Last year, that thrilling moment arrived once again, and the crown of “China’s Happiest City” was brilliantly unveiled. Without a doubt, that dazzling honor belonged to Changsha for the 16th time, standing proudly at the pinnacle of this glory, radiating with boundless splendor.
So, just how deep is Changsha’s happiness?
It is a city that carries a thousand years of history and culture, celebrated with the titles of “Famous City of Chu and Han” and “Hometown of Qu and Jia.” Changsha’s cultural heritage is like a thousand-year-old tree, deeply rooted and flourishing with branches and leaves.
Rich in tourism resources, whether it’s historical sites or natural scenery, everything captivates visitors, making them linger and indulge in its beauty.
It is a city that perfectly blends tradition with modernity, elegance with fashion. Walking through the streets and alleys of Changsha, you can feel the interweaving of ancient and modern, the collision of tradition and contemporary, and the fusion of elegance and trendiness.
Some say, what more needs to be said about Changsha?
That city we are so familiar with, HEYTEA, Hunan TV, those familiar “internet celebrity elements” converge here. They are Changsha’s calling card, Changsha’s pride.
However, Changsha’s brilliance is not limited to this. It has more stories, more charm, waiting for us to discover and experience.
In every corner of Changsha, there is a unique happiness quietly waiting, waiting for those who are willing to discover, appreciate, and feel it.
Gazing from Orange Island, which lies quietly in the heart of the Xiang River, high-rise buildings cluster towards the sky like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. The streets are bustling with traffic, busy yet orderly. On both sides of the river, the lights are brilliant, reflecting the prosperous scene of Changsha, like a flowing painting scroll.
Changsha, bordering the beauty of Hengshan Mountain in the south and embracing the waves of Dongting Lake in the north, is located in the heartland of central China, guarding the vital passages between north and south. In China’s modern history, the Hunan spirit shines brightly, and that heroic ambition of being concerned about the world and daring to be the first once again resonates in people’s hearts. The great figures once stood on this passionate land, full of vigor and writing passionately. Their silhouettes seem to still be before our eyes.
Orange Island is undoubtedly a shining pearl of Changsha. It lies quietly in the middle of the Xiang River, harmonizing with the surrounding mountains and waters, forming a beautiful natural painting.
When night falls, the lights on Orange Island twinkle like stars descending to earth, adding a touch of mystery and romance to this land.
The Xiang River, the mother river of Hunan and the soul of Changsha, has witnessed the changes of history and carried the hopes and dreams of the people.
The night view of the Xiang River has a unique flavor. The moonlight shines on the river surface, shimmering like a silver ribbon dancing in the night sky. The lights along the river are reflected in the water, like stars falling into the mortal world, beautiful enough to intoxicate.
When touring the Xiang River, you might as well visit the Du Fu River Pavilion along the way. It faces Orange Island and Yuelu Mountain across the river and is a cultural attraction in Changsha.
Strolling in the river pavilion, it feels as if you can travel back to the Tang Dynasty a thousand years ago, feeling that simplicity and tranquility.
Yuelu Mountain is another scenic spot in Changsha. It accompanies the Xiang River, together forming the natural scenery of Changsha.
Standing on the mountain top and overlooking the surroundings, the Xiang River is like a belt, and the panoramic view of Changsha is in full sight.
Yuelu Academy is a cultural treasure in Chinese history. It has nurtured generations of great scholars and thinkers, inheriting a thousand years of wisdom and brilliance.
In Yuelu Mountain, there is another must-visit attraction—the Aiwan Pavilion. The famous line “Stopping the carriage to sit and admire the maple grove in the evening, the frosted leaves are redder than February flowers” originated from here.
Strolling on the corridor of the Aiwan Pavilion, the stream babbles, the pavilions and towers are ancient and charming, and the shaded paths formed by ancient trees make people linger and forget to return.
Changsha, this city full of historical heritage and cultural atmosphere, awaits every travel lover to explore its charm.
In addition to the profound history contained in the ancient mountains and rivers, Changsha’s heritage is hidden in every street, alley, and brick, quietly telling stories of the past.
Hunan University
At the foot of the majestic Yuelu Mountain and by the vast Xiang River, Hunan University stands tall, having experienced the baptism of storms. Despite dozens of battles and seven destructions and reconstructions, it remains unwavering. It has gone through more than ten changes in the education system, weathered vicissitudes, yet always remains unperturbed by favor or disgrace.
In the long river of history, almost every major change and progress has the shining figures of Hunan University students.
Among them are Wei Yuan, the first person to open his eyes to the world; Zeng Guofan, the “first famous minister of the Restoration”; Zuo Zongtang, China’s first naval builder; Guo Songtao, China’s first resident minister abroad; and Zhang Fengqing, the first person to reach the South Pole. Even Mao Zedong, in his youth, resided in Yuelu Academy several times, seeking the truth to save the country and the people.
Today, Hunan University still stands proudly, stretching for a thousand years, telling an immortal legend.
Hunan Normal University
After visiting Hunan University, don’t forget to take a trip to Hunan Normal University. It is adjacent to Yuelu Mountain and Xiang River, with every inch of land permeated with a strong historical atmosphere.
You can leisurely stroll along Taozi Lake Road, and soon you will reach the bank of the Xiang River, enjoying the splendid and colorful fireworks feast.
Jinggang Ancient Town
Jinggang Ancient Town is the hometown where nostalgia lingers. Here, pulling out a few strands of light rain from the memories of old streets and alleys can pluck the ancient zither strings in the alleys, as if one can hear the low chanting of history.
The old river boats have long been accustomed to the whispers of the river breeze caressing the waves. The old man walking from the heart of the street, taking a puff of his pipe, turns and walks into the alley in the misty rain. The wrinkles on his forehead and his stooped back seem to be thrown into the artistic conception of Tang poetry and Song ci, making people intoxicated.
Strolling through the streets and alleys of Jinggang Ancient Town, every place is full of the breath of life and the traces of history.
You can feel the deep attachment and love of the residents here for this land, and their stories and memories are integrated into every corner of this ancient town.
Many people praise Changsha as the “City of Art.” It has a profound heritage and is bursting with youthful vitality.
The ancient and the modern are intertwined here, and various cultures converge, shining like brilliant stars.
Meixi Lake International Culture and Art Center
Countless people’s dreams set sail from here.
Little known is that this art palace was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Zaha Hadid.
More than 10,000 GRC curtain wall panels cleverly reproduce the shape of “hibiscus petals,” with a difficulty comparable to the construction of the Bird’s Nest. Therefore, why not seize the opportunity to buy a ticket to Meixi Lake and enjoy an audio-visual feast, allowing your soul to be baptized?
Xie Zilong Photography Art Museum
It is located in the heart of Changsha and is an art palace where light and shadow intersect.
Here, every press of the shutter is a capture and pursuit of beauty, a profound interpretation and analysis of the world.
Stepping into the exhibition hall of the art museum, I seem to have a conversation with the artists across time and space.
In their works, there are both odes to nature and deep reflections on society, as well as in-depth explorations of human nature.
You can linger here, trying to resonate with these works and feel the endless charm and power of art.
Next to the Xie Zilong Photography Museum, there is also the Li Zijian Art Museum, which was also designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
The streamlined appearance of the entire building is full of a sense of the future and modern atmosphere.
The large glass curtain walls glitter in the sunlight, adding a touch of mystery and solemnity to this art museum. It is like a shining pearl, glittering in the art sky of Changsha.
Changsha’s Internet-famous Locations
As we all know, the city of Changsha is currently in the limelight and has long become a highly anticipated “internet-famous city.”
Such an honor is by no means accidental. The charm of this city is everywhere, with every corner brimming with vitality and vigor, making people fall in love with it.
When it comes to Changsha, how can we not mention the “Pozi Street Police Station?”
Having gained immense popularity due to the documentary reality show “Guarding Liberation West,” it has long become a calling card of Changsha. Why is it so popular? It’s because the stories that take place in the Pozi Street Police Station in Liberation West are truly bizarre and wonderful, even surpassing many TV dramas. Someone even dared to shout in front of the police officers, “In the whole of Changsha, I am the boss!” Such boldness leaves people dumbfounded.
There was even a “crossdressing boss” who specifically dressed as a woman to take drugs, and his bizarre behavior left people laughing and crying at the same time.
Of course, there is also the most handsome SWAT officer Liu Xijun here. His appearance undoubtedly added a lot of brilliance to this police station, attracting the attention of countless people.
Let’s talk about Changsha’s IFS Financial Center.
It is because of this towering building that Changsha truly possesses a complete image of a “modern metropolis.” The main building is 452 meters high, ranking sixth in the country and first in central China when completed. It allows Changsha, which has experienced more than 3,000 years of wind and rain, to have an unprecedented height of vision and aesthetic layout.
From then on, Yuelu Mountain, which overlooks the river, is no longer lonely because it has finally found a decent opponent in this city.
Of course, Changsha’s cultural heritage is equally rich.
The Hunan Provincial Museum is a representative of this. The “Plain Silk Zen Robe” that appears in textbooks quietly lies in the museum’s exhibition hall, telling the wisdom and craftsmanship of the ancients.
In addition, the newly popular Baxi Island is also a must-see attraction.
It is only eight kilometers away from Yanghu Wetland Park. In the north and south waterfronts, there are large areas of silvergrass and reeds. When autumn comes, the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. The central area is also planted with a large ginkgo forest. The golden ginkgo trees shine under the warm autumn sun, like a beautiful painting scroll.
Finally, how can we not mention the Hunan Radio and Television Center, a building that looks like a “big toilet?”
This is a place that countless star-chasing girls dream of. Many well-known programs such as “Happy Camp” and “Day Day Up” are recorded here, and countless celebrities have come here.
When night falls and the lights are dazzling, this place becomes a glittering ocean of stars, making people linger and forget to return.
A Taste of Changsha
When you come to Changsha, apart from enjoying the sights, there is one thing you absolutely cannot miss – savoring the city’s delicious cuisine!
As a renowned food capital, Changsha’s status in the culinary world naturally goes without saying. It is like a low-key and reserved master chef, quietly conquering the taste buds of every visitor with one delicacy after another.
Look at that bowl of rice noodles, with a broth as rich as amber, topped with a colorful array of ingredients, like a vivid painting scroll. Just one taste, and the delicious flavor instantly hits the ceiling of the rice noodle world, leaving you intoxicated.
Then there’s the stinky tofu, spicy and appetizing, perfectly complemented by a cup of tea from Chayan Yuese. Walking through the streets and alleys of Changsha, you can discover even more delicious food – white sugar dumplings that are sweet but not greasy, pork brain rolls with a unique texture, Changsha tofu skin that is fragrant and delicious, scallion oil cakes that are crispy and tempting, braised pork belly that is fatty but not greasy, mouth-watering spicy chicken, steaming hot braised dishes…
Late at night, follow the rising smoke and aroma to find a pot of spicy crawfish, slurp it up fiercely, and the delicious flavor instantly explodes in your mouth – this is the true nightlife!
Compared to those late nights of overtime work, Changsha people prefer to go out in the early morning hours, have a few drinks, enjoy a relaxing foot massage, and then indulge in a delicious barbecue. While this charming city is reaching for the stars, why not plant the seeds again? When the time is ripe, rush over and fully enjoy the feast of delicacies until you can’t walk anymore.
In Changsha, you can fully enjoy the popular signature Hunan dishes, such as stir-fried pork with chili peppers, boiled fish with pickled chili, steamed cured meats, and more. The passionate and spicy flavors are sure to make you eat to your heart’s content.
At the same time, the city can also satisfy your pursuit of a refined taste. Sipping on red wine or coffee, as well as various Western dishes like pasta, seafood, and cuisine, all exude an elegant style, allowing you to enjoy the finer things in life while savoring delicious food.
You can linger in the restaurants and shops around Wuyi Square and Hongxing Commercial District, experiencing the unique charm of Hunan cuisine. You can also meet up at the food stalls and vendors in Yuren Wharf and Yangfan Night Market, feeling the down-to-earth atmosphere of the city.
Moreover, Changsha’s inclusiveness and openness are also reflected in its food. Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine, Cantonese dim sum, Hong Kong-style restaurants, and more – various cuisines gather here, allowing you to satisfy different taste preferences and hometown cravings while enjoying delicious food.
In Changsha, food is not just a way of life, but also a cultural heritage and emotional sustenance.
It tells the story of this city through one delicious dish after another, letting people feel endless warmth and goodness while savoring the flavors.
