It's not that traveling abroad is unaffordable, but Changsha offers better value.
Here's a refined Changsha travel guide for you, without pictures, covering attractions, food, accommodation, and transportation. I hope it helps you have a great time in Changsha:
Recommended Attractions
1. History and Culture:
◦ Hunan Museum: Rich in collections, including precious artifacts from the Mawangdui Han Tombs and Yuelu Academy. It is recommended to book tickets in advance on the official platform. You can rent an audio guide or join the scheduled free guided tours for a better understanding of the stories behind the exhibits. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm). Closed on Mondays (except national holidays).
◦ Yuelu Mountain and Yuelu Academy: Yuelu Mountain is a landmark attraction in Changsha. You can take the cable car up and walk down, enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery. Yuelu Academy is one of the four famous academies of ancient China, with a profound cultural heritage. The academy is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and tickets cost around 40 yuan.
◦ Orange Isle: The Chairman Mao Zedong Youth Art Sculpture is a must-see. You can take the scenic train to tour the island. The scenic area is open all day, and the train ticket costs 20 yuan (round trip).
◦ Du Fu Jiang Ge: Built in memory of Du Fu, you can climb up and enjoy a panoramic view of the Xiang River. The scenery is beautiful at night when the lights are on. It's also an excellent spot to watch the fireworks show over Orange Isle. Open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, and tickets cost around 30 yuan.
2. Urban Leisure:
◦ Huangxing Road Walking Street: The number one commercial street in Sanxiang, with numerous shops and snack stalls. It's a great place to experience the bustling commercial atmosphere of Changsha.
◦ IFS Tower: A fashionable landmark with the popular "KAWS: SEEING/WATCHING" sculpture on the rooftop, attracting many people to take photos. The mall has a wide range of brands, covering fashion, dining, and entertainment.
◦ Taiping Old Street and Pozi Street: Old streets full of Changsha characteristics, preserving many ancient buildings and gathering various snacks and specialty shops. Jia Yi's former residence is also located on Taiping Old Street.
3. Family Fun:
◦ Window of the World (Changsha): Features miniature landscapes of world-famous landmarks, as well as various amusement facilities and performances, suitable for family outings. Generally open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm (subject to the scenic area's announcement), and tickets cost around 200 yuan.
◦ Huayi Brothers (Changsha) Movie Town: A movie-themed cultural tourism resort with a European-style town. You can watch performances, experience movie-related projects, and take great photos. Open from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm (subject to seasonal adjustments), and tickets cost around 150 yuan.
◦ Changsha Underwater World: You can see various marine creatures and enjoy performances at the Ocean Theatre. There's also a water park area for cooling off in the summer. Open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and tickets cost around 150 yuan.
Food Recommendations
1. Hunan Cuisine:
◦ Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili: Made with bighead carp fish head, chopped chili, soy sauce, ginger, onion, garlic, and other ingredients. Recommended restaurants: Yizhandeng, Yuloudong, and Chuiyan Xiaochao Huangniurou.
◦ Stir-fried Pork with Chili: Made with fresh pork and chili, spicy and delicious.
◦ Spicy Zi Ran Chicken: Golden in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a strong spicy flavor.
2. Local Snacks:
◦ Stinky Tofu: The stinky tofu at Huogongdian Snack Kingdom is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, served with a unique soup and seasonings.
◦ Sugar Oil Baba: The sugar oil baba at Nanmenkou Jinji Tang You Tuotuo Dian is reddish-brown, sweet, and soft.
◦ Fried Snacks: Wenmiaoping Zhazhazha and Huji Zhazhazha offer a wide variety of fried snacks with unique flavors.
◦ Rice Noodles with Lard: The rice noodles with lard at Xiao Pangzi Zhu You Ban Fen are fragrant and smooth.
3. Trendy Food:
◦ Cha Yan Yue Se: A local milk tea brand in Changsha with many unique flavors, such as Youlan Latte and Shengsheng Oolong. Many branches are available.
◦ Wen He You: A retro-style restaurant famous for its spicy crayfish and other specialties, recreating the old Changsha style.
◦ Tianbao Brothers: Specializing in spicy crayfish, the crayfish are of high quality and the flavor is spicy and satisfying.
Accommodation Suggestions
1. Wuyi Business District: Convenient transportation, surrounded by various restaurants, and close to major attractions, making it the first choice for most tourists. There are high-end hotels like Niccolo Changsha, as well as many cost-effective chain hotels and homestays.
2. Near Yuelu Mountain: Beautiful environment, suitable for those who prefer a quiet stay and want to visit Yuelu Mountain and Yuelu Academy nearby. There are some characteristic inns and homestays where you can experience the local culture.
3. Along the Xiang River: You can enjoy the river view and the beautiful night scenery and fireworks show in the evening. Some hotels have excellent locations and convenient transportation.
Transportation Guide
1. Airport: Changsha Huanghua International Airport is far from the city center. You can take the Maglev Express, airport bus, or taxi to the city. The Maglev Express goes directly to Changsha South Railway Station, which is convenient for transferring to the subway.
2. Railway Stations: Changsha has Changsha Railway Station and Changsha South Railway Station. Changsha Railway Station is located in the city center, while Changsha South Railway Station is a high-speed rail station. From the railway stations, you can take the subway, bus, or taxi to your destination.
3. City Transportation: Changsha Metro has opened multiple lines, covering most attractions and business districts, making it convenient to travel around. The bus network is also well-developed, and some attractions may require taking a bus. In addition, you can also choose to take a taxi or use shared bikes.
When traveling in Changsha, remember to plan your itinerary reasonably, check the opening hours and ticket information of each attraction in advance, and choose reputable restaurants when trying local cuisine to ensure a pleasant trip.
I've been there twice, and it's definitely worth visiting. It's a place with a rich historical background. However, I think you should do your research before going to such a place, otherwise you won't gain much from the trip.
We arrived at Yuelu Mountain early in the morning. The guide contacted us a day in advance and arranged a meeting point. His explanation was incredibly detailed; skipping it would have been a wasted trip. The crowds were still quite large this morning, though I only saw the Aiwan Pavilion from a distance. The scenery was beautiful during the hike, and Lushan Temple was tranquil. Outside the entrance, a few young people were setting up stalls, selling two small porcelain bowls with a ring for 20 yuan. The hike wasn't tiring, but we stopped frequently. We visited the tombs of Cai E and Huang Xing, and then descended by cable car. It wasn't crowded at noon, so we didn't have to wait. Once we reached the base, the crowds at the East Gate were so numerous we were glad we'd gotten up early. The fragrance of osmanthus flowers permeated the air along Yuelu Mountain in autumn, creating a refreshing and pleasant breeze.
Yuelu College: one of the four major colleges in ancient China, founded in the Northern Song Dynasty in 976, located at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha City, Hunan Province, is now the School of History and Philosophy of Hunan University. Yuelu College has been developed for thousands of years. It was founded by Tanzhou Taishou Zhudong during the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhu Ying and Zhang Ying in the Southern Song Dynasty carried out "Zhu Zhanghui Talk" here, becoming an important dissemination place of science and science. It was changed to Hunan Higher School in the late Qing Dynasty, and it was officially named Hunan University in 1926. It has been used to this day.
Yuelu, a national 5A scenic spot, is located on the bank of the Xiangjiang River. 🏔️Although it is only 300 meters high, it is very famous. Yuelu Mountain is half of the history of modern times. Six of the 27 people who enjoyed state funerals before 1949 were buried here. Cai E and Huang Xing were buried in Yuelu Mountain. There is the famous Aiwan Pavilion in the mountain. At the foot of the mountain is the thousand-year-old Yuelu Academy. It is really worth a visit.
Yuelu Academy is located at the foot of Yuelu Mountain. It is close to the Hunan University side. It is known as one of the four major academies in China. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, surrounded by mountains and waters. The pavilions in the academy are fresh and simple. It is suitable for taking photos and visiting. Remember to make an appointment in advance to avoid being unable to enter the park. You can visit it together with Yuelu Mountain. It takes about half a day.
Yuelu Academy is located at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha. It is one of the four famous academies in Chinese history. It has blue bricks and black tiles, towering ancient trees, courtyard steles, verandahs and pavilions, birds singing and flowers fragrant, elegance and tranquility, beautiful scenery, and long corridors. There are many famous calligraphy and paintings on display. This "thousand-year institution of learning" exudes a strong scholarly atmosphere and has endless charm when walking through it. Opening hours: 5/1-10/31, open from 07:30-18:00 every day, 11/1-4/30, open from 08:00-17:30 every day
Yuelu Academy, Hunan University is a secondary college under Hunan University. In 976, Zhu Dong, the governor of Tanzhou in the Northern Song Dynasty, founded Yuelu Academy at the foot of Yuelu Mountain. It has gone through the changes of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1903, Yuelu Academy was restructured and Hunan Higher School was established. In 1926, Hunan University was officially established in the academy. In 1979, the restoration of Yuelu Academy began. In 1984, Yuelu Academy Cultural Research Institute was established. In 2005, Yuelu Academy Cultural Research Institute was changed to Yuelu Academy, Hunan University.
PParking: It is very difficult to park, traffic control, and the surrounding area is full of school parking lots. In the end, we could only park the car in the mall and then take a taxi there. Visiting experience: The scenic spots in the university are very romantic. There are introductions to each place. I want to take a look slowly, but there are too many people. I can't be patient. I occasionally listen to the explanations, which can also be regarded as a touch of knowledge.