Changsha ---Location of World's Oldest Academy

Changsha is a mysterious and miraculous city in China with many unbelievable but true records, sites and archaeological discoveries.

Have you ever seen a piece of the lightest silk garment throughout the world with the weight of 49 grams and the length of 1.23 meters, which we can't reproduce by the most advanced modern technology ? Does it mean the techniques and science in the past have surpassed the accomplishment human have reached at present ? It is incogitable!

Perhaps you never had a look at the Asian mummy with the history of over 2100 years. The integral body looks like a newly-died body with flexible parenchyma and lustrous skins . Some of her joints are able to be moved and extended freely. Strictly speaking, it is not a mummy due to its unique measure against rottenness. It is the first unrotten damp body around the world ! Do you believe in this ?  Would you think of this as a more supernatural wonder although you have appreciated the wondrous Egyptian mummies ?  It is true !

If I say the oldest college is located in China, will you deem this as truth. As a matter of fact, Yuelu Academy situated in Changsha is indeed the oldest one with more than 1000-year-old history comparing with the Western universities which widely accepted as the earliest ones in the world. Such an academy was extensively popular and welcomed in the old China, besides a large number of scholars and litterateurs are born here. As for that large library in academy, an interesting story should be mentioned. In the old days, the people liked assembling a steel angle on the top of the building rather than the lightning rod, so it was often stricken but rebuilt again and again. For protecting the rare books in the building, some one invited a specialist in geomantic omen to check the location of this building: that specialist said after the careful checking that the gate of the academy could not be built in a line with those doors at the back of the academy. Hence the policymakers took this suggestion, and then such an accident never happened from then on. Of course, it is a superstition, but the uniqueness and uncommonness of the gate of academy are truly worthwhile to take some research on. The traditional architectures surrounded by the evergreen trees and flowers, the old library full of ancient and rare books and records and the famous couplets all show this academy was fully deserved to travel. Over 1000-year experience means 1000-year worth for appreciation.

In fact, there are many unexpected surprises on your way of traveling in Changsha.

As long as you learn more or less about Chairman Mao, you will be also impressed by his strong accent and dialect. This is also the characteristics of Changsha civilians.  As a Chinese from other areas, it is also hard to understand the meaning when they are chatting let alone the foreigners.

In Changsha, the footbath massage houses similar in Hangzhou are available everywhere. There are several lines of half-leaning chairs in a broad house. Under more than one-hour massage from some appropriators, nothing will leave but comfort and relaxation. Most of such services are widely welcomed.