Which year, a ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, I watched the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, Hunan ▏Practical Guide for Self-Driving Tour in Changsha, Hunan ▏[May 4, 2021]

📍 Changsha · 👁 5825 reads · ❤️ 2 likes

A ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu, I watched the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, Hunan ▏Practical Guide for Self-Driving Tour in Changsha, Hunan ▏[Changsha, Hunan Chapter][Second Stop][May 4, 2021]

Departing from Qingdao on May 1, 2021, the self-driving trip lasted 40 days, covering 10,200 kilometers, passing through 6 provinces and 30 cities, successfully completing the ten-thousand-mile self-driving plan through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu.

The winding heavenly road always attracts you to the distance.

Travel needs no reason, because the scenery is there!

Ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu:

Departing from Yueyang by self-driving, arriving in Changsha, Hunan in 3 hours, starting a two-day tour of Changsha ▏Watching Changsha today ▏Strolling along the Xiangjiang Riverside Scenic Belt ▏Orange Isle ▏Yuelu Academy ▏Yuelu Mountain ▏Hunan University ▏Tianxin Pavilion ▏Changsha Museum ▏Hunan Provincial Museum ▏Wandering around Pozijie Street ▏Tasting food in Taiping Street ▏

Changsha, Hunan:

Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, a pleasant climate. It has Yuelu Mountain with its unique scenery where frost leaves are redder than February flowers, the Xiangjiang River where water and islets embrace and the spring river is as green as blue, the world-renowned Eighth Wonder of the World—Mawangdui Han Tombs, and the millennium-old academy—Yuelu Academy.

The Xiangjiang River flows northward, and Orange Isle:

Orange Isle, facing Yuelu Mountain to the west and Changsha city to the east, is surrounded by water on all sides. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Changsha. Orange Isle, situated between famous mountains and the city, floating gently on the waves, is known as China's First Isle.

Yuelu Academy is located at the foot of the eastern side of Yuelu Mountain on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, Hunan. It is an ancient traditional Chinese academy building and one of the four famous academies in Chinese history.

Memory: As a person from Qingdao by the sea, I may have seen the beautiful seascapes for too long, and the attraction of the sea is no longer so strong. I always yearn for the scenery of Changsha, Hunan. I long for the long history of Changsha, the beautiful Xiangjiang scenery, the unforgettable Changsha cuisine, which constantly touches and attracts me. The fantastic imagination of traveling through time and space urges me to embark on this mysterious journey.

Route map of the ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu in May 2021:

Departure from Qingdao --- Yueyang, Hunan --- Changsha, Hunan --- Shaoshan, Hunan --- Hengyang, Hunan --- Yongzhou, Hunan --- Shaoyang, Hunan --- Huaihua, Hunan --- Zhangjiajie, Hunan --- Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan --- Jishou, Hunan --- Tongren, Guizhou --- Zunyi, Guizhou --- Anshun, Guizhou --- Guiyang, Guizhou --- Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou --- Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou --- Hechi, Guangxi --- Baise, Guangxi --- Chongzuo, Guangxi --- Nanning, Guangxi --- Guigang, Guangxi --- Laibin, Guangxi --- Liuzhou, Guangxi --- Yangshuo, Guangxi --- Guilin, Guangxi --- Xianning, Hubei --- Huanggang, Hubei --- Xuancheng, Anhui --- Wuhu, Anhui --- Hefei, Anhui --- Chuzhou, Anhui --- Nanjing, Jiangsu --- Yangzhou, Jiangsu --- Qingdao

Self-driving travel budget:

Based on my travel experience, for long-distance self-driving trips, as long as you don't purchase items, stay in budget hotels or farm stays, don't be too extravagant with meals, and reduce scenic area visit fees, 400 yuan per day can basically cover all expenses.

Trip summary; [Changsha, Hunan]

Time: May 4 to May 5, 2021, total 2 days

People: Couple of 2

Mode: Self-guided tour

Transportation: Self-driving car

Cost: 400 yuan per person (including gasoline, highway fees, accommodation, meals, tickets, and all expenses)

This place is most suitable for couples to travel, walking together, interpreting the magnificent and灵动山水 scenery of nature. Appreciating the rolling mountains, lush and幽翠 forests, savoring Changsha cuisine, and walking along the Xiangjiang River bank at night, taking in the full view of Changsha's scenery.

1. Origin of Changsha

Regarding Changsha, I had been to Changsha in Hunan before, but due to time constraints, I hurried through without carefully seeing the city. This time, the second stop of the ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi was arranged in Changsha. To carefully look at this beautiful city. After the Spring Festival this year, I made a travel plan for the ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. In May, during the most beautiful season of Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, the couple traveled south to see the beautiful Xiangjiang scenery of Changsha. Breathe the air of Changsha, taste Changsha cuisine, and place our passions.

2. Preparation for Departure

With no worries, take a trip that is said to be taken on a whim. For travel, make various preparations for departure, understand the weather conditions of the destination, and list the items needed.

3. Itinerary for Changsha in the ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi;

Day1: Watch Changsha today, stroll along the Xiangjiang Riverside Scenic Belt, Orange Isle, Yuelu Academy, Yuelu Mountain, Hunan University

Day2: Tianxin Pavilion, Changsha Museum, Hunan Provincial Museum, wander around Pozijie Street, taste food in Taiping Street

1. Self-driving route [Yueyang, Hunan --- Changsha, Hunan]

Departure from Yueyang, Hunan on May 4, 2021 at 07:00 — Arrival in Changsha, Hunan on May 4, 2021 at 10:00, distance 148 km, driving time 3 hours.

About the author: I am a self-guided travel enthusiast and photography enthusiast. I usually take landscape photos. In my spare time, I like to run around and visit various places to capture the stunning natural scenery and local customs. I love photography and never miss any beautiful people and things on the road. I think that moment captured will make up all my memories. To learn more about my photography works and travel notes, you can follow me on: Ctrip Travel Notes: Leyapai Travel Guide

If you have any questions about travel, feel free to leave me a message.

Essence of the ten-thousand-mile self-driving trip through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu [Second Stop] Changsha, Hunan:

When you lower your head, you realize the road beneath your feet. There are no wings in the sky, but birds have flown.

Day1: Watch Changsha today

Changsha is a fashionable and dynamic city, a food capital. Hunan TV, Super Girl, and Quick Boy are popular across the country. Fragrant snacks and food can be found everywhere on the streets. In short, whether you like to explore history or advocate youthful vitality, or just want to satisfy your appetite, you can find a satisfactory answer in Changsha.

Day1: Stroll along the Xiangjiang Riverside Scenic Belt

The Xiangjiang River is the most important river in Changsha, flowing from south to north through the entire city, with a length of about 75 kilometers within the city. The Xiangjiang River runs from south to north through the urban area of Changsha, dividing the city into the east and west parts.

Strolling along the Xiangjiang Riverside Scenic Belt

Day1: The Xiangjiang River flows northward, Orange Isle [Free admission]

Orange Isle is located at the southern end of Orange Isle, which is in the middle of the Xiangjiang River opposite the urban area of Changsha. It is one of the many alluvial sandbars in the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River, formed in the second year of Yongxing of Emperor Jin Hui (305 AD), with a history of more than 1,700 years.

Orange Isle, facing Yuelu Mountain to the west and Changsha city to the east, is surrounded by water on all sides, stretching for dozens of miles. The narrow part is about 40 meters wide, and the wide part is about 140 meters wide. It is shaped like a long island. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Changsha. Orange Isle, situated between famous mountains and the city, floating gently on the waves, is known as China's First Isle.

In modern Chinese history, Changsha has produced a number of famous politicians, military strategists, and writers. This ancient city, with a long cultural history of more than 2,000 years, was already one of the strategic strongholds of the Chu Kingdom in the south during the Spring and Autumn Period.

Statue of Mao Zedong in his youth

Viewing Orange Isle from afar

Day1: Yuelu Academy [Ticket required] [Free for 65 years and above]

In 1988, the Yuelu Academy building complex was approved by the State Council as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

In the ninth year of Kaibao of the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD), the prefect of Tanzhou, Zhu Dong, on the basis of monks' education, donated funds from the government to officially establish Yuelu Academy. Subsequently, through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was renamed Hunan Higher School in the 29th year of Guangxu of the late Qing Dynasty (1903).

In the eighth year of Xiangfu of the Northern Song Dynasty (1015 AD), Emperor Zhenzong of Song summoned the academy head Zhou Shi and granted the plaque of Yuelu Academy. In 1926, it was officially named Hunan University.

Yuelu Academy has lasted for a thousand years, with continuous teaching, so it is called the millennium academy. It is now a subordinate college of Hunan University.

Millennium academy ---- Yuelu Academy

Yuelu Academy ---- Banxue Study

Yuelu Academy ---- Garden

Yuelu Academy ---- Garden scenery

Yuelu Academy ---- Quzi Temple

During the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, Yuelu Academy built Quzi Temple, changing the situation that the provincial capital had no special temple for Qu Yuan, making Hunan, the homeland of Qu Yuan and Jia Yi, live up to its name.

This move has two cultural significances. First, it traces the loyal and patriotic tradition of Huxiang from the Northern Song Dynasty back to the Chu State and the Western Han Dynasty. Second, it traces Yuelu scholarship from Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi back to Zhou Dunyi, ultimately establishing the academic lineage of Hunan.

Yuelu Academy ---- Quzi Temple

Statue of Southern Song educator ---- Master Nanxuan Zhang Shi

China Academy Museum, the only museum in China dedicated to displaying the history of Chinese academies and cultural education history. It opened in Changsha, Hunan on June 14, 2012, located within Yuelu Academy, the largest, best-restored, and most well-preserved ancient academy in China.

Yuelu Academy ----- China Academy Museum

Li Zijian's oil painting of Master Xingyun

Yuelu Academy ----- China Academy Museum

Day1: Yuelu Mountain [Free admission]

Yuelu Mountain Scenic Area is located in Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, with an altitude of 300.8 meters and an area of 35.20 square kilometers. It is the last peak of the 72 peaks of Nanyue Hengshan, located within the Orange Isle Tourist Area, and is an urban mountain-type scenic area, one of China's four best places to appreciate red leaves.

Yuelu Mountain is located on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, one of the first batch of national historical and cultural cities. It is adjacent to the river and faces the city. It currently has four core scenic areas: Lushan, Orange Isle, Yuelu Academy, and Xinmin Society. It is a rare national AAAAA-level tourist attraction integrating "mountain, water, isle, and city" in the world, a national key scenic spot, a Huxiang cultural dissemination base, and a demonstration base for patriotic education.

Aiwan Pavilion was built in the 57th year of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1792), created by Luo Dian, the dean of Yuelu Academy. It is one of the four famous pavilions in China, together with Zuiweng Pavilion in Chuzhou, Anhui (1046), Huxin Pavilion in Hangzhou West Lake (1552), and Taoran Pavilion in Beijing Taoranting Park (1695).

Day1: Hunan University [Free admission]

Hunan University, abbreviated as HNU, is located in Changsha.

Hunan University traces its origins to the Yuelu Academy founded in 976 AD, undergoing changes through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In 1897, a new-style higher school, the School of Current Affairs, was founded. In 1903, Yuelu Academy and other schools merged and restructured into Hunan Higher School.

In 1912, Hunan Higher Normal School was established. In 1926, the provincial Hunan University was established. In 1937, it became one of the 16 national universities under the Ministry of Education of the National Government. In September 1949, National Hunan University was renamed Hunan University.

On August 20, 1950, Comrade Mao Zedong personally inscribed the school name. In 2000, Hunan University merged with Hunan College of Finance and Economics to form the new Hunan University.

Hunan University Square

Hunan University Commercial Street

Hunan University Wetland Park [Free admission]

Hunan University Wetland Park

Day2: Tianxin Pavilion [Ticket required] [Free for 65 years and above]

Tianxin Pavilion is located on the southeast corner of the central area of Changsha, on the ancient city wall at the intersection of Chengnan Road and Tianxin Road. It is a city tower of the ancient city of Changsha. It is an important scenic spot in Changsha and the only remaining ancient city landmark of Changsha.

Tianxin Pavilion has three floors of buildings with a construction area of 846 square meters, with green tiles and flying eaves, red beams and painted beams. The pavilion is skillfully integrated with the ancient city wall and other buildings of Tianxin Park.

The foundation of Tianxin Pavilion occupies the highest terrain in the city, and it sits on a city wall more than 30 meters high, with Miaofeng Peak as its companion nearby.

The name of Tianxin Pavilion first appeared in the poem "Viewing from Tianxin Pavilion" by Yu Yi in the late Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The prosperity of the southern part of the city gathers in this pavilion, making it famous and a place for literati to gather and compose poetry.

Day2: Changsha Museum [Free admission]

Changsha Museum is located in the Changsha Riverside Cultural Park Scenic Area (Xinhe Delta), Kaifu District, Changsha, Hunan.

Changsha Museum is a national second-level museum and comprehensive local museum integrating functions such as cultural relic collection, conservation research, exhibition promotion, and education services.

Changsha Museum was established in 1986. The new museum opened on December 28, 2015, with a building height of 5 floors and a construction area of 24,000 square meters.

Changsha Museum has an exhibition area of 9,000 square meters; the museum's collection amounts to more than 50,000 pieces (sets), covering various physical objects that confirm the historical and cultural development of Changsha from the Paleolithic period to modern times, including Shang and Zhou bronze wares, Chu and Han cultural relics, Tang Dynasty Changsha kiln porcelain, and modern cultural relics.

Changsha Museum has two basic exhibitions: the Ancient History and Culture Exhibition of Changsha and the Modern History and Culture Exhibition of Changsha, with regularly updated special exhibitions and exchange exhibitions.

Changsha Museum

Ancient History and Culture Exhibition of Changsha

Famous Western Han politician ---- Jia Yi