Things to do in Xiangyang
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Xiangyang
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring is a best window, mild and green, with the wall and Gulongzhong hills at their best outside May Day.
Hot, humid summer with plum rain, best for Adventure Bay, Wudaoxia rafting from June, evening programmes and crayfish.
Autumn is the single best season, with cooler air and superb river light, but National Day week in early October is crowded.
Cold, damp and quiet winter, lowest prices and hot springs at their best, except the busy Spring Festival period.
What's on
- Zhuge Liang Cultural Tourism Festival autumn, often around September, dates set yearly
The city flagship festival for its Three Kingdoms heritage, confirm the current year programme before building a trip on it.
- Spring Festival lantern celebrations January or February, lunar new year
Lantern and temple fair style celebrations in the ancient city and special night programmes at Tangcheng.
- Mid-Autumn Festival at Tangcheng September or October, lunar
Special night programmes at Tangcheng, for which visitor reports specifically recommend the night session.
- Dragon Boat Festival on the Han River May or June, lunar
River activities on the Han around the Dragon Boat Festival.
Best things to do in Xiangyang
Xiangyang Ancient City Wall
Walk or cycle a Ming wall above the widest moat in Asia, then stay for the lights reflecting in the water after dark.
Ancient Longzhong
Zhuge Liang farmed here for a decade before the three visits that led to the Longzhong Plan and the Three Kingdoms.
The City of Tang Dynasty
A full Tang Dynasty film city to wander and enter, best on the night session with hanfu rental and evening shows.
Xiangyang Museum (New Building)
The free museum that explains why this Han River fortress mattered for two thousand years, strong on inscribed bronzes.
Mi Fu Memorial Temple
Quiet courtyards preserving the engraved calligraphy of Northern Song master Mi Fu, who called Xiangyang home.
North Street
The old city spine from Zhaoming Terrace to Linhan Gate, best walked at dusk as the snack stalls and lights come on.
Xiangwang Palace and the Green Shadow Wall
A vast green glazed dragon screen wall, the great survival of the Ming Prince of Xiang palace inside the old city.
Xijia Pond
A free, peaceful pond garden with Han Dynasty roots, the calm prelude to an afternoon and night at Tangcheng nearby.
Where to stay in Xiangyang
Xiangcheng Ancient City
first visits, sightseeing and atmosphere
Inside or just outside the wall, with North Street, Guanjia Lane and the moat walkable and Tangcheng a short ride away.
Fancheng, Zhuge Liang Square and Wanda
modern comfort, shopping and longer stays
The commercial centre with the widest hotel choice, big breakfasts and Mi Fu Temple, ten minutes by car from the wall.
Xiangzhou, East Station and OCT Fabland
theme park families and rail logistics only
Handy for Fantasy Valley and the high speed station, but about 14 km from the ancient city and thin in the evening.
Think twice about
- Tangcheng surroundings
Desolate once the park closes, with little to eat or do. Visit Tangcheng at night, sleep in Xiangcheng.
- Xiangyang East Station and OCT district as a general base
Fine for the theme parks, but far from the ancient city and quiet at night for a general visit.
- Xiangyang Station immediate perimeter
A busy station environment of touts and traffic. Pass through it, and sleep near Zhuge Liang Square instead.
Best restaurants in Xiangyang
Zhangjia Beef Noodle Restaurant
The proven first morning bowl of Xiangyang beef noodles with beef oil, garlic and a small bowl of yellow wine.
North Street
Graze brown sugar cakes, crispy rice and potstickers along the old city street, closing with clear soup wontons at night.
Shan Ya Ya
Trip.Best top local table for Tujia and Xiangyang speciality dishes, the sit down shared dinner to book in the city.
King of Ducklip
A twenty year Xiangyang speciality restaurant built around its signature Han River ducklip fish, best shared by a group.
Hongwafang Restaurant
A relaxed traditional restaurant for Xiangyang home style dishes, river fish and fish cake near the ancient city.
Crayfish King
The named summer crayfish specialist, trays of garlic and mala crayfish eaten with gloves and beer by a group.
Signature Dish Chinese Restaurant
Hotel banquet Chinese dining in private rooms, the ceiling tier in Xiangyang for a composed special occasion dinner.
Cafe 11 All Day Dining Restaurant
The documented top band all day hotel restaurant, a Western breakfast and familiar dishes when travellers need a pause.
Best coffee in Xiangyang
Guanjia Lane
Courtyard cafes and teahouses in the restored lane inside the walls, the gentle afternoon pause between wall and evening.
Outdoor things to do in Xiangyang
Yuliangzhou Island
The Han River island of sand beaches, lawns and cycling loops where Xiangyang families spend summer evenings.
Xinshenyun Hanjiang River Cruise
A night cruise past the illuminated wall and bridges, the finest seat in the city for Xiangyang after dark.
Xiangyang City Moat
Cycle the wall top then loop the moat and Han River greenways at ground level for the full scale of the defences.
Wudang Mountain
A UNESCO Taoist mountain of Ming palaces and a gilded summit hall, worth an overnight rather than a rushed day trip.
Chunqiu Village Scenic Area
A fortified ancient stone village on a ridge above clear gorge water, a countryside car day south of the city.
Wudaoxia Scenic Area
A forested gorge of waterfalls and pools with summer rafting from June, the wilder southern excursion from Xiangyang.
Yunhai Hot Spring
A large indoor and outdoor hot spring resort, the winter and rainy day soak after a cold day on the city wall.
Best hotels in Xiangyang
InterContinental Xiangyang
The city flagship luxury hotel near the ancient city, with the strongest breakfast and concierge in Xiangyang.
Crowne Plaza Xiangyang
A full service base by Wanda in Fancheng with a big breakfast and strong family facilities at a mid range price.
Hampton by Hilton Xiangyang
A newer select service Hilton in the Wanda district, praised for large rooms, workspace lighting and its sky garden.
Ramada Hotel
A large roomed full service hotel on Tanxi Road with easy parking, laundry floors and a breakfast with real beef noodles.
Vienna Hotel Xiangfan Zhongyuan Road
A clean, predictable Chinese chain hotel on Zhongyuan Road at a fraction of international chain prices.
Luyin Homestay
A small homestay inside the walls, for waking in the empty old city and walking Guanjia Lane before day visitors arrive.
Is Xiangyang expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | CN¥180 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | CN¥380 a person |
| Splurge | CN¥900 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Ancient Longzhong: a few days ahead
- The City of Tang Dynasty: a few days ahead
- Xiangyang Museum (New Building): a few days ahead
- Fantasy Valley: a few days ahead
- Xinshenyun Hanjiang River Cruise: a few days ahead
- Wudang Mountain: weeks ahead
- Yunhai Hot Spring: a few days ahead
- InterContinental Xiangyang: weeks ahead
- Buy Tangcheng night tickets at least a day ahead online, a day ticket does not carry into the night session.
- Reserve the free Xiangyang Museum slot with your passport and remember its Monday closure.
- Book OCT Fabland and Yunhai Hot Spring a day ahead online for lower prices than the gate.
- Book top hotels early only for Spring Festival, National Day and major festival periods.
Is Xiangyang safe?
- Swim only in designated supervised areas at Yuliangzhou, never in the moat, the Han is wide, deep and fast.
- Wall access is stairs only with an exposed parapet and lighting off around 22.00, carry water in summer.
- Do not drink tap water, and go easy on rich beef noodle broth and yellow wine before climbing at Gulongzhong.
- Emergency numbers are 110 for police, 120 for ambulance and 119 for fire.
Xiangyang travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The Tangcheng day ticket expires in the late afternoon, so buying it for an evening visit wastes a second payment.
- Agree hanfu rental totals, deposit and return time before changing, and watch for unpriced photography add ons.
- Buy Da Tou Cai, Kongming cai and yellow wine in a supermarket or Fancheng shop, not at North Street tourist prices.
- A busy beef noodle shop at 7.30am beats a famous shop at noon, do not cross the city for a single hyped bowl.
Getting around Xiangyang: public transport and more
- Check whether your train uses Xiangyang East high speed station or the older Xiangyang Station in Fancheng, they are far apart.
- Use Didi and taxis for cross river and cross city rides, and bus 512 for Gulongzhong and the old city.
- Walk the ancient city, North Street and the moat as one unit, and use shared bikes for Yuliangzhou and the riverbank.
- There is no metro, and rush hours and rainy days make cars slower to secure.
Who Xiangyang suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Xiangyang your trip
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