






曹 操I ate while enjoying the night view and chatting with friends, but I couldn't hear my friends talking at all. As a foreigner, it was my first time to dine in Changsha, which really affected my experience of Changsha. The restaurant in a good location felt like eating in a food stall. No, it was even worse than a food stall...
I ate while enjoying the night view and chatting with friends, but I couldn't hear my friends talking at all. As a foreigner, it was my first time to dine in Changsha, which really affected my experience of Changsha. The restaurant in a good location felt like eating in a food stall. No, it was even worse than a food stall...
🍂After the Beginning of Autumn, it's time to head out with your besties! A guide to Changsha's Chaozong Street Historical and Cultural District, turning the autumn city life into a photoshoot with your friends! ✨ Changsha after the Beginning of Autumn holds many surprises—the bluestone pavement of Chaozong Street is covered in golden blossoms of Koelreuteria paniculata, and the red brick walls of the old alleys are covered in bougainvillea. Explore the ancient streets, explore cultural and creative industries, and capture atmospheric photos without having to climb a mountain. It's the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle with your besties and enjoy some relaxing photos! Escape the summer crowds and embark on a relaxing journey through the "old alleys and new trends"—every frame will be a Instagram-worthy highlight~ 🚗 A Practical Guide Before You Go • Transportation Tips: Drive directly from downtown Changsha to Chaozong Street in 20 minutes (take Xiangjiang Middle Road to Chaozong Street. We recommend parking at the Bofu International Plaza parking lot and walking 5 minutes to the street). Take Metro Line 1, exit 3 at Peiyuanqiao Station, and walk 8 minutes. Listen to Changsha rap along the way, and the sweet fragrance of the osmanthus trees wafts through the streets. Anticipation is bubbling like a freshly opened bottle of milk tea~ • Costs: Admission to the street is free, but some cultural and creative shops and exhibitions require separate purchases. Parking is 10 yuan/hour, so taking the subway is recommended for greater convenience. Bring your own portable water bottle (many cafes offer free refills) and wear comfortable white sneakers (you won't feel tired while exploring the alleys). • Thoughtful Preparations: Changsha afternoons can still be slightly warm after the Beginning of Autumn, so bring a lightweight sun-protective jacket (even in air-conditioned rooms). Pair with a French floral dress or a vintage denim ensemble (works well with both the red walls of old alleys and trendy shops). Also, pack a canvas tote bag to stash your bestie's matching sunglasses and a Polaroid camera for your travel hauls. 🌞 Morning: Stroll through the trendy old alleys and capture the fireworks. 10:00-11:30 AM: Snap photos of the light and shadow of a popular alleyway. • Must-see: Liansheng Street on Chaozong Street is a truly stunning spot. Its bluestone pavement is flanked by old Republican-era buildings, and bougainvillea peeks out from the walls. After the Beginning of Autumn, the yellow blossoms of the Koelreuteria paniculata cover the pavement, creating a carpet of gold. Standing at the entrance of Tongfuli Alley with my best friend, one of us holding onto the aging wooden doorframe while the other snaps a photo from the front. The red lanterns at the end of the alley are in the background, captioned: "On Chaozong Street, old times and new stories collide." 📸 • Hidden Gem: In front of the graffiti wall in "Xuanyuandian Alley," the two of us make faces imitating the cartoon expressions on the wall. The camera zooms in for a "close-up of my best friend's face." The vibrant graffiti in the background creates a lively atmosphere (we recommend wearing solid-colored clothing to create a contrasting color with the graffiti). 11:30-12:30 Artistic Interaction at the Cultural and Creative Space • Girlfriend Photoshoot: The white spiral staircase at the Xie Zilong Photography Museum (Chaozong Street Branch) is just beyond the photo. Sunlight streams through the glass skylight onto the steps. Two people walk up the stairs, one in front of the other, capturing a moment of looking back and smiling at each other. The light and shadow play on their skirts, creating a gentle, arty film-like experience. • Fun Experience: The "junk warehouse" in the alley is filled with vintage finds from the 1980s. Two people sit on a vintage sofa, holding enamel cups and pretending to drink tea, captioning, "Today we are 'Old Changsha Sisters'." The contrast is incredibly cute and captivating. 🍜 Noon: Enjoy a "fireworks lunch" in the old alley. • Food Recommendation: At "Yi Zhang Deng (Chaozong Street Branch)," you must order the "Spicy Duck Tendon" (home to the famous scene of the besties feeding each other water), the "Garlic Spare Ribs" (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and a great way to beat the spiciness), and two cups of "Changsha Lao Kouzi Sour Plum Soup." Capture the frantic rush to grab the last piece of spareribs, with the red brick dining table as the backdrop. The vibrant atmosphere of the city adds a touch of life to the photo. • After-dinner sweet treat: Visit the "Sugar-Oil Baba Grandpa" stall for freshly-baked sugar-oil baba, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Two people hold up their baba and smile at each other in front of the "Chaozong Street" sign. They hurriedly lick the syrup off their hands, and the camera zooms in for a close-up shot. It's heartwarmingly sweet. 🍂 Afternoon: Embrace the gentle autumn air, using the streets as your backdrop. 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: A lazy café experience. • Must-try: The "River View Café" on the rooftop of "Beichen Delta Joy City" (a 10-minute drive from Chaozong Street). The Xiangjiang River breeze after the beginning of autumn brings a cool breeze, while the warm sun shimmers on the rattan chairs on the terrace. My bestie and I ordered two "Changsha Limited Edition Perilla Peach Ginger Lattes." One of us leaned on the railing to admire the river view, while the other held up a camera to snap her photo. The breeze blew her hair, creating a truly magical atmosphere. • Influencer Move: Sit side by side on a sofa in front of the cafe's "sunset light." The light cast an orange halo on the wall. Take a head-to-head silhouette photo with the caption, "First cup of coffee of autumn, drinking it with you." 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: A Sunset Appointment by the Xiangjiang River • A Gentle Moment: At the Xiangjiang River at "Sail Plaza," the post-beginning-of-autumn sunset paints the river orange, with the hazy outline of Yuelu Mountain on the opposite bank. Sitting on the stone steps of a waterfront terrace with my bestie, one of us picking up a Koelreuteria leaf to block the camera, the other tilting her head to look at her. The setting sun fell on her shoulders, even her hair was glowing. • Commemorative Moment: In front of the popular "Changsha Welcomes You" sign, we spelled out the word "sisters" with fallen leaves, set our phones to time a selfie, and happily exclaimed, "Autumn and you, both are sweeter than sugar-coated cakes," capturing a special memory. 💡 Tips for Besties 1. Outfit Tip: Floral dress + denim jacket (can be worn in alleys, river views, or cafes). Wear the same pearl necklace (for a refined touch, not monotonous). 2. Photography Tips: Use a low angle for alley shots to highlight the depth of the buildings. Wear light-colored clothing for river sunset shots; it creates a gentle contrast with the orange sunset glow, making your skin look more photogenic. 3. Tips to Avoid: Lines at popular online shops can be long on weekends, so it's best to visit on weekdays. Eat the sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes while they're hot; they'll harden when they cool, so one is perfect for two people. 4. Surrounding Bonus: Before returning, stop by the Hunan Provincial Museum (reservations required) to see the "Mawangdui Han Tomb" exhibition. Wear Hanfu-inspired clothing for a time-travel-inspired photoshoot with your best friends—a truly captivating blend of past and present. 5. Friendly Tip: Bring a lipstick for touch-ups and snaps of "sister feeding" moments. When you see beautiful fallen leaves, offer them to each other and capture the natural interaction—small, intimate moments are the perfect photo filters. After the Beginning of Autumn, Chaozong Street is filled with the slow pace of old alleys, the gentle waters of the Xiang River, and the lazy feeling of sharing a cake in a cafe with your bestie. Send her a message now: "Tomorrow, let's go to Changsha and capture the sweetness of autumn in our photo album!" 🍂 #BestFriendPhotography #BeginningofAutumn #Let'sLet'sGoChangshaStation #ChangshaTravelGuide #BestFriendTravel