Exploring China: Wuhan

Wuhan is a city in central China. It is a regional economic hub, and one of China’s largest cities. Despite this, it generally lacks the tourist destinations of cities to its east (Shanghai and Nanjing) and south (Guangzhou, Kunming). However, the city is not without its charms. Because of its size, there are numerous areas, which might be of interest to travelers seeking certain kinds of sights or experiences. For example, a large portion of the city contains Universities and other educational institutions. Many of these schools have pleasant campuses and a few offer opportunities to learn Chinese language and culture. Temples and towers are spread throughout the city, as are eateries and shops. One of the best shopping street west of Shanghai is found in Wuhan. Finally, as with numerous inland Chinese metropolises, Wuhan is adjacent to a river, making waterborne sightseeing a possibility.

Wuhan is a busy and crowded city, but not as much so as Shanghai or Beijing. Taxis are easy to flag and cheap. Traffic is not overwhelming, and once you reach an area, it is relatively easy to get in by foot. Also, being on a river, it is possible to get to many of Wuhan’s sights via water. It might even be worthwhile to take the ferry back and forth across the river simply to get a unique view of the city.

Yellow Crane Tower and the park surrounding it is the most popular site in Wuhan. The tower is impressively tall, though not as old as one might first believe. The new building is built in the style of its predecessor, and contains amenities like an elevator and concessions. From inside the tower, it is possible to see up and down the river. There are also exhibits inside the tower. These mostly pertain to Chinese history and serve as little more than a distraction for those on their way to the top and the sublime views of the surrounding area.

The night market on Jianghan Road springs up around 6p.m. The long strip- of shops is literally surrounded by several blocks of street stalls selling local fare as well as bargain priced goods of all sorts. There is a carnival like atmosphere and the streets remain crowded throughout the evening.

Wuhan is not as interesting as some of the other tourist destinations in China. However, the city has enough to keep travelers busy for a couple of days. If combined with a trip to some of Central China’s other destinations, a visit to Wuhan is worthwhile.