Flying from Xi'an to Huaihua: A 20-Day Leisurely Tour of Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County, the Pearl of Western Hunan (Video Version)

Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County, under Huaihua City, Hunan Province, is situated in western Hunan, bordering southeastern Guizhou and having enclaves with Tongren. The county seat has a population of around 70,000, over 80% of whom are Dong people. With a rich historical and cultural heritage, it was part of the Yelang Kingdom during the Qin and Han dynasties. The Dong culture and Yelang culture are deeply rooted here. Xinhuang is the birthplace of the world intangible cultural heritage 'Dong Grand Song'.

Xinhuang has convenient transportation with high-speed rail, train, and bus stations, and several nearby airports are within a two-hour drive. There is no direct connection from Xi'an to Xinhuang; you need to transfer via a surrounding hub. The airfare was very affordable: a ticket from Xi'an to Huaihua Zhijiang Airport cost 290 yuan, plus airport construction fee of 50 yuan and insurance of 40 yuan, totaling 380 yuan.

Day 1: In the morning, I took a bus to Xi'an Airport for 25 yuan, and flew to Huaihua Zhijiang Airport in the afternoon. I arranged a shared car to Xinhuang for 40 yuan to reach my destination.

Day 2: I got up early and rode an electric scooter around Xinhuang town for morning exercise, sightseeing, and enjoying the views.

Day 3: People in western Hunan love goose. For dinner, friends gathered at a restaurant called 'Goose Home' to enjoy a full goose feast. The hostess was warm, hospitable, and beautiful; her video of the place was even more impressive. The dishes were well received, making it a famous local specialty restaurant. Listening to the simple local people chatting was a delight in itself, a unique pleasure. Yellow beef is also a local specialty.

Day 4: This place is backed by green mountains with lush trees. Overlooking it, clear waters encircle it on three sides, shimmering brightly. There's no pollution from industrial waste, no noisy crowds. Strolling through the small town streets, everyone you meet is a friend or family. Daily life is simply about eating, drinking, playing, and leisure, carefree and content. It is known as the 'Longevity Town'—she is Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County, the 'Pearl of Western Hunan,' the ancient Yelang Kingdom, and the birthplace of the Dong Grand Song.

I took an electric scooter for a loop around Xinhuang town, passing the railway bridge, along the Wushui River bank for one and a half hours—quite an experience. Along the way were Yangjiaqiao Village, Longxikou Ancient Town, Huangzhou Wind-Rain Bridge, Yanlai Temple, Yelang Ancient Kingdom Scenic Area, and an iron chain suspension bridge. Beautiful scenery and songs accompanied the journey. Pastoral idylls, ancient town customs, landscapes of mountains, rivers, city and countryside, the ancient kingdom and modern city—modernity and tradition intertwined, the air fresh and natural, a perfect place to live and travel, how wonderful the Dong homeland is!

Day 5: North of the county town is a hillside, with the land ahead surrounded by water on three sides. Hiking up that 45-degree steep slope left me out of breath; riding an electric scooter up was terrifying. It felt truly challenging to climb Wangjiang Slope, both up and down. Standing on this high slope among the vast mountains of western Hunan, overlooking the land of the ancient Yelang Kingdom encircled by water on three sides: to the west, the Wushui River connects to the Guizhou border; to the east, the Wu River flows into Hunan. To the north, Wuyang links to the city walls; to the south, the towering Wangjiang Slope. Listening to the Dong Grand Song and appreciating the beautiful landscape, one can't help but exclaim: How grand the Bamboo King's realm, its self-grandeur understandable.

Day 6: Walking and taking the dog out every day brought its own charm.

Day 7: Invited by friends to a farmhouse restaurant called 'Happy Forest' for barbecue and fun, it was filled with joy.

Day 8: I visited a rarely seen hydropower station in the town, truly impressive. The beautiful scenery and comfortable environment made working and studying there a real pleasure! Wandering around from time to time, with grand mountains, clear waters, ancient towns, pastoral countryside, and new urban areas, listening to the simple locals chatting was a joy and a unique experience.

After dinner, I strolled along the pedestrian street, soaking in the slow pace of small-town life. People were leisurely and content, with rich material and cultural lives, and the happiness index rising steadily. As night fell, the lights sparkled, accompanied by the river, creating a delicate and translucent beauty.

Day 9: Occasionally friends invited us to taste local delicacies. When they learned we were leaving the town, they shook hands with reluctance, repeatedly hosting banquets to entertain, urge us to stay, and bid us farewell. Truly, good wine, good food, and even better people!

Day 10: I booked a flight and hotel package via Ctrip for 323 yuan, flying to Nanning to start the Beihai journey. In the afternoon, a friend drove us to Huaihua Zhijiang Airport. That evening we arrived in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, where the hotel provided airport pickup and we stayed overnight. The next day we took a high-speed train to Beihai.

The per capita cost of this trip was about 1,800 yuan, and it was absolutely worth it!