Why go
Start on the water axis: Orange Isle runs down the middle of the Xiang River, ending at the giant young-Mao sculpture, with the Ferris wheel at its head. Across the river, Yuelu Mountain holds the Yuelu Academy — a working campus since 976 AD — and the Aiwan Pavilion among maples that blaze in November.
Hunan Museum's centrepiece is Lady Xin Zhui, a Han-dynasty marquise so well preserved in her tomb's sealed vaults that her joints still bend — displayed beside the silk, lacquer and bamboo-slip library buried with her. At night the city switches modes entirely: Pozi Street and the riverside IFS area run till dawn on crayfish, skewers and new-style tea drinks.
- Orange Isle — a 5-km island in the Xiang River
- Yuelu Academy — a university founded in 976, still teaching
- Hunan Museum — Lady Xin Zhui, preserved after 2,100 years
- Pozi Street midnight food crawl
Where to go
Day one: museum at opening, Orange Isle at sunset, Pozi Street after dark. Day two: Yuelu Academy and mountain, then the old town of Taiping Street for snack archaeology.
What to eat
Changsha-style stinky tofu (black-shelled, served with chilli and pickled radish) is the badge of honour, and spicy crayfish by the bucket in summer. Chillies arrive in everything — order 'wei la' (mild) if you want to survive politely.
Getting there
- HSR from Guangzhou 2h20, Wuhan 1h30
- Role
- Capital of Hunan province
- Yuelu Academy
- Founded 976 AD
- Night economy
- Snack streets run past 3am
