Changsha, China

The city of Changsha has changed considerably since the early 1900s, when the area was a mixture of modern European buildings and ancient Chinese structures. The troubles that the city has seen, from peasant rebellions and the instability of the Republican Period (1911-1950) to the uniformity of modern Chinese city planners, has changed this area into a clean, grey metropolis that is a little too familiar in modern China. Most of the past is gone, although the long Island of Oranges (Juzi zhou) still maintains a glimpse of the former city.
Most of the sights left in and around this Hunan capital are related to the revolutionary history that makes the city famous. The Maoist and Communist Sights are certainly one of the major tourism pulling points. Beyond these of most interest is the ancient history, in a city that has been inhabited for over three thousand years. The best sight in this scope is the Provincial Museum, which displays some of the contents of the Han Dynasty tomb that was discovered at Mawangdui in 1972. The mummies that are preserved within, of the Marquis of Dai's family, are amazingly well preserved. Also of interest is the Yuelu Park, that once held the Yuelu Academy, a Song Dynasty school that prepared individuals for the Imperial examinations. This hilly park is a good area for hikers. Nearby are a number of other interesting destinations, including the religious mountain of Hengshan, with its easily surmountable paths and small, active Taoist and Buddhist temples, and Shaoshan, the birthplace of Comrade Mao Zedong, and a must see destination for serious Maoists, along with the military base Yan'an and the Jiangxi Soviet at Jinggangshan. Gold Medals or silver Medals indicate Sights recommended by Lonelychina.