Ancient Histor
The recorded history of Changsha can be traced back 3,000 years. Tomb relics from the primitive periods
witnessing the earliest human activities have been discovered in this region. During the Spring and Autumn
Period (770 B.C. - 476 B.C.), the area developed into an important town within the State of Chu, (one of the
seven warring states that existed before China's unification by Emperor Qin). After Emperor Qin (the first
feudal emperor in China's history) unified the country, the town was set up as a county and later became
the capital city of a state in the early Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220). In the dynasties that followed, the city
experienced several expansions and during China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it has developed into the
political, economic and cultural center of Hunan Province.
Modern History
Four large battles took place in Changsha during the Second Sino-Japanese War, when invading Japanese
forces tried to capture it from the Chinese Nationalists who had secured the area. The 4th Battle of Changsha
ended when the city finally fell to Japanese forces who held it for a year before being defeated in a counter
attack. The city became part of the territory of the People's Republic of China in 1949
The Hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong
A large part of the history of Changsha and the area around it is based on its connection with Chairman Mao. He
was brought up in the small village of Shaoshan situated about 100 kilometers outside of Changsha, later
attending Hunan Number 1 Teachers' Training School in the city. Today, Shaoshan village has become a
memorial place for Chinese people to remember this extraordinary man. People erected a statue of the Chairman
and have preserved the houses he lived as a tourist site. A museum and other memorial spots in the scenic area
create a kind of solemn atmosphere. Many Chinese come to pay respect and visit here during the memorial days.
Splendid Culture
Rich Historical Heritages
Although not as ancient a capital city as Beijing, Nanjing or Xian, Changsha also has rich historical heritages
including old wall remains, tomb sites, religious temples and buildings. One fo the most famous is Yuelu Academy,
a time-honored academic school perched on the scenic Yuelu Mountain. Originally built in 976 during the Song
Dynasty, the academy school survived through the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and is considered to be the cradle
of Huxiang Culture.
Colorful Traditional Fork
Changsha people are also renowned for their acting and have created various traditional folk art performances
of their own including the storytelling, Flower-drum opera, acrobatics and other dramatic styles. Thereinto,
Flower-drum opera is very popular. As Flower-drum opera takes rural life as the subject matter and its melody
is stemmed from ballads, folk songs, hums, work songs and Taoist music, it is featured by lively melody, pithy
plot and dialect-style singing. Featuring intense rustic traits, repertoires of Flower-drum Opera mainly reflect
laboring activities, love, family conflicts and other contents in folk life.
