Joanna James
The capital of Hunan province, Changsha is a city with a colourful past and a history that goes back to 1046 BCE. Take a look at some of these interesting places to visit while there.
At 300-meters above the city, Mount Yule is the ideal place to get amazing views of the city. One can spot the Xiangjiang River and Juzizhou, also known as the Orange Island, at the centre of the river.
Yuelu Mountain has many attractions of historical interest and spectacular beauty. The ideal time to visit is at the turn of autumn and winter. At Aiwan Pavillion you can see the maple trees colour the mountain in hues of red and orange.
At the base of the mountain is Yuelu Academy known as the"one-thousand-year-old academy". It was founded in 976 CE as a centre for Buddhist learning was among the best in ancient China. At present, it is a research centre affiliated with the Hunan University for the study of ancient Chinese civilization. Visit some key sites such as the Wenchang Pavilion, Xiangshui Sutra Proofreading Hall and the Library of Imperial Books.
During the Tang Dynasty, oranges were grown abundantly and traded to remote areas from this region. Some of the highlights on the island include the Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall, Citrus Culture Park, and Xiaoxiang Celebrity Club, where sightseeing and leisure are combined.
For more spectacular views of the island head to Dufu River Pavilion, Siyang Fangzun Square, and Fengfan Square.
The museum is found near Martyr's Park in Changsha's Kaifu District and spreads over 51,000 square meters. This museum has collected a large number of curios and has more than 180,000 objects spread throughout its galleries. Some of the main attractions are the tombs of the Marquis of Dai and his wife. The range of exhibits includes bronze ware from the Shang and Zhou periods; celadon earthenware, hand-drawn earthen wear and many classics by artists from the 4th century down to the Qing Dynasty.
This old street has preserved the initial street design of ancient Changsha. Located in the centre of Changsha city, Taiping Street was regarded as the centre of Changsha. Its prominence has endured for over 2,000 years up to the present day. The buildings have maintained the traditional blue roof tiles, gilded roofs, white tile parapets, and wooded doors and windows. Find several historical places of interest, such as the residence of late Jia Yi, the Changhuai Well, and the West Archway of Mingji Seignior Palace.
The best place to enjoy Hunan Cuisine is in Huogongdian. Find over 300 kinds of dishes served here. Find classics such as Stinky tofu, sugar and oil baba, beef noodles, flavoured shrimp, and steamed fish with peppers. Other than Huogongdian, you can visit famous restaurants such as those on Pozi Street; Ruxiangqun, Lihesheng, and Xuchangxing are great places to have a meal. Also, check out Huangxing Pedestrian Street and Nanmenkou. All of these are good spots to discover the food culture of Changsha and the Hunan Province. If looking for where to stay in Changsha try the likes of Ascott Xiangjiang FFC Changsha.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
