Changsha had convenient transportation even in ancient times, especially with the more than one hundred watercourses, including Xiang River and Dongting Lake. Nowadays, Changsha enjoys national highways 107, 319 and 106, as well as several other speedways. Through Zhuzhou, Beijing – Guangzhou railway connects with the Zhejiang – Jiangxi railway in the east and the Hunan – Guizhou railway in the west. The Shimen – Changsha provincial railway connects with the Yidu (Hubei) – Liuzhou (Guangxi) railway. Huanghua Airport is an international airport and has several international flight courses, and the watercourses are very convenient.
Air
Huanghua International Airport is 24.2 kilometers east to the center of Chengsha City, near Huanghua Town of Changsha County. It is the biggest airport with the most complete establishment in Hunan Province.
From Huanghua Airport, there are non-stop flights to 53 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming and Chongqing.
Airport Shuttle Bus
There are special buses from the downtown to the airport, stops: Civil Aviation Hotel (No 75, Wuyidonglu) during 6:30 am to the last flight. One can also take public bus No.114 from railway station to Huanghua Airport. running time: 6:30 am to 16:30. One way: 65 minutes.
Railway
Changsha is the transportation hub of China. Through Zhuzhou, Beijing - Guangzhou railway connects Zhejiang - Jiangxi railway in the east and Hunan – Guizhou railway in the west; the provincial railway Shimen – Changsha connects Yidu (Hubei) – Liuzhou (Guangxi) railway.
The railway station is located at Dongzhanlu of downtown. It could be reached by many public buses such as 108, 110, 111 and 113. Changsha railway station is an important big modern station at Beijing – Guangzhou Railway, with different waiting halls for express trains and normal trains as well as honored guest waiting room. Everyday, there are nearly one hundred passenger trains departing or passing Changsha, reaching all the big and moderate cities of China.
Since there is only a single railway station in Changsha, it can at times be busy, therefore the traveler can opt to purchase train tickets at one of the alternative railway ticket offices in the city's suburbs.
City Transportation
Of the downtown, there are perfect public transportation system, covering all the city zones and outskirts. At the time when this article were written, the price is RMB 1 for common public bus and RMB 2 for air-conditioning one.
Taxi
During the day, the flag-fall price for a taxi in Changsha is RMB 3 for 1 kilometer, with additional charges within three kilometers of: RMB 4 for 1 to 1.5 kilometers, RMB 5 for 1.5 to 2 kilometers, RMB 6 for 2 to 2.5 kilometers, and RMB 7 for 2.5 to 3 kilometers. RMB 1.8 is charged for each kilometer over three kilometers.
At night (21:00pm – 05:00am), the charge is, within 3 kilometers, add RMB 1 onto the base of the daytime charge. Over 3 kilometers, the charge is RMB 2.16 for each kilometer.
Bus/Coach
Changsha is at the converging point between central and south China and southwest China.
National highway 107, from Beijing to Shenzhen and national highway 319 from Xiamen to Chengdu all pass Changsha.
There are three long distance bus stations: East Station, West Station and South Station. The East and West Bus Stations are more convenient for travelers.
From the East Bus Station, mainly coaches go to Hefei, Nanchang, Xiamen, Nanjing and Shanghai.
From the South Bus Station, mainly coaches go to Guilin, and other cities and towns within the Province.
Charges are calculated every 500 meters. If a passenger requires the taxi to stop and wait midway, RMB 1.8 is charged for each 5 minutes of wait time during day or RMB 2.16 during the night.
