Huaihua (怀化, Huáihuà) is in western Hunan, southwestern China. It is a prefecture-level city in a mountainous area with some rural poverty problems. The city itself has a population around 400,000, the prefecture as a whole 5 million.

Understand

The prefecture encompasses several autonomous ethnic counties, towns and villages. Major ethnic groups found here are the Dòng or Kam (侗族), Miáo or Hmong (苗族), Tǔjiā (土家族), and Yáo (瑶族). It was long inhabited by these ethnic groups before the arrival of the Han Chinese more than a thousand years ago. They are known to be indigenous to these mountainous areas. They also inhabit neighboring Guizhou province.

Administration

  • Hecheng District(鹤城区)
  • Hongjiang city (洪江市)
    • Hongjiang District (洪江管理区)
  • Yuanling County(沅陵县)
  • Chenxi County(辰溪县)
  • Xupu County(溆浦县)
  • Zhongfang County (中方县)
  • Huitong County(会同县)
  • Mayang Miao Autonomous County(麻阳苗族自治县)
  • Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County (新晃侗族自治县)
  • Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County(芷江侗族自治县)
  • Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County(靖州苗族侗族自治县)
  • Tongdao Dong Autonomous County (通道侗族自治县)


Geography and Economy

Huaihua lies in the mountainous west of Hunan, southeast of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and shares the same mountain belt. Railroads are a major means of transportation in the region, and an airport was opened in 2004. Huaihua is home to the Second Artillery Corps Base 55, which is charged with maintaining ICBMs.The nuclear assets at Huaihua are intended for small-scale nuclear conflicts (with a limited, but nuclear, exchange), as well as the ability to strike Guam, one of only two B-2 bases.

Get in

By train

Huaihua is located on the Shanghai-Kunming railway line, which now host both fast and regular trains. 1 hour and a half by fast train and 5 to 9 hours on regular trains from Changsha. 1 hour and 15 minutes by fast train and 3 to 5 hours on regular trains to Kaili in Guizhou province.

Regular trains also go northwest towards Chongqing and it takes between 8 and 18 hours. Check out schedules and journey time on 12306.com, because it can vary in an exaggerated way.

There are trains to Zhangjiajie as well.

By plane

  • 🌍 Huaihua Zhijiang Airport (HJJ  IATA). Has flights from several cities in China. 

Get around

The two train stations in the north and south of the city are connected via bus number 12 (~30 minutes).

See

Huaihua's central urban area has only a few low-key sights such as the Huaihua Museum. All the main attractions and ethnic towns are outside the main urban area and in other parts of the prefecture. Those places can be reached by bus and in some cases by train.

  • Tongdao Dong Autonomous County (通道侗族自治县). Visit Kam people, whose language is a branch of the Tai-Kadai linguistic family. A distant relative of the Thai people. 
  • Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County (靖州苗族侗族自治县). Visit Hmong people, whose language is a branch of the Hmong-Mien linguistic family. 
  • Hongjiang old commercial town (洪江古商城). A Ming dynasty town that flourished back in the old days. Has a ancient brothel with waxwork figures and it explains a lot about the local lives back in imperial China. 
  • Qianyang old town (黔阳古镇). 
  • The airport is of some historic importance—back in World War II it was known as Chihkiang Airfield and used by the U.S. air force. Nowadays there's a museum about the airport's history.
  • World War II general Su Yu (粟裕) was born in Huitong County, and it's possible to visit historic sites related to his life.

Do

  • Wanfu Mountain (万福山 Wànfúshān). (updated Apr 2019)

Buy

Eat

Pao Cai (泡菜) or pickled vegetables are found everywhere around the city. It's a must try if you are in this dusty city.

Drink

Sleep

  • 🌍 Xiyue Hotel (希悦酒店), ☏ +86 745-2589999. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 14:00. Huaihua Xiyue Hotel is a collection of rooms, catering, conference in one of the business conference boutique hotel. The hotel is located in Building 2, Aodu Mansion, Tianxing East Road, Hecheng District, Huaihua City (opposite the gymnasium). Huaihua Xiyue Hotel has a total construction area of about 6300 square meters. The hotel features fully functional meeting rooms as well as free parking and wifi. one room from 360¥. (updated Oct 2023)
  • 🌍 Baidun Hotel (柏顿精品酒店), ☏ +86 745 8685555. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The hotel has four floors. 65 rooms. The hotel offers free parking and Wi-Fi. Double room from 220¥. (updated Oct 2023)

Connect

Go next

Go east to Changsha, the provincial capital, west to Tongren (not to be confused with the one in Qinghai province) or Kaili in Guizhou province, south to Guangxi Province or northwest to Chongqing.

From Chongqing or Changsha there are fast trains all over China. A route popular with tourists is from Changsha to Guiyang and on to Kunming.

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