7 Days in Changsha

The academy founded in 976 sits ticketed inside the free mountain area — one of the four great Song academies — woods paths down, river views, late dinner west bank.

1. changsha yuelu mountain
2. changsha yuelu academy

Free with online reservation, 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays — the Mawangdui pieces were excavated 1972-74 from tombs sealed over 2,100 years ago; the gauze garment weighs 49 g.

1. changsha hunan museum

About 5 km of isle, free entry, shuttle train for a fee, metro Line 2 mid-isle — fireworks nights are scheduled on selected evenings mostly May to October; check the calendar and stake a riverside spot early.

1. changsha orange isle

The wall-top pavilion, the snack lanes — stinky tofu, sugar-rice cakes — and the numbered-queue food court; go hungry.

1. changsha tianxin pavilion
2. changsha taiping old street
3. changsha wenheyou

An honest neighboring-city day — the tower by Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, sits about half an hour north by HSR at Yueyang East; the hall views over the water are the point, entry is ticketed.

1. yueyang tower

A town day — late breakfast, snack-street errands, and a riverside evening; the week's walking earns it.

1. changsha pozi street

A final street breakfast, any last souvenir runs, then Changsha South or the airport.

1. changsha taiping old street