Changde (常德; Chángdé) is a city in Hunan. The Changde Poetry Wall, covered in a variety of poems mostly from ancient China, stretches for 3 km (1.9 mi) along the Yuan River downtown and functions as a flood wall. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest wall with engraved arts in the world.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Changde City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province. The Changde city urban area, with a population of 1.4 million (2020), is the largest city in the prefecture of Changde (which has a total population of 5.3 million. Changde city proper is made up of two districts, Wuling District (武陵区) and Dingcheng District (鼎城区).
Bus: As of 2022, there are 57 bus lines in Changde urban area. All bus lines except the H5 line have a uniform fare of ¥2; the H5 line adopts segment pricing, ¥2 within the city and ¥4 through the airport expressway. Preferential policies and other The bus routes are the same. BRT: Changde BRT is the first BRT system in Hunan Province. Taxi: As of 2022, the starting price of a taxi in Changde city is ¥5 for 2 kilometers. Changde City has a subtropical humid monsoon climate.
The Poem Wall. Stretching for miles along the north bank of the river, this wall of poetry is beautiful even for those who can not read the characters. The wall is flanked by a riverside park and makes for a great place to walk and people watch. For a different perspective, stop by at night when the multicolored lights are on. Free. Buxingjie (Walking Street). This is the most happening part of town and a good place to shop for the most fashionable attire that Changde has to offer. Western food at both the east and west ends. The pedestrian street is a commercial street that integrates shopping, entertainment, and food.
Bin Lake Park (滨湖公园 Bīnhú Gōngyuán) (directly east of Changde Number 1 Middle School's main gate). This lakeside park is not only a great place to walk, but there is also a selection of carnival rides and games. From bumper cars to a miniature roller coaster to paddle boats, there are attractions here for both the young and the young at heart. Free to enter; prices of rides and games vary. 1 柳叶湖渔夫文化体验 (Liuye Lake Fisherman's Culture Experience), Liuye Lake Scenic Area. Morning sessions. Join a local fisherman on Liuye Lake for a morning, learning traditional fishing methods and listening to stories about life on the water.
Changde Beef Noodles (常德牛肉粉; Chángdé Niúròufěn). Changde is famous for their rice noodles with beef. These can be found at most local restaurants, but you can find some of the best at the east end of walking street or outside the main gate at Number 1 Middle School (常德市一中). Japanese Food (one block east of the walking street). Japanese noodle and sushi restaurant located on the first floor of the Better Life shopping complex. The noodles are especially good. ¥30-50 for a bowl of noodles. KFC (one block east of walking street, on the west end of walking street, near the North Bus Station (北站), or at RT-Mar).
1 Modern China Tea Shop (茶颜悦色), Changde Youa International Plaza Store,Changde Wanda Plaza, ☏ +86 13317369745. 10:00-22:00. This restaurant originated in Changsha, Hunan Province and now has a branch in Changde. Although there are not as many stores as Changsha, you can also visit both malls to purchase. ¥14-26. (updated Oct 2023) syrup (糖水). Hunan has a rich sugar water culture. You can try various sugar water, such as red bean soup, mung bean soup, etc. Especially in summer, these sugar water can help cool down. Usually the people selling sugar water are old ladies carrying poles. You can pay attention to the elderly people carrying poles on the street.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Changde typically sees ~34°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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