Hunan Province, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in southern China, is named “Hunan” due to its location south of Dongting Lake and is abbreviated as “Xiang” after the Xiang River, which flows through the entire province. Hunan has a rich history, with evidence of human activity dating back over 400,000 years. Archaeologists have excavated three tombs from the Western Han Dynasty at Mawangdui in Changsha, uncovering thousands of historical artifacts. These findings are crucial for the study of the Western Han period’s culture and history, and they also attract many tourists to Changsha today.

In addition to its archaeological treasures, Hunan is home to the picturesque Fenghuang Ancient Town in the west and Zhangjiajie, which gained global fame as the filming location for James Cameron’s movie Avatar.

Hunan’s ethnic minorities are primarily concentrated in the remote areas of western, southern, and eastern Hunan. Each minority group has its own language, customs, and religious beliefs. Particularly in the Xiangxi region, which includes Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Zhangjiajie, and Changde, ethnic minorities make up more than half of the province’s population. The unique cultural practices and traditions of these communities have become one of the province’s most notable attractions for visitors.