First Timer Guide to Changsha - What to Eat, See and Do in Hunan's Capital

Hunan is a region steeped in revolutionary history, famously known as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, And Changsha, a vibrant tier 2 city and the dynamic capital of Hunan province, offers a fascinating blend of ancient heritage and rapid modernization.

We flew to Changsha as it was the closest city to Zhangjiajie, and we took some time to explore this little-known city outside of China. Here is our recommended itinerary - what to eat, see and do for 2 or 3 days in Changsha.

Changsha Must See Attractions

We highlight the key attractions you can cover in 2 days at Changsha. Changsha has an extensive metro network (map), but we find Didi cheap and convenient.

Take a Picture with Mao Zedong Statue at Orange Island 橘子洲 5A

Stretching over 8 kilometers in the Xiang River, Orange Island is less an island and more a sprawling, leafy park within the city. Its most famous landmark is the colossal statue of a young Mao Zedong, depicting him in a thoughtful pose overlooking the water. It's a popular spot for locals to relax, fly kites, or simply enjoy a stroll away from the urban hustle. The ticket includes the sightseeing bus and you can secure your tickets online.

Experience Nature at Yuelu Mountain 岳麓山 5A

Yuelu Mountain is a scenic urban mountain perfect for a refreshing escape. It's steeped in history, home to ancient temples, pavilions, and lush forests, particularly stunning in autumn. While the mountain offers great walking trails and city views, its base is home to the renowned Yuelu Academy. The easiest way up is via the Cableway from the East Gate (¥80 adult round trip) or Didi to the South Gate to start. The sightseeing bus is ¥20 one-way. A fun way to “descend” is the 1.2km slideway at ¥35.

Han Exhibits at Hunan Museum 湖南省博物馆

Hunan Museum is one China’s national first-class museum. Its true fame rests on one incredible collection - Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs Exhibition. These 2,000-year-old tombs of the Han Dynasty yielded astonishingly well-preserved items, including intricate silks, lacquerware, and the almost perfectly preserved body. Seeing these national treasures is a genuinely mind-blowing experience and provides unparalleled insight into ancient Chinese life and death rituals.

This museum is a must-do that offers a unique historical depth you won't find just anywhere, and entry is free, online reservation is necessary! Do remember to bring along your passport for verification.

Fun for the Family at Changsha Colourful World 長沙世界之窗

If you are travelling with kids and want a family-friendly activity for them, you have to check out Colourful World. We have been to Shenzhen’s Window of the World and enjoyed it. Changsha’s version of this up-ed the game with plenty of family-friendly amusement rides and miniature versions of famous landmarks like Neuschwanstein Castle and the Lighthouse of Alexandria for many photo opportunities. Check out ticket prices and buy online. Reminder to change Changsha’s weather forecast too!

Huangxing Pedestrian Street 黄兴步行街 and May Day Square 五一广场

These must-go pedestrian streets stretch from metro stations Nanmenkou (Line 1) and Wuyi Square. These streets are built for food and shopping! Start at Nanmenkou and stroll towards IFS International Financial Center IFS 国金中心 where you can find many international brands. IFS also has one of the cleanest toilets we visited in Hunan. Ladies in our group all exclaimed how modern and squeaky clean the toilets and loved it!

Huangxing street is also where we found and had the best foot massage for our trip at 见康道菜. We had our own mini movie theatre to watch any movie of our choosing and a mini-buffet of local snacks and drinks. 见康道菜 has a few outlets in Changsha, so find the one nearest to you using Amap.

If time permits, head over to nearby Taiping Old Street 太平老街 to experience ancient Changsha with the most complete original ancient street layout. This street has been the core area of ​​the ancient city since Changsha was a city in the Warring States Period and has not changed for more than 2,000 years.

Which Hotel to Stay in Changsha

The biggest issue we have with Chinese hotels is that rooms sometimes reek of smoke even when we specifically reserved a non-smoking room. Hence, we prioritize reputed international hotel brands when we choose hotels in China.

At Changsha, we went with Wyndham Changsha, and enjoyed our room for less than US$100. It is also right next to Taksin shopping mall 德思勤城市广场 and a popular night market, ideal for shopping and late-night wandering.

After many days of Hunan cuisine, we decided to have try their international buffet dinner and it was spectacular. There were so many options! We enjoyed the live hotpot stations, grilled foie gras and the free flow alcohol, and all for ¥250.

If you prefer to stay near happening places, we recommend the highly-rated Yijian 6500 Hotel. This hotel is less than 200m from Huangxing Pedestrian Street, making it convenient for you to head back to your room to place your shopping bags or have a midday break.

Must Try Food at Changsha

Changsha has all kinds of cuisine you can think of. And the best way to discover one near you is to use the Dianping app. Dianping allows you to search using Chinese and English, and we found it super useful with food recommendations.

Let your nose and eyes guide you to try the huge variety of local food and snacks. Some Changsha local delights you should absolutely try are:

1. Changsha Stinky Tofu 长沙臭豆腐 - The number 1 place is 黑色经典 and they have many outlets.

2. Changsha Rice Noodles 长沙米粉 - Locals swear by 公交新村粉 and 矮子粉店.

3. Mao's Braised Pork 毛氏红烧肉 - No prizes for guessing who inspired this dish at 醉湘楼. Try other Hunan dishes there too!

What to Buy at Chayan Yuese 茶颜悦色

Many Singaporeans are familiar with Chagee 霸王茶姬. But in Hunan, Chayan Yuese 茶颜悦色 and GoodMe 古茗 reigns! You will also see other China Bubble Tea brands like Mixue, Auntea Jenny, Nayuki, Heytea, and ChaBaiDao. Even Singapore’s ArteaSG is present. In Changsha, you will see Chayan Yuese stores and kiosks at every turn.

If you aren’t sure what to order at these Bubble Tea shops, try any drink listed in their top recommendations. Most stores offer a variety of Tea, Milk Tea, and Fruit Tea, and you cannot go wrong with anything with Osmanthus 😂.

Chayan Yuese originates from Changsha. We suggest a visit to one of Chayan Yuese experience stores called 茶颜家族 where they serve the whole spectrum of tea, coffee and desserts. These stores also sell snacks and food souvenirs you can buy home for friends. We bought a few tea bags for our friends and many liked the Red Bean & Coix Seed Tea, and Lychee Red Tea.

This is the final post of our Hunan tradventure! Changde 常德 is one city we hope to explore the next time we visit Hunan. Why? Our tour guide says Changde is known for having the most beautiful ladies in China 😂

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