The tomb of Zuo Zongtang (General Tso) sits in a park on the southern outskirts of Changsha, about 14 kilometres from the city centre. Zuo was one of the most capable military commanders of the Qing dynasty's troubled nineteenth century — a key figure in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, the Muslim rebellions in northwestern China, and the reconquest of Xinjiang from Yakub Beg in 1876-77 — and his tomb is a notable pilgrimage for students of Chinese military history. The structure itself is a large concrete dome in a grove of trees, built during the Republican period.
The international fame of "General Tso's chicken" brings visitors who are often surprised by the tomb's modest scale. Zuo would probably be indifferent: his actual legacy was the military operations that preserved the Qing dynasty for another four decades, not a stir-fried dish. The site is accessible by bus or taxi from the city centre; it is typically combined with a visit to other southern Changsha attractions. Entry is free.