Changsha Citywalk: From the Millennium Academy to the Internet-Famous Snack Street – So Addictive!

Read a thousand years of history and touch thousand-year-old trees at Yuelu Academy. When the milk foam of Sexy Tea mixes with the aroma of stir-fried pork with chili peppers, you'll understand that the fiery and artistic sides of Changsha are not contradictory. This city is so addictive! 📚 Four Must-Do Cultural Check-Ins 1️⃣ Yuelu Mountain (Free Admission | Cable Car: CNY 25, enter from the East Gate and exit from the South Gate) Take an open-air cable car through the red maple trees in the fall, and see cherry blossoms at Chuanshi Slope Lake in the spring. 2️⃣ Yuelu Academy (CNY 40 | 8:00–17:30) The bamboo forest in this millennium academy is perfect for taking photos in the new Chinese style. Wear Hanfu and take "time-travel" photos in front of the lecture hall. Remember to touch the "Seeking Truth From Facts" plaque. 3️⃣ Aiwan Pavilion (Free Admission) This is the place Du Mu wrote about in his poem, "Stopping my carriage, I sit to enjoy the maple trees at dusk." The maple leaves are reddest from October to November. 4️⃣ Hunan University (Free Admission) The old red-brick buildings are super retro. "Tianma Beef Pancake" on the snack street is a must-try. 🚶‍♂ Citywalk Route Hunan University Subway Station → Yuelu Academy → Aiwan Pavilion → Yuelu Mountain (Sightseeing car to the top of the mountain: CNY 20) → Go straight down the mountain to Lushan South Road Snack Street. 📸 Photo Guide Photo Spots: 1️⃣ Bamboo forest window frame silhouette in the academy's lecture hall 2️⃣ Overlooking the piles of maple leaves at Aiwan Pavilion 3️⃣ Red Building arch at Hunan University Outfit Ideas: 1️⃣ New Chinese style + oiled paper umbrella (Academy) 2️⃣ Denim jacket + combat boots (Yuelu Mountain, Snack Street) 🌶 Foodie Paradise Hunan Cuisine: 1️⃣ Benluobo Liuyang Restaurant (Stir-fried Vermicelli with Pickled Cabbage) 2️⃣ Luge Restaurant (Salted Egg Yolk Eggplant) 3️⃣ Guangnaoke (Peeled Shrimp) Snacks: 1️⃣ Jinji Tangyou Tuotuo (Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside) 2️⃣ Black Classic Stinky Tofu (Juice-filled version) 3️⃣ Liu Baiwei Rice Noodle Restaurant (Cilantro Beef Noodles) 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations 1️⃣ Stay in the Clouds: Niccolo Changsha (City view from the 93rd floor), The St. Regis Changsha (City view from the sky-high swimming pool) 2️⃣ Design-Focused: Wuer Hotel (Art gallery style) 3️⃣ Internet-Famous Homestay: Chongfeng Homestay (Free Sexy Tea + giant screen projection) 🎁 Souvenirs 1️⃣ Sexy Tea "Little Lotus Seedpod" Tea Bags (Peach Oolong Flavor) 2️⃣ Super Wenheyou Retro Cultural Creations (The fridge magnets are super cute) 3️⃣ Spiced Duck Gizzards (Xiandu Spicy Duck Gizzards) Reading a thousand years of history at Yuelu Academy and munching on crayfish on Huangxing Road – I love both sides of Changsha!