WorldTeach volunteers in China all work in Hunan Province, located in south central China. Bordered by mountains to the west, south, and east and by the Yangtze River to the north, Hunan has a population of 64.4 million people. Because of its large, fertile river plains, historically Hunan was an important agricultural area. Hunan is now home to industry and commerce as well as agriculture. The province boasts the birthplace of Chairman Mao at Shaoshan, several major port cities on the Yangtze River, the second largest lake in China, and spectacular mountain scenery. Most of the population is Han Chinese but the mountainous border areas are home to several ethnic minority groups. Mandarin is the official language of the province.
Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, is a large commercial city bustling with energy. With a population of about 1.5 million, it is a medium-sized city by Chinese standards. Located on the Beijing-Guangzhou train line about five hours south of Wuhan, Changsha is a major agricultural center and the busiest port on the Xiang River, which runs through the center of town. In addition to food processing plants, the city's industries now include machinery, textiles, chemicals, electronics and metalworking.
Culturally, Changsha has a long and important history as a center for education. Its ancient academies, dating back to the Song Dynasty (979-1126 AD) were a focus of scholarship and produced poets and noted government officials, as well as more recent political leaders including Mao Zedong and Zhu Rongji. The city still boasts several top-ranking universities and hundreds of schools.
Changsha has everything from traditional temples and narrow back streets to modern department stores, reflecting the juxtaposition of old and new that epitomizes the changing China. While it offers interesting historical and cultural sites and has some foreign businesses, Changsha is off the main tourist track and remains authentically Chinese.
Hunan has a warm, humid, subtropical climate. The main rainy season is from April through June. During the summer months of July and August the weather is very hot and humid. In winter the temperature generally does not fall below zero, which is fortunate since most public buildings in southern China do not have heating.
As a WorldTeach volunteer, you will experience life in a changing China. You will have a respected role in the community and form friendships that bridge cultures. By immersing yourself in the culture, you will gain unique insights into Chinese society and the challenges and opportunities of economic development.
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Places of Interest in Changsha City, Hunan
Yue Lu Academy: An ancient school, site of the original Hunan University (Hunan Da Xue) on the green western bank of the Xiang River below the mountain. The beautiful old buildings of the academy feature pagoda roofs, stone courtyards, and calligraphy panels. Inside one can see the ancient classroom where students would listen to their masters, and a room with "series bells" that are played by musicians at certain times of day. Ancient gates, guarded by stone lions, lead through peaceful gardens to the temple building. Yue Lu Academy also contains an interesting - if quirky - museum on the history of Hunan University, including a replica of Chairman Mao's dorm room.
Ju Zi Zhou Tou "Oranges at the island's head" Park: This is a spacious park on the southern tip of the long skinny island in the middle of the Xiang River. The park is full of orange trees, which apparently can be picked in the right season. While the beaches are not the cleanest, the park is a popular place for picnics, kite flying and taking a stroll away from the city congestion. The park is dotted with pagodas and statues of Mao and other leaders. Mao wrote a well-known poem about the view of the Xiang River from this park.
Wu Yi Road and Wu Yi Square: Wu Yi is the main commercial street in downtown Changsha. It runs east-west across the city and across the main bridge over the Xiang, and is a good way to orient oneself. The street is home to many of the large department stores, including some snazzy Japanese and Taiwanese stores. There are also interesting things happening on the street itself. Wu Yi Square is a central park with a lot of concrete but also some nice flower gardens and patches of grass. A good place to soak up the sun, have an ice cream, and people-watch.
Bu Xing Road: A pedestrian shopping street in downtown Changsha, lined with modern, clean and shiny stores and designer boutiques. It is pleasant to get away from the buses and traffic, and there are good bargains to be found. Dive into the side streets for a contrasting experience - old streets, small stores and street traders.
Huo Gong (Fire God) Temple and Tea House: A flaming pot on the sidewalk marks the entrance --through stone arches-- to this ancient and lively establishment. The small courtyard is bedecked with colorful bunting. At the rear is the Fire God Temple, where people burn incense and pray to the large gold and red statues of the Fire God. The tea house is the oldest restaurant in Changsha, and is said to have the best stinky tofu (chou doufu). No reservations are necessary - you wait until a table becomes free, brush off the remnants of the last diners' meal, and order dishes (snack sized "xiao chi" like dim sum) from the counter at the side of the room. Tea (of several varieties) and the dishes are brought to your table. There is a happy buzz of local families, friends, and tourists eating here, especially on Sundays.
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Photo above by Joanne Jou. Selected as Honorable Mention, WorldTeach 2006 Photo Contest.
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Web Resources for China
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