City Introduction

Wuhan is the largest metropolis and a regional hub city in Central China and a super-large city in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River, the world's third largest river, and its longest branch, Han River, cross Wuhan and divides Wuhan into three towns: Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. Libai, the poet of Tang Dynasty wrote here, “When I blow jade flute in Yellow Crane Tower, I find the plum blossom falls down in May of Jiangcheng.” Thus, Wuhan is also named Jiangcheng in Chinese(meaning "city of Yangtze River").

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

With a history of 3,500 years, Wuhan is one of the most time-honored large cities in China. Since the Spring and Autumn Warring State Period, Wuhan has been a key military and commercial city in southern China. In the late period of the Qing Dynasty, and the Republic of China and the beginning of People's Republic of China, Wuhan’s economy is among the most prosperous in Asia.

In early Qing Dynasty when the "China-Russia Tea Road" opened up, Hankou, the starting point of this Road, gradually became the capital of tea trade in the world, known by the Europeans as "tea Harbour”. After Hankou was opened up to foreign countries, its foreign trade surpassed Tianjin and caught up with Shanghai, ranked second in China. Wuhan was known as the "Chicago of the East” at that time.

In 1861, Hankou became a treaty port. Open to the foreigners, Hankou transformed from a traditional business town to a modern metropolis. Five foreign concessions (i.e. the British, Russian, German, French and Japanese concessions) were established along Hankou Bund. Hankou Bund fast developed into another downtown in Hankou, drove Hankou to become an international metropolis compared to Shanghai.

In 1911, the gunshot from Wuchang Uprising marked the onset of 1911 Revolution, which overthrew the imperialism and established the first republican country in Asia.

Between 1926 and 1949, the three districts were respectively called Hankou Special City (municipalities), Wuchang City (the capital of Hubei Province) and Hanyang County. In 1927, the National government moved its capital to Wuhan. It is the first time to merge Hankou, Wuchang, and Hanyang as Jingzhao districts, named Wuhan. On May 24, 1949, the Wuhan municipal government was established directly under the jurisdiction of the central government, which was the first municipality in New China.

On June 19, 1954, the central government decided to change Wuhan into the capital of Hubei Province. Wuhan is the cradle of the regional Chu culture. Chu Kingdom (1066B.C-223B.C.) once was a powerful state in the Warring State Period of ancient China. Chu culture is a regional culture created by the people of Chu Kingdom, including bronze smelting technology, weaving craft, embroidery, literature, fine arts and dancing. Represented by Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow), the Song of Chu is a unique form of poetry created by Qu Yuan. Chu Opera is a local drama in Hubei province. Legend of Mulan, dragon dance, Han opera, Chu opera, Hubei storytelling, Hubei drum, melody from Hubei, wood carving, and Han embroidery are listed as China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Located in the Middle-and-Lower Yangtze Plain and the eastern Jianghan Plain, Wuhan is a hub city in Central China, a sub-provincial city and the capital city of Hubei province. Wuhan is situated at 113°41'--115°05' east longitude and 29°58' --31°32' north latitude. Its eastern end is the Jiangjunshan Village in Xugu County, Xinzhou District and its western end is the Guoguang Village at the Zhuru Street in Caidian District, southern end is the Junbao Village at the Husi Street in Jiangxia District and northern end is the Lichong Village at the Caidian Street in Huangpi District, shaped like a butterfly flying from west to east. Wuhan boasts a central position in China’s economic and geographic landscape, as the center of the Go Game board, and thus known as the “heart” of Chinese economy and geography.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Wuhan has a subtropical monsoon climate with abundant rainfall and sunshine and four distinct seasons. Summer is hot with frequent rainfall, while winter is cold and wet.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Wuhan Tourism Administration: 027-82835621

Taxi Booking: 027-66667777

Wuhan Guandong Police Station: 027-87171050

 

 

 

 

Notes

1. Summer is very hot in Wuhan, known as one of the "Three Furnaces" in China. Wuhan has many various-sized rivers and lakes, with a large area of water areas. Air is humid as water is evaporated during daytime. On the one hand, the hot air is difficult to dissipate and the indoor temperature keeps high. On the other hand, body heat is also difficult to dissipate. Thus, summer is very hot, feeling like walking into a sauna room. In Furnace Wuhan, the temperature is not too much different between day and night during dog days. If you travel to Wuhan during the summer, please prepare some sunscreen lotion, an umbrella and sun protection products. If travellers are not accustomed to high heat and humidity, visiting Wuhan in summer season is not recommended.

2. Cheery tree would go into full bloom between the middle of February and the beginning of April in Wuhan. Luojia Hill in Wuhan University and East Lake Cherry Blossom Park are the best place to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossom, attracting a lot of visitors each year. Please book your accommodation in advance during the Cheery Blossom Festival, because the guest house of Wuhan University and nearby hotels would be fully booked during this period.

3. Wuhan people normally only speak local dialect and their Mandarin is not fluent. Visitors had better learn some simple Wuhan dialects before traveling to Wuhan.

4. Only steamed Wuchang fish could keep the original fresh taste of Wuchang fish.

5. Please take good care of your belongings (e.g. cellphone and wallet) when walking on Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street.

6. In Yellow Crane Tower, the admission ticket is charged section by section. Please keep your ticket after enter the entrance door. You may be asked to produce the ticket in downstairs, while the ticket officer would not remind you of this.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

1. Summer is very hot in Wuhan, known as one of the "Three Furnaces" in China. Wuhan has many various-sized rivers and lakes, with a large area of water areas. Air is humid as water is evaporated during daytime. On the one hand, the hot air is difficult to dissipate and the indoor temperature keeps high. On the other hand, body heat is also difficult to dissipate. Thus, summer is very hot, feeling like walking into a sauna room. In Furnace Wuhan, the temperature is not too much different between day and night during dog days. If you travel to Wuhan during the summer, please prepare some sunscreen lotion, an umbrella and sun protection products. If travellers are not accustomed to high heat and humidity, visiting Wuhan in summer season is not recommended.

2. Cheery tree would go into full bloom between the middle of February and the beginning of April in Wuhan. Luojia Hill in Wuhan University and East Lake Cherry Blossom Park are the best place to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossom, attracting a lot of visitors each year. Please book your accommodation in advance during the Cheery Blossom Festival, because the guest house of Wuhan University and nearby hotels would be fully booked during this period.

3. Wuhan people normally only speak local dialect and their Mandarin is not fluent. Visitors had better learn some simple Wuhan dialects before traveling to Wuhan.

4. Only steamed Wuchang fish could keep the original fresh taste of Wuchang fish.

5. Please take good care of your belongings (e.g. cellphone and wallet) when walking on Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street.

6. In Yellow Crane Tower, the admission ticket is charged section by section. Please keep your ticket after enter the entrance door. You may be asked to produce the ticket in downstairs, while the ticket officer would not remind you of this.