Our trip started in Changsha, capital city of Hunan province. I could not wait to explore this city when we arrived in the airport.
Anticipating the Unknown
How much do I know about Hunan?
I love their food, spicy and homey. The most common staples are turned into delicious home-made dishes. And that’s what I call real good cooking, not the type of cooking with expensive materials like lobsters, shark fins or abalone. Hunan food is like an unassuming person that knocks your socks off with extraordinary performance or a woman that does not have much makeup on and yet can talk stuff that amazes you.
Additionally, for those that are into the recent history of China, Mao Zedong was born in Hunan. As a controversial 
figure, he lead the communist to take over the whole country in 1949. For many years that follow, China and its people experienced endless political turmoil, including the 10-year long cultural revolution. In many people’s opinion, he’s one of those that contributed to the country’s stalled (if not retracted) development and the agony in Chinese people’s lives. (For a more complete account of Mao Zedong’s life, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong). 
figure, he lead the communist to take over the whole country in 1949. For many years that follow, China and its people experienced endless political turmoil, including the 10-year long cultural revolution. In many people’s opinion, he’s one of those that contributed to the country’s stalled (if not retracted) development and the agony in Chinese people’s lives. (For a more complete account of Mao Zedong’s life, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong). 
Furthermore, one of Hunan’s famous archaeological discoveries is the Tomb of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) at Mawandui, and its well-preserved female mummy from 2,100 years ago. Can you believe her joints were still flexible when freshly out of the tomb?
Oh, and in terms of its culture, Hunan embroidery is one of the major export products of the province.
All these scattered information, unfortunately, was not helpful in putting together a reasonable expectation before I hit Changsha. After all, most of what I know about Hunan was history. And, after all, I 
have been told over and over, how much change China is going through…
have been told over and over, how much change China is going through…
