Things to do in Tongcheng

There were no assigned seats, so you could sit anywhere. We spent most of our time on the third deck enjoying the view and taking photos. Although it was very hot outside, there was a breeze on both sides of the deck, so it wasn't too bad. There were karaoke machines and vendors selling snacks and drinks on both the second and third decks. The air conditioning on the second deck was very strong. We arrived at the pier half an hour early, and there was already a queue.

Since we couldn't book through the official website, we chose this option. Entry was smooth, and the guide even led us into a classroom for a brief explanation before the tour. The explanation was very detailed and thorough. Even with many people inside, the guide repeatedly checked the number of people and led the group. Overall, they were very dedicated and responsible, and we learned a lot from the guide – definitely worth the visit.

The exhibited artifacts were quite good; I've also been to joint exhibitions organized by museums like the Hunan Provincial Museum. The Kremlin artifacts here are well-prepared and thoughtfully designed. However, the souvenir and merchandise section was rather boring. I was thinking of buying a pendant or something, but that saved me some money.

The scenic area is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Yangtze River Bridge and the Yellow Crane Tower. At the very top, watching the ships on the Yangtze and the cars and trains on the bridge, with the breeze blowing, is very pleasant, and it's not too crowded. The scenic area isn't large; a leisurely hour is about right to appreciate the scenery. Qingchuan Pavilion and Guishan Scenic Area are directly connected by the Iron Gate Pass, which leads to the West Gate of Guishan. Climbing the mountain and enjoying the breeze and osmanthus fragrance is a wonderful experience.

During the National Day holiday, the crowds were immense. Our tour guide, Xiao Xiang, led us along the way, providing lively and engaging explanations that saved us from taking unnecessary detours and greatly improved efficiency. He also clearly outlined the key locations.

Excellent museum tour! Professor Deng Wei's explanations were insightful and easy to understand, vivid and engaging. His descriptions of history, culture, and artifacts were very accurate and detailed, demonstrating his in-depth research and profound insights! Thank you so much! Moreover, Professor Deng is a very approachable and incredibly eloquent gentleman!

Changsha's Treasure Art Museum! Nestled beside Yanghu Wetland Park, built along the lake, the environment is serene and the admission is permanently free—truly deserving of its reputation as the world's largest privately owned artist's museum. The exhibition space is vast, with hundreds of realistic oil paintings quietly displayed. The rural figures and mother-daughter series are warm and simple, with delicate brushstrokes; each face is full of stories. The museum's centerpiece, "The Nanjing Massacre," is extremely impactful; I lingered there for a long time, feeling heavy-hearted and deeply moved. The museum's layout is comfortable, with soft lighting, making for a great viewing experience. Li Zijian and his wife built the museum at their own expense, opening the doors of art to the public free of charge—a truly touching act. Looking at the paintings, finding peace, and experiencing the humanity and love within the art—whether visiting alone or with friends, it's a healing and empowering journey. A must-visit in Changsha. (Photo taken after visiting the museum with my daughter.)

The scenery was beautiful, especially after the rain, like walking through a painting; the tour guide at the Three Gorges Dam was beautiful, had a lovely voice, and provided thorough explanations; the young man who accompanied us was professional, dedicated, and provided detailed explanations and made excellent arrangements! Highly recommended!

The following is an evaluation of Yangloudong Ancient Town: History and Culture 🔷Long history: Yangloudong Ancient Town has a history of over a thousand years. It is the origin of "Songfeng Tea" and "Dong Tea", the birthplace of Hubei Laoqing Tea, and is also the "No. 1 Ancient Town in the World's Tea Industry" and "Hometown of Chinese Brick Tea". Tea has been planted and processed since the Taihe period of the Tang Dynasty. The Ancient Tea Horse Road was formed in the Song Dynasty. It reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At its peak, there were more than 200 tea houses and a population of nearly 40,000. It was known as "Little Hankou". It is one of the starting points of the Tea Road and has witnessed the rise and fall of China's tea trade. It has a profound historical and cultural heritage. 🔷Cultural integration: The ancient town integrates a variety of cultural elements such as tea culture, religious culture, and architectural culture. In terms of tea culture, there are many tea shops and teahouses, where you can taste authentic green brick tea and learn about the production process of brick tea; in terms of religious culture, there are ancient temples such as Yuantong Temple, with unique architectural styles. The carvings and murals in the temple tell the stories of the years; in terms of architectural culture, most of the buildings on both sides of the ancient street are from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, two-story buildings, brick walls and wooden doors, carved window lattices, and simple and elegant styles. Walking on the ancient street, it seems to be able to travel back to ancient times. Architectural landscape 🔶Ancient street style: The main street is 4 meters wide and 2,200 meters long. It is paved with bluestone. There are more than an inch deep grooves on the stone road that were crushed by the "chicken bus" for transporting tea, which is a witness to the prosperity of commerce. There are many shops on both sides of the ancient street. Although it has gone through the years, you can still see the prosperity of the year. Now it has been restored to its original state and the street has been opened, recreating the production and trading scenes of the time. 🔶Special buildings: There are display shops such as the Lijin Bureau, the Post Office, the Yanglou Academy, the Hecha Gang, the Guangjitang Pharmacy, the Fuchang Tea House, and the Xintai Tea Factory, as well as relatively well-preserved Hui-style ancient buildings such as the Lei Family Courtyard, with white walls and black tiles, towering horse-head walls, and carved beams and painted buildings at the gate, showing the richness of the Qing Dynasty architectural culture. Tourism experience ◼️ Tour route: You can stroll along the bluestone road from the entrance of the ancient town, appreciate the buildings and shops on both sides of the ancient street, and feel the tranquility and simplicity of the ancient town; visit Guanyinquan and Yuantong Temple to experience the religious culture of the ancient town; you can also go to the Green Brick Tea History Museum to learn about the development of Yangloudong's tea culture and production technology; if you have enough time, the surrounding Zhongsongshan Tea Garden is also a good place to get close to nature and feel the scenery of the tea garden. 🔺 Food recommendation: In addition to tasting authentic green brick tea, the ancient town also has special foods such as Jiangjia Noodle House, which can satisfy tourists' taste buds while playing. 🏠Accommodation options: There are homestays such as Qingshi Inn in the ancient town, which have unique decoration styles and allow tourists to experience a different accommodation experience. The price is also relatively moderate. Current situation and development 🔶 Protection and development: The local government attaches great importance to the protection and development of the ancient town, and has carried out restoration work to restore the old as it was. At the same time, it is also constantly improving tourism supporting facilities and improving the quality of tourism services. For example, it has introduced many Internet celebrity check-in shops such as talk show beer bar, Wu Di Yi Photo Studio, and Ming Juan Second-hand Bookstore, realizing the integration of traditional culture and modern tourism style, creating a strong Chinese style and fashion trend. 🔶 Ecological governance: The advancement of the Yangloudonggang small watershed comprehensive governance pilot project has improved the ecological environment of the ancient town, laid the foundation for the sustainable development of the ancient town, and made the ancient town

Compared to the crowds at Tingtao Pear Garden during holidays, Luoyan Scenic Area is much quieter. There are no tour groups bringing people here, so it's a good place to stroll around East Lake and enjoy the scenery.