasty, and imperial rituals to the Tang Dynasty, flourishing further in the Song Dynasty. Subsequent emperors followed the tradition of "holding ceremonies every three years," commemorating each event with inscribed steles. In addition to the admission ticket, offerings such as incense, firecrackers, and auspicious fruits for worshiping Emperor Yan require separate fees.Yanling · 12.8 km from downtown
Shennong Valley National Forest Park
Asia's Number One Oxygen Bar — Zhulián Waterfall The waterfall falls from a height of 48.2 meters, resembling a curtain made of water droplets. Hence, it is named Zhulián Waterfall in Shennong Valley National Forest Park, Yanling County, Hunan Province. During the fall, water molecules collide with rocks creating a large number of negative oxygen ions. According to expert measurements, the concentration of negative oxygen ions in the air around Zhulián Waterfall in Shennong Valley National Forest Park, Yanling County, Hunan Province, reaches as high as 136,426 per cubic centimeter, with an instantaneous peak of up to 228,000 per cubic centimeter. It is one of the places in Asia with very high negative oxygen ion levels and is thus praised as "Asia's Number One Oxygen Bar." Reef Forest The Reef Forest is a famous concentrated area of dawn redwoods in Shennong Valley National Forest Park and a new popular check-in spot. Here, you can find lush expanses of bamboo groves, water redwoods that turn colorful in autumn, and ancient yew trees. The forest is rarely visited by people and is the core forest resource of the scenic area. Tree Embracing Stone A giant Albizia tree (also known as young chestnut) has been determined by experts to be over 1,500 years old, with a height of 19 meters and a trunk diameter of 2.01 meters. It is named Tree Embracing Stone because its main roots tightly wrap around a huge rock. At the base of this ancient tree, two equally-sized offspring trees grow side by side, soaring straight to the sky, which is why locals also call it "Dragon Mother Giving Birth to Twins." Tianxinli Scenic Area Hunan's tallest waterfall — Shennong Flying Waterfall — is one of the most spectacular and inspiring waterfalls among several in Shennong Valley National Forest Park. The waterfall has a height difference of 235.2 meters, cascading down in three tiers. Amid blue skies, green mountains, and trees, it looks like a white silk ribbon floating in the air or a cloud dragon diving into the pool. It is the waterfall with the largest drop in Hunan Province.Yanling · 25.3 km from downtown
Orange Isle Scenic Area
Orange Isle Scenic Area is a narrow sandbar lying across the heart of the Xiang River in Changsha, stretching approx. five km. It faces Yuelu Mountain to the west and borders Changsha's old city to the east, surrounded by water on all sides. Named after the abundant orange trees planted on the isle, it was historically called Shuiluzhou. Formed by river alluvium, this sandbar has existed for over a millennium, where the "River and sky in evening snow" scenery was once among the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang. In 1925, the poem "Spring in a pleasure garden - Changsha" was composed here, with its iconic line "Alone I stand in the biting fall, watching the Xiang River flow north past Orange Isle's head," which made this riverine landmark widely renowned. The highlights of the visit are concentrated at the islet's head: A granite art sculpture over 30 m tall, modeled after the 1925 youth image, stands facing the river as Changsha's highly recognizable landmark. Nearby, the Questioning Heaven Platform extends toward the river center, where leaning on the railing reveals the mighty Xiang River flowing northward, with Yuelu Mountain and the city skylines on both banks facing each other across the water. The Songju Pavilion, white marble poetry stele, and the 200-year-old ancient phoenix tree at the islet head are all in this area. Heading north from the islet head, a hundred-acre orange orchard bears golden fruits in fall, while bamboo groves, peach orchards, plum gardens, and osmanthus groves take turns showcasing seasonal flora. The historic Zhuzhang Ferry (where Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi once crossed the Xiang River for lectures) and the Huxiang Culture Exhibition Hall are scattered along the way. At the islet's tail, the reconstructed Jiangshen Temple and Gongji Tower area was precisely where ancients admired the "River and sky in evening snow" scenery. The island is long and narrow, making round-trip walks quite tiring. A sightseeing train is available for transportation, with multiple stops along the way for hopping on and off. Travelers with limited time are advised to head straight to the island's tip to see the sculpture and river views, then stroll leisurely along the riverside path. At dusk, watching the sunset over the Xiang River and seeing the lights gradually illuminate both shores from the island's tip is especially worth setting aside time for.China · Changsha
Jinggang Mountain
Jinggang Mountain, with its glorious revolutionary history, splendid natural scenery, and distinctive "red and green" characteristics, is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national nature reserve, a national red tourism attraction, and a world biosphere reserve. Jinggang Mountain is located in the southwest of Jiangxi Province, in the middle section of the Luoxiao Mountains at the border of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. In ancient times, it was known as “the intersection of Chen, Heng, Hunan and Jiangxi, and the heart of the thousand-li Luoxiao Mountains.” The Jinggangshan Scenic Area covers an area of333 square kilometers, with 11 major scenic areas, 76 scenic spots, and more than 460 landscapes. It features thousands of competing peaks, numerous valleys and streams, vast forests, waterfalls and springs, combining majesty, steepness, seclusion, uniqueness and beauty. The area includes peaks, rocks, waterfalls, caves, hot springs, rare animals and plants, and alpine pastoral scenery. It boasts not only a magnificent sea of clouds, wonderful and unique waterfalls, magnificent and brilliant sunrises, and the world-famous Ten‑mile Azalea Corridor, but also the renowned Huangyangjie, Maoping Octagonal Building, and the Main Peak of Jinggangshan—the background pattern of the 100-yuan note from the fourth series of RMB. It also preserves 7,000 hectares of near‑primitive forest, intact at this latitude worldwide, as well as a stretch of evergreen broad‑leaved forest praised by the United Nations Environment Programme as “one of the only ones of its kind in the world.” Jinggangshan has a beautiful environment, gorgeous scenery, and fresh air. The negative oxygen ion concentration exceeds 80,000 per cubic centimeter, earning it the reputation of a “natural oxygen bar.” The forest coverage rate is 86%, with an excellent ecological environment, making it an ideal tourist destination and summer resort.Jinggangshan City · 41.4 km from Yanling
Hunan Yunshang Dayuan Sceneic Area
Hunan Yunshang Courtyard Attraction is located in the southeastern border of Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, on the west side of Wanyang Mountain in the middle section of Luoxiao Mountains. It is the intersection of two provinces and three counties. It is adjacent to Suichuan, Jiangxi Province in the east, Ceyuan Township in the south, Shidu Town and Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province in the west and north. The Attraction is between 560 meters and 1,880 meters above sea level, with a total area of 88.93 square kilometers. The annual average temperature is 12.6℃, and the highest temperature does not exceed 29℃. It is known as the "Little Lushan Mountain". Yunshang Courtyard is also a piece of red fertile land. It is an important part of the Jinggangshan base and has a unique red culture. The Attraction has formed ten major landscapes, including Tiewaxian, Guilongwo, Dongkeng Waterfall, Baiyu Valley, Hero Pavilion, Tietou Prince Tomb, Salt and Tea Ancient Road, Zhaogong Pavilion, and Educated Youth Imprint. The beautiful courtyard has flowers in spring and leaves in autumn, cool summer and snow in winter, steep and elegant scenery, magnificent sea of clouds, waterfalls and springs, exotic flowers and trees. The environment is elegant and unique, and the scenery is pleasant and amazing. It integrates red, ancient and green into one. It is a comprehensive tourist Attraction for scientific research, sightseeing, leisure and vacation, and red education.Yanling · 24.1 km from downtown
Gaoyiling Tourist Area
Gaoyiling Tourist Area lies on the border between Qiaokou Town, Suxian District, Chenzhou City and Zixing City, Hunan Province. It is adjacent to Feitian Mountain and connects with Bian River in Yongxing County. It is near Dongjiang Lake, a famous scenic spot. Gaoyiling has mountain forest with picturesque scenery and large areas of forest. It has unique landscape with of bodies of water, red rocks and turquoise lakes.Chenzhou · 85.1 km from Yanling
Mount Yuelu
Mount Yuelu stands on the west bank of the Xiang River and is a landmark mountain in Changsha. At its foot lies the Yuelu Academy, founded during the Northern Song Dynasty, a millennium-old institution sharing the mountain's name. Ascending from here leads to Qingfeng Gorge, where the Aiwan Pavilion, named after Du Mu's poetic line "I stop my carriage to admire the maple woods at dusk," is surrounded by maple trees. Midway up the mountain, the ancient Lushan Temple, established in the Western Jin Dynasty over 1,700 years ago, features a lush six-dynasty-era podocarpus tree in front of its sutra repository. At the summit stands the Yunlu Palace, a Taoist temple built during the Ming Dynasty, offering panoramic views of the Xiang River and Changsha's urban area. The mountain's historical sites extend further, with the Yu King Stele, Python Cave, and Changsha Battle Memorial Stele scattered along its trails. Modern figures such as Huang Xing, Cai E, and Chen Tianhua are also buried here, making the mountain a condensed repository of profound modern history. Most cultural attractions are concentrated near the south gate, where you can visit major historic sites in sequence from Yuelu Academy to Aiwan Pavilion. For those preferring not to hike, a cableway station near the east gate allows easy ascent, eliminating most uphill climbing. With an elevation of about 300 m and well-developed trails, reaching the summit on foot is manageable. Ancient trees like Jin dynasty podocarps, Tang dynasty ginkgos, Song-Yuan era camphor trees, and Ming-Qing maple-chestnuts line the paths, making the entire mountain resemble a natural botanical museum. In late fall when maple leaves turn red across the slopes, it becomes an ideal time for hiking. Allocate half a day to leisurely photograph Aiwan Pavilion and the mountaintop viewpoints.China · Changsha
Du Fu Pavilion
This is a riverside structure, an ancient-style building constructed in honor of the great Tang dynasty poet Du Fu. Due to its proximity to the Xiang River, it is an ideal spot to watch the fireworks display at the Orange Isle attraction. Today, Du Fu Pavilion stands as a local landmark, offering a delightful experience to enjoy panoramic views of both banks of the Xiang River, sip tea, and feel the riverside breeze. Du Fu Pavilion features exhibits on the great poet's life and works. During fireworks displays, the number of visitors increases significantly, so arriving early is necessary to secure a good viewing spot.China · Changsha
Mount Hengshan
Located in Hengyang, Hunan Province, the Mount Heng Scenic Area includes the major attractions of Mount Heng and the Grand Temple of Mount Heng. The vegetation here is green and lush throughout the year, and there is a feeling of tranquility all around. Many temples dot the area, adding a pious tone to Mount Heng. The Grand Temple of Mount Heng at the foot of the mountain is an enormous group of ancient buildings in a palace style. It hosts a grand temple fair every year.China · Hengyang
Jiangxi WuGong Mountain Scenic Area
Jiangxi Wugong Mountain is located in the west of Jiangxi, spanning the three cities of Pingxiang, Yichun, and Ji'an. It has scenic spots such as Pingxiang Wugong Mountain, Yichun Mingyue Mountain, Anfu Wugong Mountain, and Anfu Yangshimu. It is a large-scale mountain type integrating human landscape and natural landscape. Scenic spot; Jiangxi Wugong Mountain-Pingxiang Wugong Mountain Scenic Spot is located in the southeast of Pingxiang City, belonging to the northern section of the Luoxiao Mountains on the border between Hunan and Jiangxi. It is a large-scale mountain-type scenic spot with the most abundant tourism resources in western Jiangxi Province. In history, it was once known as the three famous mountains in the south of the Yangtze River together with Lushan Mountain and Hengshan Mountain, and it is known as "the first martial arts in Hengshou and Luwei". Baihe Peak (Golden Summit), the main peak of Wugong Mountain, is 1918.3 meters above sea level. Jiangxi Wugong Mountain-Yichun Mingyue Mountain Scenic Spot is located 15 kilometers southwest of the central city of Yichun, with a total area of 389 square kilometers. Mingyue Mountain has four major resources of "mountain, spring, Zen, and agriculture". It is a scenic spot featuring "sightseeing, leisure and vacation, health care and religious tourism" as a whole. Jiangxi Wugong Mountain-Anfu Wugong Mountain is located in Taishan Township, Anfu County, Jiangxi Province. The depth of the scenic spot is about 150 kilometers. It is the highest mountain in Jiangxi. In history, Wugong Mountain was once known as the three famous mountains in the south of the Yangtze River together with Hengshan Mountain and Lushan Mountain, and was named "the first of Hengshan and Luwei in martial arts". Wugong Mountain is a scenic spot integrating human landscape and natural landscape. It is a mountain under development among the famous mountains in the south of the Yangtze River. , and natural landscape and intact original ecological environment, with charm. Jiangxi Wugong Mountain-Anfu Yangshimu Scenic Area is located in the northwest of Wugong Mountain in Anfu County, Jiangxi Province, a scenic spot, a national natural heritage site, a national forest park, and a national geological park. The scenic spot is dominated by granite peak forest landforms, which are majestic and majestic in various poses and with different expressions.China · Luxi
Experiences you can't miss in Yanling
Featured Day tours in Yanling
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Free things to do in Yanling
Mausoleum of Emperor Yan
Yanling · 12.8 km from downtownShennong Valley National Forest Park
Yanling · 25.3 km from downtownOrange Isle Scenic Area
China · ChangshaJinggang Mountain
Jinggangshan City · 41.4 km from YanlingHunan Yunshang Dayuan Sceneic Area
Yanling · 24.1 km from downtownGaoyiling Tourist Area
Chenzhou · 85.1 km from YanlingMount Yuelu
China · ChangshaDu Fu Pavilion
China · ChangshaMount Hengshan
China · HengyangJiangxi WuGong Mountain Scenic Area
China · Luxi
What travelers say about Yanling
Anonymous userFebruary 10, 2026
5.0
It's definitely worth a visit. Shennong is someone most children know from books about tasting hundreds of herbs, but they don't know what other pioneering activities Shennong did. He was our pioneering leader!
Mausoleum of Emperor Yan
Anonymous userAugust 9, 2026
5.0
Shenlong Valley National Forest Park in Yanling, Zhuzhou boasts beautiful scenery and a superior environment. It's cool and comfortable to visit in the summer! The Pearl Waterfall in Shenlong Valley is particularly magnificent and spectacular! The air is rich in negative oxygen ions, making it perfect for escaping the summer heat! It's also ideal for family outings and stream trekking – a truly delightful experience!
Shennong Valley National Forest Park
Anonymous userOctober 8, 2026
5.0
There were no assigned seats, so you could sit anywhere. We spent most of our time on the third deck enjoying the view and taking photos. Although it was very hot outside, there was a breeze on both sides of the deck, so it wasn't too bad. There were karaoke machines and vendors selling snacks and drinks on both the second and third decks. The air conditioning on the second deck was very strong. We arrived at the pier half an hour early, and there was already a queue.
Orange Isle Scenic Area
娟小浅July 22, 2026
5.0
Jinggang Mountain is truly a summer resort! 👍👍👍 Staying at a hotel by Yicui Lake, the scenery was breathtaking right outside the door. Driving to different scenic spots is also very convenient. We visited all the attractions we wanted to see in three days, taking our time, strolling and enjoying the sights – it was wonderful!
Jinggang Mountain
gz当地向导伊妹儿August 26, 2022
5.0
The Yunshang Courtyard Canyon is rich in vegetation and a natural oxygen bar. The stream is clear and the mountain springs are gurgling, refreshing and suitable for stream tracing, catching small fish and shrimps. It is a good place for parent-child interaction and getting close to nature. It is refreshing and unforgettable.
Hunan Yunshang Dayuan Sceneic Area
M55***58October 13, 2026
5.0
Gaoyiling in Chenzhou is definitely worth a special trip! The unique Danxia landform is breathtaking, with red cliffs paired with emerald lakes—a masterpiece of nature. The Longjibei (Dragon's Backbone) is a must-visit; hiking along the ridge offers expansive views, and the Giant Lizard Lake is stunning—every snapshot is a masterpiece, no filters needed. The scenic trails are well-maintained, clearly marked, and have rest areas along the way. You can enjoy the thrill of hiking in the mountains while admiring the magnificent scenery—a thrilling yet therapeutic experience. The staff is attentive, and the facilities are comprehensive. It's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and photography lovers; a must-do when visiting Chenzhou—highly recommended!
Gaoyiling Tourist Area
118***58October 5, 2026
5.0
During the National Day holiday, the crowds were immense. Our tour guide, Xiao Xiang, led us along the way, providing lively and engaging explanations that saved us from taking unnecessary detours and greatly improved efficiency. He also clearly outlined the key locations.
Mount Yuelu
M12***74October 8, 2026
5.0
The poetic pavilions along the Xiang River offer expansive views of the river from their heights. The exhibits inside tell the story of Du Fu's time in Hunan, and the night view is particularly stunning. It's worth stopping by to experience this cultural heritage of Hunan when visiting Changsha.
Du Fu Pavilion
120***28October 17, 2026
5.0
The value for money is absolutely amazing! This stay was fantastic! The service, facilities, environment, and location were all impeccable. I'll definitely come back again!
Mount Hengshan
夜空星城July 6, 2026
5.0
The experience of visiting Wugong Mountain was quite good. The hiking route was of moderate difficulty and not strenuous. The view from the summit was expansive, overlooking vast meadows. The breeze was pleasant and refreshing. There were also ample supply points along the way, so I didn't need to bring too much with me. It was a very relaxing trip.
Jiangxi WuGong Mountain Scenic Area
