A Complete Guide to the Off-the-Beaten-Path Small Town Zhijiang

! I’ve discovered a hidden gem!✨ Zhijiang in Huaihua, Hunan, a small town so off the radar that you can barely find any guides online, got me super excited this summer!💥 To be honest... I haven’t seen such an authentic place full of local life in years... ✅ Few people! Beautiful scenery! Free admission! Perfect for avoiding crowds ✅ Maximum local vibe, all residents here, tourists are rare visitors ✅ Wind and Rain Bridge, Stilt Houses, Dong Drum Tower... This isn’t tourism, it’s like stepping into a time-travel mystery drama!🙌 【📸 Stunning spots that will blow up your social feed】 1️⃣ Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge 📍Address: Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province ⏰Opening Hours: April-October 7:00-18:00 | November-March 7:30-17:30 The world’s longest Wind and Rain Bridge! Free entry, the bridge is full of locals strolling, playing chess, and selling goods, prices are unbelievably low! In the evening, watch the elderly bathing in the Wushui River under the bridge—instant local happiness!～ 2️⃣ Suozi Street Stilt Houses A 1km-long old street, narrow alleys + red lanterns, when the lights come on at dusk, their reflections on the water look just like a miniature Fenghuang Ancient Town! The best part? No! Commercial! Development! Just pure authentic local life～🎆 3️⃣ Wanhe Drum Tower 📍Address: 100 meters east of Longjin Road, Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City A Dong ethnic architectural gem, wearing traditional costumes here makes for amazing photos! Right by the Wushui River, every snap is a social media hit～💃 4️⃣ Zhijiang Confucian Temple Free! Qing Dynasty plaques are well preserved, so quiet it feels forgotten by time. The ground is all bluestone slabs, walking here feels like traveling through history～ 5️⃣ War of Resistance Surrender Memorial Hall (Closed on Mondays) 📍Address: West side of National Highway 320, Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province ⏰Hours: 9:00-17:30 (summer) / 17:00 (winter) A must-visit for history buffs, immerse yourself in the powerful moment of the War of Resistance victory. When I saw the surrender wall, I got goosebumps! 【🍜 Foodie Perks Time】 ✔️ Zhijiang Duck: Liao Ji Restaurant, Ga Xiao Huang yyds! ✔️ Dong Ancient Radish Pickles: 5 yuan for a big bag, sour and crunchy, so addictive it’s gone in no time! ✔️ Erzhong Random Dishes: The name is so straightforward! But the food is explosively good, said to have lines every day at this local hidden gem～ 【🚗 How to Spend 3 Days and 2 Nights】 DAY1: Longjin Wind and Rain Bridge → Erzhong Random Dishes → Suozi Street → Tianhou Palace → Liao Ji Restaurant DAY2: Confucian Temple → Wanhe Drum Tower → Surrender Memorial Hall DAY3: 📍Yutou Ancient Dong Village, Tongdao 📍Address: Yutou Village, Shuangjiang Town, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province ⏰Hours: 8:00-17:30 A very pristine Dong village, not overdeveloped, with aunties still wearing traditional costumes and occasional folk performances～ 【💡 Essential Tips】 1️⃣ High-speed rail goes directly to Zhijiang Station, the county is small and charming, you can explore the whole town by walking and shared electric scooters 2️⃣ Stay near the Wind and Rain Bridge, an evening stroll along the river is so relaxing To be honest... Zhijiang is one of those “hope it gets popular but also fear it gets too popular” treasure places... Before tourists take over, make your plans now!!!