5 Days in Huaihua

Thirty-five km west, the 1947 archway records the August 1945 surrender talks; the Flying Tigers museum beside the 1930s airfield documents the US air units stationed here through the war years.

1. huaihua zhijiang surrender memorial
2. huaihua flying tigers museum

The 250-meter wind-rain bridge, first raised in the 1590s and rebuilt in recent decades, still carries market traffic — walk it slowly, then a riverside lunch of Zhijiang duck.

1. huaihua longjin bridge

At the Wu-Shui confluence about 50 km from downtown, Qianyang's county town claims 2,200-plus years of walls; the Furong Tower honors Wang Changling, the Tang poet posted here as Longbiao magistrate.

1. huaihua qianyang old city
2. huaihua furong tower

Seventy km southeast at the Yuan-Wu confluence, the old port keeps 380-plus Qing and Republican buildings — banks, oil houses and escort-agency courtyards strung along flagstone lanes.

1. huaihua hongjiang merchant town

An hour and a half south in Huitong county, Gaoyi's Ming-Qing courtyards line the Wushui river; the city museum on the way back closes the trip before the train.

1. huaihua gaoyi village
2. huaihua city museum