Things to do in Dawu

No. 10 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Henan

Kikungshan Scenic Area

Jigongshan Scenic Area is located in the Dabie Mountains in Henan Province. Jigongshan means 'Cockerel Mountain' – the area is named after the shape of its main peak, which resembles a cockerel. It is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including a number of rare plant and animal species. Visitors can climb the mountain and explore villas of various styles that were built by foreign missionaries. The area is also famous for its tea.

Shibatan Scenic Area in Dawu County

The Shibatan Scenic Area is located in Dawu County, Xiaogan City, Hubei Province. It is adjacent to the summer resort Jigong Mountain in Xinyang to the west and borders Wushengguan in Guangshui City to the south. It is characterized by "beautiful peaks, long valleys, roaring waterfalls and numerous pools". The Attraction is rich in natural landscapes. Currently, the first phase of completed projects include the Shibatan Grand Canyon, Northern Hubei Wildlife World, Galaxy Town, 9D Sound Effect Glass Bridge, Glass Slide, etc.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Yellow Crane Tower

Yellow Crane Tower is a landmark building of Wuhan. It is located on the bank of the Yangtze River and above Snake Hill in Wuchang. Many celebrities have written famous poems about the tower. Yellow Crane Tower was built during the Three Kingdoms period, but it was destroyed many times. What we see now is the reconstructed version built in 1985. When you climb the Yellow Crane Tower, you can see the spectacular view of the Yangtze River and Wuhan's three districts.

2026 Global 50 - Cool Water Escapes

Lushan National Park

Mount Lu is known as one of China's “four great summer retreats,” together with Jigongshan, Beidaihe, and Mount Mogan. Mountain peaks, waterfalls, unique views of “cloud oceans,” and garden architecture all lend Mount Lu its rich charm. The mountain climate allows visitors to feel the cool and comfortable feel of spring even in the summertime, and has secured Mount Lu's position as a famous scenic area and historic vacation spot and retreat.

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Hubei Provincial Museum

The Hubei Provincial Museum has ten treasures of the museum, including those unearthed from "Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng" the Hubei Provincial Museum's Zenghouyi chime bells; the Yue Wang Goujian sword, a masterpiece of the cold weapon era; the fossilized skull of the Yunxian Man dating back 1 million years; and a treasure of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain: the plum vase with the Four Loves design. The museum's regular exhibitions also feature distinctive characteristics of ancient Chu culture and ancient Yangtze River civilization. The Hubei Provincial Museum consists of the comprehensive exhibition hall,Chu culture hall,Chime bell hallIt is composed of multiple pseudo-classical buildings, and the layout reflects the high-platform architectural layout format of ancient Chu architecture, namely "one terrace, one hall" and "multiple terraces forming a group." Unearthed in 1978 at "Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng" in the Hubei Provincial Museum - the Zenghouyi chime bells have a wide range and their excavation rewrote the history of world music; the sword of Goujian, King of Yue, a masterpiece of the cold weapon era, is still incomparably sharp to this day, and displayed beside it is the "spear of Fuchai, King of Wu"; the geological age of the Yunxian human skull fossil is approx. 1 million years ago, earlier than the Peking Man skull fossil; the Yuan blue-and-white plum vase with four loves design is an extremely rare masterpiece among Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. Hubei is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and belonged to the territory of the Chu state during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The permanent exhibitions at the Hubei Provincial Museum showcase ancient civilizations of southern China that differ from the Yellow River civilization of the north. The museum's current permanent exhibitions include "Yunxian Man: Prehistoric Humans in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," "Qujialing: Prehistoric Culture in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," and "Panlongcheng: Bronze Civilization in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River." In addition to viewing cultural relics at the Hubei Provincial Museum, you can also enjoy chime bell performances. In the museum's performance hall, chime bell performances are held from Tuesday to Sunday, and it is closed on Mondays.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Hubei

Qingchuan Pavilion

Qingchuan Pavilion stands on Yugong Rock at the eastern foot of Tortoise Hill in Hanyang, facing the Han River to the north and the Yangtze River to the east, gazing across the river at Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang on the opposite bank. The pavilion's name is taken from the line "the clear river reflects the trees of Hanyang" by the Tang dynasty poet Cui Hao, and it was initiated for construction by Fan Zhizhen, the Ming dynasty prefect of Hanyang. First built during the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, it has a history of more than four hundred years. Throughout history, Qingchuan Pavilion was destroyed and rebuilt as many as six or seven times, the last destruction caused by a windstorm; the existing structure was rebuilt in the 1980s following the style of the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty. Long known as one of the "finest sights of the Three Chu regions" and a "grand vista through the ages," Qingchuan Pavilion echoes Yellow Crane Tower across the river and stands out distinctly along the banks of the Yangtze. The attraction is composed of three main structures—Qingchuan Pavilion, Yuji Xinggong (Yu and Ji Ancestral Hall), and Tiemen Pass—along with auxiliary structures such as the ancient archway, Chubo Pavilion, Chaozong Pavilion, Yu Stele Pavilion, Jingchu Heroic Spirit Stele, and the poetry stele corridor, forming a complex of ancient and pseudo-classical buildings standing by the river. Among them, Yuji Xinggong was first built during the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song dynasty under the original name Yu Wang Temple; during the Tianqi era of the Ming dynasty, it was renamed "Yuji Xinggong" after its worship was changed to Houji and other former sages, and it has been an important site in Wuhan for successive generations to pay homage to Yu the Great. Tiemen Pass was first built during the Three Kingdoms period and has been a strategic location contested by military strategists since ancient times; it was restored in the 1990s. Ascending Qingchuan Pavilion offers a panoramic view of the expansive river scenery where the Yangtze River and the Han River converge. Inside the pavilion, permanent exhibitions such as "Traces of Yu Across the Nine Provinces" and "Historical Paintings of Qingchuan" present Yu the Great culture and the historical heritage of Qingchuan Pavilion from multiple perspectives, ranging from water-control culture to poetry and couplets. The attraction nestles between the hills and the river, with pavilions and terraces scattered in graceful arrangement. The poetry stele corridor preserves inscribed stones bearing verses by literati and poets of successive dynasties, and strolling through it allows visitors to feel the rich historical and cultural atmosphere.

Purdom Forest Park

Purdom Forest Park is in the Lijiazhai experimental area of Jigongshan Nature Reserve in Xinyang City. It is named after the forest farm founded in 1918 by British forest scientist Purdom, Chinese forest scientist Han An, and General Feng Yuxiang. The main attractions include Purdom Memorial Forest, Purdom Monument, Han An Memorial Hall, and the Forest Amusement Park. It is a complete tourist resort integrating leisure vacations, scientific investigations, and sightseeing.

Beishan Red Leaf Viewing Platform

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Hunan

Yue Yang Tower

"Be the first to worry about the world's worries and the last to enjoy its pleasures"—this line from Fan Zhongyan's Northern Song dynasty essay "Yueyang Tower chronicle" made Yue Yang Tower by Dongting Lake a household name. The main tower, Yueyang Tower, is said to have evolved from a naval review tower built by Lu Su of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. Alongside Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei and Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi, it is hailed as one of the three great towers of southern China. Poets like Li Bai, Du Fu, Meng Haoran, and Bai Juyi once climbed it to compose verses. From the top floor, leaning on the railings, you can take in the vast expanse of Dongting Lake stretching hundreds of miles, with Junshan Island visible across the waters—where timeless verses and the lake's beauty converge in this moment. The tower itself is an architectural treasure: its three-story, triple-eave structure is built entirely of wood with mortise-and-tenon joints—no iron nails used—and four golden nanmu pillars run straight from the ground to the rooftop. The helmet-shaped roof, called "helmet crown," is supported by layered ruyi bracket sets, a rare design among surviving ancient towers in China. Inside, carved Qing-dynasty panels of "Yueyang Tower chronicle" are preserved—pause to admire them when ascending. The small attractions within the attraction each have their own highlights: near the gate, the "Five-dynasty towers" use bronze miniature models to recreate Yueyang Tower's different architectural styles from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, showcasing a millennium of changes at a glance. On the lakeshore in front of the main tower, ancient iron artifacts resembling shackles and weighing several tons are displayed—their casting era and purpose remain debated, forming a long-standing historical mystery. Additionally, there are the Shuanggong Shrine commemorating Fan Zhongyan and Teng Zijing, the stele corridor engraved with poems about the tower from various dynasties, and the Xiaoqiao Tomb—said to belong to the wife of Three Kingdoms general Zhou Yu—waiting to be explored. If you wish to extend your itinerary, you may also take a boat tour of Dongting Lake and visit Junshan Island on the opposite shore. The nearby Bianhe Street, a cobblestone-paved antique-style street, is lined with local snack stalls and souvenir shops, making it convenient to explore along with the nearby Baling Square.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Anhui

Sanhe Ancient Town

Sanhe Ancient Town is situated at the southern tip of Feixi County in Hefei, where the Fengle River, Hangbu River, and Xiaonan River converge. The town derives its name from these three waterways, with the name "Sanhe" appearing as early as the Ming Dynasty and officially becoming Sanhe Town during the Qing Dynasty. In 1858, Taiping Rebellion generals Chen Yucheng and Li Xiucheng achieved a decisive victory over the Xiang Army here, historically known as the "Great Victory of Sanhe." The triumphal arch at the town entrance, Yingwang Mansion, and ancient city walls still bear witness to this turbulent period. The old bluestone-paved streets stretch along the river, lined with contiguous Huizhou-style residences featuring gray brick walls and soaring horse-head gables, blending water-town alleys with Huizhou-style markets seamlessly. Most tours begin at Sanxian Bridge in the town center. To its northwest stands the seven-story Guocui Tower, offering panoramic views of the town and displaying Huizhou artifacts like sedan chairs, inscribed tablets, carved beds, and stone carvings. Nearby, the Dafu Mansion (Sanhe Folk Museum) recreates an official residence's hall with exquisite wood carvings, including an oversized abacus over one meter long. Northeast of the bridge, Xiangu Tower is a Huizhou-style temple funded by merchants including the owner of the time-honored pastry shop "Zhonghexiang." Heading north along the east bank of Xiaonan River leads to ancient West Street, paved with bluestones and once bustling with shops—Liutongxinglongzhuang still maintains its original commercial layout. South along the west bank brings you to Quezhu Covered Bridge, named after Sanhe's ancient moniker "Quezhu," featuring a two-tiered eaves corridor with "beauty's seat" railings perfect for resting and enjoying the waterfront. The southern area around Old South Street and Wannian Street clusters notable former residences, including those of physicist Chen-Ning Yang, general Sun Liren, and Helu. During the Anti-Japanese War, young Chen-Ning Yang sheltered here with his family. Nearby, the famous "One-Person Alley" narrows to barely accommodate a single visitor, making it a popular photo spot. Further south stand Wannian Temple, Chenghuang Temple, and the historic Wannian Stage—Sanhe being the birthplace of Lu Opera, whose authentic melodies often grace the stage during festivals. Local snacks concentrate near Sanxian Bridge: freshly fried Sanhe rice dumplings with crispy shells, shrimp paste, crispy duck, and various river delicacies represent regional cuisine, while tea-flavored dried tofu makes for perfect street-side nibbling. Rice wine and feather fans serve as portable souvenirs. In 2026, Sanhe became a key filming location for CCTV's Spring Festival Gala Hefei segment, with its night scenes of a thousand fish lanterns captivating nationwide audiences.