Editor’s note: Changsha is in central-southern China, and is the capital of Hunan Province. The city has a population of about 10.5 million, and is located on the lower section of the Xiang River. Changsha makes its claim to fame as the hometown of many revolutionaries, including Mao Zedong. It is famous for its spicy food and pleasure-loving people, and has been voted the most livable city in China.
Huang Anping: We are in Changsha. I’ve been serving full-time since the early 2000s, about 25 years now. My wife, son, and daughter-in-law all serve full-time as well.
Sister Liang Mei: I’m also in Changsha, and have been pastoring about the same amount of time. Five or so years ago, I handed over the church I’d led for two decades to another team. A few years after that, I planted a new church.
This current church plant was inspired by the idea of revitalization, and also by some needs in the environment.
Sun Guanghu: Our church used to be one single church, but later on split up. We are now one church in several different locations, each with its own name.
I have been pastoring full-time for about 15 years, after coming to Changsha more than 20 years ago. I have three kids, and am currently studying theology. Balancing family and sties is challenging, and three kids keep me busy.
China Partnership: What is unique about Changsha among other Chinese cities? What is special about the city’s local culture?
Spicy Food
Huang Anping: The most unique thing here in Changsha is that people here love spicy food.
“Hardworking, able to endure hardship, and unyielding.”” This… means people here are hardworking, resilient, and willing to endure difficulties.
There’s also a saying [about Hunan people] that goes, “Hardworking, able to endure hardship, and unyielding.”[1] This saying is a bit hard to explain, but it means that people here are hardworking, resilient, and willing to endure difficulties. That’s a local characteristic of Changsha.
“People Are Very Red”
Sister Liang Mei: I’d add two things. First, people are very “red” – the leftist revolutionary culture is still mainstream here.
Never miss a story
Second, the food culture is deeply rooted here in Changsha. People love to eat, and eating is a big part of life here. Spicy food is a must! People here spend a lot of money on food, and eating out is always lively.
The food culture is deeply rooted here in Changsha. People love to eat, and eating is a big part of life here. Spicy food is a must!
I don’t know much about the history of the gospel here in Changsha. I do remember that Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, came to Changsha and found it “hard soil, an iron gate.” I believe he died here. The gospel presence in Changsha isn’t very strong.
A City Pursuing Pleausre
Sun Guanghu: I think people in Hunan Province are proud because in modern times, many famous people came from here. Examples are Zeng Guofan, who suppressed the Taiping Rebellion. There are also others, like Mao Zedong and Zuo Zongtang. Changsha and all of Hunan Province take pride in that.
Changsha is known as an entertainment city. There’s a joke that says Beijing is the capital of China, but Changsha is the “foot capital,” because of all the foot massage parlors here.[2] There are lots of massage and therapy services here. This city pursues pleasure and enjoyment.
Hudson Taylor found it “hard soil, an iron gate””… The gospel presence in Changsha isn’t very strong.
I’ve lived here for more than 20 years. I’ve heard that, on the east side of the river, life starts at midnight, and the lights and nightlife continue all night. Changsha is a city of entertainment and consumption. I think it’s a little like Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament. Some places are pretty notorious for having lots of nightlife and vice.
As for gospel history, Hudson Taylor died in Changsha in 1905. This year is the 120th anniversary of his death, and some churches are holding small commemorations.
Changsha is also somewhat anti-Christian. The authorities promote revolutionary culture instead.
But, God is still at work in Hunan Province and in Changsha. For example, there is an older sister who is a descendant of Zeng Guofan. Some of his descendants became Christians in the third or fourth generation.
[1] “吃得苦、耐得烦、霸得蛮” (“chī dé kǔ, nài dé fán, bà dé mán”} is a local Changsha saying that summarizes the local spirit. Pastor Chen actually forgot the last three characters of this saying, which is used to explain the spirit of local people.
[2] “Foot capital” (脚都, jiaodu) references Changsha’s many foot massage parlors, and also references the city’s reputation for being a place of leisure and entertainment – particularly licit forms of entertainment and vice. Although this nickname has nothing to do with gambling, you might compare Changsha’s reputation to how many Americans see a city such as Las Vegas.
Huang Anping, Sister Liang Mei, and Sun Guanghu are pseudonyms for house church pastors in Changsha.
Pray that Changsha will become a place of soft and fertile soil, ready to receive the gospel.
