Hunan Province

Hunan Province (湖南) is located in Southern China and borders provinces Hubei in the north, Jiangxi to the east, Guizhou to the west, Guangdong to the south, and Chongqing to the northwest. By high speed rail, visitors can reach the capital Changsha in just under 3 hours (from Guangzhou). The province offers a good mixture of historical sites in a modern surrounding, from pristine nature parks to temples to museums. However, the province is best known for its historical significance, in that it was the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong (pictured above). Thousands of visitors make the journey each year to visit the former residence of Chairman Mao, where preserved artifacts are maintained to provide an authentic experience. Despite his later rulings, Mao Zedong is still highly revered by the Chinese for his role in uniting the country during civil war in the early-mid 20th century.

Dancers perform for a special celebration in the main courtyard near the former residence of Mao Zedong.

A statue of Chairman Mao greets visitors as they enter the Mao Zedong Library.

Untouched nature can still be found despite all city hustle and bustle.

Parks offer visitors and residents alike serenity away from the city.

Visitors to Changsha especially enjoy the natural surroundings, when coming from a big city.

A museum dedicated to famous Chinese poet, Du Fu (712-770) lies within Changsha city proper.

The museum dedicated to Du Fu is decorated in traditional Chinese architectural style.

-Michael

340kph

340kph. The speed at which the train in the latest high speed rail system travels in China. Currently, the train departs from Guangzhou and ends in Changsha city, Hunan province. A 697km journey, approximately 9hrs by automobile, can now be trekked in a little under 3 hours. The new rail system is phase one of a project to provide a much needed link between the capital, Beijing, and southern China's key transport and trading port, Guangzhou. The proposed railway will help make possible a 10-hour trip from the two major cities.

My personal experience:

While riding in the train, you often forget that you're on, fundamentally, a metal tube barreling through the countryside at 340kph. The ride is remarkably smooth and everything from the seats to the automatic doors just says, 'quality'. Noise levels are low enough to enjoy a nice conversation without yelling or completely crawl into your own world with a book or be immersed in listening to your favourite tune. Now take one glance out the window. The sight of seeing small villages zooming past is enough to shake you up. I cannot even begin to describe how fast you fly past the sights, all while sitting in comfort in your seat, either snacking or listening to tunes without even giving it a second thought. Transport, apparently, isn't all bad.

-Michael