Jinggang town sits in the northwest of Wangcheng county in Changsha, next to Xiang River to the east. Located at the delta area of Weishui River running into Xiang River, the town used to be a natural port with convenient waterway transportation, and hence became a collecting and distribution center of grains and native products from areas such as Xiangyin county, Yiyang city, and Ningxiang county. It was also one of the largest rice markets in Hunan province and a major river port dealing with Huai salt.

Jinggang enjoys a long history and profound culture. The Tuantou lake area, which is located only a few miles from the town, has 15 Neolithic Age sites, with a large amount of stoneware and potteries having been unearthed. It is also well-known for its abundant folk arts and specialties, with wooden clogs, oil-paper umbrellas, and kites prevalent, with smoked bean curd and roasted fish still celebrated.

Buildings of wooden construction are preserved in the town, accounting for more than one-third of all the construction. Among these, wood and brick-clad buildings from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) such as Hongtai Workshop and the Foundling Hospital (Yuying Tang) are comparatively better-preserved. The hanging houses built by the river have unique characteristics of Jiangnan water towns and are spectacular.

Jinggang town was established by the National Tourism Administration as a national 4-As-level tourist scenic spot in December 2011.