Changsha

The cradle of revolutions

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Changsha, hometown to numerous Chinese literati, scholars, eminent leaders and a great revolutionary with the last name of Mao, has this intangible quality that germinates, encourages and empowers revolutions. Housing important cultural and historical assets of these illustrious giants of Chinese modern history, the city is an outstanding base for locals and foreigners alike looking to school themselves in patriotism. But that’s not about the only revolution that this city is proud of. Changsha, in the 21st century, is proposing and perpetuating a separate sort of change in a vitally different genre. Home to possibly now the nation’s most significant and influential broadcasting behemoth that consistently spawns forth innovative and creative TV programmes, the city has almost single-handedly uplifted China’s TV and media industry, and with lightning fast speed no less and never seen before. Hunanese are renowned for that conspicuous “fire in the belly” characteristic and this particular trait could well be a reason why the region and the city of Changsha is always zesty, innovative and looking for the change. Discover the spirited ideals of the city with a customised Changsha tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and unearth the revolutionary in you. And not forgetting, there’s also the fiery Hunanese cuisine adding more fuel to that unquenchable flame.

Birthplace of Mao

We all know who Chairman Mao is, and an opportunity to dwell and revel in the place where he spent his extraordinary adolescence is too good a chance to miss. Shaoshan, located about 100 kilometres from Changsha, is where the revolutionary leader of China was born and is where visitors can get a clue in on various aspects of his growing up years before Beijing. The site of his former residence, the ancestral hall and the museum showcase a well-rounded aspect of his early life complete with a treasured collection of numerous relics such as journals, monographs, manuscripts and books concerning his ideals and thoughts of the times. Not too far from his residence and definitely worth a visit is the marvellously serene Water Dripping Cave where Mao Zedong visited and stayed upon his return to his birthplace after 32 years in Beijing.

changsha birthplace-of-mao

Visit the mummies

Between 1972 and 1974, Changsha witnessed one of the most major archaeological discoveries in the 20th century with the excavation of the Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs. Among the over 3,000 cultural relics discovered was a treasure trove of artifacts of more than 2,000 years, ranging from exquisite potteries, lacquer works, bamboo slips to rare silk books depicting over more than 100,000 Chinese characters on topics such as philosophy, history, science, technology and medicine. These cultural relics showcase the sophistication of ancient Chinese civilisations and the glorious years of the Han Dynasty but the most wondrous finding of all is the discovery of three corpses that are impossibly well-preserved that they looked as if they had been buried yesterday. Fathom about this for a moment – when you are looking at this incredible archaeological wonder, you are actually facing someone who is more than 2,000 years old and it can’t get any more profound. The corpses and most of the cultural relics are now housed in Hunan Provincial Museum and it is an unmissable highlight for any visit to Changsha.

changsha visit-the-mummies

A fragrant affair

Hunan’s Xiang cuisine happens to have the same pronunciation as fragrance in Mandarin, and this coincidence can’t be any more appropriate. As one of the eminent top eight cuisine of China, Xiang cuisine is all about the fragrance. Excelling in braising, baking, sautéing, stir-frying, steaming and perhaps the most representative technique of all – smoking, Hunan cuisine is tangy, spicy, salty and sweet with a strong tinge of smokiness. Notable dishes include steamed fish head with diced hot peppers, cured meat and smoked beancurd stir fry, hot and spicy fried frog legs and Chairman Mao’s red-braised pork. You can have your fix at numerous popular restaurants in downtown Changsha but try Huogongdian (Fire Palace) and Yuloudong for the best introduction to this irresistible cuisine.

changsha a-fragrant-affair

To explore other cities and regions in China, try:

Seek out the ideals of revolutions and visit the hometown of Chairman Mao with a customised Changsha tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.

Highlights

Every itinerary can be fully customised according to needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style of just about anyone who wants to travel privately and exclusively.

Day 1 SINGAPORE – CHANGSHA +

Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Changsha. Upon arrival, proceed to your hotel for a good night’s rest.