Things to Do in Wuhan

No.1: Hubei Provincial Museum

Type: History Museums

Recommended Lenth of visiting: 2 hours

Located on the shore of East Lake, Hubei Provincial Museum is one of China’s best museums. It could be divided into three parts: Chime Bells Exhibition Hall, the Chu (a state in the Spring and Autumn Period) Culture Exhibition Hall, and the Comprehensive Exhibition Building.

Among its highlights are items excavated in 1978 from the tombs of the Marquis of Yi, an eminent figure from the Warring State Period. He died in 433 BC and was buried in a lacquered coffin, accompanied by his concubines, his dog, and thousands of bronze, stone, and wooden items. Many of these are on display, but the most impressive is the panoply of bronze bells which produce two notes each when stuck.

No.2: Yellow Crane Tower

Type: Landmarks/ Points of Interest, Monuments/ Statues

Recommended Lenth of visiting: 1-2 hours

Yellow Crane Tower is located on Snake Hill in Wuhan. Enjoying the fame of 'The First Scenery under Heaven', Yellow Crane Tower is one of the most renowned towers south of the Yangtze River. Its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan City.

According to records, the tower was first built in 223 AD during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). And a famous poet during Tang Dynasty, Cui Hao, made the tower well known throughout China with his poem “Yellow Crane Tower”. The Yellow Crane Tower offers visitors an abundance of things to see. On top of the tower, visitors are treated to a fabulous panoramic view of the Yangtze River, its bridge and the surrounding buildings in Wuhan city.

No.3: Guiyuan Temple

Type: Religious Sites

Recommended length of visit: 2 hours

Guiyuan Temple is one of the four biggest temples for Buddhist meditation in Hubei as well as an important Buddhist temple in China. Guiyuan Temple is famous not only for spreading Buddhism throughout the whole country, but also for perfect architecture, excellent sculpture and rich collection of Buddhist doctrine among Buddhist temples.

First built in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by two monks named Baiguang and Zhufeng on the base of Sunflower Garden owned by a poet. Covering an area of 46,900 square meters with floor space of 20,000 square meters, the temple consists of Daxiongbaodian Hall, Arhat Hall, Sutra Collection Pavilion etc.

No.4: East Lake

Type: Bodies of Water, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

East Lake, located on the south bank of the Yangtze River, is the biggest scenery tourist attraction in Wuhan and also the largest lake within a city in China. It covers an area of 87 square kilometers (33 square kilometers of water area). Because of its winding banks and crisscrossing ponds and brooks, it is called “a lake with 99 bays”. And it gains the reputation of “the lake looks like sea, the sea seems as the lake”.

Also, you could have a nice walk in East Lake Scenic Area to explore the ancient Chu culture, unique gardens and Sea of Birds. Ferry rides are available to explore the scenic are around East Lake.

No.5: Mulan Heaven Lake Scenic Area

Type: Bodies of Water

Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

Covering 4800 hectares, Mulan Heaven Lake Scenic Area is regarded as the “Jiuzhaigou Valley of Hubei, Lushan Mountain of Wuhan”. It is said that General Mulan (a woman is Sui Dynasty) watered her horse in the pool when she was on the way to the battle field. And because the pool is with high altitude, then people called this pool Mulan Heaven Pool.

Mulan Heaven Lake Scenic Area is divided into scenic resort and leisure resort. The main peak is 520.6 meters above sea level, which belongs to the vein of Dabie Mountains. There are gully aspects and lush forests, water continuously throughout the year, which shows the landscape of wetland ecosystems. You could do the grass skating along the slide way, which is adventurous and exciting.

No.6: Heptachord Terrace (Guqin Tai)

Type: Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours

Heptachord Terrace (Guqin Tai in Chinese) is located on the south bank of Moon Lake, near the western foot of Tortoise Hill. It is said that in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), a famous musician Yu Boya once was stranded here by a sudden heavy rain. He played a piece of music High Mountains and Flowing Steams on the boat, and a woodcutter, Zhong Ziqi, heard his music. Yu Boya found that Zhong Ziqi could completely understand his music. So he invited Zhong Ziqi to come into the boat, and the two discussed the music for a whole night. The next day, they made an appointment that they would meet here one year later. But unfortunately, Yu Boya only saw the grave of Zhong Ziqi at the appointed date. Zhong Ziqi, the only person who could understand his music passed away. Yu Boya was so depressed and grief-stricken that he played the piece of music in front of the grave and then smashed his heptachord and never played music again.

So, the terrace was built in honor of the sincere friendship between Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). With great layout and beautiful scenery inside, many people come to visit here each year.

No.7: Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge

Type: Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours

As the first highway-railway bridge, as well as the first bridge over the Yangtze River, Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge was built in 1955 and opened to traffic in October, 1957. The bridge is 1670.4 meters (5480.6 ft) long with 8 piers and 9 holes. The upper floor is used for motorcars and the lower one for trains.

Visitors can climb the bridge by elevators on the sight-seeing towers at either end of the bridge. Standing on the tower, visitors can appreciate the beautiful landscape of Wuhan City and the splendid Yangtze River.  

No.8: Mount Wudang

Type: Mountains

Mount Wudang has been called the No.1 Celestial Mountain in China. It comprises of 7 peaks, 36 cliffs and 24 valleys. Its main peak, called Heavenly Pillar Peak stands at a statuesque 1612m and together with the other mist-shrouded peaks, creates a spectacular vision.

Mount Wudang, with its natural beauty exquisite architecture and rich history, is worthwhile a detour from Wuhan. For its enchanting scenery and the legend of home of gods, many Taoists and hermits came to cultivate in Wudang Mountain, it was regarded as the origin place of China Taoism. Mount Wudang is honored across China with the sobriquet as “the first famous mountain under heaven.” Today, it’s recognized as an architectural achievement and in 1994, UNESCO bestowed Wudang Moutain World Cultural Heritage status.