In an age where finding the next “big” travel destination requires delving into TikTok and following the Gen Zers, it’s little wonder that Changsha, an up-and-coming city in China, is lauded by a much younger crowd, writes Jaime Lyth Changsha was burnt to the ground by China’s own officials 88 years ago. With 90 per cent of the city buildings destroyed, it was fundamentally rebuilt from scratch. With this historical context, it’s not surprising that Changsha is constantly being talked about as China’s up-and-coming city with cyber-punk skylines and alleyways.
Changsha, known in China as the “Star City” is the capital of the Hunan Province, located centrally in inland China. During the day Changsha boasts an incredible range of cultural and arts offerings and come dusk, Changsha is known for its vibrant nightlife. These features in particular make Changsha a popular location for young people, who are grinning and staging social media photoshoots quite literally everywhere you go.
READ MORE: The first timer’s guide to visiting China Chinese media outlets have reported that Changsha is increasingly becoming the first choice for young people to work and live, and when you encounter the diversity of the cityscape, you understand why. Changsha City offers a mix of modernism and tradition, natural spaces and man-made works of art. For example, Meixi Lake is surrounded by green parks and popular walking tracks but is also home to the futuristic architectural marvel .