Changsha

Introduction
Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is located in the east of Hunan, at the west edge of Changliu Basin in the lower reaches of Xiangjiang River. It covers a total area of 11,819 square kilometers. By the end of 2009, Changsha has a population of 6.4173 millions, among of which there are 485,640 ethnic minorities, such as Tujia, Miao, Tong, Yao, Hui, Zhuang, and Bai people.
With a history of 3000 years, Changsha is called “the hometown of Qu Yuan and Jia Yi”, who were two influential statesmen in Chinese history. Changsha is also reputed as “Chu-Han City”, which boasts profound Chu and Huxiang culture, revealed by the unearthed relics, such as Mawangdui Han Tombs and bamboo and wooden slips of Zoumalou. Yuelu Academy, at the foot of Yuelu Mountain, is the symbol of Hunan’s culture and education. Fostering a number of celebrities in the history and preserving numerous cultural relics, the Yuelu Academy was put in the first batch of state historic and cultural cities list. Changsha is famous for Xiang embroidery, red porcelain and chrysanthemum stone carving, especially the Xiang embroidery, one of the four famous embroideries in China.
Attractions in Changsha
Changsha is blessed with long history and splendid ancient culture. In the city of Changsha is dotted with historic relics and ancient tombs. The predominant geographical location has brought unique and beautiful landscape to Changsha. There are nearly 50 attractions in Changsha worth a visit.
Yuelu Academy
The most famous attractions in Changsha are around Yuelu Mountain. Among of them, the Yuelu Academy is a must-see place, located at the northern foot of Yuelu Mountain. It was initially constructed in 976 during Northern Song Dynasty, with an area of 25,000 square meters, a floor space of 7,030 square meters, and has earned a prestigious fame over the centuries. It’s an ancient school, where people studied in order to succeed in the government examination and rise above after 10 years’ hard-working. Zhu Xi, a well-known philosopher and Confucian scholar in Southern Song Dynasty, lectured at the academy in 1165.
Hunan Provincial Museum
Hunan Provincial Museum is situated at the west side of Revolutionary Martyr’s Park. In the museum, the cultural relics excavated from Mawangdui Han Tombs and a well preserved Western Han Dynasty woman with a history of 2100 years are displayed in the museum. The museum has a collection of over 110,000 objects, more than 763 of which are top grade cultural relics. One of the most fascinating finds from the tomb is a plain gauze garment, as thin as a cicada’s wings, 1.28 meters long, only 49 grams heavy with long sleeves.
Mawangdui Han Tombs
The famous Mawangdui Han Tombs is one of the most fascinating attractions in Hunan Province. It’s located in the eastern suburb of Changsha city, 4 kilometers away from the city proper. It’s said that the Mawangdui Han Tombs belongs to Ma Yin, the King of Chu state, thus comes its name Ma Wang( King) Dui. Three tombs constitute the Mawangdui Han Tombs, among of which No.1 Tomb is the largest one, 19.5 meters long, 17.8 meters wide, and 16 meters deep. No.1 Tomb was excavated in the year of 1972 by Hunan Museum and Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Science, later No.2 and No.3 Tomb were unearthed successively from 1973 to the early of 1974. After research, it’s proved that No.2 Tomb belongs to Licang, the then prime minister of Changsha in the early Han Dynasty, No. 1 Tomb to the wife of Licang, No.3 to the son of Licang. The excavation of Mawangdui Han Tombs provides substantial materials for the study on the development of handicraft industry and scientific technology of the early Western Han Dynasty, and the research on the aspects of the then history, culture and social life.
Shopping Center
Zhongshan Road (中山路), Wuyi Road (五一路), and Huangxing South Road (黄兴南路) are famous shopping district in Changsha. They are located on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River. Both Zhongshan Road and Wuyi Road are hustling and bustling commercial streets, and Huangxing South Road is a pedestrian street.
Huangxing South Road, with a history of 100 years, is the most representative commercial street in Changsha, regarded as “the soul of Changsha”. It’s a big step for the reconstruction of old city in Changsha. Huangxing South Road integrates shopping, recreation, entertainment, sightseeing with catering, a combination of traditional and modern commercial street. It is 830 meters in length, 20-23 meters in width, with an area of 250,000 square meters.
Tourist Attraction
Aiwan pavilion
Chancellor Li Tsang's family Tombs (before B.C.) - his wife's body is preserved well: although it is 2100 years old, it still has flesh , teeth and internal organs, an autospy reavling that she died suddenly after a meal about 50
Hunan Exhibition Hall
Hunan Provincial First Normal School - a copy of Mao Zedong's school
Hunan Provincial Museum - 5000 artefacts of Han dynasty as well as many revolutionary items are exhibited in it, but they are all in good quality
Juzi (Orange) Island - about 5 km in length
Laodong Renmin Stadium
Lushan Temple
Mao Zedong's House at Shaoshan - There was where the founder of the People's Republic, Mao Zedong was born, his house contains some of the original furniture that he had used. There is a museum devoted to his life and works and a visit here from Changsha, taking in the delightfully rural landscape en route.
Mount Hengshan
Provincial Embroidery Factory - you can see the process of making delicate embroidery here, which can be viewed from both sides. And the products are widely available in the city's stores and the focus of two specialist museums
Tianxin Park - contains a section of the old city wall
Taohuayuan
Wulingyuan
Youth and Children's Palace
Yuelu Academy
Yuelu Hill - provides a good view of city
Yueyang Tower

Changsha Map

Changsha Hotel