Recently the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs made public a list of 256 villages as 2023 China's Beautiful Leisure Countryside. Twelve villages in Hunan Province were shortlisted.

Each of the 12 selected villages possesses unique characteristics. Yinlong Village is located in the northern part of Huanghua Town in Changsha County, which is a half-hour drive from Changsha. More than 40,000 hydrangea flowers bloom throughout the village. Alongside attractions like the Shishang International Equestrian and the Xinjiang Ecological Park, it has become a popular destination for many Changsha residents to visit and take photos.

Shanbei Village in Gezhuping Town, Xupu County is situated in the hinterland of the Xuefeng Mountains. Over 1,000 layers of cascading rice terraces offer a breathtaking view. The village is infused with the rich culture of the Huayao people, which offers a captivating experience.

The construction of beautiful leisure countryside is an important measure to expand the functions of agriculture and explore multiple values of rural areas. It is also a vital approach to create more channels for increasing rural incomes and develop new industries and new forms of business in rural areas. In recent years, Hunan has vigorously promoted the construction of beautiful rural areas, has leveraged its natural ecological resources to activate folk culture gene, and has developed a number of beautiful leisure villages that meet diverse needs of different levels. These efforts have transformed rural areas' resource, ecological, and cultural advantages into product, industry, and economic strengths, thereby driving the high-quality development of rural industries.

The 12 villages were:

-Yinlong Village, Huanghua Town, Changsha County;

-Mihua Village, Shidu Town, Yanling County;

-Qingting Village, Jiangshe Town, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City;

-Meihua Village, Xidu Town, Hengyang County;

-Xintian Village, Wufengpu Town, Shaoyang County;

-Qingshui Village, Xinqiang Town, Yueyang County;

-Yangjiaping Village, Xiehe Township, Wulingyuan District;

-Bailang Village, Bailang Town, Zixing City;

-Guitou Village, Meihua Town, Daoxian County;

-Shanbei Village, Gezhuping Town, Xupu County;

-Tieshan Village, Zhadu Town, Lengshuijiang City; and,

-Changping Village, Gaoping Township, Yongshun County.