Xiangtan

Xiangtan is a marvelous city with more than 1200 year’s history. Xiangtan is hometown of Chairman Mao. Xiangtan is located in the middle area of Xiangtan city and the downriver section of Xiangjiang River. Currently it administrates Xiangxiang county-level city, Shaoshan county-level city, Xiangtan County, Yuhu District and Yuetang District. The total area of the city is 5,015 square kilometers. The total population of Xiangtan is 3 million or so. Xiangtan nurtured a lot of famous people such as Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai, Chen Geng and Tan Zheng. It is also the hometown of culture celebrities like Qi Baishi, Yang Du and Zhang Tianyi.
Xiangtan is an important nationwide industry base. Xiangxiang Aluminum Factory is world’s largest fluoride salt production factory. Xiangtan Electrochemical Scientific CO., Ltd is China’s largest production factory of electrolyzing manganese dioxide. Xiangtan Electrical Machinery Factory is Chinese earliest electrician equipment production factory. Hunan Ferroalloy Factory is Chinese largest chrome production factory. China’s first 120 ton tower crane, Chinese first urban light track vehicle, Chinese first mining electric locomotive with largest traction and largest tonnage, Chinese first sweeping-style sweeper controlled by hydraulic-pressure microcomputers and so on all appeared here. Xiangtan is Chinese production base of lotus and domestic animal. The economic power of Xiangtan is ranked fifth place in Hunan province and the third place of the total value of GDP. Xiangtan education is advanced. Xiangtan University is a comprehensive one in China and its name was written by Chairman Mao.
Xiangtan has a rich tourism resource. Xiangtan is the most famous destination in Xiangtan, and also the family location of Chairman Mao. Currently the major attractions are former residence of Chairman Mao, Chairman Mao Bronze-Statue Square, Mao Family Memorial, and Stele Forest of poems of Chairman Mao. Here visitors can enjoy Shaoshan Music and Bouilli Pork loved deeply by Chairman Mao. Luban Pavilion is another famous attraction in Xiangtan. Qi Baishi Memorial is a themed museum to remember Chinese famous artist Qi Baishi. The architecture of the memorial is like the civilian residence of southern China. It is delicate and elegant. Xiangxiang Confucian Temple is one of the oldest magnificent architecture in Xiangxiang. It was established in 1009, and restored for seven times in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Currently, due to its unique architecture, elaborative carving and long-time history, it was listed the key historic site under province-level protection. Xiangtan is also one of the centers of red tours in China. As the hometown of Chairman Mao, Xiangtan becomes the hot tourism destination in China.