Chinese Name: 永州市 (yǒng zhōu shì)

Population: 5,650,000  

Area: 22,441 square kilometers (8,665 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han 

Administrative Division: 2 districts (Lengshuitan, Lingling); 8 counties (Yong'an, Daoxian, Ningyuan, Jiangyong, Lanshan, Xintian, Shuangpai, Qiyang); 1 autonomous county (Jianghua Yao Autonomous County)  

Seat of the City Government: 1, Yiyun Lu, Lengshuitan District, Yongzhou City 

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0746-8368009 
                                           Weather Forecast: 121
                                           Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Yongzhou Branch: 61, Xiangyong Lu, Lengshuitan District, Yongzhou City 
China Post Yongzhou Branch: 848, Lingling Zhong Lu, Lengshuitan District, Yongzhou City

Location: Yongzhou City is located in the south of Hunan Province, neighboring Chenzhou in the east and Hengyang in the north. It is also bordered by Guangdong Province in the south and Guangxi Province in the west.        

History: Yongzhou was known as Lingling before the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Lingling County was first established in the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) and was later promoted to Lingling Shire. The Sui Court decided to abolish the system of prefectures and counties, and Lingling was then changed to Yongzhou Fu. After that, the place was called both Yongzhou and Lingling.        
 
Physical Features: Within the city, there are mountains and hills standing in the northwest and southeast, and mountain ranges cut the city in the middle, forming the Lingqi and Ningdao plains surrounded by mountains. On the whole, its terrain is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast and the centre.                

Climate: Situated at the junction of temperate and subtropical zones, Yongzhou enjoys a humid monsoon climate characterized by a moderate temperature, abundant rainfall and sufficient sunshine. The annual average temperature is around 17.6-18.6℃ (63.7-65.5℉).    
     
When to Go: throughout the year 

Special Local Products: ebony, bamboo shoots, pomelo, flue-cured tobacco, red melon seeds, Chinese mushrooms

 Attractions:
Jiuyi Mountain: Located 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Ningyuan County, the mountain consists of nine peaks. It is charming and attractive not only for the unique natural scenery, but also for a vivid legend. The story tells of one of the five great emperors in Chinese prehistoric times, Shun the Great, and his two concubines. On hearing about his death in the Cangwu Mountain (this was the old name for Jiuyi Mountain), the two concubines went there but failed to find their husband. They missed the way because the nine peaks all look so alike. Nowadays, the central peak is called Shunyuan Peak and the two elegant peaks around it are said to be the two women. 

Shanggantang Village: Since the time of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Zhou family lived in Shanggantang Village in present southwestern Jiangyong County. This is the most historical village discovered in Hunan. There are still two hundred old resident houses of ancient styles, and many buildings of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. 

Forest of Steles at Wuxi has garnered hundreds of inscriptions carved on rocks from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to 1920, and is an outstanding art treasure of Chinese culture.

Travel Tips:
Yongzhou Lingling Airport is in Jiaoshan Town, 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from downtown Yongzhou, Lengshuitan District. At present, it operates flights to Changsha, Guangzhou, Haikou and many other big cities, but visitors must usually change planes in Changsha. City bus No.26 and 28 will pass through the entry of the airport. In addition, an airport shuttle bus is available from the Yonghang Hotel at 09:40 in the morning.

Yongzhou has three main bus stations: Lingling Bus Station, Yongzhou North Station and the South Station.
Yongzhou North Station (or Hequ Bus Station and Yongzhou Bus Station): beside the Hequ Bridge, Lengshuitan District
Bus Routes: 2
Yongzhou West Station: Fenghuang Yuan, Lengshuitan District
Bus Routes: 2, 4, 14
Lingling Bus Station (Zhishan Bus Station): 39, Zhishan Nan Lu
Bus Routes: 1, 3, 7, 13, 19, 21, 26
Note that downtown Yongzhou is 200 kilometers (124 miles), about three hours’ drive from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport of Guangxi, which is another way for visitors to get in and out of Yongzhou.