What should you pay attention to when traveling to Changsha?

Changsha Travel Notes

Best Travel Time

1. The best time to travel to Changsha is in autumn. At this time, it is best to go to Yuelu Mountain to see the red leaves all over the mountain. The most beautiful and a good time for sightseeing in Orange Island.

2. In fact, except for the higher temperatures in midsummer, Changsha is suitable for tourism in the other three seasons. Spring in Changsha begins after mid-February. At this time, the climate is changeable, and tourists would rather wear more clothes to prevent colds. In late May, summer comes. Although Changsha is known as a stove, you still have to sleep under a quilt even in the dog days of summer in the mountains. Winter enters in late November, with the average temperature around 5°C and sometimes snow. At this time, you can go to the mountains to see ice.

Warm Tips

Climate

For some time after mid-February, the weather in Changsha is very unstable, so it is better to wear more clothes to prevent colds.

Tour

There are many cliffs on the mountain, so remember: "Walking without seeing the scenery, and seeing the scenery without walking." When taking photos, you should especially look ahead and behind to ensure safety.

Equipment

Be sure to prepare a raincoat! If you use an umbrella to take shelter from the rain in the mountains, you may lose your balance and be in danger because you are riding in the umbrella. Please do not play in the ravines to prevent sudden flash floods.

Food

Most tourists in the Chaozhou area are not used to Hunan food, so it is recommended to bring your own salty food.

Safety-related

1. Please place valuables in the hotel safe. If you carry them with you, be careful to keep them and never leave them.

2. If you go out on your own at night or during free time, please inform the accompanying tour guide or group members to pay special attention to safety.

3. Wear comfortable and non-slip soft-soled shoes. There are many cliffs on the mountain. Remember: "Walking without looking at the scenery, and looking at the scenery without walking." When taking photos, you should especially look ahead and behind to ensure safety.

4. There are many tourists in Zhangjiajie. Please pay attention to the safety of yourself and your property, follow the tour guide’s instructions, and gather at the designated location on time.

Wearing for all seasons

Spring (March-May): 1-2 sweaters, cotton sweaters, 1-2 sets of trousers, 1-2 jackets, trousers, optional Prepare 1 pair of woolen pants.

Summer (June-August): 1-2 long-sleeved shirts, 1 thin coat, shorts, T-shirts, trousers, and skirts.

Autumn (September to November): 1-2 sweaters, 1-2 shirts, 1-2 pairs of cotton pants, and 1 thick coat.

Winter (December-February): 2-3 sweaters, 2 pairs of cotton trousers, 1 piece of cotton coat or down jacket, gloves, 1 pair of woolen trousers.

Special reminder: The temperature in mountain tourist areas is low, and the temperature on the mountain is much lower than at the bottom. Visitors should consider bringing cold-proof clothing.

Customs

1. Changsha New Marriage Customs

On the wedding day, the man uses a sedan chair carried by 4 or 8 people to pick up the bride, or it is called the marriage ceremony. There are flags and gongs, and there are people carrying livestock cages behind them. There are chickens and geese in pairs in the cages.

Pairs of chickens and geese originate from the ancient ritual of "dian geese": in the pre-Qin Dynasty, when a new son-in-law came to his in-law's house, he had to present a pair of geese as a greeting gift. The geese should be taken without losing the integrity and timing, and the elders and younger ones should behave in an orderly manner. , meaning no longer accidental. Because when geese fly, they fly in a line without losing their flock. If they lose their mates, they fly alone and never get together again. They are at the end of the line. Later, because geese were difficult to find, chickens and geese were gradually used as the symbol of "Dianyan".

2. Wedding customs of "grabbing with ashes"

In the city, most people still have the ancient ceremony of "welcoming the bride in person". In the countryside, a matchmaker or other family members will greet the bride. The bride wears a phoenix crown, a shawl (commonly known as a veil) and a red headscarf. Before boarding the sedan, the elderly woman holds a red paper twist dipped in vegetable oil and lit in one hand, and takes a mirror in the other hand to look at the sedan inside and outside several times, commonly known as "looking at the sedan", which is meant to drive away evil and filth.

On the night of the wedding, the wedding ceremony was informal and it was a pleasure to make the bride laugh. Some drag the older men of the family to the bridal chamber and force them to carry ashes on their backs. A more elegant program is to praise tea, where the bride and groom carry tea trays to serve tea, and the congratulators must respond with rhyming compliments, such as: "As soon as you enter the new house, the lights are bright, the floor is full of gold and silver, and the house is full of children and grandchildren." Another example: "The tea trays are carried in all directions, and the newlyweds carrying tea are like mandarin ducks. Tonight is a night of flowers and candles in the bridal chamber, and in the coming year a champion will be born."

3. Guest customs

Hospitality Changsha people are generally hospitable. When guests enter the house, no matter whether it is cold or hot, they must make tea to receive them.

In Ningxiang, Wangcheng and other places, some fried soybeans, sesame and the like are put in the cup, which is called sesame bean tea.

Zixing Fennel Tea in Beixiang, Liuyang: Put one or more claws of fennel in the tea, which overflows with a special sweetness. After the guests finish one bowl, the enthusiastic housewife will bring another bowl. If the guest does not refuse. He had to drink five or six bowls in a row. If an elder comes, the host should go out to greet him and let the guest go first; when the guest speaks, he should pay attention and listen.

4. Birthday customs

Birthday celebrations: The old saying goes, "Sixtieth birthday is called longevity," which means that people over sixty years old can only celebrate their birthdays throughout their lives (on the tenth day). People in Changsha say that "when a man enters a woman's full year," that is, when a man takes a false age, a woman takes a real age. For those who have undergone plastic surgery before the age of 60, Changsha people have a custom of "men do not do three, and women do not do four." That is, if they are over 29 years old, women will not entertain guests after they are 40 years old. To say goodbye; or to avoid going out is called hiding.

Travel essentials

1. Documents: When traveling, you should carry valid documents such as ID card, student ID card, etc. with you in case of emergency.

2． Clothing:

Spring and Autumn: You can bring sweaters, cotton sweaters, jackets, trousers, and woolen trousers. The weather in Changsha changes quickly in spring, sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy. It is best to bring rain gear and appropriate clothing when traveling to prevent catching a cold.

Summer: It is recommended to bring a long-sleeved shirt, a light jacket, a short shirt, a T-shirt, long pants, and a skirt. The temperature in tourist areas in the mountains is low, and the temperature on the mountain is much lower than that at the bottom. Visitors should consider bringing cold-proof clothing.

Winter: It is still necessary to keep warm, preferably wearing a down jacket or thick coat. Cotton shoes are appropriate. If you don’t want to wear cotton shoes, it is recommended to wear cotton socks.

3. Medicines: Tourists can bring commonly used cold medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines, gastrointestinal medicines, motion sickness medicines, band-aids, etc. according to their own needs. In summer, they should also bring anti-mosquito essence and toilet water.

4. Cash and bank cards: Keep your belongings separately when traveling and keep them safe.

5. Other items: mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players and other electronic devices you may need to carry. Remember to bring chargers, batteries and enough memory cards.