Welcome to Wuhan

Where is Wuhan?	Wuhan Local History	Wuhan Attractions
Wuhan Shopping	Wuhan Restaurants	Wuhan Bars and Clubs

Where is Wuhan?

Wuhan is located at the central part of China; almost wholly located in the Jianghan plain; sitting at the confluence of the world's third longest river, namely the Yangtze River and its longest branch Hans hui River. It is 8,467 sq km and the population is about 9 million.

Wuhan belongs to the subtropical humid monsoon climate; four seasons clearly demarcated; with cold and wet winters, hot and humid summers, plenty of sunshine; with the frost free period of 220-250 days. Affectionately known as “the Stove”; Wuhan is one 3 cities famous throughout the land for its incredibly hot summers.

Back to top

Wuhan Local History

Wuhan is a city with a long history and glorious revolutionary tradition. When China threw off the shackles of 2000 years of Feudalism in the Revolution of 1911, the first shot was fired in Wuhan. It was an important town to the ancient Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ‘Spring and Autumn Period', as well as the Warring States. Historically this is one of the famous important towns in China, during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties this was often the political, military and cultural centre of the whole country.

Back to top

Wuhan Attractions

Museums & places to visit

• Yellow Crane Tower: Located on Snake Hill in Wuchang , it is one of the “Three Famous Towers South of Yangtze River ”. Destroyed many times through dynasties, the tower was rebuilt time and again until 100 years ago when it was, for the last time, burnt to ashes. The present tower is a complete reconstruction and is the result of four years of work beginning in 1981. Where the old tower was only 15 meters wide, the ground floor of the new structure was increased to 20 meters wide. The tower, 51.4 meters high, is five-storied with yellow tiles and red pillars, overlapping ridges and interlocking eaves, more magnificent than the old one. The new Yellow Crane Tower is regarded as the symbol of Wuhan city.

• Gui Yuan Temple: an ancient Buddhist temple dating from the late Ming Dynasty, is an example of the classical architecture commonly seen in southern China. Inside the temple is a huge hall containing 500 Luohans (also known as arhats or disciples) in different postures, each with a highly individualised facial expression. Some look experienced and astute, others jolly, angry, or complaisant; in other words, the expressions show the full spectrum of human feelings. There is also a large 105-ton Buddha sculpted of white marble--a gift from Burma in 1935.

• Hubei Provincial Museum: The Hubei Provincial Museum established in 1953 contains the most important collections of artefacts in the province. More than 140,000 items, mainly from a big tomb excavated in 1978, are well preserved here, including 645 first class cultural relics and 16 national treasures.

In the summer of 1978, Hubei Provincial archaeologists working near Cheng Guan (present-day Suizhou) in Sui County excavated a huge tomb more than 2,400 years old. Dating from around 433 BC, the tomb was that of Marquis Yi of the state of Zeng. Zeng was one of the hosts of lesser states during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). More than 15,000 relics were excavated from the tomb, including the bronze ritual vessels, coffins, musical instruments, gold and jade decorative items, lacquer ware, weapons, inscribed bamboo strips and other relics.

Festivals:

Hubei Three Gorges Art Festival takes place between September and October in Yichang.

Back to top

Wuhan Shopping

Wuhan has not yet achieved fame as a shopper's paradise like Beijing or Shanghai. However, Wuhan is catching up rapidly, and whatever one needs is readily available at competitive prices. All the world's leading brand names are available in Wuhan shops.

Back to top

Wuhan Restaurants

Wuhan Famous Restaurants:Laotongcheng Restaurant, Zhonghua Restaurant, Sijimei Restaurant, Xiaotaoyuan Restaurant

Back to top

Wuhan Bars & Clubs

There are one or two seedy areas around Hankou that are best avoided - unless of course you like that kind of thing! The bars and clubs around the University (Wuhan Da Xue) are good places to go for a relaxed drink. The streets around Ba Lu are especially good and the Festival Bar is currently popular with foreign students in the city. Another fine watering hole is the Sunshine Bar close to the Shangri La hotel where you'll find live music and an entertaining "floor show".

The Primeval Forest and the long established Jo Jos are popular, if rather pricey, hang outs. Many hotels have decent bars too notably the Shangri La's up market American Sports Bar, a perennial favourite of the ex- pat crowd.

Archers Direct for China Holidays, China Tours, China Cruises, China River Cruises & China Escorted Touring Holidays.

Back to top