Provincial Travel

Hubei

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Situated in central China, Hubei province has a population of 57.19 million and is 180,000 square kilometers in size. It is the main province that produces the most rice, oil, cotton, red tea leaves and freshwater shrimps and fishes. At the same time, Hubei is known for its automobile, iron and steel, chemical and mechanical engineering industries.

Sufficient in the province, the Wuchang fishes are the most famous in China, making them a "must-eat" while touring the area. Other reputable dishes include Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes (steamed fish, meatballs and pork), spicy dried noodles and Hongshan vegetable bolts.

Attractions to visit

Wuhan

Located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Hanjiang Rivers, the city of Wuhan is made up of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang towns. Furthermore, this provincial capital is also the major highway, airway and waterway center within the area.

• East Lake

  Six times larger than the West Lake in Hangzhou in terms of water surface, the East Lake pursues great sceneries, bridges and pavilions.

• Yellow Crane Pavilion

  Enjoying the same reputable status as the Yueyang Pavilion in Hunan province, the Yellow Crave Pavilion is built on the peak of Snake's Hill during the Three Kingdom's Period in 223, by the King of Wu Sun Quan as a military guard tower. However, the pavilion gradually became a place for spectacular sceneries' enjoyment and for creations of prestigious poems by various notable poets in later dynasties.

• Yangtze River Bridge

  Completed in October 1957, the Yangtze River Bridge is 1670.4 meters in length and a fabulous spot to enjoy the sights around the city of Wuhan.

• Hubei Provincial Museum

  This is the best place to explore the local history, as more than 200,000 historical relics are currently on display. The sword of the King of Yue during the Warring States Period is the most precious among them. Besides, visitors can also enjoy the daily traditional Chinese musical instruments show while browsing through the museum collections.

Three Gorges at Yichang

The Three Gorges: Xiling, Wuxia and Qutang Gorges formed the largest canyons in the world, which stretches from Yichang to the east and Chongqing to the west. A Yangtze River cruise from Yichang may lead you to the explorations of amazing landscapes, spectacular caves and breathtaking sceneries of a lifetime! Besides, visitors can also learn about the Three Gorges Dam Project, which has speculated controversial debates since its construction. It is said to be the largest project after the Great Wall construction and is expected to be complete in 2009.

Shennongjia

Named after the Chinese pre-historic chief Shennong, 70 percent of the Shennongjia Scenic Zone is covered with trees. The area is scarcely populated and is the home of many endangered species. Legend said that chief Shennong had cultivated many different Chinese herbs here and got poisoned more than 70 times by sampling them before putting the herbs into practical usage.

Viewing the marvelous sceneries from an elevation of 3,053 meters at the Shennongding Peak is most amazing and enjoyable. Tourists can also explore various waterfalls, forests, streams, etc around the scenic zone. The local residents claimed to spot "The Wild Man" in the area before. The Wild Man is an ape-like and six foot tall human being with red or brown hair; however, his origins still remain a mystery today.

Wudang Mountain

Regarded as the Holy Land of Taoism, the Wudang Mountain is also a notable place for learning martial arts besides the Shaolin Temple. It is listed as an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1994 because of its magnificent natural wonders: 72 peaks, 36 rock cliffs and 24 streams.