Keep a balance between development and preservation of sites

"The preservation of historical sites and cultural relics clashes with urban development to some extent. However, such conflict can be reconciled through proper planning and measures that can be mapped out by the local government." said Zhang Jianfei, mayor of Changsha, on Jan 9, 2012.

As one of China's first 24 famous historical and cultural cities ratified by the State Council, Changsha is striving to gain its reputation as a world-famous cultural city.

Zhang said, culture, the root of a society is also a source of pride for its people. Changsha boasts many ancient towns, tombs, temples and pavilions. It has Mawangdui Han Tombs and chronological bamboo and wooden slips of the State of Wu (3rd century AD) and the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618). According to the archaeological survey 2010, there exist more than 500 historical and cultural sites in the city.

Changsha approved the Opinions on Promoting World-Famous Cultural City Construction in December 2011. In the following ten years, the city plans to spend 100 billion yuan on 100 major cultural projects.