Summer Slow Travel: Enchanting Hunan, Cultural Feast – A Comprehensive 5-Day, 4-Night Itinerary for Changsha, Xiangtan, and Zhuzhou
Summer brings serene joy, with bamboo breezes carrying the scent of lotus.
The happiest thing in summer is embarking on a long-awaited journey, just like this summer solstice, when I made a pact with Hunan.
This summer, come to Hunan for a slow trip. I spent 6 days and 5 nights visiting three cities: Changsha, Xiangtan, and Zhuzhou. Amid a feast of flavors, I deeply experienced the profound cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan region.
About the Itinerary:
D1: Morning visit to Changsha Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, lunch at Huogongdian (Fire Temple); afternoon stroll through Baiguoyuan Historical and Cultural Tourism Street, Mi Bookstore, and Wenheyou; evening cruise on the Xiangjiang River, dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf; overnight at Changsha Fuli Wanda Vista Hotel.
D2: Morning visit to Tongguan Kiln Ancient Town; afternoon tour of Xiangjiang Joy City, enjoy the performance "Most Memorable is Shaoshan Chong"; evening watch the iron flower performance at Daolin Ancient Town.
D3: Enjoy "Painting-Like Xiaohe" in the rain; overnight at Xiangtan Wanlou Ramada.
D4: Morning visit to Wanlou and Panlong Grand View Garden; afternoon visit to Zhuzhou Museum, dinner at Backyard Flower Language Restaurant; overnight at Zhuzhou Yannian Plaza Hotel.
D5: Morning visit to Zhuzhou Liling Ceramics Valley; return after lunch.
About Pre-Trip Preparation:
1. Summers in Hunan are quite hot, so sun protection is crucial. Bring sunscreen with SPF 50+ and water resistance. I traveled in June, which is the rainy season, so pack rain gear.
2. Summer is the best season for crayfish. Whether in Changsha, Xiangtan, or Zhuzhou, there are many restaurants specializing in crayfish. Hunan cuisine tends to be spicy, so prepare medicines for heatstroke and digestive issues.
3. Many scenic spots in Hunan are great for photos. For us ladies, remember to wear brightly colored clothes.
4. My essential photography gear: camera, phone, tripod – all will enhance your travelogue. I brought a DJI drone, Sony mirrorless camera, and iPhone. There's plenty of beautiful scenery along the way in Hunan, so bring extra batteries.
I have a special sentiment for bookstores, recalling the quiet reading time of my student days. Today, I see bookstores not just as places to sell books, but as homes to cultivate the mind, store memories, and soothe emotions. Changsha’s Mi Bookstore is a new cultural landmark, attracting many book lovers.
The local customs of a city, accumulated over time, often bring unexpected surprises. Hunan Yuhua Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum houses 359 intangible cultural heritage items. Immersed in the cultural atmosphere, you can feel the charm of intangible heritage. I think it's perfect for family trips, where children can learn knowledge not found in textbooks through vivid exhibits.
Changsha is a city with rich historical and cultural heritage, yet also trendy and artistic. Baiguoyuan Historical and Cultural Tourism Street blends fashionable elements into old alleys. The simple, elegant old houses contain coffee, desserts, trendy toys, and creative products. Old and new, classical and modern, perfectly merge here.
At first hearing the name "Huogongdian" (Fire Temple), you might not associate it with Changsha’s food. Huogongdian is a must-visit in Changsha, famous for its local snacks: Changsha stinky tofu, authentic braised pork, and sweet glutinous rice balls, all top-notch in Changsha – a time-honored brand known both at home and abroad.
In Changsha, you must try authentic stinky tofu. At Huogongdian, the stinky tofu is visually appealing and made with fine ingredients. A small hole is poked in each piece to add various seasonings, then dipped in different sauces according to personal taste. At first sniff, it smells pungent, but upon tasting, it’s richly fragrant and tempting.
Wenheyou is a popular internet-famous spot in Changsha and a favorite among locals. Located at Haixin Plaza, No. 36 Middle Xiangjiang Road, Changsha, it attracts visitors with its retro style. The seven-story building, each floor with its own style, features old architecture and artifacts, taking us back to the 1980s. It gathers various local snacks, perfect for both photos and food.
There is a star in the sky called the Changsha Star, and on earth, there are also stars. The profound historical culture and brilliant young talents give Changsha a unique urban color. A night cruise on the Orange Isle ferry is romantic, allowing you to visit Changsha’s most iconic landmarks in over an hour: Orange Isle, Yuelu Mountain, Du Fu River Pavilion, Young Mao Zedong Statue, Wanda Building Cluster, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the First Xiangjiang Bridge.
Along the beautiful Xiangjiang River, there are 23 European-style buildings with exotic charm – this is Fisherman’s Wharf, where Changsha locals love to eat and stroll. The best way to enjoy Fisherman’s Wharf is to gather a few friends, sit in the open-air night market, drink beer, eat crayfish, and chat endlessly.
During my two nights in Changsha, I stayed at the Fuli Wanda Vista Hotel. The spacious, bright rooms with warm, stylish decor made my Changsha trip even more perfect.
Tongguan Kiln Ancient Town is built along a lake, with a tranquil environment and rich experience projects. It houses eight museums, allowing us to appreciate the profoundness of Hunan culture through pictures and texts. When visiting, you can get a map and check off attractions you like. The ceramic experience project left a deep impression: you can make your own ceramic piece, which is quite rewarding.
During your Hunan trip, there is one performance you must not miss: "Most Memorable is Shaoshan Chong." It begins with the melodious Shaoshan folk songs, then tells stirring stories through passionate poetry and lyrics. This large indoor drama is directed by Zhang Yimou, who personally created and guided the production. It is magnificent and deeply moving.
After enjoying the visual feast, take a walk to the former residence of Chairman Mao, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, to experience the picturesque scenery of Shaoshan Chong.
Daolin Ancient Town, known as "Little Nanjing," was once very prosperous. With a history of 1,100 years, I watched a unique iron flower performance there. The themed show is called "The Iron Soul of Hunan Through a Thousand Years." It presents a spectacular audio-visual feast through dialogues between historical Hunan figures across time and breathtaking iron flower performances.
In the drizzling rain, I arrived at the legendary "Painting-Like Xiaohe." Xiaohe Township lies deep in the Luoxiao Mountains. Amid the rain, the mountains were shrouded in mist, like a fairyland. The houses hidden among green hills seemed poetic, painting a fresh pastoral scene.
Xiaohe Township has two famous internet-famous spots: Fish-Scale Dam and Overlapping Water Dam. I came specifically for these dams. The Fish-Scale Dam is designed with 172 scales, making it especially photogenic at sunset. Since it rained during my visit, although I saw the misty scenery, I missed seeing the Fish-Scale Dam. Encounters on a journey are full of unknowns – perhaps it’s a little foreshadowing for my return another day.
Zhuzhou, Hunan, is a niche treasure travel city. China’s first electric locomotive, first small and medium aero engine, first cemented carbide, and first medium-low speed maglev train were all born here. A family trip to Zhuzhou Power Valley, guided by intelligent robots, launches a cool journey.
Power Valley is divided into six areas: Focus Power Valley, Rail Transit, General Aviation, New Energy Vehicles, Emerging Industries "5+2", and National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone. Power Valley is great for family trips, showcasing China’s technological strength and rapid progress through pictures, texts, and explanations.
To understand a city, start with its food. I believe the local favorite dishes also hide the city’s character and cultural heritage. For dinner, I chose the Backyard Flower Language Restaurant, highly recommended by local friends. It’s a new trendy restaurant with both a photogenic environment and distinctive cuisine.
Backyard Flower Language Restaurant is separated from the Xiangjiang River only by a road. Outside is the surging river; inside, an elegant and tranquil dining atmosphere – both are my style. Maintaining aesthetics on the table is the Hunanese pursuit of refinement and our respect for living well. The seafood here is exceptionally satisfying.
Zhuzhou Liling is one of China’s three porcelain capitals, with a profound ceramic culture. It is the birthplace of the world’s underglaze multicolored porcelain, with a ceramic industry history of over 2,000 years. Liling ceramics are a national geographical indication product. During my Hunan trip, I visited the Ceramics Museum and the Art District in Liling, learning about the past and present of Liling ceramics and feeling the breadth and depth of Chinese ceramic culture.
Summer slow travel, charming Hunan, a feast for the taste buds, a cultural extravaganza. Although my five-day, four-night Hunan trip is over, my story with Hunan continues.
