Chinese Name: 常德市 (cháng dé shì)

Population: 6,010,500  

Area: 18,190 square kilometers (7,023 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han 

Administrative Division: 2 districts (Wuling, Dingcheng); 6 counties (Anxiang, Hanshou, Lixian, Linli Taoyuan, Shimen); 1 county-level city (Jinshi)  

Seat of the City Government:120, Langzhou Nan Lu, Wuling District, Changde City

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0736-7256407 
                                           Weather Forecast: 121
                                           Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Changde Branch:.138, Dongting Lu, Wuling District, Changde City   

China Post Changde Branch: 5, Langzhou Nan Lu, Wuling District, Changde City

Location: Changde lies in the north of Hunan Province, separated from Yiyang by West Dongting Lake in the east. It neighbors Zhangjiajie in the west and Hubei Province is just adjacent to its north.     

History: In the year of 227BC, a city was constructed in the east of present Wuling District. That was the beginning of Changde. In the following two thousand, two hundred or so years, administrative divisions here have changed greatly.  Changde had been known as Wuling, Langzhou and Dingcheng before becoming Changde.      
 
Physical Features: Northwestern Changde belongs to the Wuling Mountains and its eastern part is located in the lower reaches of the rivers adjacent to the Dongtinghu Plain. Therefore, the terrain of the city generally slopes downward from the west to the east. Medium mountains, lower mountains, mounds, alluvial and lake plains line up in order with the changes in the relief.                  

Climate: Bearing a subtropical humid monsoon climate, the city has four distinct seasons and abundant rainfall. Its annual average temperature falls around 16.7 degree centigrade (62.1 degree Fahrenheit). Actually, the east of Changde has a higher mean temperature than the west because of its landform.  
     
When to Go: The weather in both spring and autumn is favorable. In the spring, it is the flowering season of peach blossom which can be seen all over the mountains. Every year in late March, Taohuayuan Scenic Area holds a peach flower festival, and the festival usually lasts one month.

Special Local Products: Furongwang Brand Tobacco, Wulingwang Liquor, Yechawang Tea and freshwater pearls are the most famous local products of the city. Additionally, Chinese gooseberry, honey pomelo and lotus seed yields here are also of good quality. As to the shopping street, the 'first walking street of Hunan' in downtown Changde is a good place to go.

 Attractions:
Taohuayuan (Land of Peach Blossom): In China, Taohuayuan is synonymous with Eden and Utopia, an ever-beautiful place without any external disturbances that has inspired numerous eminent writers and poets of successive dynasties. It originated in the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and reached its prosperity during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. The Yuanjiang River flows though the scenic area, endowing the countryside with both elegance and excitement.

Shimen is a land of refined and elegant green landscapes together with historical marvels. Xiashan Temple is the Buddhist cultural center and the headstream of tea culture in Lishui River drainage. Huping Mountain, the roof of Hunan Province is also located in this area. Additionally, the Longwang (Dragon King) Cave, the masses of wild calyx canthus trees in the valleys, and Mengquan Lake are all interesting natural wonders of Shimen which make it a 'must see' destination when traveling to Changde.

Travel Tips:
1. Changde Taohuayuan Airport is about 12 kilometers (7 miles) southwest of downtown Changde, which operates flights to/from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, Wuhan, Kunming and Shanhai.  

2. Changde central bus station is in the north of downtown Changde (Wuling District), near to the railway station. The South Station is in Wuling Town of Dingcheng District, which provides buses to Taohuayuan.

3. It is navigable by river between Changde and Yueyang. Boats usually leave Changde in the afternoon and get back from Yueyang in the early morning.