Since ancient times, Hengyang has been renowned for its rich cultural atmosphere and the emergence of numerous talents. Historical figures such as Jiang Wan, a minister who assisted the Shu Kingdom, Cai Lun, the inventor of papermaking, Wang Fuzhi (also known as Wang Chuanshan), a prominent thinker, and Peng Yulin, the commander of the Xiang Army's naval forces, all hail from this region.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhou Dunyi's "Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate" initiated the theory of Neo-Confucianism, proposing significant views on the origin of the universe and profoundly influencing the formation and development of the Huxiang School. The Huxiang School is one of the four major schools of Neo-Confucianism during the Song and Ming dynasties, and the rise of Hunan culture is deeply rooted in the spread of the Huxiang School and the nurturing of Huxiang culture. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Wang Fuzhi (Wang Chuanshan, courtesy name Ernong), along with Gu Yanwu and Huang Zongxi, were collectively known as the three great thinkers. His strong sense of national consciousness left a deep impact on later generations. The image of a scholar "wearing wooden clogs and holding an oil-paper umbrella, refusing to bow to the Qing sky or tread on Qing soil" vividly expressed his loyalty to the Ming Dynasty. Tan Sitong praised him as "the only scholar in five hundred years who truly understood the world," and lauded his thoughts as "unparalleled in history." Although Wang Fuzhi has passed away, his legacy remains in the form of the "Xiangxi Thatched Cottage" in Qulan Township, Hengyang County, and the "Wang Fuzhi Tomb" on Daluo Mountain, which are open for visitors to pay their respects.

Hengyang is home to many other famous historical sites, such as the "Former Residence of Marshal Luo Ronghuan" in Nanwan Village, Ronghuan Township, Hengdong County, the "Former Residence of Zeng Guofan," and the "Former Residence of Xia Minghan" in Hongshi. With its abundant cultural resources, Hengyang can integrate tourism centered around Mount Heng (Nanyue) pilgrimage, along with other industrial tourism, to form a comprehensive regional tourism experience. The planning and construction of cultural areas like Shigu further provide opportunities to create diverse tourism formats and establish strong connections with surrounding regions.

During the long revolutionary struggle, the Xiangnan Student Union in Hengyang produced a large number of revolutionary figures, including Xia Minghan, Jiang Xianyun, Huang Jingyuan, Zeng Zhongsheng, Chen Weiren, Wu Yunfu, Zhang Jichun, He Baozhen, Guan Zhonglian, Mao Zejian, Jiang Hua, Huang Kecheng, and Tang Tianji.

Today, the nostalgia of Qiong Yao, a famous writer, is evident in her writings, as she fondly remembers "Hengyang Road" in Taipei. The "Poetry Devil" Luo Fu once said, "I am not a coward; I am from Hengyang!" Renowned writer Long Yingtai remarked, "Hengyang is my eternal dreamland." Photographer Chen Changfen expressed, "I am guarding my homeland, Hengyang." Former National Sports Commission Director Wu Shaozu stated, "My roots are in Hengyang." Painter Zhong Zengya proudly declared, "I am proud to be a Hengyang native."

Additionally, a large number of Huxiang cultural celebrities, such as Ma Jigao, Bai Shuxiang, Zi Huazhu, Teng Wensheng, Long Xinmin, Tang Haoming, Guan Chufei, Wang Zhi, Xie Lisi, Wu Yujuan, Li Li (known as the "Zhang Haidi of Hunan"), and Tan Qianqiu (a hero of the earthquake relief efforts), have also contributed to the region's cultural heritage. Hengyang is also a cradle of sports champions, with world champions like Li Jing, Ling Jie, Liu Yuxiang, and Luo Xihe, who defeated the "Stone Buddha" Lee Chang-ho, all hailing from Hengyang.

Today, Hengyang Ancient City has been designated as one of the first batch of historical and cultural cities in Hunan Province, and the province's "Tenth Five-Year Plan" for tourism development has identified Hengyang as a key city for cultural tourism. By leveraging "Red Tourism" centered around the former residences of great figures, Hengyang aims to promote its status as a "Memorial City of the Anti-Japanese War," along with historical and cultural tourism sites such as the "Hunan Student Union" and "Lu Family New House." Integrating resources between Shigu Academy and Chuanshan Academy, and utilizing the banks of the Xiang River and other water resources, Hengyang plans to innovate thematic elements and create a large tourism circle that effectively connects with surrounding regions. With its excellent cultural landscape and harmonious social atmosphere, Hengyang is building a high-quality cultural brand to expand its urban influence.

The city boasts 11 art performance troupes, 13 public art and cultural centers, 14 public libraries, and 20 museums and memorial halls. There are 7 national-level intangible cultural heritage protection projects and 49 provincial-level ones. Hengyang has 8 radio stations, 16 FM and TV relay stations, 9 TV stations, and 586,000 cable TV subscribers. The city also has 18,487 sports venues, including 7 large stadiums, 1,070 track and field venues, 169 swimming pools, and 329 gyms. In terms of ethnic diversity.

Hengyang is a region with scattered ethnic minority populations. The Tashan Yao Ethnic Township in Changning is the only ethnic township in the city. The primary focus of Hengyang's ethnic work is on the Tashan Yao Ethnic Township and the Hui community in the urban area. The city is home to 42 ethnic minorities, with a total population of 17,800, accounting for 0.25% of the city's total population. The Yao ethnic group, which has a relatively large population, mainly resides in the Tashan Yao Ethnic Township in Changning, while the Hui community is concentrated in the area from Zhuhui District's train station to the airfield. The theme of ethnic work in Hengyang is "unity and common prosperity." The city's ethnic tasks are divided into two main areas: rural ethnic work, which focuses on developing the economy of the Tashan Yao Ethnic Township in Changning, and urban ethnic work, which primarily involves mediating ethnic conflicts in the city. In recent years, ethnic minorities in Hengyang have mainly come from regions such as Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Aba in Sichuan. Currently, there are over 50 Hui Muslim noodle restaurants in the city, some selling lamb skewers and raisins, while others set up stalls selling ethnic medicines and handicrafts. Therefore, strengthening the management and services for ethnic minorities from other regions is increasingly important for promoting ethnic unity and social harmony.

In terms of religion, Hengyang is a key city for religious work in China, characterized by four main features: First, it has a wide range of religious sects and a large number of followers. Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity, and Islam are all present, with 5 municipal-level religious groups and 11 county-level religious groups. There is also one religious institution (the Nanyue Taoist College for Women). The city has 560,000 religious believers, accounting for about 8% of the total population. Second, there is a large number of religious clergy, with a total of 1,002 religious personnel in the city. Third, there are many religious activity sites, with 480 registered religious venues. Among these, 4 are designated as national key religious sites by the State Council, and 15 are approved as key sites by the provincial government. Fourth, there is extensive religious exchange with foreign countries. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, dozens of seminarians from the Huangshawan Catholic Seminary in Hengyang moved to Taiwan, and they are now distributed in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, the United States, and Singapore. More than 10 of these clergy members are still alive and maintain regular contact with the Catholic community in Hengyang. Representatives of Hengyang's religious communities, particularly in Buddhism and Taoism, have frequently traveled to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore for academic exchanges, enhancing Hengyang's religious influence internationally.