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Hunan Museum tickets go a week ahead and vanish at weekends
Lady Dai, buried in 168 BC and unwrapped in 1972, is the reason to come, along with the silks, lacquer and the painted banner from the same tomb. Entry is free, real-name, released about a week in advance on the official account, and gone quickly for weekend slots. The museum closes on Mondays. Book the moment your dates are fixed. Allow two hours minimum, and read up on Mawangdui first — the labelling assumes you know why any of it matters.
Zhangjiajie is not a day trip from Changsha — give it two nights
The sandstone pillars are three hours west, the park is huge, and the Bailong lift and cable cars are separate tickets from the entry pass, which is real-name and valid for several days. Sleep in Wulingyuan at the park gate rather than in Zhangjiajie city, go up on the first shuttle, and keep the crowded viewpoints for the late afternoon when the coaches have gone. Fog is common; two days gives the weather a second chance.