Hunan's emerald terraces offer cool summer escape

Updated: Aug 13, 2025 By HE CHUN in Changsha and CHEN MEILING chinadaily.com.cn Print

Share - WeChat

In early August, the terraced fields of Shanbei village in Xupu county, Huaihua of Hunan province, stretched their emerald-green layers under the summer heat, presenting a captivating pastoral landscape. [Photo by Zhang Changliu/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Here, small hills resemble spirals while larger ones tower like pagodas, with cold mountain springs meandering through the layered terraces. While the foothills simmer in the summer heat, the mountaintops ripple with waves of rice and cool breezes.

At a pleasant 22 C, the terraces have become a natural retreat for tourists seeking respite from the heat. Crowds flock here to escape the scorching weather and enjoy the scenery.

Leveraging its cool climate, the local scenic area has developed a "cool breeze economy", enhancing the summer retreat experience through improved transportation and diversified tourism offerings.

< 1 2 3 4 5 6 >