Changsha is one of the best-connected cities in central China. Changsha Huanghua International Airport handles international flights to Southeast Asia and domestic connections to all major Chinese cities; it is about 25 kilometres east of the city centre, connected by metro Line 6 (about 50 minutes, ¥15–20). High-speed rail from Beijing takes around five hours; from Shanghai around four and a half hours; from Guangzhou about two hours; from Wuhan about two hours. The main high-speed station is Changsha South, in the southeastern suburbs.
For travel within Hunan, Changsha is the hub. Shaoshan (Mao's birthplace) is 60 kilometres away and accessible in about 30 minutes by high-speed rail. Zhangjiajie is around three hours by high-speed train. Changde is 90 minutes. Yueyang, on Dongting Lake, is 30 minutes north.