Changsha City, the capital of Hunan Province, is also known as the "Star City". As a "famous city of Chu and Han Dynasty" with a history of more than 3,000 years, Changsha is not only the birthplace of Huxiang culture, but also one of the most dynamic "entertainment capitals" in China with its thriving media and entertainment industry. Classical and trendy, intertwined and collided here.
Changsha is located in the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River, the urban pattern is close to the mountains and rivers, the beautiful scenery of Yuelu Mountain stands in the west, and the Xiangjiang River water passes through the city, forming a unique landscape of "Shanshui Zhou City". It has a subtropical monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons, abundant light and heat, and has become one of China's "furnace" cities because of the hot and humid summer. The abundant rainfall nourishes the land and shapes the vibrant and distinctive cultural character of the region.
The core landscape of Changsha is mostly related to the Xiangjiang River and Yuelu Mountain. Lying in the heart of the river, Orange Island is the city's biggest business card, and the huge art sculpture of young Mao Zedong on the island shows the prosperity of a generation of great men. On the Yuelu Mountain, which faces each other across the river, there is the Yuelu Academy, one of the four great academies in ancient China. The cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb in the collection of the Hunan Museum silently tell the glorious civilization more than 2,000 years ago.
The culture of Changsha, on the one hand, is the profound speculation of "applying it to the world", and on the other hand, it is the vivid color and fragrance of "no spicy and no joy". This is the center of Hunan cuisine, and the dishes famous for their spicy, sour and spicy dishes are as direct and warm as the daring character of Changsha people. In recent years, the "Hunan Army of Radio and Television" led by Hunan Satellite TV has sprung up, leading the trend of China's pop culture, and making Changsha's nightlife and consumer culture extremely active and exciting.
While the cultural industry is making great progress, Changsha is also an important manufacturing center in central and southern China, especially in the fields of construction machinery and new materials. The city skillfully combines cultural soft power with industrial hard power, and finds a unique balance between historical inheritance and modern innovation, showing a city that is both rich and vibrant.
What is there to do in Changsha China?
The best time to visit Changsha is in autumn (September to November).
Changsha is a typical "furnace" city, the summer is hot, and the autumn of Changsha is high and cool, the temperature is pleasant, it is the best time to visit Yuelu Mountain, Orange Island and other scenic spots. At this time, the maple leaf forest of Yuelu Mountain is dyed, and the fragrance of osmanthus in Orange Island is overflowing, and you can fully appreciate the charm of "Shanshui Zhou City".
Although the temperature is also suitable in spring (March to May), there is a lot of rain, which may affect the travel experience.
Han Gaozu Liu Bang established Changsha Kingdom here for more than 150 years. Unearthed in the 1970s, the Mawangdui Han Tomb shocked the world with its well-preserved remains of the tomb owner and a large number of precious cultural relics (such as plain yarn shirts), and is an outstanding representative of the early Han civilization.
Yuelu Academy was founded at the foot of Yuelu Mountain, and is one of the four great academies in ancient China. It has endured thousands of years of continuous singing and learning, and is now part of Hunan University, known as the“Millennium University”.
Young Mao Zedong studied and lived in Changsha, studying at Hunan Provincial First Normal School. During this period, he initiated the Xinmin Society, organized revolutionary activities, and put forward the question of“asking the vast earth, who is the master of the ups and downs of the”of the times.
Transportation you must know when visiting Changsha
Changsha Huanghua International Airport can be connected to the South High-speed Railway Station through the Maglev Express, with a one-way ticket price of 20 yuan and a journey of about 20 minutes. Metro Line 6 has also been opened to the terminal directly.
The airport bus route covers core business districts such as Wuyi Square and Furong Square.
Changsha's core transportation hubs include Changsha South Railway Station (connecting the Beijing-Guangzhou and Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railways) and Changsha West Railway Station.
The Maglev Express realizes the convenient air-rail combined transportation between the airport and the high-speed rail.
Changsha Metro currently operates Lines 1 to 6. It is expected that the western extension of Line 2 will be added in 2025.
Changsha has more than 2,000 regular buses, and has opened a direct cultural and tourism line to various scenic spots.
Within 100 meters of the exit of the subway station, the bus connection is fully covered.
The pricing rules of Changsha taxis are: the starting price is 8 yuan during the day, and the renewal price is 2 yuan/km after the starting mileage is exceeded.
The airport taxi stand is located outside Gate 3 of Terminal 2.
Changsha mainly launched shared bicycles of brands such as Meituan and Haro, and used electronic fences for fixed-point parking. The charge for the core area is about 1.5 yuan per 30 minutes.
It should be noted that the Orange Island Scenic Area is forbidden to share bicycles to enter.
What to eat in Changsha, you need to know
Stinky Tofu
Changsha's famous snacks; charred on the outside and tender on the inside; Unique fermented flavor; Chairman Mao also tasted it.
Changsha Rice Noodles
popular local staples; The ingredients are diverse; It is often eaten for breakfast.
Spicy Crayfish
the much-loved stir-fried crayfish; Spicy and delicious; It is very popular especially in the summer.
Sugar Oil Baba (Fried Glutinous Rice Cake)
Changsha's famous snacks; Sweet and soft glutinous; Made from sugar, sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts.
Chayan Yuese Milk Tea
Changsha is a very popular local milk tea brand, known for its Chinese style and creative flavors, such as "Shengsheng Oolong" and "Youlan Latte".