Introduction to Hubei Province
Hubei Province is certainly not a household word. In fact, most visitors to China may never have heard of the place. Hubei Province does not have a lot of the most famous attractions in all of China, but it does have some interesting places. One place visitors have undoubtedly heard of is the Three Gorges Dam. It is in Hubei province that this great feat of engineering is to be found.
Its capital city is Wuhan. Starting to the northwest and working, Hubei borders Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan provinces, and Chongqing Municipality. The Yangtze River (长江) runs through the province and it is here in Yichang that many begin or end a Yangtze River / Three Gorges cruise.
Weather in Hubei
The climate of Hubei falls into the category of climate of central China. Winters are short but they feel harsh. Summers are long, hot and humid.
Read more about the climate of central China:
- general information about the climate of central China
- details about the climate of central China
Get to Hubei
Most people fly to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei. For many, Wuhan is their final destination, as it is a hub of business and industry in central China. But tourists also use Wuhan as a starting point to and from Yangtze River / Three Gorges cruises. Cruises actually start and end in Yichang, a smaller city on the river, but Wuhan tends to be the point from which many start in Hubei.
Wuhan and other major cities in Hubei are well connected by long-distance trains, buses, and flights.
What to see and do in Hubei province
If you have come to Hubei (Wuhan) to do business, you will probably spend all your time in your hotel or office and think that the whole place is rather uninteresting. But I hope you take some time to explore Hubei Province, which has a lot to offer.
Things to do in Hubei
Wudang Mountains : Wudang Shang is a mountain range with several notable Taoist temples. It is the birthplace of the Chinese martial art Tai Chi and visitors can even sign up for meditative movement classes in English.
Mufu Canyon, Enshi – Known to local guides as “great as the Grand Canyon of the United States,” is an impressive canyon of cliffs and rock formations towering above the Qing River that winds through the valley. To get a good idea of how amazing the place is, check out this video of an American explorer making his way through a slack line (no safety nets) over the canyon. Clock.
Provincial Capital, Wuhan – is a large city of 10 million people that is an economic stronghold in central China. Although it was destroyed over the years by floods and fire bombs (it was attacked by American bombers in 1944 due to its occupation by Japanese forces), it still retains some historical architecture and sights.
Yichang : It is a small town on the Yangtze River where river cruises begin and end. There isn’t much to see or do in the city, but it can be found there by embarking or disembarking from a Yangtze River / Three Gorges cruise.
Jingzhou : It is the ancient capital of the Chu kingdom and it still has its wall that visitors can explore. There is also a decent museum and several temples to visit. Jingzhou can be a stop between Wuhan and Yichang or Wuhan and Enshi.
