Travel Guide: Changsha, China

Situated in the river valley along the lower reaches of the Xiang River, Changsha is the capital city of Hunan Province. It is properly located in the east of Hunan covering an area of about 556 square kilometers with an estimated population of about 1.99 million. As a famous historic city in China, Changsha features historic sites of travel resources with more than twenty main tourist attractions including Yuemu Academy, Zoumalou bamboo books of Wu Kingdom (the 3 Kingdoms), Mawangdui Tombs of Han Dynasty and
Xiang Embroidery Academy. It is a multi-ethnic city. Actually, 53 minority groups are found in the city. The largest ethnic groups are the Tujia, Miao, Hui, Dong, Yao, Man and Zhuang. The majority of rural adult men in Changsha drink alcohol and a substantial minority—particularly those who consume distilled spirits—are heavy drinkers.

Changsha attractions

The attractions in Changsha are quite varied, thanks to its long history and the diversity of events which have happened here. The major attraction sites in this city are:-

1. Hunan Provincial Museum
Founded in the early 1950s, Hunan Provincial Museum is located in Kaifu District of Changsha City, adjoining the Martyres’ Park and covering an area of about 51,000 square meters. The museum boasts abundant collections that feature the cultural relics excavated from the world-famous Mawangdui Tombs of Han Dynasty, the bronze wares of the Shang and the Zhou Dynasties, cultural relics of Chu Dynasty, pottery and porcelain works from various dynasties, calligraphy works, paintings, and modern cultural relics.

2. Yuelu Academy

Yuelu Academy, situated at the foot of Mount Yuelu, is not only the “one-thousand-year-old-academy” but also one of the four greatest academies in ancient China. Inside the academy, there are some historical sites, such as Wenchang Pavilion, Library of Imperial Books and Xiangshui Sutra Proofreading Hall.

3. The Daweishan Forest Park

It is located in Liuyang City, about 148 kilometers from Changsha. The Daweishan Forest Park is famous due its picturesque scenery,dense forests, mild climate and wide variety in animals and plant species. It is known to be "a green pearl” within eastern Hunan.

4. Orange Island
The orange Island is situated in the Xiangjiang River in the west of the city town .It is 5km long and 0.4km at the widest, so it is also called the Long Island .The island is beautiful with green willows, frangrant flowers, orange trees and surging waves around and boasts the superior tourist resort and the natural swimming pool. 

5. Juzi Island 

This came into being in 305 AD and got its name in the sixth century, from the poem of famous poet in Tang Dynasty, “the field of Ju Island is still fertile”. In the island, there were Shuilu Temple, Gongji Pavilion, Jiangxin Pavilion. In 1992, Juzi Island was developed in a modern way.

6. Mt. Shaoshan Scenic Area

Shaoshan is well-known as the hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong where he was born and undertook the revolutionary activities in his youth. Due to the advantaged natural environment and the history, it has become a well-known scenic area, also regarded as a sacred place to commemorate the Chinese revolution. 

Where to eat 

There are several restaurants in Changsha where you can find a wide variety of tasty meals. Below is a list of some of the famous restaurants where you can enjoy your favorite dish.

1. Good Vogue Bayi Road Branch

The recommended dishes in this restaurant include fried meat, sticky rice cooked with duck, steamed corn bus, braised meat, rice cooked with fungi and mushrooms among others. The average price per person is 85 yuan.

2. Good Vogue Yanjiang Avenue Branch

If you like a cold dish cooked with goose liver paste, then this restaurant is a fit for you. The average price per person is 83 yuan.

3. Good Vogue Xiangjiangzhong Road Branch

In this restaurant, you will find mixed vegetables cooked together. Papaya and corn juice are in plenty as well. The average price per person is 83 yuan.

4. West Lake Building

Here, duck is cooked with 8 ingredients whereas rabbit meat is cooked with chestnuts. Fish head cooked with peppers is also a common dish. The average price per person is 85 yuan.

5. 57 Xiang Furong Branch

Shredded volador in this restaurant is steamed with eggs. Both sour and sweet spare ribs are served here. You can as well enjoy some Chinese yams and chicken gristle.  The average price per person is 87 yuan.

6. 57 Xiang Wangfu Branch

The main dishes in this restaurant are rice tofu, sleevefish, goose liver and beef rolls. The average price per person is 70 yuan.

Shopping

Apart from some famous supermarkets, there are many high-class department stores for people to go in Changsha, and they offer clothing, cosmetics, shoes, jewelry and so on.

1. Wangfujing Department Store: No. 27 Middle Huangxing Road, Tianxin District, Changsha.
2. Friendship Shopping Center: Branch 1: No. 272 East Wuyi Road, Changsha and Branch 2: No. 2 East Laodong Road, Changsha.
3. Zhongshan Commercial Building: No. 63-65 Middle Huangxing Road, Changsha.
4. Apollo Commercial City: No. 69 Shaoshan Road, Changsha.
5. Department Store at Zhongshan Road: No. 56 Zhonghan Road, Changsha.
6. Victoria Shopping Mall: Section 1 of North Furong Road, Changsha.

Where to have fun 

Changsha nightlife is really a great experience that travelers should not miss, as it exudes an unforgettable redolent of the local culture.

1. Hooligans Pub

This pub has been in business since the early 2008 and has been expanding since then. The improved “new” Hooligan Pub was opened on October 1st 2013. Here, you will find great western music with an added stage for live music. The new Hooligan Pub is bigger with a huge rooftop garden. Free foosball is offered as well as live sports on Television. 

2. Westerners street, nightlife 001 and beer drinking 

Here, you will find 100+ drinking pubs altogether inside a narrow alley. Atmosphere is fantastic, something near a perfect photo spot for tourists and locals.

3. Nightime Action

This is where foreigners and Chinese alike go to enjoy drinks and dancing. 

4. The Fifth Tone

This is an American-style coffee shop. It offers real coffee drinks and homemade desserts like  banana bread and brownies.

5. Glamor Pub

In Glamor Pub, you will find two main rooms, the dance room and the show room. In the show room there are dancers and singers, pole dancers, drag queens and a variety of other entertainment. Apparently, the DJ is known to makes fairly racy comments.

6. Golden Times

Well known for its loud music, Golden Time is equally loved by the locals and foreigners. There are several clubs near Golden Times, all of them having similar themes and music.

How to get around 

Public transport: Changsha's public transportation system consists of a bus network with over 100 lines as well as taxis.

Metro Rail: The city's Metro is planning a six line network, with the first two lines under construction set to open in 2015.

Roads: This includes National Highways 319 and 107 and Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Express Way that connects the Changsha metro area nationally.

River: Major rivers, including the Xiangjiang, the Liuyanghe, and the Laodaohe aid in transport within the city of Changsha.

Rail: Changsha Railway Station is situated at city center and provides regular and express services via the Shimen-Changshaand Beijing-Guangzhou Railways.The Changsha South Railway Station is the new high speed railway station, found in Yuhua district on the
Beijing–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, while the Shanghai-Changsha-Kunming high-speed railway is currently under construction.

Air: Huanghua International Airport is a known hub for China Southern Airlines, serving major cities in China. Some other major airlines provide daily transport services between Changsha and various domestic destinations.The airport offers direct flights to major cities such as Bangkok,HongKong, Seoul, Osakaand Pusan.