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The capital of Hubei
province, Wuhan
lies at the confluence of the Yangzi
and Han Rivers,
roughly midway
between Beijing and Guangzhou. The city is comprised of three towns
– Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang
– facing each other across the rivers and linked by several
bridges.
The area was first
settled more than 3,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty,
when Hanyang became a busy port. In the first and third centuries
A.D., walls were built to protect Hanyang and Wuchang. About 300 years
ago, Hankou became one of the country's top four trading towns.
In
the early 20th century, Wuhan became a hot spot of
revolutionary activities. In 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen led
a revolution that overthrew the
Qing Dynasty. There are many memorial structures devoted to the
revolutionaries, such as the Red Building, which housed the National
Revolutionary Army Government in the 1911 Movement, the Monument to the
Martyrs of the February 7 Strike and
the Central Peasant Movement Institute.
Yellow
Crane Tower (Huanghelou)
Located
on the south bank of the Yangzi River, the Yellow Crane Tower is perhaps
China's most badly treated historical
monument. It is said to have been built in 333 during the Three
Kingdoms period. In the centuries that followed,
it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In
history, the tower inspired many poets and artists.
It was last rebuilt in 1983.
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Yellow Crane Tower
(Huang He Lou) |
The
East Lake (Donghu Lake)
Located in the eastern suburb of Whchang and covering an area of 87
square kilometers, of which 33 square kilometers are water surface, it
is famous for its blue water, a rich variety of aquatic birds, a large
number of pleasure boats and fishing boats, and elegant pavilions and
flower garden. Places like the Mid-Lake Pavilion, Nine-Girls Mount,
Moshan Hill, Xing Yin Pavilion and Qu Yuan Memorial Hall are among the
best attraction.
East Lake, Wuchang
Wudang
Mountain
A trip to Wudan Mountains is a very worthwhile outing from Wuhan.
Located in Junxian County, western Hubei, covering an area of 400 square
kilometers, Wudang is an ancient sacred Taoist shrine.
Wudang Mountain
The first Taoist temple
there, the "Five Dragon Temple, " was built 1,300 years ago in
the Tang Dynasty. In the 15th century, the Ming court sent 300,000
soldiers and workers there to build 160 monasteries, temples, pavilions
and other structures. It took more than 10 years to complete the
construction. It then became
a major center of Taoism. Although many of the old structures deteriorated
in the ensuing
centuries, there are still many well-preserved temples.
The mountains are also
linked with a
school of martial arts. It is said that Taiji boxing was invented
there by a Taoist priest.
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