Changsha

Changsha, China

The origins of today's capital of southern China's Hunan province go back to the ancient State of Chu over 3000 years ago. During the Qin period (221–206 BC) it became a pit stop for Qin's audacious, blood-curdling military inroads to expand the boundaries of an already large kingdom all the way southwards to coastlines. During the Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) it was the capital of an imperial fiefdom of the Han.

Changsha is known as the “Cradle of Revolution” as it's associated with many big names in contemporary China's revolutionary history, including Mao Tse-tung who was born and raised in a small village in the province and founded the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Getting around

• Mount Yuelu

  Historical sites abound in this 300-meter-high mountainous scenic zone, including a 1000-year-old imperial academy and one of China's four most famous pavilions.

• Juzi Isle

  The alluvial sandbar in the middle of Xiang River flowing through the city invariably recalls one of Mao Tse-tung's poems because it gets a mention there. It's now a sprawling park with thousands of orange trees and a natural swimming site.

• Mawangdui

  Three tombs of the Han dynasty excavated from 1972 to 1974 once stunned the archeological world. The corpse of a female is already over 2100 years old, and some of her joints can still move. What ancient Chinese did to prevent the corpse from utter decay remains an unsolved mystery.

• Tianxin Pavilion

  Perched high on a section of the ancient city wall, the three-story pavilion is Changsha's time-honored landmark. Trek up to its top for a commanding view of the entire city.

• Piyingxi (shadow play)

  Performers pull strings behind the scenes to make paper cut-like puppets walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh between a source of light and a translucent screen. Thanks to Changsha's around 100 shadow play troupes and performers, this centuries-old ancient form of storytelling and entertainment is still alive and kicking today. Watch one in Red Theater.

  
  
  
• Taiping Street

  This ancient street flanked by some ancient sites and old branded commercial stores and teahouses still patronized by locals and visitors provides a snapshot of the city's history.