Zhuzhou

Zhuzhou (株洲), known as Jianning (建宁) in ancient times, is a prefecture-level city of close to 4 million inhabitants in Hunan province. It is one of the core cities in the urban agglomeration and the city agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

History
The history of Zhuzhou can be traced back to ancient times and spans thousands of years. Dating back thousands of years, Zhuzhou has been the foundation of numerous ancient civilizations. The ancestor of the Chinese nation, Emperor Yan Shennong, established a magnificent farming civilization on this land.

The city of Zhuzhou is known as "the city pulled by the train" because, at the start of the 20th century, it was an inland city with an underdeveloped economic base. However, with the construction and development of railways, Zhuzhou has gradually become an important transportation hub. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Shanghai-Kunming Railway intersect in Zhuzhou, making it a transportation hub that connects the north and south and spans from east to west. The construction of the railway not only brought a large number of people and goods, but also stimulated the development of Zhuzhou's industry.

The construction of railways also brought about a large number of employment opportunities and increased population mobility. Many individuals have secured employment in railway construction and operation, and a significant number of them have opted to establish their residence in Zhuzhou due to the railway's convenience.

Orientation
Zhuzhou City is in the eastern part of Hunan Province, along the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River. It shares borders with Pingxiang (萍乡) City, Lianhua (莲花) County, Yongxin (永新) County, and Jinggangshan (井冈山) City in Jiangxi Province to the east. To the south, it is bordered by Hengyang and Chenzhou cities. Xiangtan City is located to the west, and Changsha City is situated to the north. The average journey to these cities only takes about an hour, so many tourists choose to stay in Zhuzhou to explore the surrounding cities and enjoy "one-day trips" and "two days and one night" excursions.

Climate
Zhuzhou City belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon climate zone. It has a mild climate with four distinct seasons. The spring temperatures are changeable, summers are hotter, autumn air is crisp, and winters are less severe cold. The region experiences abundant heat, rainfall, and droughts that are more severe than floods.

Get in
Zhuzhou is at the intersection of the East-West & North-South railways and North-South & East-West Expressways as well.

By plane
Huanghua International Airport is about 40 minutes away from Zhuzhou. After arriving at Huanghua International Airport, you can take other means of transportation to Zhuzhou City.

Ground transportation:


 * Airport bus: Huanghua International Airport has an airport bus to and from Zhuzhou city. The airport bus operating hours are 06:00-22:00. The frequency and departure time may vary depending on different operators and seasons. It is recommended that you check the relevant timetable in advance.
 * Taxi: You can take a taxi to Zhuzhou from the airport taxi station. This is the fastest and shortest way to enter Zhuzhou from the airport. It is also a comfortable and direct way, but the cost is relatively high.

By train


Ground transportation:


 * Public transport line: there are 2 bus routes into Zhuzhou West Station, Zhuzhou Bus T60 and Zhuzhou Bus T75. Operating hours are 06:00-22:30. Zhuzhou Bus T60 goes between Zhuzhou city and Zhuzhou West Station, if you want to go to the city you can take this bus, but it is recommended in advance that you take this bus if you have very little luggage.
 * Taxi: You can take a cab from Zhuzhou West Railway Station to Zhuzhou city center or your hotel, which is the fastest and most comfortable way to enter Zhuzhou city center, but also relatively expensive.
 * Motorcycle taxi: If you have less luggage and want to arrive at the place you want to go quickly and conveniently, you can choose a motorcycle, the price is generally ¥15-25, but in winter it is not recommended that you choose a motorcycle travel.

By urban rail
Travelers from Changsha and Xiangtan can take the intercity rail into Zhuzhou. It provides seamless interchange with Zhuzhou Railway Station. Zhuzhou, Changsha and Xiangtan are interconnected across the metro system. Prices are based on your origin and destination and are generally ¥14-25, which is a cheap and fast way.

By bus
In China, there are direct buses between various cities that are close to each other. However, it is not recommended to take the bus compared to the high-speed train, as it will be more inconvenient and longer. If you have a lot of luggage, it is recommended to drive or take a high-speed train into Zhuzhou.

By car
You can drive a private car or rent a car from surrounding cities to Zhuzhou. Because most of the sightseeing areas in Zhuzhou offer free parking, and the parking fee for each mall is about ¥10 per hour, driving to Zhuzhou is also a viable option.

By taxi
If you live in a nearby city in Zhuzhou and want to come to Zhuzhou for tourism, in addition to self driving, choosing to take a taxi for travel convenience is also one of the feasible options. The starting price for Zhuzhou taxis during the day is ¥7/2 km, and the unit price for extended journeys is ¥2/km. At night (from 22:00 to 05:00 the next day), the unit price for extended journeys is ¥8/2 km, and the unit price for extended journeys is ¥2.4/km. No fuel surcharge will be charged. Compared to first and second tier cities, it is considered a cheap price, so it is possible to consider taking a taxi for transportation.

In the city centre

 * Cabs in Zhuzhou are plentiful and cheap (compared to Changsha). There is also a good bus network serving the city center. There is a ring road around the old city, and several major north-south, east-west and east-west roads run through the city, connecting it to other scenic areas near the city center, and buses usually run along the ring road or the first ring road. These pathways. The Old Town is within walking distance.


 * Zhuzhou has a public bike rental program, but you need a special bike rental card unless you already have a "City Card" (issued to residents) or a public transportation card. However, there are public bikes for students in the university town that don't require a "city card" and can be used by simply scanning the code with Alipay or WeChat. Therefore, this is not a practical option for leisure travelers.


 * Promoting local tourism, Zhuzhou opened a trolleybus in May this year. There are two lines in total, Zhuzhou Trolleybus Line 1 (24 km long, with 29 stations). It runs back and forth between the urban area and the more remote administrative districts. Zhuzhou Trolleybus Line 2 (21 km, 27 stations). Runs only to and from Zhuzhou city center. Please note that the trolley buses start and stop very early, so please pay attention to the time in advance for your traveling convenience.You can also take a trolleybus to the city center at the exit of Zhuzhou West Station.


 * There are more than 74 bus routes as of 2023, including T1, T2, T61, and more than 492 bus stop information in Zhuzhou City.

To suburban towns
Traveling between Liling, Chaling and other towns can be done by a combination of train and bus.

There are three ways to get to Liling.

There are three ways to reach Chaling.
 * By bus: You can take a bus at Xiangyun Center Station in Hongqi Square, the ticket price is about ¥16 per person, every 20 minutes. The route is: Hongqi Square -Liling Bus Station -No.1 bus -Bus West Station - No.7 bus -Liling East High-speed Railway Station, the whole journey takes about 140 minutes.
 * By train: From Zhuzhou Railway Station, you can take the train to Liling.
 * By taxi: From Zhuzhou South Railway Station, you can take a cab to Liling, the fare is about ¥80.


 * By bus: You can take a bus to Chaling from Zhuzhou Bus Station (next to Hongwei Bridge) or T360 bus stop near the train station, the journey takes about 3-4 hours and the ticket price is about ¥40/person.
 * By train: From Zhuzhou Railway Station, you can take a train to Chaling, the ride is about 1.5 hours, and the hard seat ticket price is about ¥21.5/person.
 * By car: You can also choose to drive to Chaling, from Zhuzhou on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, and then turn into the Chaling exit, the drive is about 3 hours.

Cabs are not recommended for tourists as they can be expensive.

Around Yanling County
In Yanling County and Chaling, buses and cabs transport tourists between major locations such as the train station, coach station and protected areas. Once inside the protected areas of interest, tourists are mostly required to explore the area on foot.

Talk
The languages of the region are Xiang-Xinxiang (湘语-新湘语) and Gan (赣语); the dialect of Zhuzhou city center is a mixture of Changsha and Xiangtan dialects. The dialects of the surrounding counties are heavily influenced by the Ganke dialect and may be difficult to understand. However, if tourists from Changsha or Xiangtan visit Zhuzhou, people from these two cities can easily understand the Zhuzhou language. However, like anywhere in China, most people speak both the local dialect and Mandarin, and unless you are talking to an elderly person, you should have no problem speaking Mandarin.

English is not as widespread as it is in Changsha, Hunan, although the staff of the better hotels and the more tourist-oriented attractions speak some English. Area staff such as cab drivers, local stores, restaurants or railroad ticket offices are unlikely to speak English. It is prudent to write down the name of your destination in Chinese so that the cab driver can take you there, and to carry your hotel's business card so that they can take you back to your hotel.

City centre

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Shennongcheng Scenic Area
Zhuzhou Shennong City (神农城景区) is a city open space with Shennong culture as the theme and the original Yandi Square as the core area, providing leisure, entertainment, and shopping for citizens and tourists. The main part includes public facilities and landscapes such as Shennong Square, Shennong Sun City, Shennong Statue, Shennong Tower, Shennong Lake, Shennong Grand Theater, Shennong Art Center, and Shennong Altar.



Liufangyuan
Liufang Park (流芳园) is divided into two parts, the memorial area and recreation area, the memorial area for the municipal cultural relics protection units, provincial and municipal patriotism education base. Recreation area can walk and enjoy the food to appreciate the scenery.

Liling World Ceramic Art City
The China Ceramic Valley (醴陵世界陶瓷艺术城) is a landmark architectural complex in Liling, where the designers integrated the city's unique culture, ceramic bowls, vases, and different utensils into the entire complex. The building has a unique appearance and bright colors. If you have time, you can walk around the various built-in venues and fully understand the development and prosperity history of Liling ceramics.





Zhuzhou Fantawild
Zhuzhou Fantawild is divided into three parks. There are two amusement parks (Fantawild Adventure Theme Park, Fantawild Dreamland) and one hotel (Fantasy Dong Xiang Hotel). Two of the amusement parks are located adjacent, but tickets need to be purchased separately.

Festivals

 * Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) (the first day of the first lunar month) is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is usually celebrated with various activities such as firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, New Year's greetings, and parties.
 * Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar)In Zhuzhou, the government organizes a Mid-Autumn Festival Parade on Wenyi Lane on Mid-Autumn Festival day, which includes a street-opening and lighting ceremony, folklore displays, sharing relay races, and lantern riddles.
 * Tanabata Festival (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month). In Zhuzhou, many special events are organized on the Tanabata Festival. For example, Fangte Tourist Attractions will organize special fireworks display show and light show on the day of Tanabata. The Dahan Yue Center will also hold a Hanfu parade on this day. You can go there to watch and participate.
 * Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month). In Zhuzhou, the government will host a large-scale fireworks show on the Lantern Festival, and a series of Lantern Festival activities will be held in Zhuzhou Yandi Square, where you can see performances, lantern shows and receive some cultural gifts.
 * Dragon Boat Festival (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month) In Zhuzhou, on the Dragon Boat Festival, the government will organize a Dragon Boat Race in Bryan Kou District, so if you are in Zhuzhou on the Dragon Boat Festival, you can go and watch it.

Buy
Zhuzhou is a city with a lot of shopping places with a wide range of brands to choose from. There are many shopping and leisure malls in Zhuzhou.

There are many brands for you to choose from. Prices are included in order from low to high and discounts are often organized. These places are frequented by the people of Zhuzhou for shopping.

Eat






Specialty foods
Zhuzhou has many local specialties and experience the city's rich and authentic Hunan food culture.
 * Fu Yong Egg: Fu Yong Egg is a stir-fry dish in which the egg white and egg yolk are made separately, the white is stir-fried until fluffy, and then the egg yolk is poured on top to give it a hibiscus shape. It is usually served with various sauces and vegetables.


 * Laoyou Noodles: Laoyou Noodles is one of Zhuzhou’s traditional delicacies and a unique rice noodle dish. The rice noodles are delicious with sauce, minced garlic, crushed peanuts and beef in sauce


 * Stinky tofu: Stinky tofu is a classic snack in Hunan Province. This is fermented tofu with a special smell and texture, and is often eaten with chili sauce or vinegar.

Milk tea

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Bar
You can find some imported beers from Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, etc. Zhuzhou's bars are a good choice for tourists who want to try local Chinese beers or feel happy.

Go next

 * Changsha:The capital of Hunan Province, with its historical heritage, culinary culture and natural landscape, where you can experience a lot of historical culture and traditional cuisine.
 * Xiangtan:Neighboring Zhuzhou, there are many cultural attractions related to the history of the Chinese Revolution in Xiangtan, making it a unique tourist destination.
 * Hengyang:Where you can where you can experience the natural beauty and the idyllic landscape of the water towns.
 * Pingxiang:Zhuzhou and Pingxiang are neighbors. However, Zhuzhou is Hunan Province and Pingxiang is Jiangxi Province.Therefore, you can quickly experience the culture between Hunan and Jiangxi.