Going on road trips may be a wise choice during Spring Festival travel rush. The following suggested self-drive itineraries will help you discover a colorful Hunan.

Driving Tour No. 1: Huaihua

Itinerary: 3 days and 2 nights

Driving route:

Changsha—Changsha-Shaoshan-Loudi Expressway (provincial highway S50)—Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway (national highway G55)—Loudi-Huaihua Expressway (provincial highway S70) via Lianyuan Hub—leave the expressway at Xupu Toll Station—provincial highway S224—Tongxihe Town—Chuanyanshan National Forest Park

When in Huaihua, you may enjoy the following events:

Lantern Show;

2018 Hongjiang Spring Festival Cultural and Tourism Celebrations (Feb. 16-Mar. 2);

Xinghuang dragon dance and Teng Gong contest (Mar. 1 -2);

China (Hongjiang) Xuefeng Mountain Ice and Snow Festival;

Qianyang Spring Festival Folk Culture Festival;

2018 Dong ethnic group (Feb.16-19);

2018 Huaihua Mountain Climbing and Blessing Gathering;

Spring Festival Folk Activities in Gaoyi Ancient Village (Feb. 10-Mar. 5); and,

Tongdao’s New Year Celebrations.

Driving Tour No. 2: Xiangxi

Itinerary: 3 days and 2 nights

Driving route:

Changsha—Zhangjiajie-Changsha Expressway (national highway G5513)—Zhangjiajie-Huayuan Expressway (provincial highway S10)—leave the expressway at east Furong Town—Laosicheng Site—join the expressway at Yongshun—township road 030—provincial highway 230—Longshan-Jishou Expressway (provincial highway S99)—leave the expressway at Furong Town—Furong Town

When in Xiangxi, you may enjoy the following events:

Dehang Miao’s New Year Celebrations in Jishou

Yongshun Tujia’s New Year

Huayuan Shibadong Spring Festival Shopping Festival

2018 New Year Celebrations in Jishou

Qianzhou Lantern Festival in Jishou

Qianzhou Spring Festival Shopping Festival

Huayuan Miao’s New Year

Driving Tour No. 3: Yueyang

Itinerary: 3 days and 2 nights

Located at western Yueyang City, it stands on a platform (covering a total area of 820 sqm) on the ancient city gate tower.

Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, is located in northeastern Hunan Province.

Surrounded by water, the picturesque Junshan Island is covered by green bamboos and trees.

Located in east Junshan Island, the hall is one of the oldest memorial buildings in Hunan.

Driving route:

Changsha—Changsha-Liuyang Expressway (provincial highway S20)—Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway (national highway G4)—leave the expressway at Rongjiawan Town—provincial highway 201—national highway 107—provincial highway 306—Yueyang Tower—relief road of provincial highway 306—Dongting Avenue—Junshan Island

When in Yueyang, you may enjoy the following events:

Lantern show at Yueyang Tower Scenic Spot

Flower fair at Nanhu Longshan Botanical Garden (Feb. 15-Mar.2)

First Yueyang Dongting Custom Lion and Dragon Dance Competition

7th Hunan (Yueyang) Bianhe Street Spring Festival Temple Fair

Hunan "Taigushi" (carry stories) Performances (Changle Town)

Note: "Taigushi" listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011, is a folk performance during which children dressed up as heroes and heroines in traditional Chinese fairy tales and local operas, perform on planks carried by adults.

Junshan Spring Festival Traditions (Junshan District)

Zhang Guying Village Folk Activities (Yueyang County)

Yangsha Lake Lantern Show (Feb. 9 – Mar. 2, Xiangyin County)

Lantern Festival Celebrations (Huarong County)

Driving Tour No. 4: Changde

Itinerary: 3 days and 2 nights 

Liuye Lake is named after its shape that resembles a willow leaf.

The town is a cultural park integrating food, accommodation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment.

Driving route:

Changsha—Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway (national highway G5513)—Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway (national highway G55)—leave the expressway at Changde Toll Station—Dongting Avenue—Changde Avenue—Changde Liuye Lake Tourist Resort—Dongting Avenue—join the expressway at Changde Toll Station—Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway (national highway G55)—Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway (national highway G5513)—leave the expressway at Taoyuan Toll Station—national highway 319—Taohuayuan Scenic Spot

When in Changde, you may enjoy the following events:

Laoximen Spring Festival activities

Lantern Festival at Changde Hejie Street (Mar. 2)

Spring Festival Celebrations in Taohuayuan Ancient Town (blind date; parent-child party; reunion dinner; intangible cultural heritage exhibition; cosplay; blessings given by ‘the God of Wealth’)

Lantern Festival Gala (Taohuayuan Ancient Town)