The culture of Hunan is also called Huxiang culture. From the Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty (1600 BC-1100 BC), the second historic Chinese dynasty, to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the representative culture of Hunan was the Chu culture from the north, the Miaoman culture (the barbaric culture of the Miao nationality) and the Yue culture from the south and west. This is what Huxiang culture contains in a broad sense. However, since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the Huxiang School enjoyed the prosperity of Chu culture and the term Huxiang culture is now used in its narrowest sense.

In recent years, Changsha has become an important creative center for TV and entertainment arts, with its many TV stations producing some of the most popular programs in China, including Super Girl, a Chinese female version of the UK Pop Idol or American Idol that is the most watched program ever to air on Chinese TV. These programs have also brought a new entertainment industry, including singing bars, dance clubs, theater shows, as well as related businesses like hair salons and fashion stores. Now it is not rare that some people will fly into Changsha to spend their weekends from as far as the northeastern City of Harbin.

Hunan has residents of all the 55 ethnic minorities found in China. According to the Fifth Census, the province has a minority population of 6.4107 million people, or 10.1% of the total, minority population of the nation. Among the minorities, those with a population of over 10,000 include: Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, etc.

The minorities of Hunan live in the 14 cities/prefectures, where there is a great deal of cross-inhabitation, and local central inhabitation. Most of the minority population (about 85%) is found in remote areas in West, South, and Southwest Hunan. The remaining 15% of minority population is scattered province-wide.

Hunan has 1 national, autonomous prefecture (Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, governing 1 city and 7 counties, founded in 1957), 7 national autonomous counties (Chengbu and Mayang Miao Autonomous Counties, Xinhuang, Zhijiang and Tongdao Dong Autonomous Counties, Jingzhou Miao Dong Autonomous County, Jianghua Yao Autonomous County) and 100 ethnic townships. In addition, Sangzhi County and Yongding District in Zhangjiajie City also enjoy preferential policies towards autonomous areas. The land area in the ethnic autonomous areas, and the ethnic minority areas, respectively, accounts for about 17.8%, and 28%, of the province's total land area.

Almost every minority has its unique language, customs and religious faith, but with social development, the minorities have borrowed culture and life custome from one another, and a major trend of equality and friendship between those with different minority identities has taken shape.