Changsha Travel Tips

 Changsha Fast Facts

Area: 11,825 square kilometers

Population: 6,130,000

Dialing Code: 0731

Postal Code: 410005

Government Location: Yuelu Dadao, Yuelu District

Administrative Area: 5 districts-Yuelu District, Furong District, Tianxin District, Kaifu District, Yuhua District, Liuyang Municipal and Changsha County, Wangcheng County and Ningxiang County

Hospitals

Xiangya Hospital of Center-South University: 0731-84328888
Hunan Provincial Hospital: 0731-82224611
No. 1 Municipal Hospital: 0731-82225242
No. 2 Municipal Hospital: 0731-84313697
Herbal Hospital: 0731-85123831

Money Matters

Currency exchange facilities are available at the Changsha Huanghua International Airport, branch offices of the Bank of China and most four- and five-star hotels in the city. Rates at hotels may be a little higher than those in the Bank of China. Some hotels restrict this service only to their guests.

For more info on Chinese Yuan, refer to our Money Matters

Universities in Hunan

Central South University
Located in the south of the city, Central South University (CSU) is a comprehensive and key university under the direct administration of the Chinese Ministry of Education. Established in April, 2000 by the amalgamation former faculties of the Central South University of Technology, Hunan Medical University and Changsha Railway University, CSU is now the largest of its kind in Hunan Province and is among the thirty-two universities that were first to accede to the '211 Project'.

Getting there: Lishan Special line starts from the railway station in the east end of the city and the ending is the university.

The other two famous universities, Hunan University and Hunan Normal University are both located at the foot of the charming Yuelu Mountain on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River.

Hunan University
Hunan University is Changsha's famous 'Thousand-Year Academy'. Its predecessor, the Yuelu Academy, was a time-honored school that occupied an important place in China's history. This enhances the great reputation of the present institution that is a national comprehensive university with first-class educational sources. The College of Chinese Language and Literature in Hunan University welcomes foreign students who desire to learn Chinese language as well.

Address: Lushan Nanlu, Changsha
Getting there: Take the Lishan Special line from the railway station in the east end of the city or alternatively take Tourist Bus No. 1.

Hunan Normal University
Founded in 1938, this is a famous academic institution of higher education with a full range of disciplines and boasts that it is one of the country's 100 key universities.

Its Chinese program was begun in the 1960s and was one of the first universities in Hunan Province or for that matter in China to enroll foreign students. The International College of Chinese Language and Culture at Hunan Normal University is in charge of the Chinese and Chinese culture programs for overseas students. It is also the KSK testing site for foreign students in that province. The foreign student dormitory building is called Bamboo Garden with a comfortable environment at the foot of the famous Yuelu Mountain with a full range of excellent facilities including dining halls, kitchens and laundry rooms.

Address: No. 36, Lushan Lu, Changsha
Getting there: Take the Lishan Special line from the railway station in the east end of the city or take Tourist Bus No. 2 to get to the university.

Festivals

* all the festivals are falling on the Chinese lunar calendar

April Eighth Festival
This is said to be the birth date of Sakyamuni and on this holiday people carry out the tradition of Buddha-washing.

Dragon Boat Festival (Double Fifth)
This is a traditional festival in the country, which falls on the fifth day of May depending on the Chinese lunar calendar. Different places have their own celebration activities. In Changsha, the famous Dragon Boat Contest is held on the banks of the Xiang River. People, from all over the province, come to the city to watch the magnificent performance. Competitors chosen are strong young men and they row at full speed to the vigorous drumbeats in order to reach the finish line. The cheers of the excited crowds echo under the blue sky. In some areas, people begin preparations up to one month before the event.

Double Sixth
The legend goes that this day was the birth date of an evil deity. A sacrificial ceremony takes place on this day to drive all evil things away. Women will take out clothes and hang them under the sun and monks do the same with Buddhist scripts and sutras in temples.

Getting to know more tips for travel in China, please visit China Travel Advice.