Changsha, capital city of Hunan province, has a tumultuous past - it is where Chairman Mao Zedong started his political career - but has become the leading political and economic centre for southern-central China. Changsha has also become a hub for education, technology creative industries.
1/6
Sitting pretty on the lower reaches of the Xiang, Changsha is a riverside city that’s rich in history
2/6
Changsha has ancient origins that date all the way back to the Zhou dynasty which reigned from 1046 to 256 BC
3/6
Chairman Mao was said to have discovered communism in Changsha, a city which commemorates its association with the leader at many attractions
4/6
Mount Yuelu is one of Changsha’s most popular parks and houses the Aiwan Pavilion, built some 250 years ago during the Qing Dynasty
5/6
Changsha’s ancient Lushan Temple was constructed some 1,700 years ago and is one of the most sacred temples in Hunan
6/6
The Mawangdui Han Mausoleum in Changsha is a world-famous collection of 2,000 year-old tombs featuring beautiful, artistically engraved coffins and artefacts
1
/6
Sitting pretty on the lower reaches of the Xiang, Changsha is a riverside city that’s rich in history
2
/6
Changsha has ancient origins that date all the way back to the Zhou dynasty which reigned from 1046 to 256 BC
3
/6
Chairman Mao was said to have discovered communism in Changsha, a city which commemorates its association with the leader at many attractions
4
/6
Mount Yuelu is one of Changsha’s most popular parks and houses the Aiwan Pavilion, built some 250 years ago during the Qing Dynasty
5
/6
Changsha’s ancient Lushan Temple was constructed some 1,700 years ago and is one of the most sacred temples in Hunan
6
/6
The Mawangdui Han Mausoleum in Changsha is a world-famous collection of 2,000 year-old tombs featuring beautiful, artistically engraved coffins and artefacts
Do
Yuelu Academy
As one of the four biggest universities in existence during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Yuelu Academy has played an important part in China's history. The grounds of the university are a grand version of a typically formal Chinese garden, while the teaching that goes on within provides a little insight into the learning centres of ancient China.
See
Mount Hengshan
The spectacular Mount Hengshan is the southernmost of the Five Sacred Mountains of China, with 72 peaks straddling eight counties in Hunan. It is a religiously important site for Taoists. Located more than 100 kilometres from Changsha, it can be easily reached in half an hour by high-speed train.
Drink
Dayfly Club
Jiefang West Road is home to a variety of bars, some with music. Dayfly Club is a cosy watering hole that offers live electronic music, folk music and jazz.
Location
396 Jiefang West Road, Tianxin District
Phone
See
Changsha Bamboo Slips Museum
In times past, people in China wrote not on paper but also on sections of bamboo. In this unique museum, tens of thousands of bamboo slips from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 8 AD) and the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) are on display. Other exquisite items here include more than 3,000 bronze pieces, paintings, jade, silverware and gold artefacts from the Western Han period.
See
Orange Continent Head
A five-kilometer-long sandbar in the Xiang River, Orange Continent Head rose to fame when it was mentioned in a poem penned by Mao Zedong. With its picturesque views and rich vegetation, it's a great spot for a leisurely walk. Head there on a Saturday evening to be treated to a fireworks display.
Location
2 Orange Island Park
Eat
Fire Palace
Originally a temple complex dedicated to the God of Fire, Fire Palace, pronounced as Huo Gong Dian in Mandarin, is a food street, home to the province's most famous dishes. The surrounding alleyways imbue the area with a sense of charm.
Shop
La Nova
Shoppers are spoiled for choice in this shopping mall that features everything from fashion to local crafts to shops selling ingenious gadgets. If all the retail therapy gets too much, head to a café for some refreshment or a spa for a spot of pampering.
Location
188 Huangxing Middle Road, Furong District
Phone
Visit website
