Since gaining a reputation as a trending city, Changsha seems to have become synonymous with “popularity”. Topics such as “Have all the people in China gathered in Changsha?” and “Changsha has a huge crowd at 3a.m.” have deepened people’s impression of this label.

Following its success in achieving the highest GDP growth rate among all one-trillion-yuan cities in 2022, Changsha has now won the crown for “population growth”.

In addition, Changsha’s total permanent population was 10.42 million at the end of 2022, an increase of 181,300 from last year, ranking first among the one-trillion-yuan cities with released data, surpassing Hangzhou, Hefei, Wuhan, Chengdu and other cities.

Changsha showcases its profound cultural heritage and openness, both of which have stood the test of time and the details of life.

Bustling atmosphere

In recent years, Changsha has undoubtedly become one of the most popular cities in China. According to tourism-related orders on Meituan, a comprehensive e-commerce platform, Changsha, Chongqing, and Xi’an are expected to be among the top three domestic destinations for the upcoming May Day holiday.

Changsha’s Internet-famous sites for “eating, drinking, and playing” have become the primary factor driving tourists to the city, as evidenced by the most popular online search topics. In Mafengwo’s “Contemporary Youth Travel Guide”, Changsha ranked first among the most vibrant cities in 2022.

Despite its 3,000-year-old cultural heritage, Changsha has never clung to its past. Instead, it has embraced a youthful attitude that seamlessly combines the charm of humanity history with urban life.

Changsha offers a variety of experiences for tourists, with plenty to see and do. You can take in the scenery of Orange Isle by day, and indulge in a savory crayfish feast at Wenheyou by night. You can immerse yourself in the scholarly atmosphere of Yuelu Academy, or tantalize your taste buds with street food at a bustling night market. You can start your day with a steaming bowl of rice noodles, and unwind while listening to music by the Xiang River at sunset. At night, you can socialize with friends and enjoy drinks on West Jiefang Road.

The warmth and vibrancy of Changsha easily appeals to young people, who not only come to take photos and post them on social media platforms, but also grow along with the city. The city’s new generation has given rise to new consumer brands such as Guoyaya, Zhadui, and Hey Hey Black, making Changsha a birthplace of many unique consumer brands. 

Currently, dozens of new consumption enterprises in Changsha employ over 100,000 young people nationwide, with total revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan.

Hardcore power

Located at the eighth bay of Liuyang River, Malanshan has more than 50,000 young workers with an average age of 26.7, and nearly 90% of them are young entrepreneurs who embody energetic vitality and innovative thinking.

Going on a trip to a city can be impromptu, but relocating to another city requires careful consideration of various factors, such as employment opportunities, cost of living, and industrial development.

In recent years, Changsha has focused on cultivating 22 emerging and advantageous industrial chains, and has continuously developed seven 100b-yuan industrial clusters in construction machinery, automobiles and components, new materials, electronic information, tourism, and cultural and creative industries.

As a result of these achievements, Changsha has earned impressive titles such as “Capital of Construction Machinery in China”, “The City of Intelligent Manufacturing”, “China’s Fourth City of Chip Design”, “The Fifth City of Mobile Internet”, and “World Capital of Media Arts”, and these reputations are only growing stronger with time.

Building on its manufacturing base, Changsha has also leveraged digital and intelligent technologies to transform and upgrade advanced manufacturing. By 2022, the its digital economy had surpassed 450 billion yuan in total size, ranking among the top 15 of China’s top 100 cities for digital economic development.

By the end of 2022, there had been 1.56 million market entities and more than 3,000 industrial enterprises above designated size in Changsha. On April 17, with the successful listing of Farsoon Technologies, Changsha had a total of 85 listed companies, ranking first among central provincial capitals.

The high-quality development of Changsha’s industries has brought talented people together. In 2022, Changsha ranked among the top three cities in China in terms of net inflow of middle and high-end talent, while its “talent attraction index” ranked first in the central region.

Genuine concern

For 15 consecutive years, Changsha has been named the city with the highest happiness index in China.

From April 15 to 17, during the three-day Provincial Civil Service Examination, the Changsha Test Center provided milk tea for local examinees as a token of appreciation for their hard work.

For Changsha, being the city with the highest happiness index in China for 15 consecutive years is not an illusion. It has taken measures to address practical problems such as housing prices, transportation, education, and medical care. The city is committed to safeguarding its citizens’ genuine desire for a happy life.

Changsha is also known for its low housing prices, ranking 22nd among 30 provincial capitals and municipalities, and the ratio of housing prices to income is kept below 7. In addition, eight youth talent stations have been established, and three projects have been implemented to ensure affordable houses in the park, quality houses in key areas, and livable houses in the central urban area.

By the end of 2025, Changsha plans to build no less than 10,000 public rental houses and no less than 150,000 affordable rental houses to fully address the housing issue for youths.

Basic pension and medical insurance coverage has been extended to both urban and rural residents. Equal access to quality educational resources is an everyday reality in Changsha. The “1530 Medical Treatment Circle”, “15-minute Elderly Care Service Circle” and other programs have been established to meet residents’ aspirations for a better life.

Changsha is continuously improving its living environment, upgrading its management level, and making every effort to address pressing issues in education, medical care, and elderly care.

Changsha not only provides a comfortable living environment, but also creates a good atmosphere for career development. It always takes the optimization of the business environment as its top priority and provides full life-cycle support for development, so that every entrepreneur can work hard without worries in Changsha.