Holiday in Wuhan

About Wuhan

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province and a city of 10 million people, dramatically defined by water: Here, the Han River flows into the Yangtze, China's longest river, dividing the city into three historical parts — Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. Lakes crisscross the urban area, including Donghu, which at 33 square kilometers is six times larger than West Lake in Hangzhou and one of the largest urban lakes in the world. The history of Wuhan is the history of modern China: Here, the Wuchang Uprising began in 1911, which toppled the last dynasty and established the Republic of China. The Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan's landmark for 1,800 years, overlooks the Yangtze and is so deeply rooted in Chinese poetry that it was sung about by great poets Li Bai and Cui Hao. The current tower, rebuilt in classical style, offers five floors filled with calligraphy, poetry, and a panoramic view that encompasses the entire river and skyline. Culinarily, Wuhan is a revelation: The city is known as China's breakfast capital — Wuhan residents notoriously wake up extra early to grab their Reganmian (hot dry noodles) from street stalls, a dish as iconic to Wuhan as Peking Duck is to Beijing. Jianghan Road and Hubu Lane are culinary pilgrimage sites where the diversity of Hubei cuisine can be experienced in a small space. The Yangtze bridges — foremost the first Yangtze Bridge from 1957, a symbol of young communist China — not only connect districts but also provide the backdrop for a unique experience: In summer, thousands of Wuhan residents swim in the Yangtze, a tradition that dates back to Mao Zedong, who famously swam in this river.