Changsha embraces modernity but still offers plenty for history bug.
From my "Let's Go" China travel book:Changsha, a provincial city, embraces modernity but still wears its 3000-year old history proudly on its sleeve. From the tomb of a 2100 year old mummy to assorted Mao pilgrimage sights, this city offers plenty for any history buff. Changsha is not without aesthetic pleasures as well: the nearby Yuelu Mountain Scenic area boasts numerous natural sights, and in the city, massive construction has resulted in broad, tree-lined boulevards.
Lonely Planet says there were 5,719,100 people in Changsha in 2000 and English First's website states there are now 8 million people living here. It's a huge metropolis that at first glance reminds me of Toronto with its overpasses, high-rise buildings and traffic. Traveling north of my general living/working area you realize just how big this city is. There are traffic lights at the major intersections that are obeyed and no one crosses the double yellow line to differentiate between traffic going in the opposite direction. However, they do not stay in their lanes travelling in the same direction! Yes, four cars can easily fit across three lanes! They dodge in and out amongst the cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, taxis and pedestrians! You have to have nerves of steel to travel by taxi or bus or just close your eyes and hope for the best. Bigger streets have metal barriers and a lane for bicycles and pedestrians. Wow ¨C someone was thinking with their brain! Another thing I had to get used to was no seatbelts in the back of cars. They only have them in the front seat and no one uses them except the odd taxi driver.
Lao Dong Road, where our apartment building is located, runs east from the river, passed our place and intersects with Furong Zhong Lu, another major street going north and south via a traffic circle. This is where we have to cross twice to get to EF (English First) that is kitty-corner to us. On our way to school we pass the spa, the bank, the 24 hr. market (convenience store with a Chinese clerk in training to go to Canada ¨C just kidding) a few restaurants, an outdoor stand that sells dumplings and of course our friends, the cigarette people and their baby. I haven't figured out if it's their baby or their grandchild. Who knows? Kim has taught him how to give a "high five". I'm not sure how old he is ¨C about 1-1/2 or so. Not potty trained for sure. We saw him peeing in the street one day! Babies here wear no diapers. Their pants are split open at the back and they just go wherever. I saw a baby in a cart at the store standing up and you could see his bare bottom at the back. You would think their little tooshies would get cold! Really weird. Although I did see Pampers in the storeˇˇˇ.so I'm not sure what that's all about.
Just past that is an eyeglass store, Milo's Coffee House, a sports/clothing/shoe store and a lady's coat store. If we don't cross at the circle you can continue around and there's the bakery, a flower shop and a small restaurants where we go for dumplings. We cross over to the corner of A.Best and McDonalds. A.Best is a huge three level department store where you can buy just about anything including fresh foods to alcohol. McDonalds has a loud speaker outside and I laugh every time I hear the "I'm Loving It" jingle in Chinese. If you go inside they are constantly playing Christmas carols in English. A hostess is decked out in a red velvet dress with white fur trim and the traditional Santa hat. Cute! It was a little depressing eat a chicken burger and fries to the tune of Silent Night over and over and overˇˇˇˇ..I said to Kim that if they knew the words and meaning in Chinese they probably wouldn't play it. It goes against all the religious beliefs.
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From my "Let's Go" China travel book:Changsha, a provincial city, embraces modernity but still wears its 3000-year old history proudly on its sleeve. From the tomb of a 2100 year old mummy to assorted Mao pilgrimage sights, this city offers plenty for any history buff. Changsha is not without aesthetic pleasures as well: the nearby Yuelu Mountain Scenic area boasts numerous natural sights, and in the city, massive construction has resulted in broad, tree-lined boulevards.
