Wuhan
Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province in central China, is situated on Jianghan Plain, a river-crossed fertile land created by the Hanjiang River joining the Yangtze River. Wuhan is a routine port for a Yangtze River cruise. Divided by the Yangtze, the city is known as the 'Three Towns of Wuhan' with Hankou and Hanyang on the west bank and Wuchang on the east.
"I like to eat the delicious Re Gan Mian noodles; I like to wear the cotton jacket I bought in Han Zheng Street; I like to live near the flourishing Liuduqiao area; I like to cross each bridge over the Yangtze," writes a Chinese Wuhan resident. Locals have great affection for the charming city.
Bronze Vessel in Hubei Provincial Museum Wuhan is a city with both an ancient history and a thriving present. Historic relics excavated from ancient tombs tell the city's long history dating back 3,500 years. In the period of Pre-Qin (770-221 BC), this was the land of the State of Chu (one of the seven warring states before Qin, in China's first feudal dynasty) and was the cradle of the brilliant Chu Civilization. Starting here, merchants followed the great Yangtze River and lake network to expand businesses throughout the entire country.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Hankou became one of the four best-known towns in the country. For centuries, the city has been the center of trade and transportation in central China. Today it is an important hub in central China and a feature of Yangtze River cruises for sightseers and businessmen traveling from Sichuan to Shanghai or Hong Kong.
Yellow Crane Tower
Wuhan is a place where one can find both history and natural wonders. The Hubei Provincial Museum and Yellow Crane Tower are two places to appreciate ancient Chinese history and culture. In the museum, chimes excavated from tombs reveal the incredible achievements of ancient people in music, acoustics and metallurgy. The classic poems and inscriptions on the tower (although unrecognizable to most Westerners), can inspire your spirit as you pretend to be a poet with a bird's-eye view of the river from the tower window. In addition, the famous Villa of Chairman Mao Zedong on the scenic bank of East Lake, Wuchang, is an ideal place for Westerners to learn more about him.
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