Stuck in the crossroads of central China like a gargantuan road block, Wuhan is a place most travelers will encounter at some point if just to switch trains, buses or boats. The city's main selling point is that it lies on the road to elsewhere and is kindly titled by its residents: the "Gateway to Nine Provinces" and, more realistically, as a "Summer Furnace" on account of its summers being as sizzling as its Sichuan food.  Sprawling, industrial and crowded, this cosmopolitan city is the result of conglomeration of three once independent cities - Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang that are now districts of one vast 10 kilometer stew. These three city districts are linked by bridges across the divides of the Yangzi and Han rivers. Almost equidistant between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Wuhan is a centre of transportation, heavy industry and river trade. The city landscape is dotted with iron and steel plants, providing a utilitarian forest capable of rusting your eye sockets. That being said, the city is a mixture of the old and new and there are some lovely old buildings in the finely preserved colonial quarter which lies in the Hankou district between the river and east Zhongshan Dadao.

The numerously reconstructed Yellow Crane Tower, initially built around 220 AD, is the most famous attraction. From the outside, the structure appears traditional, but if you peek inside, the 1980s elevator belies its modernity. Mao is said to have ascended the tower in 1927 to view the Yangzi River. The Rock and Bonsai Museum is worth checking out merely for a splendid platybelodon skeleton and its outdoor garden of Bonsai trees. You might also go to see the ancient artifacts and a dance, orchestral show at the Hubei Provincial Museum. Visit the gardens of the Mao Zedong Villa where Mao chilled out often between 1960 and 1974. Stroll along the edge of East Lake, the largest lake within a Chinese city or spend a several days on a luxury riverboat cruise to the Three Gorges Dam and Chongqing. In the evenings, head to Jiqing Street, lined with restaurants and watch the local street performers.

Hubei was an independent state of Chu before 280 BC. With a history spanning over 3500 years, Wuhan is listed as one of the "Chinese Famous Cities of History and Culture". Archeologists have been highly impressed by the intricacy of bronze work unearthed in Wuhan. Smattered around the city and East Lake, you will often stumble across various historical sites like Guiyuan Temple, whose architecture dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The Treaty of Nanjing had the city open its doors to foreign trade with Russia, France, Germany, Britian and Japan getting in on the action. The European style buildings from the concession era bear testimony to the city's place in international trade. The main cultural site is the Yellow Crane Tower which was once a military observation post. In 1927, Wuhan became the result of the combination of Hankou, Hanyang, and Wuchang.  Today, the city has a population of approximately 9,100,000, making it the most populous city in central China.

 

Wuhan has been called one of China's "Summer Furnaces" due to the fact that May through September the stifling heat and humidity (often over 40 ºC) will have you dreaming of sleeping next to one of the ice sculptures in Harbin. There is heavy rainfall from April through to July. The residents of the city often complain that there are only two seasons: winter and summer – both of which are too long.