Changsha

Changsha (Traditional Chinese:長沙 ; Simplified Chinese: 长沙; pinyin: cháng sha) is the capital of Hunan, a province of Southcentral China, located on the lower reaches of Xiangjiang river, a branch of Yangtze. It covers an area of 11,819 sq. kilometers and has a population of 5.955 million (2000 population census).

Administration
Changsha has jurisdiction over 5 districts ( Furong, Tianxin, Yuelu, Kaifu, Yuhua districts ), 3 counties (Changsha, Wangcheng, Ningxiang counties) and Liuyang city.

History
The earliest settlement was probably founded in the first millennium BC. By 202 BC it was already a fortified city. During Han Dynasty it was also the capital of kingdom Changsha.

The celebrated Ma-Wang-Dui Tombs of Han Dynasty was constructed between 186 BC and 165 BC. The earliest tomb (no. 2), as it was excavated in 1970's, had preseved the corp of Lady Xin-Zhui in a surprisingly good conditions. Also founded in the tomb were earliest versions of Dao-De-Jing written by Lao Zi, and many other historical documents.

During Sui Dynasty, Changsha was a county.

Yuelu Academy was founded in 976 AD (Song Dynasty), destroyed by war in 1127 AD, and rebuilt in 1165 AD (Southern Song Dynasty). The celebrated philosopher Zhu Xi taught in this school in 1165 AD. The school was destroyed by the Mongol but restored again in the late 15th century (Ming Dynasty). In 1903 it became Hunan High School. The existing architectures owe themselves to the restoration of 1981-1986, presumably according to the Song design.

Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China began his political career in Changsha.

Geography and climate
Changsha is located at 111 53' - 114 5' east longitude and 27 51' - 28 40' north latitude, situated in the eastcentral Hunan. Its terrain is high in the west and low in the east. There are many mountainous areas in the west and in the north. The Xiangjiang River flows south to northwest 296-meter-high Mt. Yuelushan is in the west, and Liuyanghe River (Liuyang River) and Ladaohe River (Laodao River) east.

It belongs to monsoon climate of sub-tropical zone with annual average temperature being 168-17.2ºC, 4.6 C in January and 28.6 C in July and annual average precipitation being 1422 mm., and frost-free period being 275 days. The four seasons is obvious and acceptable there, rainy and wet, the temperature increases rapidly and is changeful in spring. Summer is long and broiling, which has unbalanced rainfall, comfortable and abundant sunlight in autumn. In winter it is nearly rainless and not very cold.

Neighboring Areas: Jiangxi province, cities and counties of Hunan, such as Tonggu county, Wanzai county, Yichun city, Pingxiang city of Jiangxi province. Pingjiang county, Miluo city, Xiangyin County of Yueyang; Heshan District, Taojiang county, Anhua County of Yiyang; Lianyuan city of Loudi; Zhuzhou county, Liling City of Zhuzhou; Xiangtan county, Xiangxiang city of Xiangtan.

Economy
The GDP per capita was ¥23,942 (€2,490, $2,890) in 2003, ranked 42nd among 659 Chinese cities.