Urban Contrasts. Old & New.

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Geo: 28.1979, 112.969

We started off with a visit to a huge book shop. Dingwang Platform Xinhua Bookstore.It was 4 floors of books. None of the escalators were working and the English books are on the 4th floor. Perfect. The only books they had in English was too learn Chinese or to learn English. There were lots of people sitting and reading book. Tianjin Tower. It was a quick walk from the book store. We did not go into the Temple but we did walk around the gardens and then down the stairs on the outside wall of the tower. We still had a good view from the garden below which had a huge bell in the center. The entrance fee was 32RMB.<br style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe WP', Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: normal;">On our way to the river we found "Little Sheep Hot Pot" for lunch. It was on the second floor so we could watch the busy street below. Across from the building the block of old shops and houses was being knocked down. It seems all over Changsha the old is slowly being replaced with modern high rises.We walked past Walking Street and threw a little pocket of old Changsha. It was so basic, old and charming with very narrow streets. It was a real treat. It's like we had walked back in time. It really was very special. Old, middle aged, young families and children just going about their daily lives.On the Main Street on either side of this area huge new buildings and shopping complexes have already been built. I'm not sure how long this area will survive.<br style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe WP', Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: normal;">Across the road from this area is the Jia Yi Former Residence.The building is beautiful. We didn't go inside but the area around the residence is alive with locals dancing, singing and playing cards. It is right on the river overlooking Orange Island. The entrance fee was 11RMB. From there we caught the train back to the hotel.After a small rest we headed out to Walking Street. This street is so much better at night. The lights make such an amazing difference. There are people performing, singing, painting, selling balloons and an amazing amount of street vendors selling so many different types of food.The following morning we caught the metro to the South Railway Station 2RMB each and then the Maglev 20RMB each to the airport. It too a total of 45 minutes. Very quick.It would be great to visit Changsha in about 5 years. I'm sure it will be very different and a very NEW and Modern city.I just hope they don't loose too much of the old charm and soul of the city.<br style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe WP', Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: normal;">

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Photos

Oranges anyone?
Taken at lunch from the window of The Little

Jia Yi Former Residence
Locals dancing.