Wuhan
Consisting of Wuhan, Huangshi, Xianning, Huanggang, Ezhou and other cities, the area is chiefly of cultural sites: the Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum, Guiyuan Temple, Dongpo Chi Bi, Wuzu Temple and the hometowns of celebrities. Its scenic beauties of East Lake, Liangzi Lake and the Dabie Mountain also draw a large number of visitors.
The Yellow Crane Tower
Viewed as Number One Tower among the three famous towers south of the Yangtze River, the Yellow Crane Tower stands at the head of Snake Hill. It is famed for its beauty and cultural significance. For ages it has been praised in innumerable poems, fu (Chinese rhapsodies) couplets and inscriptions. The tower is five-storied and 50.4 meters high. Climbing up to the top and looking into the distance, one feels relaxed and joyful. Around it there are constructed Shengxiang Pagoda, the Stele Pavilion and a decorated gateway.
Website: www.cnhhl.com
The Yangtze River Bridge of Wuhan
Linking Snake Hill in Wuchang and Tortoise Hill in Hanyang, it is the first highway-railway bridge over the Yangtze River. The bridge balustrades of each side are carved with patterns of animals and birds themed from Chinese folklores and mysteries. At each end of the bridge there is a seven-storied bridge tower of dual eaves with strong national elements. In the tower are displayed clay sculptures of the bridge builders for commemorating their great deeds.
East Lake
Situated in the east suburbs of Wuchang, it is the largest lake in Wuhan. Its major spots are of rich cultural significance, including Tingtao (Listening to Surging Waves), Baima (the White Horse), Luoyan (the Diving Wild Goose), Moshan (the Millstone Hill), Chuidi (Playing Flutes), etc. A special area is dedicated to the display of the Chu culture.
Mulan Tianchi (Heavenly Pond)
Situated in Mulan Township to the north of Wuhan and at a 600-meter elevation, it is renowned for its picturesque scenes and Buddhist and Taoist temples. It is where the story took place that a girl named Mulan, dressed up like a man, enlisted in the army and fought bravely with the enemy. Near it there are the Mulan Lake where the migratory bird is a special scene, and Mulan Mountain where the Buddhism and Taoism coexisted harmoniously.
Website: www.mltc.cn
Huangshi
Huangshi National Mine Park - Daye Iron Ore
Located in the Tieshan District of Huangshi City, this is China’s first national mining park and the country’s leading industrial tourism demonstration spot. Famous for its richly endowed mineral resources, the Park covers an area of 23 square km. Composed mainly of the Hanye Mining Sightseeing Area and the Land Reclamation and Ecological Sightseeing Area, it shows the long history and profound culture of the Daye iron ore mining, and is held as a best place for studying ore mining.
Xianning
The Three Kingdoms' Chi Bi (Red Cliff)
38 kilometers to the northwest of the city of Chibi, it is situated at Chibiji on the right bank of the Yangtze River. The spot includes a statue of Zhou Yu, an Exhibition Hall of the Chi Bi Battle and a few named pavilions. The Chinese characters “Chi Bi” carved on the rock are allegedly the handwriting of Zhou Yu. The sight of it brings many associations of the fierce battle fought ever here.
Huanggang
Changsheng (Winning Forever) Street in Hong'an
Situated in Hong’an County, Hubei, it is so named because in the late Qing Dynasty (1616-1911) the people there prayed and wished that the Taiping Army would win one victory after another forever. Visitors will see a typical little town of the late Qing Dynasty with cobbled streets and black-tiled roofs and eaves. It is the testimony of the Chinese revolution in the past hundred years.
Dongpo Chi Bi (Red Cliff)
Different from the Three Kingdoms’ Chi Bi, Dongpo Chi Bi is located in Chibijitou, Huanggang, where Su Dongpo (1037-1101) once toured when he was staying in Huangzhou in demotion. It consists of a showroom of Su Dongpo, the Scissors Hump, the White Stone Tortoise, Erfu Hall, Qixia Tower, Liuxian Pavilion, Leijiang Kiosk, Poxian Kiosk, etc..
Dabie Mountain Forest Park
Located in the north of Luotian County, it is a comprehensive national forest park featuring mountainous landscape, primeval forests and historical sites. It has five scenic areas: Tiantangzhai Peak Landscape Area, Qingtai Pass Ancient Temple Area, Bodao Peak Resort Area, Jiuzi River Country Landscape Area and Tiantang Lake Aquatic Paradise.
Yichang
Southwest Hubei Tourist Area stretches from the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River to the Qingjiang River basin, containing Yichang, Enshi Tujia & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Shennongjia primeval forest area. Most attractions of Hubei are located in this area. Visitors are fascinated by the cultures of ethnic groups of Tujia, Bachu, the Three Kingdoms (220-280) and Buddhism, the Tenglong Cave and drifting along the Xihe River, Gezhouba Dam, gorges scenes, ect..
Gezhouba Dam
It is one of the world’s largest water conservancy projects with an embankment of 2,607 meters. The opening of the sluice gate works an awing spectacle of the vigorous gushes of water soaring high and roaring deafeningly. When passing through the dam on a 10,000- ton cruiser and being elevated scores of meters visitors are marveled at the human beings’ feats that have smartly changed our surroundings.
Xiling Gorge
Extending from Xiling District of Yichang to Badong County of Enshi Prefecture, it falls into four smaller orqes called Xiangxi, Shangduan, Miaonan and Xiaduan. Cruising downstream visitors can view that little gorges are encompassed in larger ones. Almost all the gorges have been given descriptive names. The two banks are full of currents, shoals, rapids, springs, rocks, caves and cultural relics.
Ancient Xiaoting Battlefield
Situated in Xiaoting District of Yichang, it is the site of the combat between the Wu (222-280) and Shu (221-263) states of the Three Kingdoms Period (222-280). The battle has left over ten relics such as the Zhaowang Hill, Gunzhong Slope, the horse mounting stone block, old plank roads. Most of them have been restored and they are Hanque Watchtower Gate, Xisai Tower, Longmen Sentry Post, Jiuxian Pavilion and Liu Bei (161-223) Fortress and so on.
Three Gorges Dam
It covers an area of 15.28 square kilometers. Up to now five spots has been opened to the tourists. Standing on the Tanzi Ridge you can have a bird’s eye view of the whole of the Three Gorges Dam project. At Jieliuyuan (Damming Park) you can watch the spectacular scene of the damming of the Yangtze River, a hundred-year old dream of the Chinese people.
Qu Yuan Memorial Hall
It is the birth place of the great poet Qu Yuan (340B.C. – 278B.C) of the Warring States Period (480B.C. – 221B.C.). Located to the northeast of Zigui County, Yichang Qu Yuan Temples built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) times respectively have fallen, into ruin. The present one was reconstructed in 1988 in the style of civilian dwellings of the Qing Dynasty. In it there are an original statue of Qu Yuan and seven stone tablets since Qianlong (1736-1795) reign of the Qing Dynasty. Other relics include his homestead, a study cave, Lepingli Archway and so on.
Quanling Tomb of Dangyang
Located three kilometers to the northwest of the city of Dangyang, it is the honored burial place of Guan Yu (?-220), first built in 1467. It is a solemn and repectful, magnificently grand temple. Guan Yu’s burial chamber is seven meters in height and 50 meters in perimeter. Inside the beautiful tomb park, old pines and cypresses reach high to the sky and around the tomb is a vast expanse of featureless flat land.
Hometown of Zhaojun
Situated in Baoping Village, Xingshan County, it is the birth place of Wang Zhaojun, a beautiful woman of the Western Han Dynasty (206B.C.- 25A.D). Visitors can visit her residence, dressing table, well, Zhaojun Terrace, Moonwatching Tower. Newly established spots are her statue, a showroom and a hometown corridor.
Lesser Three Gorges in Qingjiang
Within Changyang County it is at the lower reach of the Qingjiang River, consisted of the gorges called Banxia, Bashan and Pingluo. Banxia Gorge is pretty while Bashan Gorge is sheer and grotesque, both of them are around five kilometers long. Pingluo Gorge is 14 kilometers long and known for its 18 roaring shoals. With the completion of Qingjiang Geheyan Hydroelectric Power Station it has become a smooth lake on the high gorge. The Zhongli Mountain in Wuluo and drifting on the Danshui River are its particular attractions.
Shennongjia Forest Area
Shennongjia
Lying in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in the west of Hubei, it is one of the most famous primeval forests and nature reserves in China. In 1990, UNESCO accepted it into the protection network of “Man and Biosphere” and it is recognized as the most loved homeland of man and nature. Moreover, Shennongjia Skiing Resort opened in 2004 makes Shennongjia a winter tourist attraction also.
Enshi Prefecture
Yumu Stockaded Village
Situated along No. 318 National Highway in the west of the Lichuan City, the Village is surrounded by sheer precipices, and four towering peaks and there is only one old two-meter-wide flagstone passageway leading to the village gate. Tourists can visit ancient dwellings, coinage relics, up to a hundred coffin pits, 10 graves of the Qing Dynasty (1616- 1911), three sections of cliff plank road and so on. In the village live people of Tujia, Miao and other ethnic groups, presenting strong local colors.
Tenglong Cave
Situated in the suburbs of Lichuan City at the upper reach of the Qingjiang River, it is the largest karst cave in China and one of the famous caves in the world, featuring a comprehensive attraction of grand hills, pretty waters, grotesque caves and still forests. Here caves contain hills which yet contain smaller knolls. All major and minor caves and dry and wet caves are interlinked. It has been viewed as an ideal resort for tour, adventure, rest and geological exploration.
Jingzhou
Made up of Jingzhou, Tianmen, Jingmen, Xiantao, Qianjiang and other places, the area is characterized by the Chu Culture, especially the cultural relics of the Three Kingdoms. Jingzhou is the site where Wei (220-265), Shu(221-263) and Wu (222-280) fought for power. Besides, lakes, waterside gardens and rural scenery are also its attractions The north part of the area, namely Jingmen’s mountainous landscape, is distinctively beautiful.
Ancient City Wall of Jingzhou
Situated in Jingzhou District, Jingzhou city, it was first built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and rebuilt in 1646 in the style of the city wall of the Ming Dynasty. Based on stones, the brick wall is 8.8 meters high, 10 meters wide and 10.5 kilometers long. It has six dual-gates with one tower and barbican each except the east gate The great north gate and the wall around it is the most magm icen and is the symbol of the ancient city wall of Jingzhou.
Honghu Lake
Located in the city of Jingzhou, it is the largest lake of Hubei and one of the seven largest freshwater lakes in China. It is on the north bank of the Yangtze River. The limpid lake, dotted in the Jianghan Plain, takes the shape of a polygon and has a rippling light green surface and an even bed. The opera “Red Guards On Honghu Lake” makes it a household lake in China.
Jingmen
Xianling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty
Situated at the Chunde Mountain to the north of the city of Zhongxiang, it is the co-tomb of the parents of Emperor Jiajing (1507- 1566) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). So perfect are the exquisite patterns of bas-relief, the secure connection of structures and the ingenious layout of Baocheng City, Minglou Tower, Ling’en Temple and Lingxing doors that it is acclaimed as an architectural masterpiece of the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2000 it was included in the World Heritage List.
Website: www.zgmxl.com
Shiyan
The area is composed of the cities of distinct cultures: Xiangfan, Shiyan and Suizhou, ect.. Xiangfan features the culture of the Three Kingdoms, while Shiyan and Suizhou, that of Taoism and the hometown of Emperor Yandi respectively. Its scenic attractions are unique, represented by mountainous and gorge landscape: the Wudang Mountain, Mount Dahong, the Nanhe River and Wudao Gorge, etc..
Wudang Mountain
Located in Danjiangkou and as a national scenic spot, it is one of the four famous Taoist mountains in China. It is famed all over the world for its enchanting scenery, splendid ancient buildings, valuable cultural relics, martial arts, Taoist culture and moving legends. Its complex of ancient buildings was listed as one of— World Heritage Sites.
Xiangfan
Ancient Xiangyang Town
Located on the south bank of the Hanjiang River in Xiangfan, it is encircled by the moat on three sides and the mountain on one side. First built in the Han Dynasty (206B.C. – 220A.D.) and destroyed in the late Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368), it was reconstructed in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The appearance of the city and the wall in the north is well preserved. In 1986 Xiangfan was awarded a national historical city.
Ancient Longzhong
Situated 13 kilometers to the west of the city of Xiangyang, it is the place where happened the historical events that Liu Bei (161-223) paid three visits at Zhuge Liang’s thatched cottage and Zhuge Liang (181-234) put forward his Longzhong Plan for reviving the Han Dynasty. Now this beautiful scenic and cultural attraction highlights the residence of Zhuge Liang and includes five spots, such as ancient Longzhong, Shuijing Village, Cheng’en Temple, Qili Mountain and Hezichuan, etc..
Suizhou
Homehown of Emperor Yandi
A Chinese legend goes that Emperor Yandi is Divine Peasant (Shennong) and one of the primogenitors of the Chinese nation. It is located at Lieshan, Lishan Town Suizhou, including Shennong Cave, Shennong Temple and other over 20 spots. For thousands of years on the days of his birth and death tremendous Chinese descendents will come from home and abroad to pay homage and worship to their common ancestor.