Changsha
Situated in the river valley along the lower reaches of the Xiang River,
Changsha is the capital city of Hunan Province. The recorded history of the area
can be traced back 3,000 years. Tomb relics from the primitive periods
witnessing the earliest human activities have been discovered in this region.
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. - 476 B.C.), the area developed
into an important town within the State of Chu, (one of the seven warring states
that existed before China's unification by Emperor Qin).
After Emperor Qin (the first feudal emperor in China's history) unified the
country, the town was set up as a county and later became the capital city of a
state in the early Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220).
The tomb excavation site of Mawangdui found in the eastern suburb of the city is
a family graveyard from that period. The most fantastic historical relic should
be the well-preserved mummified remains of a Western Han Dynasty woman excavated
from the tombs.
Some of thousands of relics unearthed include silk products, paintings, lacquer
works, potteries, bamboo slips used for writing, weapons and herbs, all of which
are exhibited in Hunan Provincial Museum. In the dynasties that followed, the
city experienced several expansions and during Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it has
developed into the political, economic and cultural center of Hunan Province.
Although not as ancient a capital city as Beijing, Nanjing or Xian, Changsha
also has rich historical heritages including old wall remains, tomb sites,
religious temples and buildings. What earns the city its reputation among
visitors are two things. One is a great man in recent history, Chairman Mao
Zedong and the other is Yuelu Academy, a time-honored academic school perched on
the scenic Yuelu Mountain.
Things to do in Changsha
■ Visit Mawangdui Han Tombs
■ Discover Mt. Yuelu
■ Visit Hunan Provincial Museum
■ Explore Wuyi Square Shopping Circle
Stay in Changsha
■ Sheraton Changsha Hotel
■ Crowne Plaza Changsha City Center
■ Wandai Hotel - Changsha
■ Sylva Hotel
■ Changsha Da Cheng Hotel
■ Hunan Wuhua Hotel
■ Xinglu Hotel
■ Huiju Hotel
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