Changsha

Early flight to Changsha, another 5m+ Tier 2 city with big aspirations. It's the birthplace of propaganda icon Lei Fang and composer Tan Dun, was home (for a while) of Mao Zedong and (as of today I just read) the world's fastest computer, and the world's largest Chinese restaurant which can seat 5,000 people. But the reason I'm here is to see the site of Meixi Lake Arts Centre which will open in 2015/16. It's another Zaha Hadid creation, this time resembling a huge opening flower. Well, if you were looking at it from above that is.