Chángníng

Changning lies south of the Xiang River in the hills of southern Hunan. The Xiang bounds the district to the north, while the Chongling River runs along its eastern side. Its hills belong to the northern reaches of the Nanling mountain country, and forests cover much of the surrounding land.

The county grew out of territory once administered from Leiyang. It bore the name Xinning before being renamed Changning in 742, during the Tang dynasty. Under the Yuan it was raised to the status of a prefecture, but the Ming restored it to county rank under Hengzhou. The old name, meaning enduring peace, survived these changes of administration.