Hubei
Wuhan
State
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Size
8,494 KM2
Population
11,100,000
Spending Budget
$613 - $2,263
Famous For
- It is one of China’s main high-tech, education and financial centres.
Best Time to Visit
- January
- March
- April
- October
History
The three Wuhan cities played a prominent role in the 20th-century history of China. The Chinese Revolution of 1911–12, which toppled the Qing (Manchu) dynasty, broke out in the army barracks at Wuchang, and the line of heights overlooking the Han River there was the scene of the principal fighting between the imperial and revolutionary troops—the main objective being the government arsenal at Hanyang. Hankou’s workers were in the forefront of the general strike of 1923, which was the first large-scale worker industrial action in China. The Wuhan cities soon afterward became a centre of conflict between the Nationalists and communists in their short-lived coalition government. After the split between the Nationalists and the communists in 1927, a left-wing faction of the Nationalists maintained its headquarters in Hankou. During the Second Sino-Japanese War and following the fall of Nanking in December 1937, Wuhan had become the provisional capital of China's Kuomintang government, and became another focal point of pitched air battles beginning in early 1938 between modern monoplane bomber and fighter aircraft of the Imperial Japanese forces and the Chinese Air Force, which included support from the Soviet Volunteer Group in both planes and personnel, as U.S. support in war materials waned. As the battle raged on through 1938, Wuhan and the surrounding region had become the site of the Battle of Wuhan. After being taken by the Japanese in late 1938, Wuhan became a major Japanese logistics center for operations in southern China. In December 1944, the city was largely destroyed by U.S. firebombing raids conducted by the Fourteenth Air Force. On 18 December 1944, Wuhan was bombed by 77 American bombers that set off a firestorm that destroyed much of the city. For the next three days, Wuhan was bombed by the Americans, destroying all of the docks and warehouses of Wuhan, as well as Japanese air bases in the city. The air raids killed thousands of Chinese civilians which American bombers did not know. "According to casualty statistics compiled by Hankou city in 1946, more than 20,000 were killed or injured in the December bombings of 1944."
Present Day
The name "Wuhan" came from the city's historical origin from the conglomeration of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang, which are collectively known as the "Three Towns of Wuhan". Wuhan lies in the eastern Jianghan Plain, at the confluence of the Yangtze river and its largest tributary, the Han River and is known as "Nine Provinces' Thoroughfare". While Wuhan has been a traditional manufacturing hub for decades, it is also one of the areas promoting modern industrial changes in China. Wuhan consists of three national development zones, four scientific and technological development parks, over 350 research institutes, 1,656 high tech enterprises, numerous enterprise incubators and investments from 230 Fortune Global 500 firms. The iron and steel base has attracted other industries producing chemicals, fertilizers, electrical equipment, glass, agricultural machinery, railroad cars, and trucks. Wuhan is also one of the largest manufacturers of heavy machine tools in China. Its consumer industries produce watches, bicycles, and radios and other electronic instruments. Older industries in Wuhan include rice, oil, and flour mills and factories making cotton and woolen fabrics and other textiles. Cement works, paper mills, distilleries, and soap factories are among Wuhan’s other light industries. It is also the site of one of China’s more important arsenals. The surrounding agricultural area produces wheat, tea, rice, and cotton.
Future
The Wuhan Development Zone, a district in the city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in China, has proposed to transform itself into a robot city. Wuhan is keen to capitalise on this through developing big data, cloud computing, and industrial Internet of Things to advance the country’s robotics industry and create a “capital of robots”. The zone is currently known as the “capital of cars” due to the automobile and auto parts industry in the region. However, as the development of China’s automobile industry slows, the local government has identified robotics as a potential area for growth. 3,500 robot units have already been put into use, at a ratio of one robot to ever 100 workers. Although this is above the national average, this still lags behind the most developed countries in the world.
Hubei Provincial Museum
Located on the shore of East Lake, Hubei Provincial Museum is one of China’s best museums. It could be divided into three parts: Chime Bells Exhibition Hall, the Chu (a state in the Spring and Autumn Period) Culture Exhibition Hall, and the Comprehensive Exhibition Building. Among its highlights are items excavated in 1978 from the tombs of the Marquis of Yi, an eminent figure from the Warring State Period. He died in 433 BC and was buried in a lacquered coffin, accompanied by his concubines, his dog, and thousands of bronze, stone, and wooden items. Many of these are on display, but the most impressive is the panoply of bronze bells which produce two notes each when stuck.
Guiyuan Buddhist Temple
Guiyuan Buddhist Temple is also called Guiyuan Zen Temple. It stands first among the Four Buddhist Monasteries of Wuhan. It is located on Cuiwei Road of Hanyang District in Wuhan, the largest city in inland China. Guiyuan Buddhist Temple covers an area of 4.67 hectares. It is known for its perfect buildings and rich collections. Many Buddhist relics are preserved there. In addition to Sutras, there are also Buddhist statues, Buddhist articles, stone sculptures, wood carvings, rubbings from stone inscriptions and foreign books.
Yellow Crane Tower
Yellow Crane Tower is located on Snake Hill in Wuhan. Enjoying the fame of 'The First Scenery under Heaven', Yellow Crane Tower is one of the most renowned towers south of the Yangtze River. Its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan City. According to records, the tower was first built in 223 AD during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). And a famous poet during Tang Dynasty, Cui Hao, made the tower well known throughout China with his poem “Yellow Crane Tower”. The Yellow Crane Tower offers visitors an abundance of things to see. On top of the tower, visitors are treated to a fabulous panoramic view of the Yangtze River, its bridge and the surrounding buildings in Wuhan city.
East Lake
The East Lake ecological scenic area is situated in the east of Wuhan City. The total scenic area covers about 82 square kilometres, of which the water area is about 33 square kilometres. It is the largest city lake in China. East Lake has beautiful mountains and rivers, and unique landscapes. The East Lake scenic area can be divided into four parts. Including Tingtao (Listening to Surging Waves), Mo Hill (Millstone Hill), Chuidi (Playing Flutes) and Luoyan (Diving Wild Goose). Because of its winding banks and crisscrossing ponds and brooks, it is called “a lake with 99 bays”. And it gains the reputation of “the lake looks like sea, the sea seems as the lake”. Also, you could have a nice walk in East Lake Scenic Area to explore the ancient Chu culture, unique gardens and Sea of Birds. Ferry rides are available to explore the scenic are around East Lake.
Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge
As the first highway-railway bridge, as well as the first bridge over the Yangtze River, Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge was built in 1955 and opened to traffic in October, 1957. The bridge is 1670.4 meters (5480.6 ft) long with 8 piers and 9 holes. The upper floor is used for motorcars and the lower one for trains. Visitors can climb the bridge by elevators on the sight-seeing towers at either end of the bridge. Standing on the tower, visitors can appreciate the beautiful landscape of Wuhan City and the splendid Yangtze Rive
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden on the south side of Mo Hill has 13 special gardens and 360 kinds of plants. Mo Hill’s cherry garden is 25 acres, and it is known as one of the best in the country. You’ll enjoy the fresh air and the park scenery in the middle of the park on Mo Hill. The hill is bounded on three sides by lake
Mulan Heaven Lake
Covering 4800 hectares, Mulan Heaven Lake Scenic Area is regarded as the “Jiuzhaigou Valley of Hubei, Lushan Mountain of Wuhan”. It is said that General Mulan (a woman is Sui Dynasty) watered her horse in the pool when she was on the way to the battle field. And because the pool is with high altitude, then people called this pool Mulan Heaven Pool. Mulan Heaven Lake Scenic Area is divided into scenic resort and leisure resort. The main peak is 520.6 meters above sea level, which belongs to the vein of Dabie Mountains. There are gully aspects and lush forests, water continuously throughout the year, which shows the landscape of wetland ecosystems. You could do the grass skating along the slide way, which is adventurous and exciting.
Happy valley Wuhan
Happy valley Wuhan is the theme park. You can enjoy there roller coasters about five of them and also water sports like water rides. There are also 3D and 4D cinemas. The park is open daily in the months from April to October. The timings are from 9 am until 10 pm. The tickets to all are about ¥160.
Han Show Theatre
The Han Show Theatre is primarily used as a stadium to showcase Wuhan’s famous Han Show. It is a fascinating cultural extravaganza worth watching if you plan on dropping by Wuhan. However, the Han Show Theatre is also an architectural marvel worth visiting in its own right. The theatre was purportedly modeled after the traditional Chinese paper lantern typically held by millions of Chinese during festivals and it glows bright red at night. Inside the theatre are three Olympic-sized swimming pools and a massive stage complete with high diving platforms and acrobatics equipment, all in preparation for the spectacular Han Show.
Donghu National Park
Attention all nature lovers! Donghu National Park boasts scenic wetland boardwalks and biking paths and has been touted as “one of the most beautiful places in Wuhan” by visitors. If you want a respite from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Wuhan, you can simply take a bus or a short cab ride to Donghu National Park. If you do not wish to walk too far into the wetlands, you can take a stroll around the park’s lotus lake or take a beautiful snapshot with some cherry blossom trees around the pond.