Located in the north of Hunan Province, Yiyang is bordered by Hubei Province in the north. Within Hunan, it neighbors the choppy Dongting Lake in the northeast, in the neighborhood of Yueyang, Changde and Huaihua. Changsha, the capital city of Hunan, is 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of Yiyang.       

The city has an area of 12133sq km and a population of 4.36million. The new Yiyang currently has jurisdiction over Yuanjiang city, Nan County, Peach Blossom River County, Anhua County, and newly established Ziyang District and Heshan District.

History

As early as 5,000 years ago, there were villages scattered around this area. During the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), it belonged to the territory of the Chu Kingdom. The Qin Court (221BC-206BC) put it under the administration of Changsha Shire. Later in the early Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), Yiyang County, the first county in this area was established.    

Tourism

Numerous historic and cultural relics are preserved here, of which 42 are under protection sites at Provincial and county-level, 23 are of cultural relics sites with over 500 ancient tombs. Main tourist attractions of historical and cultural value include Peigong Pavilion, Qixia Temple, and White Dew Temple.  In addition, many sites related to Three-Kingdom can also be found here, like the distinguished Sharpen Sword Pavilion and Lusu Bank (named after Lusu, a famous character in Three Kingdom Period) where GuangYu (a famous general in Three Kingdom Period) attended enemies appointments alone.  

Entering the stone gate, a full-sight verdant garden represents itself in front of you, including scores of precious tree species and cherished ancient trees. Winding upward along the mountain highway, you’ll encounter the Qixia Temple of Eastern Jin period and magnificent Qixia Temple. Originally named as Baoquan Temple, it was set up in the reign of Emperor Xiaowu during Eastern Jin (AD373). For thousands of years, the Buddhist incense has been keeping burning and the tourists came one after another. Zhu Yunwen, Emperor Jianwen in Ming Dynasty, dethroned by his uncle Zhu Li, once took the tonsure and cloistered in Baoquan Temple. Therefore, the offspring renamed it as Qixia Temple. During late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a couplet were craved here illustrated the time-enduring temple: ancient temple in Jin Dynasty, fairyland stands in collapse of time; rack in Ming Dynasty, hermit cloisters under the cloak of landscape. For the later generations believe there are dragons dwelling in the temple as wrote in a verse: In a sunset a dragon encounters the precipice, thus mauve clouds perches on the forests. Consequently, the temple was also called “Dragon resting on the clouds”, ranking among “Ten Views of Zijiang” along with “General Gan Ramparted in Moonlight”, and ”Ferrying in the Dawn” and other sites of battlefields in Three-kingdom Period. Aside from Huilong Qixia (Dragon resting on the clouds), there are Huilong flowers, Huilong bamboo, Huilong hills and Mausoleums. All witness a great harmonious integration of nature and humanity. Rendering in the mountain, you’ll sense a strong poignancy of nature. Indeed, it is a paradise of sightseeing and resort undertaking great reputation.

Peach Blossom River is a jade-colored lake of vigorous picturesque view dotted with various small islands. Cruising in the lake, you’ll feast your eye with the landscape of the lake and mountains. The verdant mountains with verdure aged trees embrace the lake in all directions. Deer or hares may be seen on occasion in the forests. The 300,000 hectare forests constitute to a natural arboretum with natured scenic spots like “stone threshold”, ‘surging waterfall and flowing stream’, and the forth. Scenic spot of Peach Blossom River was promoted as forest park at provincial level upon the approval of the government of Hunan Province.

Climate

The city enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate and the annual average temperature is a bit higher than many other regions around it. Comparatively, it has cooler summers and warmer winters. The rainfall is obviously abundant during July. Overcast and rainy weather together with cold air may occur in spring. 

Table of statistics for Yiyang climate for each month of the year