Economic Overview
Changsha, the present-day capital city of Hunan Province, has a history dating back over 3,000 years to the Chu
State and Han Dynasty. Changsha is also the political, economic and cultural center of Hunan, playing a major
role in opening up the inland area to the rest of the world. An attractive city, dubbed a "National Forest City" by the
China Forestry Bureau in 2006 and best known for being close to the birthplace of Mao Zedong (at nearby Shao
shan); Changsha is an important mainland base for the export of agricultural products, with Hunan contributing
13% of China's national rice production and also being rich in tobacco, fruit and timber.
In 2010, Changsha's GDP reached 179.07 billion RMB, an increase of 14.8% over the previous year and ranking
28th among Chinese cities. The city's primary industries had stable growth at 5.7% with a total industrial added
value output of 12.33 billion RMB; the secondary industries experienced a more robust increase of 15.9% with an
industrial value-added output of 77.47 billion RMB; and the tertiary sector led the way with an increase of 19.4%
and an industrial value-added output of 58.4 billion RMB.
The city's GDP per capita was 27,853 RMB and its total economic output accounted for 23.9% of Hunan's total. At
the end of 2010, there were 3.63 million people enjoying full employment, including 1.29 million in the urban areas.
Investment in fixed assets reached 108.98 billion RMB, including 97.28 billion RMB utilized in the urban areas.
Get Ready to Rock at the Changsha Orange Isle International Music Festival
Come one come all to Changsha for two days and nights of wild fun,
delicious beer, sexy babes and rock music. The 2011 Changsha
Orange Isle International Music Festival will open its curtains on
September 3rd and 4th at the Orange Isle Beach Park. Besides the
main stage area, there will also be a food court, a tented area, a county
fair, a "hip" graffiti area, a photography area, and others. So bring your
friends, and get your "rave" on, and bring your camera, as there will be
a bunch of "wild" activities for you to document.
According to organisers, besides the rock star acts performing, the other
stars of the festival will be the awesome volunteers who will be walking
around the festival grounds picking up your garbage and recyclable
goods for you after you drunkenly toss it on the ground. You might not
care too much about it, but Mother Nature is pretty pumped. Volunteers
will also be able to offer you English language services, so if you skin
your knees or break your arm in the mosh pit, there is no need to look up how to say that in Chinese. The World Wildlife
Foundation will also be on the festival grounds promoting their "Earth Hour" campaign.
On July 14, 2011, the festivals organizing committee held a press conference, and announced the main concert band
lineup. Highlights include: Cui Jian, who is considered to be the "godfather of Chinese rock and roll"; To Die For, a
famous gothic metal band from Finland; Vic Anselmo, a well-known gothic singer from Latvia; and SUBS, who is
apparently the only Chinese band to be put on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Orange Isle is located in the Yuelu District of Changsha, Midstream of Xiangjiang River. To the East is the downtown,
to the west is Yuelu Mountain, the island is about 5000 m long, 145 m wide.
Add: Orange Isle Beach Park in Changsha 长沙橘子洲沙滩游乐园
Time: gates open at 14:30 on September 3rd and 4th
Tickets: 80 RMB per day
Website: http://jz.imu.cc/
Tel: 0731 82162666 / 152 1115 8330
Changsha Plans to Hold (Another) 52 Fireworks Shows in 2012
Since August 28th, 2010, the weekly Saturday night fireworks shows on Orange Isle have been quite a hit with locals.
The Changsha Government recently announced that it has decided to extend these weekly shows through August 25,
2012, which means you have 52 more chances left to check out the free fireworks.
