About
Hengyang is a city in southern Hunan Province, in China. It serves as a gateway to Hengshan Mountain, one of the Five Great Mountains of China, which makes it a natural base for travellers whose main interest lies in the surrounding landscape and its sacred associations. The city is also written 衡阳 in Chinese characters.
What the visit offers
Most visitors come to Hengyang with the mountain in mind. Hengshan lies within reach of the city, and reaching it is the main reason many people make the journey. Hengyang itself gives travellers a working Chinese city to explore alongside the excursion, with the everyday life, food and street scenes of southern Hunan.
Planning your trip
- Treat Hengyang as a base for a day or more, with Hengshan as the focus of the trip.
- Allow time to look around the city between visits to the mountain.
- Check travel arrangements to the mountain in advance, since the city is the starting point for the journey.
Hengyang suits travellers who enjoy mountain scenery and a less crowded side of China. If the mountain and its setting appeal to you, the city is a practical and worthwhile place to stay while you explore it.