Travel more: Biancheng — Border town depicted in literature

Many people associate the central Chinese province of Hunan with the birthplace of Mao Zedong, the principal architect of the People's Republic of China, while others may think of the well-known tourist attractions of Zhangjiajie or Fenghuang Ancient Town.

But there's still so much to discover in Hunan. Many places that were previously off the main path or cut off from the outside world now provide fresh inspiration for travelers thanks to the growth of rural tourism. Among them is Biancheng Township.

Biancheng Township is situated in the Hunan Province of central China's Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, within Huayuan County.

Biancheng, which means literally "border town," shares boundaries with Guizhou Province to the south and Chongqing to the west. It gained notoriety due to a novel that has the same name as the municipality. The novel, written by Shen Congwen, one of the best modern Chinese writers, chronicles the narrative of a peasant girl named Cuicui's love story and was nominated twice for the Nobel Prize in Literature. The novel's depiction of a beautiful scenery, an idyllic lifestyle, and humanity has drawn many tourists from all over the world.

An aerial view of Hunan Province's Biancheng Township in central China.

Nature and the people that live there have coexisted peacefully for ages. Not only does it have endlessly captivating beauty, but the majority of the ethnic groups are Tujia and Miao, who practice simple folk customs and hospitality.

The historic city walls, which have stood as testimonies to its former splendor since antiquity, are still visible to visitors. There's no better place to find peace and quiet than on a boat ride, where the serene river water reflects the surrounding bridges and buildings.

Visitors can take a boat trip for sightseeing.

The best time to visit is summer and autumn. To go there, take a train to Jishou Railway Station and the destination is about an hour drive away from the station.