# Changsha travel guide (长沙) Hunan Province · Central China, China · 15 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hunan/changsha ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Yuelu Mountain → Orange Isle → Dufu River Pavilion → Tianxin Pavilion → Taiping Street (dinner) - **Day 2:** Hunan Museum → Changsha Ocean World and Window of the World - **Day 3:** Huaming Building → Shaoshan ## The feel of the place - **Xiangmeizi:** Nurtured by the Three Xiang and Four Rivers, Hunan's women are naturally captivating. Beneath the gentle appearance of the Xiangmeizi (Hunan girls) often lies a steadfast character, and the phrase "as firm as steel and as gentle as water" describes them perfectly. The term is more than a compliment on Hunan beauty; it also honours the achievements of Hunan women, from Xiang Jingyu, Yang Kaihui and Cai Chang, who helped save the nation in its hour of peril and shed blood for the revolution, to Ding Ling, Qiong Yao and Can Xue, who have shone brightly in literature. - **Spice:** As the saying goes, "Sichuanese are not afraid of chilli, Guizhou people are not afraid of it at all, but Hunanese are afraid of food that isn't spicy." This sums up just how passionately Hunanese love chillies, even more than their fellow chilli lovers in Sichuan and Guizhou. The fiery sensation on the tongue, combined with Changsha's distinctive street food culture, often means you'll see stylish young people on the street munching on spicy snacks with complete abandon, oblivious to everyone around them. - **Entertainment Frontier:** It must be said that Changsha's fame owes much to the promotion by Hunan Television. Its variety shows once set the trend across the country, and even today, mention Changsha and many people will immediately think of entertainment icons such as "Super Girl" and "Happy Boy". ## The feel of the place Huanghua International Airport ticket office - address: Inside the airport terminal - phone: 0731-96777 ### Free Wi-Fi In Changsha, free Wi-Fi is available at Huanghua International Airport, Changsha South Station on the Wuhan–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, the VIP lounge at the railway station, the Yuelu Mountain sightseeing corridor, Changsha Central Hospital, Changsha Third Hospital and the Changsha Hongxing Convention and Exhibition Center. ### Touring All of Hunan Since the opening of the Wuhan–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, you can easily reach Zhuzhou, Xiangtan, Yueyang, Hengyang and Chenzhou from Changsha South by high-speed train. ### Colourful Porcelain In museums in Britain, Japan, Korea and many other countries, you can see Chinese colourful porcelain bearing the inscriptions "Number One Under Heaven" and "Famous Under Heaven". All of it came from the Changsha kilns of the Tang dynasty. ### Preparation and Advice ### Language The Changsha dialect is not easy to understand, especially during arguments or when bus conductors call out the stops, and it can leave you feeling completely lost. However, locals can all understand Mandarin. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Changsha is one of China's "Four Great Furnaces" cities. Midsummer is hot and humid, which makes it unsuitable for sightseeing; the rest of the year is good for touring. Spring begins after mid-February. The weather is changeable, and there is often the chilly wind locals call "tougufeng" (bone-piercing wind), which seems to blow straight into your bones, so dress warmly to avoid catching a cold. In late May, summer arrives. The city becomes a furnace, but even during the sweltering sanfu period (the hottest days of summer), you will need a blanket to sleep in the mountains. Autumn begins in mid-to-late September, with temperatures typically around 15–20°C. The air is crisp and clear, making it the perfect time to see the red foliage on Orange Isle. Winter begins in late November, with an average temperature of around 5°C, and snow falls at times. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out As a provincial capital, Changsha is very well connected. It has flights to 41 major and mid-sized cities across China. It also sits on the Beijing–Guangzhou railway line, so trains travelling north and south pass through here. Changsha's long-distance bus services are also very busy, making it one of the main transport hubs linking East and South China. It also has passenger links to some cities in the province and in East China. Changsha Huanghua Airport has direct flights to more than 40 major and mid-sized cities in China and abroad, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo. ### 3. Rafting Maoyan River rafting: manpowered rubber raft ¥114 per person, 3–4 hours to the finish; motorised rubber raft ¥124 per person, about 2 hours to the finish. ### Railway Changsha is an important transport hub in Central China, with several railway lines converging here. These include the Beijing–Guangzhou Railway running north to south, the Shanghai–Kunming Railway running east to west, the Shimen–Changsha Railway linking Changsha with Shimen in Changde, and the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Railway. At present, Changsha's main passenger stations are Changsha Railway Station and Changsha South Railway Station. ### Roads Three national highways, 14 provincial highways and 106 county roads form a connected network. The three national highways are National Highways 106, 107 and 319. Expressways include the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macau Expressway and the Shanghai–Kunming Expressway. Changsha has several large long-distance bus stations: South, East and West. ### Getting Around the City Changsha operates many bus routes, sightseeing shuttle lines and more than a thousand minibuses within the city. Around 6,000 taxis travel along the city's roads, and they can be hailed on the street, which is very convenient. Changsha has opened the Maglev Express and several metro lines. ### Taxis Daytime flag fall: ¥8 for the first 2 km; ¥2 for each additional kilometre beyond 2 km. ### Metro In 2014, Changsha's first metro line, Line 2 Phase 1, began trial operations. Today, eight lines are in service: Lines 1 through 6, the West Loop Line and the Maglev Line. The network covers the entire urban core of Changsha. - **Airport ticket office** — - **Flight inquiries** — - **Changsha Railway Station** — (At the eastern start of Wuyi Avenue, the main arterial road through the city centre) - **Changsha South Railway Station** — (Litou Township, Yuhua District, Changsha) - **Changsha South Bus Station** — (811 Zhongyi 1st Road) - **Changsha West Bus Station** — (53 Fenglin 3rd Road, Yuelu District) - **Changsha East Bus Station** — (1021 Yuanda 1st Road) - **Changsha Bus Passenger Transport Development Company Ticket Centre** — (On the right side, opposite the railway station) ## Eat & drink Hunan cuisine is one of China's Eight Great Cuisines. Its main features are fragrant, fresh, spicy and sour flavours, and it strives to preserve the natural taste of its ingredients. Although Hunan food is equally bold in flavour to Sichuan food, it differs in that it avoids sugar and makes use of fresh chopped chillies and fermented black beans. Dong'an chicken, 'one duck, four ways', steamed cured meats, and huagu mushrooms with egg white are all traditional Hunan dishes. In addition, because Mao Zedong loved red-braised pork, Changsha's 'Mao-style red-braised pork' is also very famous. These days it is fashionable to eat “yellow duck calls” and “white duck calls” on the pump boats along the Xiang River. ### Local Snacks Hunan's snacks are equally famous, with Changsha at the centre of them. The most renowned is deep-fried stinky tofu: it smells pungent but tastes delicious, and it can be found almost everywhere on Changsha's streets and alleys. The most authentic version is from Granny Wu's (五娭毑) stall around Nanmen Kou. Other tasty snacks include salt-and-pepper sanzi (fried dough twists), sisters' tuanzi (glutinous rice dumplings), glutinous rice zongzi, pearl shaomai, crinkle-skin wonton, Yang Yuxing noodles and dumplings, De Yuan baozi, and He Ji rice noodles. Locals say, “Yang Yuxing's noodles, Xu Changxing's duck and De Yuan's baozi are truly delicious.” In fact, countless delicacies are still hidden in Changsha's streets and alleys, waiting for food lovers to discover them. For example, the “flavoured prawns” and “flavoured crabs” around Nanmen Kou are superb and not to be missed. - **Huogongdian (May 1st Branch)** — When in Changsha, you must visit Huogongdian. Full meals and snacks are all available under one roof, but prices are on the high side, and napkins and tea are charged for. (93 Wuyi East Road, 0731-84120580) - **Yang Yuxing (Changling Branch)** — A century-old time-honoured brand specialising in noodles, which are chewy and springy. (289-6 Shaoshan North Road, 13142181488) ## Nightlife In the evening, besides wandering around in search of tasty snacks, you might enjoy listening to Hunan local opera. You can also visit the Chinese Southern Ancient Music Palace inside the Changsha Museum to hear ancient bianzhong bell music. The weekend fireworks show on Orange Isle is also worth seeing, and drinking tea in a teahouse is another side of Changsha's nightlife. ## Shopping Xiang embroidery, Xiang tea and Xiang porcelain are Hunan's three major specialities. Xiang embroidery is one of China's Four Great Embroideries, renowned for its beautiful composition and exquisite craftsmanship. Xiang tea is known for its mellow flavour and is a famous fine variety both in China and abroad. Xiang porcelain cannot rival Jingdezhen porcelain, but it has its own distinctive character and a far-reaching reputation. Beyond these, Yiyang's songhua preserved eggs, duck-down products, bamboo carvings, Baisha liquor, Liuyang fermented black beans, Xiang-style pastries, Liuyang sweet cakes, bottled chopped chilli sauce in various flavours, and Xiang lotus seeds are all local specialities that make suitable gifts for friends and family. ## Where to stay Accommodation in Changsha is very convenient, from luxury star-rated hotels to basic guesthouses, so travellers can choose a place that suits their budget. Universities usually have their own guesthouses, which are reasonably equipped and reasonably priced, making them a good option for independent travellers. - **Changsha Swan Journey International Youth Hostel** — Located in Changsha's commercial centre at Wuyi Square, just downstairs from Pozi Street, Taiping Street, Jiefang West Road and the Xiang River scenic belt. Shopping, snacks, leisure and fitness are all close at hand. ## Things to see - **Hunan Museum** (★★★★): Admission Free (reservation required); Opening hours 09:00-17:00 (closed Mondays, except on public holidays); Time needed 2–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hunan-museum - **Orange Isle Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 07:00-22:00; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/orange-isle-scenic-area - **Tianxin Pavilion** (★★★): Admission Free entry to the grounds; ¥30 to enter the city tower; Opening hours 07:30-17:30 (winter); 07:00-18:00 (summer); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianxin-pavilion - **Dufu River Pavilion** (★★★): Admission ¥11; Opening hours 09:00-17:30; Time needed 0.5-1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dufu-river-pavilion - **Yuelu Mountain Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission 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.; Opening hours 3:00–23:00 (July 13 – October 31); 6:00–23:00 (November 1 – July 12 of the following year); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuelu-mountain-scenic-area - **Mawangdui Han Tombs Site** (★★★): Admission Free (reservation required); Opening hours 09:00-17:00 (closed Mondays); Time needed 0.5–1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mawangdui-han-tombs-site - **Changsha Window of the World and Underwater World** (★★★★): Admission Window of the World ¥200; Underwater World ¥150; Opening hours Window of the World 9:00–18:30; Underwater World 9:00–17:30; Time needed Window of the World 0.5–1 day; Underwater World 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/changsha-window-of-the-world-and-underwater-world - **Wuyi Square** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 0.5 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wuyi-square - **Taiping Street** (★★★): 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 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/taiping-street ## Day trips & beyond - **Tanhe Ancient Town** (★★★): Admission ¥160 (including performance ticket); Opening hours 10：30—17：00; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tanhe-ancient-town - **Shaoshan** (★★★): Admission Admission to the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Mao's former residence and the Mao Zedong Poetry Stele Forest is free; Dishui Cave ¥40; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shaoshan - **Jinggang Ancient Town** (★★★★): Admission ¥80; Opening hours 08:00-17:30; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jinggang-ancient-town - **Dawei Mountain National Forest Park** (★★★★): Admission 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; Opening hours 08:00-17:00; Time needed 1-2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dawei-mountain-national-forest-park - **Liuye Lake Tourist Resort** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/liuye-lake-tourist-resort - **Peach Blossom Land Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥128; Opening hours 08:30-18:00 (spring and summer); 08:30-17:30 (autumn and winter); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/peach-blossom-land-scenic-area --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1929–1949. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.