Hunan is a fantastic part of China that counts many famous scenic spots.

Among these, the best-known include: Dongting Lake, the Yueyang Padoga, Fenhuang Ancient Town and the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area where the gorgeous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located.

The following are the top 10 attractions that Hunan Province has on offer. Let's take a closer look.

NO.10 Peach Blossom Land

Peach Blossom Land, located at 23 kilometers (14.29 miles) from Changde City, is a fairytale land described by Tao Yuanming (365-427), a famous poet of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (316-420).

With a history of more than 1,600 years, the area now has become a famous tourist site. It features beautiful mountains, peach forests, fields, temples, as well as the mystique of many wonderful legends. It has nearly 100 spots and four great scenic areas, including the Taoxian Ridge, Taoyuan Mountain, Taohua Mountain and Qinren Village. Every year, the area witnesses a peach blossom party which is an important festival in Hunan.

NO.9 Yuelu Academy

The Yuelu Academy is located on the eastern side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, found on the western bank of the Xiangjiang River. It was established in 976, the 9th year of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), under the reign of Emperor Kaibao, and was one of China's four most prestigious academies of the past 1,000 years. Renowned Confucian scholars Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi both lectured at the academy.

NO.8 Juzi Island

Juzi Island, also known as Ju Island or Orange Island, is a shoal located in the center of Xiangjiang River, opposite Hunan's capital city of Changsha. It was named after the oranges scattered across the island during the harvesting season.

Formed in 305, the island got its name in the six century, from the poem of a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). 140 meters long and 40 meters wide, the island looks like a huge green vessel, covered in a carpet of flourishing trees. It is believed to be the largest inland islet in the world and is now a popular site for summer relaxing in Changsha as temperatures never go soaring high, not even May to July.

NO.7 Mawangdui

Mawangdui is an archaeological site located in Changsha, Hunan Province. The site consists of two saddle-shaped small hills, set20 meters apart, that are connected to each other underground.

Mawangdui contains the tombs of three people from the western Han Dynasty (206 BC–9 AD), including Marquis Li Cang, his wife, and a male who is believed to be their son. The site was excavated from 1972 to 1974.

Tombs No.1 and No. 2 have been filled, and only tomb No. 3 is open to visitors. Most of the artifacts from Mawangdui are now on display at the Hunan Provincial Museum, which is free to visit.

NO.6 Dongting Lake

Located in northern Hunan Province, Dongting Lake is the second largest fresh water lake in China, which is usually praised as "the picturesque Dongting Lake with 400 kilometer span." The lakeside Yueyang Tower is one of the four famous Chinese towers.

There is an island located right in the lake named Junshan where, or so legend has it, two wives of the ancient Shun Di Emperor, Ehuang and Nuying, died to become goddesses of the Xiangjiang River after searching thousands of miles for their husband.

The vast lake, the famous tower, the mysterious island and the legend, all these have made the lake a popular site throughout the decades.