100 Cities in My Album: 6. Changsha

Changsha got its name in ancient times, was renamed Tanzhou during the Sui and Tang dynasties, and changed back to Changsha Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty. With its 3,000-year-old city site unchanged, it's among the first batch of National Historical and Cultural Cities, boasting 29 national-level cultural relic protection units and 134 provincial-level ones. 🗺️ Area: 11,819 square kilometers 🌡️ Temperature: Average annual temperature of 17.2°C 🍜 Cuisine: Hunan dishes like marinated duck—delicious when not spicy, even better when spicy 💦 Water systems: Xiang River, Liuyang River, Wei River, etc. ✈️ Transportation: A hub with convenient flights and high-speed rail. No special restrictions for out-of-town vehicles. 🌳 Best travel time: Spring is cool and comfortable. A popular destination, so expect crowds during holidays. ❗️ Recommended attractions: Yuelu Mountain, Orange Isle, Hunan Museum Next on my list: Tianxin Pavilion ⚠️ Tips: 1. Allocate more time for Changsha's museums. 2. Yuelu Mountain and Orange Isle can get hot in summer. Orange Isle is quite large—taking the mini train is advised to avoid exhaustion. 3. Advance reservations are required for Yuelu Mountain, Orange Isle, and the museum. Why visit Changsha? For the crayfish, Jiefangxi, and Chayan Yuese tea; for the Mawangdui relics, Yuelu Mountain, and the youthful spirit of "Qia Tongxue Shaonian."