5 Things to do in Changsha – The Land of Ancient Temples

One of the first places you should be visiting when in Changsha, is the Yuelu Academy which has been one of the most prestigious colleges in China for over 1000 years. The amazing thing about this academy is that is still functions today, having been first established in the Song Dynasty in 976 AD. Classical Chinese learning has been converted to modern learning and school is located on Yuelu Mountain. Highlights include the massive courtyard, the Imperial Book Tower, an ancient Lecture Hall and the Confucian Temple.

Located just 40 minutes' drive from Citadines Xingsha Changsha, Lushan Temple is close to Yuelu Academy and is a practising Buddhist temple that was established in the Jin Dynasty by Master Zhu Fachong. Some people believe that it is the first temple in the Hunan Province. It has, as in most cases, been completely rebuilt many times after. The atmosphere in the temple is very calming and quiet and there is a lot of murals and paintings to look at if you are a history buff. Some of the highlights include Guanyin Hall and Maitreya Hall.

Orange Island or Juzi Island is located in the middle of the Xiangjiang river which bisects the province. The island is the largest inland island in China. It's definitely worth a visit if you are staying in one of the Changsha Apartments. The most apparent attraction on Juzi Island is the contemporary sculpture of Mao Zedong which is given the impression of having been carved out of rock and was made to celebrate the former Chairman in 2009. The island gets its name from being a gigantic orange tree plantation. April and October are the best times to visit when the trees blossom and when the fruits ripen.

The ancient burial grounds of the Mawangdui Han Tombs are shrouded in mystery. Believed to have been constructed to bury a noble family from the Han Dynasty period of 206 BC to 220 AD, it contains the almost perfectly preserved remains of Lady Dai who was mummified at least 2000 years ago. There's also a lot of artefacts and items that you can peruse. It makes for a great adventure trip, especially if you have children in tow.

Part of what is remaining of the ancient city of Changsha, the Tianxin Pavilion Park was first constructed in the Qin Dynasty and belonged to General Yang Xi. The pavilion was one of the highest points in the city for a long time and thus provided a great vantage point. Today you can explore the park which is lush with vegetation and has a relaxing atmosphere of sculptures among others and you can watch local musicians practice their instruments.