Changsha

Changsha is the capital of Hunan, China, and sits along the lower part of the Xiang River. It is one of the busiest cities in the country, with lots of streets and tall buildings. More than ten million people live in Changsha, making it an important place in China.

For thousands of years, Changsha has been a center for culture, trade, and learning. Ancient kilns there made some of the world's first porcelain, and famous schools helped share ideas across China. Today, Changsha is still a place where new ideas grow, with many colleges, scientists, and inventors.

Now, Changsha is known for making big machines, new materials, and many modern products. It is a key city for business, especially with links to Africa and other parts of the world. With many tall buildings, busy factories, and bright lights, Changsha shows how China is growing and changing.

Names

Chángshā is the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese name. It means "long sandy place" and has been used since the 11th century BC.

In the past, the area had different names. The Chu settlement was called Qingyang. Later, during the Han dynasty, the capital was called Linxiang. In the Tang and Southern Chu periods, the city was known as Tanzhou.

History

Main article: History of Changsha

Early history

Changsha started growing around 3000 BC with the Longshan culture. People lived there during the Bronze Age and left behind pottery and other items.

Ancient Chinese legends talk about the Flame and Yellow Emperors visiting the area. Records say the Yellow Emperor gave Changsha to his son Shaohao. In the Spring and Autumn period, the Yue culture came to the region. Later, in the Warring States period, the state of Chu controlled Changsha. Many tombs from this time have been found since 1951.

Under the Qin dynasty, Changsha helped trips south into Guangdong, supporting the Nanyue kingdom.

During the Han dynasty, Linxiang was the capital of the principality of Changsha. It had city walls for safety. The famous Mawangdui tombs were built during this time. One tomb held Lady Xin Zhui, whose body was very well preserved when found in the 1970s.

After Wu Rui’s descendant died, the area was given to a branch of the imperial family. It was later taken over before becoming Linxiang County and Changsha Commandery.

The Three Kingdoms state of Wu ruled Changsha for a time. Later, the Wu Emperor of Jin gave Changsha to his son Sima Yi.

In the 6th-century Sui dynasty, the area was renamed Xiangzhou to Tan Prefecture, and the city became Tanzhou. It was officially named Changsha in AD 589. The city suffered during the Anshi Rebellion when it was taken by rebels.

In the early 10th century, Changsha was the capital of the Southern Chu Kingdom founded by Ma Yin (马殷) in 907. This kingdom lasted about 50 years before being taken over by the Southern Tang in 951.

Under the Song dynasty, the Yuelu Academy was founded in 976. It was destroyed by war but rebuilt later. The famous philosopher Zhu Xi taught there. It was destroyed again but restored later. Today’s Hunan University comes from the Yuelu Academy.

During the Mongol invasion, Tanzhou was defended strongly but eventually fell. Under the Ming, the city was renamed Changsha again.

Modern history

Under the Qing, Changsha was the capital of Hunan and grew as a major rice market. During the Taiping Rebellion, the city was under attack but managed to hold out. The rebels moved toward Wuhan, and Changsha became a key base for the government’s efforts.

The 1903 Treaty of Shanghai opened Changsha to foreign trade in 1904. This brought international businesses, factories, churches, and schools to the city. A college started by Yale alumni later became a medical center named Xiangya and a school named the Yali School.

Following the Xinhai Revolution, the railway connecting to Hankou in Hubei opened in 1918 and later reached Guangzhou in Guangdong Province in 1936. Small factories for cotton-textile, glass, and metals began to appear after 1937.

Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, began his career in Changsha. He studied there from 1913 to 1918 and later returned to teach and lead from 1920 to 1922. The school was destroyed during the Chinese Civil War but has since been rebuilt. A museum now stands where Mao once worked.

After the Chinese Civil War, Changsha slowly rebuilt. With reforms starting in the 1990s, the city grew quickly. In 2007, Changsha joined with nearby cities in a plan to become a more sustainable place to live. In 2015, a new area called Xiangjiang New Area was created to help the city grow.

Geography

Changsha is in northeast Hunan Province, close to the lower part of the Xiang River. The city touches several nearby places. The Xiang River flows through Changsha, splitting it into two parts. One part is mainly for business, and the other is for culture and learning. The area has many rivers, so there is a lot of water around. Changsha has a humid subtropical climate, with warm summers, cool winters, and lots of rain each year. The four seasons each feel different, with hot, rainy summers, comfortable autumns, chilly winters, and rainy, cloudy springs.

Administration

The city of Changsha is divided into six areas called districts, one county, and two smaller cities. These parts help organize the city's government and services.

Government

Main articles: Politics of Changsha and Government of Changsha

Changsha has leaders who help run the city. One leader is called the CPC Party Secretary, and the current one is Wu Guiying. Another important leader is the mayor, and the current mayor is Zheng Jianxin.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Changsha

Changsha is one of China's more developed cities. In 2024, it had a lot of money per person, showing it is a wealthy place. The city is important in many big plans for China's growth and trade with other countries. It is known for making construction machines and other important products.

Since the 1990s, Changsha has grown quickly. It has strong media and TV industries and is home to one of China's most influential TV stations.

By 2021, Changsha made a lot of money, putting it among the richest cities in its area. Many big international companies have offices there.

The Changsha ETZ helps grow high-tech and new material industries. The Liuyang ETZ focuses on biological products, technology, and health foods.

Tourism

See also: Category:Tourist attractions in Changsha

Tourism is very important in Changsha. The city is often named a great place for visitors in China. Many interesting places to see are there, such as the Yuelu Academy and the Changsha Meixihu International Culture and Arts Centre made by a famous design company from Britain. Other popular spots include the Young Mao Zedong statue on Orange Isle, Meixi Lake Park, Changsha IFS Tower, Window of the World, Kaifu Temple, and Changsha Ice World.

Places of interest

Mt. Yuelu

Yuelu Mountain is on the west side of the Xiangjiang River. It has many kinds of plants and trees, some of which are very old and special.

Orange Island

Orange Island sits in the middle of the Xiangjiang River. It is big and sandy, formed long ago by the river. You can see sculptures and other interesting things there.

Huaminglou

Huaminglou is a famous place to visit and is very important for protecting China’s culture. It was once the home of Liu Shaoqi, an important leader from China’s past.

Hunan Museum

The Hunan Museum is one of the best museums in China. It has many historical and artistic treasures and is found on Dongfeng Road in Changsha.

Demographics

As of the 2020 Chinese census, Changsha had a population of 10,047,914 people. Most people in Changsha are Han Chinese. There are also many people from other ethnic groups, such as the Hui, Tujia, and Miao peoples.

Culture

Changsha is a lively city with a rich culture. It is home to Hunan Broadcasting System, one of China's largest TV networks, which creates popular shows like Super Girl. This has helped grow many entertainment places in the city, such as singing bars, dance clubs, and theaters.

The city is famous for its spicy Hunan cuisine. A popular snack from Changsha, Juewei Duck Neck, can be found in many places around the world. Changsha also has a special style of traditional embroidery called Xiang embroidery.

Changsha has big sports stadiums, like Helong Stadium, where local teams play. The city also has the Hunan Provincial Museum, which holds many important artifacts from ancient times. Nearby, the Mawangdui tomb contains well-preserved items from the Han dynasty.

Changsha is a sister city with St. Paul, Minnesota. They work together on projects, like a China garden.

Education and research

Research and Innovation

Changsha is an important place for science and new ideas in China. Important inventions were made there, like super hybrid rice, China's first supercomputer, and the first laser 3D printer. In 2010, the National Supercomputing Center was set up at Hunan University, the first such center in Central China.

Changsha does very well in research compared to other cities. It is ranked high in the world for science work and is a key place for new ideas in China and Asia. The city has many research centers and labs, showing it is a leader in learning and discovery.

Colleges and universities

Main article: List of universities and colleges in Hunan

Changsha has a long history of learning, with old schools and academies. Today, it has many colleges and universities. As of 2025, there are 62 higher education schools in Changsha, making it a top place for education in China.

The city has four very important universities: Central South University, Hunan University, Hunan Normal University, and the National University of Defense Technology. These schools are known around the world for their work. Other schools in Changsha are also well-respected, making the city a strong place for learning and studying.

Transportation

Changsha has good roads, rivers, trains, and airplanes to help people travel. It is a busy place for work, tourism, and services.

The city has many bus routes and a subway with six lines. The first subway line opened in 2014, and more lines have been added. There are fast trains between Changsha and nearby cities, and an express train to the airport.

Big highways connect Changsha to other parts of China, and there are three main bus stations. The city is near important rivers used for shipping.

The main train station is in the city center, and a newer high-speed rail station opened in 2009. The international airport has flights to many cities in China and around the world. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was very busy.

City honors and rankings

Changsha has earned many important titles and rankings. It is one of the top cities in the world for tall buildings and was named one of China’s happiest cities. It is also recognized as a leading city for science and technology. Additionally, Changsha was the first Chinese city to be named a "World Creative City in Media Arts" by UNESCO. The city is growing quickly and is expected to become one of the largest economies in the world in the coming years.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in China

By the end of June 2018, Changsha had friendly relationships with 49 cities in other countries.

Changsha is twinned with:

• Brazzaville, Congo
• Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
• Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan
• Mogilev, Mogilev Region, Belarus
• Mons, Hainaut, Belgium
• Brooklyn, New York, United States
• New Haven, Connecticut, United States
• Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
• Annapolis, Maryland, United States
• Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
• Fribourg, Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland
• City of Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
• Entebbe, Uganda

Consulates general/consulates

See also: List of diplomatic missions in China

Changsha has two foreign consulates. This makes it the second city in Central China to host foreign representatives, after Wuhan.

Laos

Malawi

Notable people

Many famous people come from the Greater Changsha Metropolitan Region. Some of them are:

• Mao Zedong – The founding leader of China
• Zeng Guofan – An important leader in China long ago
• Liu Shaoqi – President of China from 1959 to 1968
• Zhu Rongji – Prime Minister of China from 1998 to 2003
• Hu Yaobang – Leader of China's main political party from 1982 to 1987
• Yang Kaihui – Mao Zedong’s wife
• Huang Xing – A leader in China’s fight for independence
• Tian Han – Writer of China’s national anthem
• Wang Tao – An economist
• Zhou Guangzhao – A famous scientist
• Zhou Jianping – Designer of China’s space program
• Lei Feng – A well-known soldier
• Tan Dun – A composer for movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Xiong Ni – An Olympic diver who won gold medals
• Li Xiaopeng – An Olympic gymnast who won gold medals
• Liu Xuan – An Olympic gymnast who won gold medals
• Qi Baishi – A famous painter
• Shen Wei – A dancer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
• He Jiong – A popular TV host
• Zhao Wendi – A footballer born in 2001

Astronomy

Changsha is linked to the star Zeta Corvi in a Chinese constellation.