Hunan Satellite Television — now branded as Mango TV, its streaming subsidiary — has made Changsha the entertainment capital of China over the past twenty-five years. The network's Xingsha studios in the eastern suburbs produce reality shows, variety programmes, and drama series watched by hundreds of millions of viewers. The studios are not a conventional tourist attraction, but fans of Chinese pop culture make the pilgrimage, and the network organises occasional public events and tapings.
The broader influence of Mango TV on Changsha is visible throughout the city: the restaurant and bar scene, the fashion and cosmetics industry, and the celebrity culture that the network has generated have made Changsha wealthier and more culturally prominent than its provincial-capital status would suggest. The phenomenon is worth understanding as context for the city's energy — Changsha has an unusual amount of confidence for a Chinese city that is not Beijing or Shanghai.