Youxian County Tourism, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province

Youxian County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province - the pearl of eastern Hunan, known as "the gateway to Hengyang and Xiangtan". It boasts featured scenic spots such as Jiuxian Lake (National 4A-level Scenic Area), Bailong Cave (Karst Cave Wonder), Linggui Peak (Millennium Ancient Temple), Youxian Museum, and Xianrenqiao. Integrating lake and mountain scenery, karst cave secrets and cultural history, experience the natural and cultural charm of "Beautiful Youxian" in 2 days.

2648
km² Area
600,000+
Permanent Population
12+
Characteristic Cultural & Tourism Scenic Spots
1.5M+
Annual Visitors to Jiuxian Lake
Jiuxian Lake Scenery in Youxian County
Jiuxian Lake Scenic Area - Landmark of Youxian Tourism
National 4A-level scenic area, a famous alpine lake in Hunan. With a vast lake surface, scattered islands and surrounding mountains, you can take a cruise to enjoy the scenery, explore the islands, making it the core area of Youxian's "landscape business card" and leisure vacation.

2-Day Tour of Landscape, Karst Caves and Culture in Youxian

Lake and mountain scenery, karst cave exploration, Zen seeking

Trip Duration
2 Days
Main Destinations
Jiuxian Lake, Youxian Museum, Linggui Peak, Bailong Cave, Xianrenqiao
Suitable For
Nature lovers, karst cave explorers, culture seekers, family travelers, photography enthusiasts
Budget Per Person
¥600-¥1200
Day 1
Lake View Leisure and Cultural Tracing Tour
Jiuxian Lake · Youxian Museum · Linggui Peak
Itinerary Highlights

Enjoy the alpine lake and island scenery at Jiuxian Lake in the morning; explore the museum to trace the historical context of Youxian in the afternoon; climb Linggui Peak in the evening to experience the Zen meaning of the ancient temple and the integration of city and scenery.

Attraction Arrangement
Jiuxian Lake
National 4A-level scenic area, built on the Jiubujiang Reservoir, with a lake surface area of 11.2 square kilometers and a storage capacity of 300 million cubic meters. There are more than 30 large and small islands in the lake, and the surrounding peaks compete for beauty, known as "the most beautiful lake in Hunan". You can take a cruise to shuttle between the islands, climb Luoxing Island to view the lake scenery, experience water bikes, fishing and other projects, with supporting homestays and characteristic restaurants around.
Youxian Museum
A comprehensive local museum with a collection of more than 2,000 cultural relics, featuring exhibition halls such as "General History of Youxian", "Folk Culture" and "Revolutionary Memory". It systematically shows the development of Youxian from ancient times to modern times through Shang and Zhou bronze wares, Ming and Qing porcelain, modern revolutionary cultural relics, etc., especially featuring the display of intangible cultural heritage such as "Youxian Dried Tofu Making Skills".
Linggui Peak
A landmark scenic area in Youxian County, named for its mountain shape like a spiritual turtle, with an altitude of 110 meters. There are Linggui Temple (founded in the Tang Dynasty, existing rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty), Guanyin Hall, viewing platform, etc. in the mountain. The ancient temple is built against the mountain with strong incense. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the panoramic view of Youxian County. In the evening, the sunset glow reflects and the river wind blows, making it a peaceful place to experience the "integration of city and temple".
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Jiuxian Lake is about 40 kilometers from Youxian County seat, there is a tourist special line directly from the county bus station (about 1 hour), self-driving takes about 50 minutes
  • Youxian Museum is located in the county seat, take bus No.1 or No.3 to Cultural Center Station and get off
  • Linggui Peak is about 2 kilometers from the county center, accessible on foot or by bus No.5
  • The starting price of taxis in the county is about 6 yuan, self-driving or chartered car is recommended between scenic spots
Ticket Information
  • Jiuxian Lake: ¥80 per person (including ticket + cruise ship)
  • Youxian Museum: Free (registration required for entry)
  • Linggui Peak: Free (voluntary donation for temple incense tickets)
Food Recommendations
  • Youxian Dried Tofu
  • Youxian Rice Noodles
  • Jiuxian Lake Organic Fish
  • Youxian Spotted Duck
  • Dried Pork
Day 2
Karst Cave Exploration and Wonder Seeking Tour
Bailong Cave · Xianrenqiao
Itinerary Highlights

Explore Bailong Cave to see the karst cave wonders of 100 million years in the morning; visit Xianrenqiao to enjoy the natural stone bridge and canyon scenery in the afternoon, and end the trip to Youxian.

Attraction Arrangement
Bailong Cave
National 3A-level scenic area, a typical karst cave formed about 300 million years ago. The cave is more than 3,000 meters long, with more than 20 landscapes such as "White Dragon Coming Out of the Cave", "Dragon Palace Hall" and "Underwater World". The stalactites are in various shapes and crystal clear, especially the "Hai Ding Shen Zhen" (17-meter-high stone pillar) and "Dragon Palace Umbrella" (rare stone curtain group) are the most famous. The cave temperature is constant at 18℃, cool all year round.
Xianrenqiao (Immortal Bridge)
A natural stone arch bridge landscape, one of the core scenic spots of Jiubujiang Geopark. The stone bridge has a span of about 50 meters, a height of about 60 meters and a width of about 10 meters, a natural wonder formed by 100 million years of crustal movement. Under the bridge is a deep canyon with gurgling streams and dense surrounding forests. There are viewing platforms and hiking trails, allowing you to experience the uncanny workmanship of nature up close.
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Bailong Cave is about 70 kilometers from Youxian County seat, self-driving is recommended (about 1.5 hours) or take a minibus to Luoshan Town from the county seat (about 2 hours)
  • Xianrenqiao is about 10 kilometers from Bailong Cave, accessible by taxi (about ¥20) or self-driving (about 20 minutes)
  • Both scenic spots have parking lots, charging ¥5 per car
  • You can take the return minibus at the entrance of Bailong Cave Scenic Area to return to the county seat, the last bus is at 17:30
Ticket Information
  • Bailong Cave: ¥60 per person (including tour guide explanation)
  • Xianrenqiao: ¥50 per person
  • Karst cave exploration equipment rental: ¥30 per set (optional)
Travel Tips
  • Bailong Cave is wet and slippery, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes and follow the tour guide's route
  • Xianrenqiao Canyon is deep, some sections are steep, please pay attention to safety and take care of children
  • Do not use flash when taking photos in the cave to avoid damaging the stalactites
  • It is recommended to bring mosquito repellent when going in summer, as there are many mosquitoes in the mountainous area

Must-Try Food in Youxian

Youxian Dried Tofu

National geographical indication product, the most renowned characteristic food in Youxian. Made of local soybeans and mountain spring water, fermented by traditional techniques, with tight texture and rich bean flavor. The classic method is stir-fried dried tofu with green peppers, salty, fresh and slightly spicy, with chewy taste, a classic representative of Hunan cuisine, available in all restaurants in Youxian.

Youxian Rice Noodles

Traditional breakfast in Youxian, made of local indica rice, the rice noodles are smooth and flexible, not mushy after long cooking. Served with bone soup and toppings (such as beef, mixed sauce, three delicacies), sprinkled with scallions and chili, with fresh soup and smooth noodles, an essential daily food for Youxian people. You can experience various flavors at the "Rice Noodle Street" in the county seat.

Jiuxian Lake Organic Fish

Specialty of Jiuxian Lake, mainly grass carp and male fish naturally growing in the reservoir, with tight and tender meat and no earthy smell. There are various cooking methods, mainly steamed with chopped chili, boiled, fried, especially "one fish with multiple eats" (fish head hot pot, fish meat balls, stir-fried fish miscellaneous), which is the signature of farmhouses around Jiuxian Lake, reflecting the original flavor of lake fresh food.

Youxian Spotted Duck

Traditional poultry in Youxian, named for its spotted feathers, with tight meat and delicious taste. Classic methods include ginger stir-fried spotted duck and beer duck, with crispy and rotten duck meat and rich sauce flavor, a must-have hard dish for local banquets. Salted eggs made from its duck eggs are also a characteristic product.

Youxian Tourism Tips
Best Travel Time
  • Spring (March-May): Mountain flowers bloom around Jiuxian Lake, suitable for spring outing and lake tour
  • Summer (June-August): Cool inside the cave, suitable for summer vacation, can experience water projects
  • Autumn (September-November): Clear sky and fresh air, the canyon of Xianrenqiao is covered with dyed forests, perfect for photography
  • Winter (December-February): Fewer tourists, can visit the cave and ancient temple quietly, feel the tranquility
Must-Experience Activities
  • Take a cruise to the island at Jiuxian Lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery
  • See the "Hai Ding Shen Zhen" at Bailong Cave and listen to the cave legends
  • Watch the panoramic view of the county seat in the evening at Linggui Peak and feel the Zen meaning of the ancient temple
  • Hike the canyon at Xianrenqiao to see the natural stone bridge up close
  • Taste authentic Youxian dried tofu and rice noodles to experience the taste of Youxian
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: ¥200-300 (including major scenic spot tickets and cruise ship)
  • Catering: ¥150-250 (including characteristic food)
  • Accommodation: ¥180-400 (county hotel or Jiuxian Lake homestay)
  • Transportation: ¥100-300 (including transportation within the county and between scenic spots)
  • Total: ¥600-1200
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can I camp at Jiuxian Lake? → Camping is allowed in designated areas of the scenic spot, advance reservation and venue fee (¥50 per tent) are required
  • How long does it take to visit Bailong Cave? → About 1.5 hours for the whole journey, led by a tour guide, do not act alone
  • Where to taste the most authentic Youxian dried tofu? → Time-honored restaurants such as "Laojie Restaurant" in the county seat and "Hupan Renjia" at Jiuxian Lake have a good reputation
  • Is transportation between scenic spots convenient? → Self-driving or chartered car is recommended, the frequency of minibuses between some scenic spots is low (about 1-2 hours per shift)