Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County are located in the southeast of Chongqing, the center of the Wuling Mountains. It is an important gateway in Chongqing to Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces. The county is a captivating destination for its unique natural landscapes and rich cultural and historical heritage.

Taohuayuan Scenic Area

Youyang celebrates the largest area, the largest minority population, the highest forest coverage rate and the highest average elevation in Chongqing. It is the only region in the city receiving no high-temperature subsidy as it is cool in summer.

Taohuayuan Scenic Area

“There are two peach gardens, one in your heart, and the other in Youyang County, Chongqing," said Tao Yuanming, a great Chinese poet of the Jin Dynasty 1,600 years ago, in the classic book The Land of Peach Blossom, depicting a fictitious land of peace.

In 2012, 5A-rated Taohuayuan Scenic Area was officially opened to the public. Inspired by the legend story, it attracts people to enjoy the beautiful ancient farmer's life.

Huatian Rice Terraces

Huatian Rice Terraces

Four-hundred years ago, ancestors of the He Family relocated from Jiangxi Province to Huatian Township, Youyang County and began to build rice terraces on the Changpugai Cliff. Since then, five generations have devoted themselves to the course. Finally, a 999-stair rice terrace came into being.

Falling farming culture at the end of the 20th century led to withering Huatian Tribute Rice. Not until April 2003 did the ancient villages and spectacular Huatian Rice Terraces get known by the world, through photos taken by Wu Shengyan, a photographer from Youyang.

Backed by advantageous natural resources, Huatian Township achieved great fruits in developing rural tourism.

History of Phoebe Zhennan S. Lee

A Nanmu forest in Group 2, Neikou Village, Liangzeng Township, Youyang County.

Youyang County has many places named after Phoebe Zhennan S. Lee (Nanmu in Chinese), such as Nanmu Township and Nanmu Village. This reveals the deep relation between Youyang and this kind of tree.

During Song and Ming Dynasties, Youyang was a mysterious land to people living in the Central Plain because the place was covered by flouring Nanmu trees. Unfortunately, tree-cutting activities commonly seen in almost all dynasties left the land bare. As a result, Youyang now owns few Nanmu forests.

However, a Nanmu forest in Group 2, Neikou Village, Liangzeng Township, Youyang County attracts great attention. It features nearly a hundred trees, which is rare even in Chongqing. Having been developed into a scenic spot, it is now open to the public.