Huaihua, also known as “Hecheng” and referred to as “Hezhou” or “Wuxi” in ancient times, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province. Located in the southwestern part of the province, it nestles between Wuling and Xuefeng Mountains, residing in the transitional zone between the subtropical Sichuan-Hubei-Hunan-Guizhou climatic region and the southern climatic region. As of the end of 2023, Huaihua administered 13 counties, county-level cities, and districts (including 1 administrative district), one national-level high-tech industrial development zone, and one international land port economic development zone, covering a total area of 27,600 square kilometers.

Huaihua has been known as the “Gateway to Guizhou and Yunnan” and the “Throat of the Whole Chu Area” since ancient times. It has witnessed the strategic transfer of the marching direction of the Red Army in Tongdao in 1934 and the acceptance of the Japanese surrender in 1945. As the birthplace of the hybrid rice, Huaihua is a national comprehensive transportation hub and an important node city for jointly constructing the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, the International Land-Sea Corridor Facing the Indian Ocean as well as for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. It has been approved as a national logistics hub for trade and commerce services and a national comprehensive circulation pivot city. Relying on the Huaihua International Land Port, Huaihua has opened up four major international corridors, linking the city with Laos PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar, established cooperation with four major seaports, and handled 1,009 international freight trains, completing the goal set by the provincial government two years ahead of schedule. The China-Laos freight trains launched from Huaihua ranked first in central China.

Huaihua boasts a long history and profound culture. The Gaomiao Relics dates back to 7,800 years ago, making it one of the crucial birthplaces of farming civilization in southern China. The great patriotic poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC) was exiled to the Yuan River basin in Huaihua, where he composed immortal masterpieces, such as Crossing the River and Li Sao (The Lament). The Tang dynasty poet Wang Changling (698-756) penned timeless verses like “Though separated by a mountain, we’ll share the same clouds and rain; the bright moon belongs not to a single town.” The entire city is a revolutionary base area and the hometown of prominent figures like Xiang Jingyu, Su Yu and Teng Daiyuan. With the largest number of traditional villages in Hunan Province, Huaihua is renowned both at home and abroad for attractions like Zhonghua Book Mountain, Tongdao Red Army Long March Transfer Memorial, Zhijiang Memorial Hall of the Victory of the Anti-Japanese War and the Acceptance of the Japanese Surrender, Anjiang Agricultural School Hybrid Rice Memorial Park, Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town, and Yutou Ancient Dong Village. Huaihua with numerous scenic spots and historical sites is a charming land that keep tourists lingering on.

(Translated by Yang Hong)