Tangerine Isle

Changsha

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The most famous of the city’s parks is a 5km-long sliver of an island smack bang in the middle of the Xiang River. A reflective 32-year-old Mao immortalised it in 'Changsha', probably his best-regarded poem, after standing at its southern tip and looking west towards Yuelu Mountain one autumn day. A towering granite bust of a youthful Chairman with flowing locks now stands at the spot – but faces in a new direction.

You can walk a circuit of the island on the pleasant riverside promenade, or catch a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus (¥20) for the 9km round trip by the metro entrance.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Hunan Provincial Museum

    Hunan Provincial Museum

    2.13 MILES

    Changsha's main attraction is this modern museum. There's a special focus on the Mawangdui Tombs, which were excavated nearby in the early 1970s,…

  • Kaifu Temple

    Kaifu Temple

    2.15 MILES

    This large and active temple in the north of town dates originally to the Five Dynasties period, with many additions during later dynasties. The imposing…

  • Yuelu Academy

    Yuelu Academy

    1.78 MILES

    Students have been cramming for exams at the base of Yuelu Mountain west of the river since AD 976, when the academy was established as one of China’s…

  • Old City Walls & Tianxin Pavilion

    Old City Walls & Tianxin Pavilion

    1.4 MILES

    The old city walls, which once stretched for 9km around ancient Changsha, were built of rammed earth in 202 BC, reinforced with stone in AD 1372 (during…

  • Changsha Municipal Museum

    Changsha Municipal Museum

    1.65 MILES

    A colossal aluminium/magnesium alloy statue of Mao Zedong, cast in Heilongjiang, affably greets you at the entrance. This is the first clue that, despite…

  • Yuelu Mountain

    Yuelu Mountain

    0.77 MILES

    This large park on the slopes of Yuelu Mountain makes a pleasant city break. You can climb to the top in less than an hour, or else go up on the chair…

  • Lieshi Park

    Lieshi Park

    1.89 MILES

    Tree-shaded and dotted with lakes, leafy – and incredibly huge – Lieshi Park is very popular in the mornings for singing, dancing and taichi.

View more attractions

Nearby Changsha attractions

1. Yuelu Mountain

0.77 MILES

This large park on the slopes of Yuelu Mountain makes a pleasant city break. You can climb to the top in less than an hour, or else go up on the chair…

2. Old City Walls & Tianxin Pavilion

1.4 MILES

The old city walls, which once stretched for 9km around ancient Changsha, were built of rammed earth in 202 BC, reinforced with stone in AD 1372 (during…

4. Changsha Municipal Museum

1.65 MILES

A colossal aluminium/magnesium alloy statue of Mao Zedong, cast in Heilongjiang, affably greets you at the entrance. This is the first clue that, despite…

5. Yuelu Academy

1.78 MILES

Students have been cramming for exams at the base of Yuelu Mountain west of the river since AD 976, when the academy was established as one of China’s…

6. Lieshi Park

1.89 MILES

Tree-shaded and dotted with lakes, leafy – and incredibly huge – Lieshi Park is very popular in the mornings for singing, dancing and taichi.

7. Hunan Provincial Museum

2.13 MILES

Changsha's main attraction is this modern museum. There's a special focus on the Mawangdui Tombs, which were excavated nearby in the early 1970s,…

8. Kaifu Temple

2.15 MILES

This large and active temple in the north of town dates originally to the Five Dynasties period, with many additions during later dynasties. The imposing…