Country | China |
Population | 5980707 |
Area | 11,819 km2 (4,563 sq mi) |
Time Zone | UTC+08:00 (China Standard) |
Coordinates | 28.19874, 112.97087 |
Highest elevation | 63 m (207 ft) |
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City Description
Changsha, the capital and largest city of Hunan Province in China, is a vibrant metropolis situated along the lower reaches of the Xiang River in northeastern Hunan. With a population exceeding 10 million as of the 2020 census, Changsha ranks as the 17th most populous city in China and stands as a major urban hub in Central China. The city forms part of the Greater Changsha Metropolitan Region, which includes Zhuzhou and Xiangtan, collectively known as the Changzhutan City Cluster. This region was recognized as one of China’s 13 emerging mega-cities in 2012 by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Historically, Changsha boasts over 2,400 years of urban development, with its name first recorded in the Yi Zhou Shu of the pre-Qin era. The city’s significance was cemented during the Qin dynasty with the establishment of the Changsha Commandery and the Changsha Kingdom during the Western Han dynasty. Notably, Changsha was the site of the Tongguan Kiln in the Tang dynasty, which produced the world’s earliest underglaze porcelain. The city also served as the capital of Southern Chu during the Period of the Five Dynasties and became a major trade center for rice and tea during the late Qing dynasty.
The city’s role in Chinese history continued into the modern era. During the Republican Era, Changsha became a crucial home front during the Second Sino-Japanese War. However, the city faced significant destruction from the Wenxi Fire in 1938 and the three Battles of Changsha between 1939 and 1942. Despite these challenges, Changsha emerged as a key revolutionary city, where figures like Tan Sitong and Huang Xing made significant contributions to China’s modernization.
In contemporary times, Changsha has evolved into a major economic and cultural center. It is recognized as one of the core cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and a key node in the Belt and Road Initiative. The city is renowned for its construction machinery and new materials industries, earning it the title of the “Construction Machinery Capital of the World.” Other significant sectors include automobiles, electronic information, household appliances, and biomedicine. Since the 1990s, Changsha has experienced rapid economic growth, achieving the highest growth rate among China’s major cities during the 2000s. In 2015, the Xiangjiang New Area, the first state-level new area in Central China, was established, further boosting the city’s economic profile.
Changsha’s skyline ranks as the 27th largest in the world, and the city had a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.817 in 2016, indicating a very high level of development comparable to moderately developed countries. The city is home to 59 institutions of higher education, making it 8th nationwide among Chinese cities. Changsha hosts four Double First-Class Construction universities: Hunan University, National University of Defense Technology, Central South University, and Hunan Normal University. These institutions contribute to Changsha’s status as a major center for research and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region, with a high level of scientific research output, ranking 30th globally in 2023.
Additionally, Changsha is known for its pioneering achievements, including the development of super hybrid rice, the Tianhe-1 supercomputer, China’s first laser 3D printer, and the first domestic medium-low speed maglev line. The city was also named the first “UNESCO City of Media Arts” in China and is home to the Hunan Broadcasting System (HBS), the most influential provincial TV station in China. With its rich history, dynamic economy, and cultural significance, Changsha continues to play a pivotal role in China’s development and innovation landscape.
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