Together with Changsha and Zhuzhou, it is the central city of the national Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration "two-oriented society" comprehensive reform pilot zone. It is an excellent tourist city in China, a national garden city, a famous historical and cultural city in Hunan Province and an advanced city in the creation of a national civilized city. It governs five counties (cities) including Xiangtan County, Xiangxiang City, Shaoshan City, yuhu district City and Yuetang District, with a total area of 5,006 square kilometers and a total population of 3 million.
According to Hunan Statistical Yearbook 20 14, Xiangtan urban area 168.2 1 square kilometer, and the built-up area is 79.2 square kilometers.
Xiangtan was founded in the Southern Dynasties, about 1500 years ago. It is the important birthplace of Huxiang culture and the cradle of China red culture, and has the reputation of "Little Nanjing" and "Golden Xiangtan".
"There are many heroes in one county in central Hunan". Xiangtan's great men and masters can be seen in the stars. Famous ministers Jiang Wan and Zeng Guofan, cultural celebrities Qi Baishi, a generation of leaders, founding fathers Peng, famous soldiers and founding generals Chen Geng and Tan Zheng were all born here.
After thousands of years' accumulation, it is rich in human resources in science and education, and its strength in science and education ranks second in Hunan Province, with 12 universities such as Xiangtan University and Hunan University of Science and Technology. It is an advanced city in scientific and technological progress and a national intellectual property demonstration city.
The national traffic arteries Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and Shanghai-Kunming Expressway meet in the urban area, and the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Shanghai-Kunming Railway and Shanghai-Kunming Passenger Dedicated Line crisscross the territory. The Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan intercity railway under construction will soon be built into a three-city and half-hour economic circle.
Xiangtan is one of the 23 key industrial cities in China during the "First Five-Year Plan" and "Second Five-Year Plan" and an important industrial town in central and southern China.
At present, it has a state-level Xiangtan high-tech development zone, a state-level Xiangtan economic and technological development zone and a Xiangtan comprehensive bonded zone.
In 20 14, the regional GDP157 billion yuan, and the per capita GDP is second only to Changsha.