The capital of Hunan province is best-known for its World Heritage-listed Zhangjiajie Park which was a filming location for the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. Here, you can take a sky-high cable car ride to take in the amazing mountainous landscape. 

The capital of Hunan province has a rich 3,000-year-old history dating back to the Qin dynasty. As such, many of the main attractions are historic, such as Kaifu, Lushan and Taogong temples, which showcase the beauty of ancient Chinese architecture. 

Changsha is also home to the ancient town of Fenghuang, where you can enjoy a drink by the river while watching the local way of life.
 
AirAsia offers a daily morning flight between Bangkok and Changsha in February at about B9,000 for a round-trip. Details at www.airasia.com
 
Feeling adventurous? With more and more direct flights to provincial capitals, it’s time to discover the beauty of China beyond Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Read our guide to five exciting Chinese provincial capitals.