Places recommended to pick fruits in Xiangxi

Now, fruits such as grapes and peaches are ripe. Tourists can stroll along the paths in orchards to pick fruits and seek coolness in the following places of Xiangxi.

Yellow peaches

Yellow peaches in Changputang Village of Fenghuang County are planted on sunny slopes with ample sunlight and a large temperature difference between day and night. The yellow peaches produced here, which are highly favored by consumers, are large, well-shaped, crispy, and sweet. There are also summer resorts such as Feishui Valley, Tianlong Gorge, and Miaoren Valley in the surrounding area, which can be reached within half an hour’s drive. At present, there are 500 mu (about 33.33 hectares) of yellow peaches in Hexi Town of Jishou City, with multiple varieties such as Jinxiu and Xianbao, mainly distributed in Tieyan Village and Yuxi Village. The geographical advantage here has made for high-quality yellow peaches with golden flesh and a sweet taste.

Xiaoxi Village, half an hour’s drive from Hexi Town, is crowded with people every weekend. Tourists can enjoy the cool breeze, relax themselves, and admire the beautiful natural scenery. Yellow peaches with yellow skin and flesh are planted in Taozi Village of Buchou Township in Huayuan County, with relatively high terrain and abundant sunshine all year round. There are waterfalls such as Dalongdong and Jianduoduo around Taozi Village, which are comparable to the Internet-famous Baizhangji Waterfall, with a chill filling the air. Yangjiahe Village in Duanlongshan Town of Guzhang County is located on a high plateau with an average altitude of over 800 meters. Due to long sunshine hours and a large temperature difference between day and night, the yellow peaches here are of good quality and in high demand.

Tourists can also get to the Zuolong Gorge near the village to enjoy the cool summer with an average temperature of 23℃. Grapes Wuxi Town of Luxi County has a frost free period of up to 275 days and 1,422 hours of sunshine. The grapes here are known for high sugar content, plump fruit, rich selenium and zinc, an excellent taste, a strong flavor, and good color.

Tourists can also go to the natural bath pools of Luxi County to interact with friends and take photos. Zhangpai Village in Hexi Town of Jishou City is known as the “Sweet Village”, surrounded by green mountains. The grapes here are plump, sweet, and refreshing. At present, there are more than ten varieties including Chongming Rose, Jufeng Grape, and Xiahei, among which Chongming Rose and Jufeng Grape are well-known across the country.

The grape industry park is connected with the Sun Island outdoor leisure center through the Moon Island Manor in the village, creating a rural leisure tourism complex that integrates picking experience, and sightseeing. When the grapes ripen in August, it attracts many citizens and tourists. There is Sunshine Rose Grape, Xiahei Grape, and Shenhong Seedless Grape in the 100-mu (about 6.67 hectares) vineyard of Gongqiao Village, Maogou Town, Baojing County. The former tastes sweet, while the latter two have crispy flesh.

It takes half an hour’s drive from Gongqiao Village to Bake Village. Here, there are green mountains, lush forests, and over 20 mountain streams. Tourists can rest under ancient trees by the river, and listen to mountain breeze, running water, and chirping birds. Pears The pear orchards in Aizhai Town of Jishou City are the main producing areas of Jinqiu pears in Western Hunan. They are mainly distributed in Paixiong Village, Yangmeng Village, and Jinye Village of Aizhai Town. With white and crispy flesh as well as a juicy and sweet taste, Jinqiu pears have long shelf life and are rich in trace elements.

The Aizhai Canyon Starry Sky Campsite, not far from the pear orchards, provides more comfortable and safer accommodation environment after renovation. In the scorching summer, tourists can experience the panoramic rafting with a drop of up to 78 meters. Kiwifruit Changping Village of Yongshun County has more than 4,000 mu (about 266.67 hectares) of kiwifruit. Due to the high selenium content in the soil, the kiwifruit here has yellow green flesh, a sweet and sour taste, and a strong flavor, and is widely loved by consumers.

In the evening, tourists can arrive at Furong Town 10 kilometers away with friends to appreciate the great waterfall.