Taiping Street
Taiping Street is one of only four remaining granite-paved streets in Changsha. This 375-metre-long lane still preserves the look of a Changsha merchant street from over 200 years ago.…
Taiping Street, Changsha · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥10; Weishan Rafting ¥198
- Opening hours
- Xie Zilong Image Art Museum 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays); Li Zijian Art Museum 9:30–17:30 (closed Mondays)
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours; 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Near Taipingjie Kou (bus stop), Former Residence of Jia Yi (bus stop); near Ganzi Garden (bus stop); near Huayi Brothers Film Town (bus stop); near Xiangfu Road Bridge West (bus stop), Yanghu New City (metro station)
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1939. Open in Google Maps
About Taiping Street
Taiping Street is one of only four remaining granite-paved streets in Changsha. This 375-metre-long lane still preserves the look of a Changsha merchant street from over 200 years ago. Many of the old mansions still have their original stone-framed doors, grey brick walls, and traditional courtyard layouts. Today, many new shops have opened along the street, and they have a lot of character.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Weishan Rafting – Seven types of people should not raft: those who are not brave enough; heart patients; people with high blood pressure; people who have been drinking; children under 1.2 metres tall; people over 65; and those who are physically very weak.
- 2. Safety: Be sure to wear a life jacket and helmet once on the boat. Do not get into the water to swim or horse around during the ride.
- Jiandu Museum (Bamboo and Wooden Slips Museum) holds 160,000 Changsha Wu bamboo slips, a major archaeological discovery that astonished the world.
More from the guidebook
One-line recommendation
Ancient Kaifu Temple: A famous temple of the Yangqi branch of the Linji school of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Founded by the Kingdom of Chu during the Five Dynasties period, it has a history of more than a thousand years. It suffered a fire in 2023, and some of its facilities were damaged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Taiping Street cost?
Admission to Taiping Street is ¥10; Weishan Rafting ¥198, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Taiping Street?
Taiping Street is open Xie Zilong Image Art Museum 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays); Li Zijian Art Museum 9:30–17:30 (closed Mondays).
How do I get to Taiping Street?
Near Taipingjie Kou (bus stop), Former Residence of Jia Yi (bus stop); near Ganzi Garden (bus stop); near Huayi Brothers Film Town (bus stop); near Xiangfu Road Bridge West (bus stop), Yanghu New City (metro station)
How long should I spend at Taiping Street?
Plan on 1–2 hours; 1–2 hours for Taiping Street.
Where is Taiping Street?
Taiping Street is in Changsha, Hunan Province, in the Central China of China. Xinhe Kaifusi Road, Kaifu District; 92 Baisha Road, Tianxin District
More places in Changsha
Changsha Window of the World and Underwater World
Anyone who often watches Hunan Television will be familiar with Window of the World, where many programmes have been filmed. The park brings together historical sites, scenic landmarks, architecture, dwellings, works of art, and the customs and song-and-dance performances of countries around the world, and it holds various themed events regularly. Changsha Underwater World is one of the most fashionable marine theme parks in Central and South China, with the greatest variety of species, rich programmes and a strong focus on visitor participation. Highlights include the “Man and Shark Dance” and the “Mermaid” performance.
Window of the World ¥200; Underwater World ¥150 · Window of the World 0.5–1 day; Underwater World 3–4 hours
Yuelu Mountain Scenic Area
At the top of the mountain stands the ancient Yuelu Academy, and at its foot lie Hunan University and Hunan Normal University, both open campuses with no gates or walls. In terms of grandeur, Yuelu Mountain cannot compare with other famous mountains, but it has its own quiet, ancient scholarly charm. Beside the Xiang River, it offers a tranquil setting and many cultural relics and historic sites, including Yuelu Academy, Aiwan Pavilion, Baihe Spring, Feilai Rock, Lushan Temple and Niaoyu Forest, making it a great place to explore history and seek out quiet corners. The Yuelu Mountain slide is also worth trying.
Free entry to the mountain; Niaoyu Forest ¥30; cable car up ¥30, down ¥25, return ¥50. The cable car station is at the North Gate at the foot of the mountain. · 0.5–1 day
Hunan Museum
Coming to Changsha and not visiting this, Hunan's largest museum, is a missed opportunity to see the brilliant civilization that flourished here over 2,000 years ago. Hunan Provincial Museum sits on the west side of Martyrs Park and displays many precious relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs.
Free (reservation required) · 2–5 hours
Jinggang Ancient Town
Jinggang Ancient Town has a long history and a rich cultural heritage. The houses along the river are all stilt houses, giving it the distinctive character of a Jiangnan water town. The town still preserves many wooden ancient buildings, and structures from the Qing dynasty, such as Hongtai Fang and Yuying Hall, are in excellent condition. The town's folk arts are varied and vibrant, and wooden clogs, paper umbrellas and kites were once hugely popular.
¥80 · 0.5–1 day
Dawei Mountain National Forest Park
Dawei Mountain National Forest Park is known for its beauty. The mountains are dotted with countless peculiar peaks and rocks, flowing springs and waterfalls. Rafting through the canyon is exhilarating and is a must-do activity when visiting Dawei Mountain.
Dawei Mountain National Forest Park: ¥90 in peak season, ¥68 in off-season; Dawei Mountain Canyon Rafting ¥168; Dawei Mountain Skiing ¥238 per 90 minutes · 1-2 days
Peach Blossom Land Scenic Area
Did the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming really exist? If so, where was it? This cannot be confirmed. Several places in China lay claim to the title, but the one closest to the legend is in Taoyuan County, under the jurisdiction of Changde City. From March 28, the Peach Blossom Festival runs for one month. During that time, the area is a sea of brilliant pink blossoms, a sight that is truly delightful and well worth seeing.
¥128 · 3–4 hours