Waterways are major means of transportation for both goods and people. Nearly 80 percent of Hunan's goods are moved over waterways. Mostly rural, Hunan's population is largely concentrated in the Dongting Lake basin and river valleys. Village life has changed markedly since the 1949 revolution. Mao Zedong, the revolutionary leader, was born in Hunan.
Most villages have civic centers and libraries.
Changsha, Xiangtan, and Zhuzhou are major cities that form a single vast urban region. The Learning Company, Inc.