A 0:38-minute video report by a Hunan media outlet on August 3rd captured the launch ceremony of the "Cultural Tourism Station" at the Qingshui Lake Service Area on the G5513 Chang-Zhang Expressway, heralding the debut of a new transport-culture-agriculture-commerce-tourism complex. After 25 years of operation, the former "Taizimiao" service area has been completely transformed, emerging as a key highlight on the golden tourism corridor of northwestern Hunan.

"Previously, I would just stop here for a restroom break or refueling. Now, I specifically take a detour to have a meal and browse around," said Mr. Liu, a self-driving tourist from Changsha, who parked his car and headed to the service area's food court with his family that morning.

Demolished and rebuilt, the "Taizimiao" service area has been renamed "Qingshui Lake." Located in the Hanshou County section of the Chang-Zhang Expressway, it was first opened to traffic in 1999, making it one of Hunan's earliest highway service areas and the first large-scale comprehensive service point for travelers heading west from Changsha into the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone. With steadily increasing traffic volumes, the original building had long exceeded its capacity, and supporting facilities and services could no longer keep up with travel demands. The renovation involved demolishing the old building and constructing a new one on an expanded 31.86-mu (approx. 2.1 hectares) site, adding a new exit ramp from Changsha toward Zhangjiajie. After the upgrade, the Qingshui Lake Service Area covers a total area of 420,000 square meters, representing not just a physical expansion but a fundamental shift in service philosophy.

No longer following the old model, the new "Transport-Culture-Agriculture-Commerce-Tourism Complex" has been unveiled. Themed around "Natural Wild Fun, Leisurely Enjoying Lake Views," the Qingshui Lake Service Area is positioned as a comprehensive hub. Its interior features a central landscape water system with extensive greenery, tree-shaped steel structures supporting open walkways, and animal sculptures scattered across the rooftop plaza, creating a forest park market atmosphere. The commercial offerings include chain coffee shops, specialty restaurants, agricultural product exhibitions, and cultural and creative experiences, completely breaking away from the traditional service area model of "refueling, restroom, and small shop." "I've been driving this route for nearly seven years. This place was just a fuel stop before, but now it's been remodeled to look like a shopping mall. I come in for a meal and a stroll, and it takes a lot of the fatigue out of the journey," said truck driver Master Zhou, who regularly travels between Changsha and Zhangjiajie. Another self-driving tourist, Ms. Zhang, added, "I only came in for a coffee, but I ended up staying an extra half hour because of the local specialties and cultural products. It feels like a small cultural tourism spot along the way." Plans are underway to establish a two-way guidance system between the service area and nearby scenic spots, connecting the expressway network with tourist attractions to create an integrated "road, area, and scenic spot" linkage, transforming the service area from a traditional stop into an open cultural tourism service complex.

In terms of branding, the Qingshui Lake Service Area bundles "well-known chains + local specialties + self-owned brands" to precisely meet diverse travel needs. Hurried drivers can enjoy quick and convenient services, leisure travelers can access quality services, and food enthusiasts can sample local flavors. Notably, the first Starbucks store in central China's expressway network has opened here, along with KFC, filling a gap in high-end chain coffee offerings on Hunan expressways. "Choosing this location as the 'first stop' for Starbucks's expressway layout in central China underscores the value of the Chang-Zhang Expressway's golden traffic flow and Hunan Expressway Group's operational strength," explained a service area manager. Both parties have already reached a cooperation intention for further network expansion. Meanwhile, self-owned brands like Yike Restaurant and Yideyi are positioned alongside regional specialty shops such as Hanshou Turtle Restaurant and Black Classic Stinky Tofu. A nationally first-of-its-kind highway-themed "Roadside Teahouse" has also debuted, adding a touch of local charm and cultural flavor to the journey. Over 20 brands are distributed across the area, forming a diverse commercial matrix covering coffee, light meals, specialty dining, agricultural product exhibitions, and cultural experiences. "This service area feels a bit like the Yangcheng Lake Service Area, offering a strong sense of being able to shop and eat. Such quality is rare on Hunan expressways," commented Ms. Liu, a traveler who made a special stop to visit.

Serving as the "first stop" for the Greater Zhangjiajie Tourism Zone, the Qingshui Lake Service Area is launching a new "fast travel, slow enjoyment" cultural tourism experience. Leveraging nearby resources like the Qingshui Lake Tourist Resort, Changde Wildlife World, and the West Dongting Lake Wetland Park, the service area's value extends beyond commercial support. According to plans, Hunan Expressway will debut the first cultural tourism route for the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone, creating Hunan's first "expressway + low-altitude" three-dimensional tourism corridor. It will also establish a two-way guidance system between the service area and scenic spots, making it the province's first open cultural tourism service complex. This model is expected to extend the average visitor stay from the previous 15-20 minutes to over an hour, truly transforming the service area from a transit node into a cultural tourism destination. As one of the province's first pilot "Cultural Tourism Stations," the Qingshui Lake Service Area serves as both a rest stop for travelers and a comprehensive window for cultural tourism information dissemination and local culture display, fully catering to transit traffic from the Western Hunan region. "As the 'first stop' for the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone, the Qingshui Lake Service Area is opening a new chapter of 'fast travel, slow enjoyment' in cultural tourism," said a representative from Hunan Expressway Group. The upgrade aims to leverage the Chang-Zhang Expressway as a "tourism corridor" to connect scenic spots, intangible cultural heritage sites, and hotels along the route, breaking down barriers and achieving regional linkage to support the high-quality development of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone.