Don’t Make These Mistakes When Visiting Changsha’s Icons- Orange Isle & Yuelu Mountain!

#falladventures

If you’re planning to visit Changsha (长沙)’s two most famous landmarks — Orange Isle (橘子洲头) and Yuelu Mountain (岳麓山) — read this first before you go!

📅 1️⃣ Reserve in advance

Both attractions are free, but mandatory online booking is required via the same official WeChat account “岳麓山橘子洲旅游区”. You can book up to 3 days ahead, and during holidays and weekends, spots fill up fast — so reserve early!

🚋 2️⃣ Take the sightseeing cars (观光车/小火车)
Don’t try to walk the entire way! Orange Isle spans 3 km, and Yuelu Mountain has steep sections between the South Gate (南门) and mountain top (山顶).
The ¥30–40 sightseeing cars will save time and energy — and you’ll still enjoy all the views. Cable cars work in Yuelu Mountain too but they are more expensive and you need to enter via the East Gate.

🚇 3️⃣ Use the metro, not taxis (地铁最方便)
Take Metro Line 2 & Line 4 (地铁2号线＋4号线) — the fastest way to connect both spots.
Driving or calling a cab to the scenic entrances often gets blocked by traffic control, forcing you to walk long detours.

📸 4️⃣ Best time for photos
For the perfect light, visit early between 7:00–12:00, before crowds and harsh sun.
For sunset shots, book an evening slot 17:00–22:00 — the Xiangjiang River (湘江) skyline from Orange Isle is magical at night!

🍜 5️⃣ Local eats after sightseeing (美食推荐)
After Yuelu Mountain, head to University Town Food Street (大学城美食街) along Lushan South Road (麓山南路). Their snacks are good are cheap with the most iconic street food featured there.

These two scenic areas are big but if you still want to visit them despite only a day, it’s possible with good planning of travel routes and avoiding the common pitfalls (eg did not reserve entry in advance- you need to scan QR Code to even enter despite both being free attractions)