Changsha Travel Guide

Getting There

The Changsha Huanghua Airport is 34km (21 miles) east of town. Destinations include Beijing (six or more flights daily); Guangzhou (five flights daily); Hong Kong (daily); Kunming (six flights daily); Chengdu (four flights daily); Shanghai (five or more flights daily); and Xi'an (two or three flights daily). An airport shuttle from Minhang Dajiudian (Minhang Hotel) at Wuyi Da Dao 5 (cross street Chaoyang Lu) (tel. 0731/417-0288) takes about 40 minutes and costs ¥15 ($1.95/£1); it departs the hotel every half-hour. A taxi to the airport is around ¥100 ($13/£6.50). Changsha Huochezhan (Changsha Railway Station) is at the east end of Wuyi Da Dao. The city is on the Beijing-Guangzhou railway line. Major connections include Beijing (T1, T2; 15 1/2 hr.; hard sleeper ¥345/$45/£22); Guangzhou (5361, 5362; 9 hr.; hard sleeper ¥108/$14/£7); Shanghai (D101/104, D106/107; 8 hr.; ¥365/$47/£24); and Wuchang (D149, D150; 3 hr.; ¥112/$15/£7.30). Changsha has three main bus stations: Qiche Nan Zhan (South Station), Qiche Dong Zhan (East Station), and Qiche Xi Zhan (West Station). Buses to Nan Yue Heng Shan, Shao Shan, Xiamen, and Guilin leave from the South Station. Buses to Hankou (Wuhan), Guangzhou, and Nanjing leave from the East Station. Buses to Zhang Jia Jie and Yichang leave from the West Station.

Getting Around

Air-conditioned public buses cost ¥2 (25¢/15p); non-air-conditioned buses cost ¥1 (15¢/10p). Standard taxi rates are ¥8 ($1.05/50p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.80 (25¢/10p) per kilometer up to 10km (6 miles). Beyond that, add 50% per kilometer.

Fast Facts

Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The main Bank of China is at Furong Lu 593, near Ba Yi Qiao (8-1 Bridge) and opposite Carrefour. It has full foreign-exchange services Monday through Friday from 8:30am to noon and 2 to 5pm, and an ATM. It also gives cash advances on credit cards. There's an ATM in the lobby of Huatian Dajiudian.

Internet Access -- Internet cafes are fairly prolific between along the stretch of Zhongshan Lu, near the corner of Huangguang Lu, conveniently located to most of the hotels listed in this section. Alternately Shan Nan Lu, near Hunan University, has inexpensive Internet cafes on every block, but getting there requires crossing the Xiang River. Dial-up is tel. 163, 165, or 169.

Post Office -- The main post office is on the east side of the pedestrian block of Huangxing Lu. Another is just north of the railway on Zhong Bei Lu. It's open from 8am to noon and 2:30 to 5:30pm.