Photo exhibit: Alluring, ancient Xiangxi

The picturesque cities of Zhangjiajie, Huaihua, Shaoyang and Changde cities and surroundings in western Hunan province, or the Xiangxi region, are considered a "golden route" for tourism due to their scenery, culture and history, said local officials.

As well, Fenghuang, or phoenix, is "the farthest from the public and nearest to the heart", according to New Zealand author Rewi Alley, who also wrote that it "is one of the two most beautiful towns in China".

The country's first ancient commercial town Hongjiang, which was vibrant as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), still has an array of well-preserved ancient buildings dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.