Huáihuà

Huaihua lies in western Hunan between the Wuling and Xuefeng mountain ranges. Rivers and valleys cut through the surrounding highlands, providing passages across a region of rugged terrain. A postal station named Huaihua existed here in the Ming, serving travellers on routes through western Hunan. Farther south, Hongjiang grew at the meeting of waterways and became an important commercial centre during the Ming and Qing.