Star City, Food Capital... What Exactly Is Fun in Changsha

Standing alone in the cold autumn, the Xiang River flows northward past Orange Isle.

I see a thousand hills all crimsoned through, and thickly wooded forests dyed; the river green as jade, a hundred boats contend.

I believe everyone is familiar with this poem—it was a text we had to memorize in junior high school. As the capital city of Hunan Province, Changsha has been growing and progressing at a rapid pace in recent years, making me, a native of Hunan, feel incredibly proud. Happy Changsha, a city of mountains and waters. Changsha is also a nationally renowned historical and cultural city and an important central city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

Over the past 55 years, the dreams of Changsha people have continuously refreshed the picture of life. It is no exaggeration to say that during the stormy years since the liberation of Changsha, the changes in people's lives have unfolded the most colorful and magnificent scenes in history. Fifty-five years may be a very short span in Changsha’s over two thousand years of civilization, but in that “instant” of history, Changsha has driven unprecedented changes in people’s lives, turning countless dreams into vivid reality. The march of history continues, and Changsha will surely pursue, enact, and surpass even more and greater dreams in the future.

So, which tourist attractions in Changsha are worth visiting? Which spots record the transformation and development of Changsha over these years? Today, come along with a local Changsha girl to have a look!

Orange Isle is located in the middle of the Xiang River within Changsha city, one of the many alluvial sandbars in the lower reaches of the Xiang River. To the west is Yuelu Mountain, to the east is Changsha city, and it is surrounded by water. For many out-of-town visitors, the first thing they do when arriving in Changsha is to go to Orange Isle to see Chairman Mao—just like the poem by Chairman Mao at the beginning of the article, praising Orange Isle as majestic and grand! Orange Isle is one of Changsha’s major scenic spots and a national key scenic area. Gazing at the Xiang River rushing northward, visitors can fully express their lofty ambitions and heroic sentiments. In autumn, the oranges on Orange Isle ripen, and the orange-red scenery becomes even more beautiful and attractive. If you have the chance, you can also pick an orange on Orange Isle and taste it!

Yuelu Mountain is not far from Orange Isle. After visiting Orange Isle, if you still feel energetic, you can go climb Yuelu Mountain. The best time is around four or five in the afternoon; from the top, you can see a beautiful sunset. Yuelu Mountain is located in the university district, so you will encounter many young people, and who knows, you might even have a romantic encounter! The mountain is lush with trees, and ancient and famous trees can be seen everywhere. Many people enjoy hiking and relaxing there. There are many places to explore on Yuelu Mountain, so you need ample energy. If you feel tired when coming down, you can take the cable car, enjoying the evening breeze and the scenery—what a pleasant experience! At the foot of the mountain, you can visit Yuelu Academy, the Love Evening Pavilion in Qingfeng Gorge, the ancient Lushan Temple with a history of over 1,700 years, and the Yunlu Daoist Temple at the summit. In addition, there are graves of revolutionary martyrs such as Huang Xing, Chen Tianhua, and Cai E. The scenic area also has many food and beverage service points, so you don’t have to worry about running out of food or places to rest when tired.

This place is a quite fun tourist attraction, but it’s a bit far from downtown Changsha. Located in Tiaoma Village at the intersection of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, it is an ecological park. Surrounded by mountains and with clear, serene lake water, it is a natural oxygen bar, very suitable for city dwellers to come for leisure and vacation. Shiyan Lake has profound historical deposits and a long cultural heritage. The scenic area features dozens of unique ecological tourism projects, including a water recreation center, a horse riding club, a diving club, a beach swimming area, an expansion training base, and the Shiyan Lake Wildlife and Plant Park. Dragon boat racing is a major specialty of Shiyan Lake; in the golden autumn when the maple leaves are fully dyed, racing dragon boats with everyone pulling together is a lively scene. There is also a bungee jumping project for those who like excitement and challenges, but the editor dare not try it—it requires a lot of courage!

As an internet-famous city, Changsha cannot lack delicious food. Taiping Street covers all kinds of classic and trendy foods in Changsha. Taiping Street is an old street in Changsha. You can stroll through old houses and ancient residences, browse small shops, and eat stinky tofu. The whole street is usually packed with people, especially during holidays. Walking on this street means having to squeeze through the crowd, and if you want to taste food from a certain shop, you have to queue for half an hour. But the moment you taste the food, you always feel that it was worth the long wait.

There are simply too many fun and delicious places in Changsha to describe in just a few words. First, try visiting the attractions I’ve introduced. After you finish, we’ll look at some lesser-known spots in Changsha next time!