The Ctrip Group released its 2026 Word-of-Mouth Travel Rankings on November 9. Changsha stood out with strong performance, ranking 40th on the global top 100 "Must-Visit Destinations" list, and 10th among Chinese cities. It also ranked 31st on the global top 100 "Family-Friendly Destinations" list and 23rd on the Asia-wide "Must-Visit Destinations" list, demonstrating its robust strength in culture and tourism.

Compiled based on Ctrip Group's 26 years of experience in the travel industry and backed by real travel data and user reviews from hundreds of millions of users, the rankings cover 108 countries and 93 thematic categories. The results are both data-driven and widely recognized, offering global travelers a highly trusted reference.

Changsha's robust performance is not only a natural outcome of the city's high-quality cultural and tourism development, but also reflects global travelers' high recognition of its unique charm.

In recent years, Changsha has deeply engaged in the integration and innovation of culture and tourism following a core pathway that blends historical heritage with modern trends, breathing new life into this ancient city. With a continuous stream of cultural and artistic creations, vibrant cultural scenarios, and a thriving cultural industry, Changsha has built many cultural and tourism calling cards. The city has been named one of China's "Happiest Cities" for 17 consecutive years and ranks first among the cities most desired by travelers born in the 2000s, establishing itself as a distinctive and highly attractive benchmark destination in China's tourism market.

On the global top 100 "Must-Visit Destinations" list, Changsha claimed a spot among the top 40 together with Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Xi'an, Nanjing, Chongqing and Sanya. This highlighted the city's significant position in China's cultural and tourism landscape and evidenced the strong momentum of rising central Chinese cities in this sector. Looking ahead, as Changsha continues to upgrade and innovate its cultural and tourism industries, it is set to attract greater global attention with richer product offerings and more superior experiences, writing a new chapter in high-quality cultural and tourism development. 

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: hunantoday