Recently, the 2026 National Excellent Cases of Summer Escape and Leisure Tourism were released, with a total of 45 cases selected. Hunan Province's "Hengshan Cool Wellness Tour" was listed among the cases of "Featured Route Design for Summer Escape and Leisure Tourism". 

The Hengshan Cool Wellness Tour in Hengyang City stretches approximately 150 kilometers. The 4-day, 3-night itinerary connects more than 10 high-quality cultural and tourism destinations, integrating ecological summer escape, red study tours, and forest wellness with rural leisure. With its diverse range of experiences, the tour is well-suited for team-building activities and themed educational programs, as well as for family travelers seeking a relaxed yet immersive learning journey filled with fun and discovery. 

Hengshan Mountain. (Photo provided by the Nanyue District Bureau of Tourism.)

The journey begins at the Bamboo Forest Mountain House, nestled at the foot of Hengshan Mountain and surrounded by bamboo forests. With fresh air, the homestay serves as a natural oxygen bar for summer escape, setting the tone for a journey focusing on wellness. Next, visitors proceed to the Former Residence of Tang Qunying to pay respects to the life and legacy of "a great feminist pioneer" and gain insight into the spirit of the female revolutionary. The tour then continues to the Yuebei Red Scenic Area, where travelers can explore the former site of Hunan's first peasant and workers' union and review the history of the worker-peasant revolution.

Zigai Peak Cultural and Tourism Area. (Photo provided by the scenic area)

The tour then proceeds to Huaguoshan Scenic Area, which combines Danxia landforms with "Journey to the West"-themed attractions to create a family-friendly summer retreat. From there, visitors move on to the Zigai Peak Cultural and Tourism Area, stay in a cliffside homestay—No. 5 Valley to enjoy infinity pools, starlight camping, and Zen meditation and yoga sessions, and immerse themselves in breathtaking high-altitude views of cloud seas. This offers the ultimate summer wellness getaway.

The journey continues to the Wild Berry Valley, where visitors can wander through vast bamboo forests, pick fresh wild fruits, and admire the thousand-year-old Chinese yew trees. Then visitors go to Shuangquan New Village, where they can explore tea gardens, learn about the culture of happiness and longevity, and experience the cool, slow-paced rural life. Next, visitors can visit the Hunan Peasant Movement Red Tourism Scenic Area. 

Hengshandu Folk Culture Block. (Photo provided by Hengshan County Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports)

After leaving Kangwang Temple, visitors arrive at Hengshandu Folk Culture Block, where they can taste authentic Hengshan snacks and experience the lively summer night atmosphere. The route then passes through Yonghe Township, with stops at Tuwu Peak and Dayuandu, where travelers can pick seasonal fruits and enjoy the refreshing coolness of the pastoral landscape.

Afterward, visitors can head to Xuanzhou Wetland Park to observe migratory birds and enjoy the wetland scenery, take a stroll through Xuanzhou Ancient Town to explore thousand-year-old streets, and visit ancient ancestral halls and lanes, experiencing the coolness and ancient charm of the water town. 

The sunrise over the Jiuguan Lake. (Photo provided by Hengshan County Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports)

The final stop is Jiuguan Lake Water Conservancy Scenic Area, where visitors can cycle around the lake, take a boat ride to enjoy the panoramic views, and stay overnight at Jinying Villa, wrapping up the summer wellness tour at this high-mountain fresh-air retreat.

If you're not too busy on weekends, take a trip to Hengyang and find your own coolness amid the mountain breeze.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism