Changsha
Capital of Hunan, ancient city, and global industrial hub.
Changsha is the capital of Hunan, China, situated in the lower reaches of the Xiang River in the northeastern part of the province. It is the 15th most populous city in the country, with a population of over 10.5 million. The city is a core component of the Greater Changsha Metropolitan Region, which also includes Zhuzhou and Xiangtan—collectively known as the Changzhutan City Cluster. This metropolitan area was recognized by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2012 as one of 13 emerging mega-cities in China. Changsha is designated a National Comprehensive Transportation Hub and is among the first National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities in China. The local dialect, Changshanese, a form of Xiang Chinese, is spoken in the downtown area, while Ningxiangnese and Liuyangnese are used in surrounding counties and cities.
The city’s history spans over 2,400 years of continuous urban development. The name "Changsha" first appeared in the pre-Qin text *Yi Zhou Shu*. During the Qin dynasty, the Changsha Commandery was established, followed by the Changsha Kingdom in the Western Han. In the Tang dynasty, the Tongguan Kiln produced the world’s earliest underglaze porcelain, which was exported to Western Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the Five Dynasties period, Changsha served as the capital of Southern Chu. In the Northern Song, the Yuelu Academy—later Hunan University—was one of the four major private academies over the past millennium. In the late Qing, Changsha became one of China’s four major trade hubs for rice and tea. Opened to foreign trade in 1904, it evolved into a revolutionary center: Tan Sitong founded the School of Current Affairs, Huang Xing established the China Arise Society, and Mao Zedong conducted early political activities there. During the Republican era, the city was a major home front in the Second Sino-Japanese War, but the Wenxi Fire of 1938 and the three Battles of Changsha (1939–1942) severely damaged its economy and infrastructure.
Today, Changsha is a core city in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Belt and Road Initiative, classified as a new Chinese first-tier city and a pioneering area for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. It is rated a Beta- (global second-tier) city by the GaWC. Known as the "Construction machinery capital of the world," its main industries include construction machinery and new materials, alon
- field
- Urban center, historical capital, industrial hub
- nationality
- China
- known_for
- Capital of Hunan; construction machinery capital of the world; UNESCO City of Media Arts; birthplace of super hybrid rice, Tianhe-1 supercomputer, China's first laser 3D printer, and China's first dom
- classification
- Beta- (global second-tier) city by GaWC
Lore & Background
Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is situated in the lower reaches of the Xiang River in the northeastern part of the province. It is the 15th most populous city in China, with a population of 10,513,100, and forms the core of the Greater Changsha Metropolitan Region, also known as the Changzhutan City Cluster, which includes Zhuzhou and Xiangtan. The city is a National Comprehensive Transportation Hub and one of the first National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities in China. The local dialect, Changshanese, is a variety of Xiang Chinese spoken in the downtown area, while Ningxiangnese and Liuyangnese are used in surrounding counties. With over 2,400 years of urban history, the name "Changsha" first appeared in the pre-Qin text Yi Zhou Shu. The city’s defining characteristics include its role as the "Construction machinery capital of the world," with a strong industrial base in construction machinery and new materials, alongside automobiles, electronics, home appliances, and biomedicine. It is a Beta- (global second-tier) city and a pioneering area for China-Africa economic cooperation. Changsha is a major research and innovation hub, home to four Double First-Class universities—Hunan, National Defense Technology, Central South, and Hunan Normal—and hosts 62 higher education institutions. It produced the world’s earliest underglaze porcelain at the Tongguan Kiln during the Tang dynasty, and later gave rise to super hybrid rice, the Tianhe-1 supercomputer, China’s first laser 3D printer, and the first domestic medium-low speed maglev line. The city is also the first UNESCO City of Media Arts in China and houses the influential Hunan Broadcasting System.
Reader's Guide
Changsha is now one of the core cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Belt and Road Initiative, a new Chinese first-tier city, and a pioneering area for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. Known as the 'Construction machinery capital of the world,' its industrial sector includes construction machinery, new materials, automobiles, electronic information, household appliances, and biomedicine. Since the 1990s, Changsha achieved the highest growth rate among China's major cities during the 2000s. It is the birthplace of super hybrid rice, the Tianhe-1 supercomputer, China's first laser 3D printer, and China's first domestic medium-low speed maglev line. Changsha was named the first UNESCO City of Media Arts in China and is home to the Hunan Broadcasting System, the most influential provincial TV station in China.
Did You Know?
- Changsha's name first appeared in the Yi Zhou Shu written in the pre-Qin era.
- The Tongguan Kiln in Changsha during the Tang dynasty produced the world's earliest underglaze porcelain.
- Changsha is known as the 'Construction machinery capital of the world.'
- Changsha was named the first UNESCO City of Media Arts in China.
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