Changsha’s Business, living, entertainment and nightlife introductions

History introduction

The history of Changsha can be traced as far back as 3,000 years ago.

Is one of the country’s top economically advanced cities, with its residents having the second highest per capita disposable income in central China.

Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province. It is known for producing an illustrious list of intellectuals and government officials, the most famous being Mao Zedong himself. Despite having a mountainous terrain, Changsha is eminent as one of the country’s most important agricultural posts. Since the start of reforms in 1979, Changsha has fared better compared to its fellow inland capitals. In recent years, its economic growth has been fueled by strong manufacturing performance, with an emphasis on high-tech industries, and domestic retail sales.

Business Introduction :

So if China business is on your agenda, you could do much worse than choosing Changsha. Several Fortune 500 companies are already invested there, including Nokia, Time Warner, Pepsi Cola, Mitsui, and Mittal. While agriculture is still considered the primary industry, Changsha’s service sector accounts for roughly half of its GDP, with manufacturing and construction growing apace. The city is also committed to attaining hi-tech relevance. Currently, a quarter of its output is in the hi-tech sector, while its two tech and economic zones, Lugu Valley and Xingsha, have been attracting more and more FDI.

Here are some sites and numbers to further explore Changsha’s business possibilities:

Changsha Municipal Bureau of Commerce

www.cstrade.gov.cn [sorry –Mandarin site, but very informative]

Foreign Investment Administration Department: 86 731 8666056 / csinvest2006@yahoo.com.cn

Foreign Trade Department:86 731 8665556 / cswm2006@hotmail.com

Living

Plagued by much of the environmental despoliation characterizing growing Chinese cities, Changsha is no country for old men, but at least avoids the extremes of icy Dongbei or stifling Shenzhen, with summer temperatures that seldom climb above 30 degrees Celsius, and winter nights that daren’t dip below 5 (last winter’s fluke snow flurries notwithstanding).

The cuisine possesses the spiciness and range of Sichuan, and the heartiness of northern provinces. When the foreign digestive system inevitably tires of or rebels against clay pot black chicken and pulled pork with peppers, the familiar stand of Fast Food Chains are close at hand, at least in the city’s center: Pizza Hut, KFC, and other familiar fare of negligible nutritional value. So too, are the hypermarkets stocking international viands for the homesick belly, such as Carrefour and Metro.

Culture

Raging intellects have long been in great supply here. Besides Chairman Mao and his Chinese brand of Marxist-Leninist dialectics, Han Dynasty essayist Chu Yi, diplomat-general Sung Guo, and Politburo firebrand Zhu Rongji are all Changsha’s native sons. The venerable Yuelu Academy, which started turning out top scholars during the Song Dynasty, also has its home here.

There are many places of interest in Changsha. Such as Mawangdui Han Tombs, Yuelu College and Aiwan pavilion, etc.

In Changsha, there are lots of traditional goods. Hunan embroidery has more than 2000 years’ history. Hunan, Suzhou, Sichuan and Guangdong embroidery are the four famous ones in China. Xiang flavor dishes are called Hunan dishes too, which is one of the eight famous local dishes in China and have long history. Liuyang fireworks and firecrackers are the traditional specialties in Hunan; they are famous both in China and abroad. Also they are sold both in China and some other foreign countries.

Entertainment

Visitors who have not experienced traditional Chinese entertainment before will be able to discover a range of performance arts in Changsha, though in recent years, the performances are becoming less frequent. Theatres such as the Hunan Theater, the Tianhan Grand Theater or the Hunan Xiang Opera Theater all stage a variety of performing arts including the local Geju Opera, Zaji which is a form of acrobatics and storytelling using shadow puppets in a style known as Piying Xi.

Nightlife

Changsha’s nightlife is varied and vibrant, generally not really warming up until one or two in the morning. Hawkers selling snacks and knickknacks off the back of small carts fight for space with cars and pedestrians in the busy streets around the city’s bars and KTVs, the most popular of which line Jiefang Xilu. Jiefang Road is home to a disco and KTV bar named Golden Time which is popular with locals and affluent locals, as is the Hot Dance club where the eclectic music and live performances attract a similarly diverse crowd.

Golden Time (Jin1 Se4 Nian2 Hua2)
Located in Jiefang Lu, this is the most up to date entertainment venue in Changsha. Glitzy décor, crazy atmosphere, and first rate performances. Popular among the “dance til you drop” crowd.

Address: No. 18, Jiefang Xilu

Hedong Disco

The most popular disco in the city. Infrequent performances and an overpriced bar. Over- thirties beware the beat-happy DJs.

Huatian Theatre (Hua2 Tian1 Da4 Ju4 Chang3)
A well appointed theater featuring formal performances and dance shows.
Address: 5th &6thfloors of the Huatian International Club

Shennong Club Address: 4th, floor, Shennong Hotel

Tongcheng Club Address: 7th, floor, Tongcheng International Hotel

Bars– Jiefang Xilu Bar Street

The three-kilometer Jiefang Xilu is Changsha’s bar street, for foreigner and native alike. Definitely not as over-the-top as Beijing’s Sanlitun, Jiefang Xilu nonetheless boasts a style all its own, with none of the anomie that permeates the former . Romantic, quiet bars, dynamic show bars, teahouses, western style restaurants… definitely something for everyone.

COCO Graceful and romantic atmosphere, easy listening music, popular with the white-collar 25 to 35′s.
Address: No. 71, Jiefang Xilu

Jin Bi Hui Huang A lot of government money gets spent here, thus the kitschy brand of luxury appointments and out-of-date entertainment.

Address: Basement of the Tianhan Theatre No. 190, Laodong Xilu

Margaret Blues, R&B, a place where music and conversation coexist.

Address: Jiefang Xilu

Mingchayuan Japanese style with Western accents, a place where businessmen tend to congregate.
Address: No.211, Laodong Xilu

Margaret Chinese& Western Restaurant First Branch:No. 768, Furong Zhonglu
Second Branch: No. 118 Wuyi Lu
Third Branch: No. 458, Furong Zhonglu

Re Wu Disco Disco, DJ, show performances
Address: 2nd floor, Dongfang Hotel, Wuyi Dadao

Night River Tour of Xiangjiang

A current night time favorite with the local people is a river cruise along the beautiful Xiangjiang. The crafts glide along the river , bathed in the bright lights of Changsha’s ‘Bund’.