Wuhan

Wuhan (武汉; Wǔhàn) is the capital of Hubei Province in China and a major port on the Yangtse River.

A section of Wuchang, the Yangtze River, and Hanyang seen from the Yellow Crane Tower

Understand

History

Memorial Hall of 1911 Wuchang Uprising, Where Sun Yat-Sen Issued his Edict to Overthrow the Qing.

Wuhan once consisted of three cities; Hanyang, Hankou (formerly known as Hankow), and Wuchang. Hanyang was a busy port as long as 2,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty. Yellow Crane Tower was built in 223 BCE and gained fame throughout China through the poetry of Cui Hao during the Tang Dynasty. Wuchang has been a center of learning for centuries, especially in the field of the arts. It became a provincial capital in the Yuan Dynasty.

Hankou was considered to be one of China's top four cities during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was the busiest inland port, first opened as a treaty port in 1861. During the 19th century, as a result of concessions granted in the aftermath of the Opium Wars, large areas of Hankou's riverfront were carved up into foreign mercantile divisions with port and rail facilities and the area's economy expanded rapidly. There remain many grand buildings along Hankou's riverfront clearly European in design as a result.

The city is perhaps most famous for its pivotal role in the formation of modern China. On October 10, 1911 the Wuchang Uprising, led by Sun Yat-Sen, took place, sparking the Xinhai Revolution throughout the nation which resulted in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty (China's last) and the formation of the Republic of China. The event is commemorated in many place names beginning with "Shouyi", literally "First Revolution", including a public square with an attached museum. In the ensuing chaos of the Republic of China, Wuchang was the capital of a leftist Guomindang government ruled over by Wang Jingwei in direct opposition to Chiang Kai-shek.

In 1927, Hanyang, Hankou, and Wuchang were united to form the city of Wuhan. In 1938, during the Japanese invasion of China, Wuhan briefly became the temporary capital of the Republic of China, after the government had been moved here from Nanjing, which had been captured by the invaders. In the late 1938, however, Wuhan fell to the Japanese as well, and the ROC government moved further west to Chongqing. During the rest of World War II, fighting shifted to the western part of Hubei, Wuhan being liberated from the invaders only with the surrender of Japan in 1945.

With the opening of China, Wuhan was reopened in 1992 for the first time since the revolution. Today, Wuhan is one of China's largest cities and remains an important center of commerce. While many visitors overlook Wuhan as just another city, beneath its industrial exterior a rewarding tapestry of history and cultural arts awaits.

Orientation

The Future Science and Technology City, one of the easternmost corporate campuses of the Guanggu (Optics Valley) development area

Wuhan is an amalgamation of three smaller cities, Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang, each separated from the other by a river. Hankou is the business center and it sits to the northwest with the Yangtze River separating it from Wuchang and the Han River separating it from Hanyang. Wuchang is the education center hosting a bewildering variety of universities, institutes and colleges. It is separated from both Hankou and Hanyang by the Yangtze River. Hanyang is the industrial center, separated from Hankou by the Han River and from Wuchang by the Yangtze River.

Yangtze bridges

As of 2018, vehicles can cross the Yangtze over nine bridges and a tunnel within the legal limits of the City of Wuhan. Only two of these bridges, the oldest ones, are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists as well.

🌍 The Number One Yangtze River Bridge.   This old, Soviet-era colossus of engineering incorporating both rail and automobile traffic in a dual-layer setup, connects Wuchang with Hanyang. There are sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycles on both sides of the bridges; walk or ride on the right side of the bridge, although that apparently is not enforced. On the Hanyang sides, the sidewalks start at the corner of Guishan S. Rd and Yingwu Ave; there is also pedestrian access to the norther sidewalk from the park outside the TV tower. On the Wuchang side, pedestrians can enter the bridge over one of several stairways west of the Yellow Crane Tower.

The more graceful Number Two Yangtze River Bridge is only open to automobile traffic and pedestrians (bicycles are prohibited, although some cyclists use it anyway), connects Wuchang with Hankou to the north.

Over half a dozen bridges across the Han River shuttle automobile traffic between Hanyang and Hankou. Several of those (including those closest to the city center) have sidewalks as well.

Climate

Wuhan
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       43     8 0       59     10 2       95     14 7       131     21 13       164     26 18       225     30 22       190     33 25       112     33 25       80     28 20       92     23 14       52     17 8       26     11 2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Wuhan is humid year-round and has chilly winters and oppressive summers
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       1.7     46 32       2.3     50 36       3.7     57 45       5.2     70 55       6.5     79 64       8.9     86 72       7.5     91 77       4.4     91 77       3.1     82 68       3.6     73 57       2     63 46       1     52 36 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Travellers not accustomed to high heat and humidity should avoid visiting Wuhan in the summer months. As the hottest of the "Three Furnaces" of China (the others are Chongqing and Nanjing), Wuhan often gets summer temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F). Combine the heat with humidity, a lack of wind, and heavy urban pollution typical for most of the rapidly industrialized cities in China, and you has a recipe for a cloudy yet simmering day.

Get in

Wuhan is a major city in a central position. It has all the bus, rail, road and air connections you would expect.

By plane

Wuhan can be accessed easily from 🌍 Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH), which is located about an hour northwest of the city center. Flights from all major domestic airports are available, including Xian, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hong Kong. International flights operate from Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Paris, and Moscow.

Taxi from Wuhan Tianhe Airport to the city (Wuchang) costs ¥70-¥80, plus ¥10 toll.

A commuter rail line connecting Wuhan's Hankou Railway Station with the city of Xiaogan, has a stop at the airport. The train schedule is somewhat irregular, but, as of 2017, there is typically a train from the airport station (天河机场) to Hankou (汉口) Railway Stationm every 1-1½ hours. At Hankou, you can transfer to Wuhan Metro (subway), or to long-distance or commuter trains to various destinations. Some of the trains from the airport may continue beyond Hankou, to other cities in Hubei, such as Huanggang/Daye/Huangshi (with a stop at Wuhan Railway Station), or Yichang, Xiangyang and Shiyan. (Schedule).

Wuhan Metro's Line 2 also reaches the airport, providing frequent and inexpensive service to destinations throughout the city. As of 2018, Metro Line 2 trains run to and from the airport from 06:00 to 22:30.

As of 2015, there was regular bus service from Wuhan airport to several locations throughout Wuhan, including the Hankou and Wuhan railway stations and the Fujiapo Bus Station (in downtown Wuchang, within 1 km from the Wuchang Railway Station). These services may have been affected by the opening of the rail and metro connection to the airport, though.

If you get stuck at the airport for any length of time, the airport has free wifi throughout the domestic terminal (subject to verification of mobile phone number, any country OK), and you can find power outlets (with purchase) at Cite Coffee on the mezzannine above the pre-security departures hall (2F). There is a left-luggage service on the back wall of the departures hall as well, next to the odd-sized luggage check.

By train

Wuchang Railway Station

Wuhan is a major railway hub, connected by direct trains with most of China's major cities. As of 2014, the capital of Hubei is connected by direct trains to the capitals of all other 30 province-level units (provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities) of the China, from Harbin to Lhasa and from Urumqi to Haikou.

Overnight express trains (Z series trains) take one from Beijing (¥263), Shanghai, Hangzhou or Ningbo in 9-12 hours. There are also frequent train connections from Guangzhou taking about 12 hours and a bit less frequent trains from Shenzhen.

Besides overnight trains, there are also day-time high-speed trains (D and G series) which connect Wuhan with Beijing (via Zhengzhou), Shanghai (via Hefei and Nanjing), Guangzhou and Shenzhen（via Changsha), Xi'an (via Zhengzhou), Nanchang, and Yichang. It takes 4hr 15min–6hr 15min hours to Shanghai (¥280), 5 hours to Beijing and 3-4 hours to Guangzhou (¥490). The journey to Guangzhou has been reduced to around 3 hours since the opening of the 300-km/h train, it runs every 15 minutes and makes it faster than flying.

There are three major passenger train stations: 🌍 Wuhan, 🌍 Wuchang, and 🌍 Hankou. All Wuhan–Guangzhou-Shenzhen high-speed trains arrive at the Wuhan station. As to other destinations, there are often trains to them from two or even all three stations; so when buying a ticket, you can try to choose the most conveniently located station. All three railway stations are connected by the metro.

Direction north

• Beijing: 5½ hrs (G-series), 7½ hr (D-series), frequent service from Wuhan station; 10½ hr (Z- or T-series, including overnight trains), from Wuchang or Hankou
• Shijiazhuang: 4-5 hr (G, D), frequent service from Wuhan station
• Taiyuan: 5½-6 hr (G), two trains a day from Wuhan; you can also travel with a transfer in Shijiazhang
• Zhengzhou: 2 hr (G), 3½ hr (D), frequent service from Wuhan station
• Tianjin: 13 hr (T, from Wuchang); faster travel by G or D train is possible with a transfer in Beijing (terminal change) or Nanjing
• Harbin: 13 hr (G, from Wuhan); 23-28 hr (T, from Wuchang or Hankou)
• Changchun: 25 hr (T, from Wuchang or Hankou)
• Shenyang: 19 hr (T236/T237 from Wuchang)
• Hohhot: 26-28 hr (K1276/K1277 or K600/K597 from Wuchang); much faster travel is possible by taking a G or D train to Beijing and transferring to T train there

It is also possible to travel to Northeastern China (Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Dalian) by high-speed trains (G or D), but that requires a transfer in Beijing, with a terminal change.

Direction north-west

• Xi'an: 5 hr (G, from Wuhan); 12-15 hr (overnight T or K train, from Wuchang)
• Lanzhou: 9 hr (G96/G97 from Wuhan); 17 hr (T264/T265, from Wuchang)
• Urumqi: 40½-44 hr (T, from Hankou or Wuchang)
• Xining: 21 hr (T264/T265, from Wuchang). Same day travel is possible by high-speed trains with a transfer in Xi'an
• Lhasa: 44 hr (T264/T265, from Wuchang); runs every other day.
• Yinchuan: 30½ hr (K1296/K1297, from Wuchang); much faster travel is possible by taking a G train to Shijiazhuang or Taiyuan and transferring there

For Urumqi and other northwestern destinations, you can save a few hours by taking a fast (G) train to Xi'an or Lanzhou, and transferring to a conventional train there. However, that requires a station change in Xi'an.

Wuhan Railway Station is served by the new high-speed Beijing-Guangzhou-Shenzhen railway

Direction south

• Guangzhou, Shenzhen: 4-7 hr (G, D), frequent service from Wuhan; 11-13 hours (Z, T, including overnight trains), from Wuchang or Hankou
• Changsha: 1½-2 hr (G, D), frequent service from Wuhan station
• Guilin: 5½ hr (G), from Wuhan (one train daily); 12 hr (T, K, overnight train from Wuchang)
• Nanning: 8 hr (G, from Wuhan); 18½-19½ hrs (T, from Wuchang)
• Haikou: 21½ hr (T201, from Wuchang)

Most eastbound trains use Hankou Railway Station

Direction east

• Shanghai: 5½-6 hr (G, D), frequent service mostly from Hankou, some from Wuchang or Wuhan; 10 hr, overnight Z train from Wuchang
• Nanjing: 3½-4 hr (G, D), frequent service mostly from Hankou, some from Wuchang or Wuhan
• Hefei, 2½ hrs (G,D), frequent service mostly from Hankou, some from Wuchang or Wuhan
• Hangzhou: 5½-6 hours (G, D), mostly from Hankou; you can also travel with a transfer in Nanjing; 8½ hr, overnight Z train from Wuchang
• Qingdao: 8 hr (G), from Wuhan, one direct train daily; you can also travel on G or D trains with a transfer in Nanjing

Direction south-east

• Nanchang: 2½-3 hr (D), from all terminals
• Fuzhou: 7-7½ hr (D, G), from Wuhan or Hankou

Direction west

• Chongqing: 7 hr (D or G, mostly from Hankou); 13-15 hr (T or K, overnight trains from all terminals)
• Chengdu: 8½-9 hours (D, mostly from Hankou, some from Wuhan); 11 hr (Z) or 16-17 hr (T), mostly overnight, from all terminals

Direction south-west

• Kunming: 7-8 hr (G, from Wuhan); 24 hr (Z, from Wuchang)
• Guiyang: 5 hr (G, from Wuhan); 17½ hr (T, from Wuchang)

Commuter services

Tangxunhu Station on the Wuhan-Xianning commuter line

Wuhan Metropolitan Area intercity railway.  . Wuhan is one of the first cities in China to introduce a modern commuter train system. You can take a commuter train from Wuchang Station to the city's southern southern suburbs (Xianning); from Wuhan Station, trains go to the eastern suburbs (Huangshi, Huanggang, Daye, Ezhou) suburbs. The third line, the one of greatest interest to travelers, is the one from Hankou Station to the northwest (to Xiaogan via the Wuhan Tianhe Airport).

As of 2018, on most lines, trains run about 10 times a day in each direction. The trains depart from the same three main train stations of the city, but use dedicated purpose-built rail lines, different from both the "regular" and high-speed railway lines used by long-distance trains. They also make a few stops at new purpose-built commuter stations on the city's outskirts; e.g. the Xianning-bound trains stop at the Tangxunhu Station (汤逊湖站) in the southern part of the Guanggu development area, from which a bus or a streetcar can be taken to various university or corporate campuses.

The system is undergoing further development; once the new Guanggu Railway Station (光谷火车站; formerly known as the Liufang Station) opens in the middle of the Guanggu development area in the late 2018 or 2019, a significant enhancement of the commuter service is likely to follow.

By bus

Fujiapo Bus station is located a few blocks from Wuchang Railway Station

There are two major long distance bus stations, again in Hankou and Wuchang respectively, which tend to have buses visiting both.

By boat

You can also reach Wuhan via boats on the Yangtze River, either from downstream centers such as Shanghai and Nanjing or from Chongqing further upstream, via the famous Three Gorges route.

Get around

By subway

Wuhan Metro map

Wuhan Metro.   Starting with a modest beginning in 2004, Wuhan's metro system has grown by the end of 2017 to an elaborate network with 7 lines and 167 stations, connecting all three major sections of the city (Hankou, Hanyang, and Wuchang); it continues to expand at a rapid pace.

The airport and the Hankou Railway Station are served by Line 2; the Wuhan Railway station (the major high speed railway station) and the Wuchang Railway Station, by Line 4.

As in most other subway systems in China, the fare depends on distance. For a single trip, you can buy a token from a vending machine at the station's entrance, use the token to enter the system at a turnstile, and then surrender it to another turnstile when exiting. You can also buy a Wuhan Tong card (from the person at the booth in the subway, or elsewhere) for 15 RMB and add cash value to it, allowing you to enter the stations more quickly; subway rides using the Wuhan Tong are discounted by 10%, and the Wuhan Tong also works on public buses and ferries.

Stations are clean, and the trains are usually (outside of the rush hour) not very crowded. Public toilets are available at many stations (usually, outside the toll gate); drinking water fountains are found on the platforms of some stations.

It is useful to be aware of where subway construction work is being carried out, since large sections of streets may be fenced off for the construction, and street-level traffic may be significantly affected during the construction work.

By bus

Two-level buses are used on some of the city bus routes

Wuhan has a cheap and efficient, bus system, which, however, may seem rather bewildering to uninitiated. The service has vastly improved compared to the past. It is the cheapest way to get around the city, bus fares typically being ¥2. If you have a local to guide you, it can be used to get from place to place with impressive speed (unless stuck in the traffic somewhere, of course). All buses have the route number prominently marked, and usually carry a board listing major stops along the route (in Chinese only). Similar boards are installed at each stop. Without a local to guide you, you should better have a good map and a decent grasp of Chinese.

Maps sold at newsstands etc for a few yuan show bus routes and bus stops, but aren't always easy to read, and aren't always up-to-date. There is an interactive Wuhan bus map (in Chinese) available online, which allows you to see bus connections between any two bus stops. The Baidu Maps web site also has information about the bus service.

A few bus routes are operated by electric trolley buses

There are also several Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. These have stations somewhat similar to those of the metro; you pay at the entrance into the station, rather than when boarding the bus. BRT Line 1 runs east from Wuchang Railway Station, along the Xiongchu St (mostly parallel to Line 2 of the Metro, but about 1-2 km south of it).

By streetcar

Guanngu streetcar

Wuhan Light Rail (武汉有轨电车).   Several lines of wireless tram or streetcar (the vehicles carry batteries, and are recharged at each station) have been built, or are under construction in several parts of the city. The system (actually consisting of two separate networks, far apart from each other) is referred to as 武汉有轨电车.

One system operates in the far reaches of Hanyang, connecting to the subway Line 3 at Zhuanyang Boulevard Station ( 沌阳大道站).

The other system, opened in 2018, operates in the Guanggu ("Optics Valleu") area of Wuchang. Its lines start near the main gate of the Huazhong Science and Technology University (stations Luoxiong Rd and Guanshankou of subway Line 2, to open by the end of 2018), and run south and south-east, passing by various university and corporate campuses of the area; one of them (L2) reaches the Tangsunhu Station of the Wuchang-Xianning commuter train line.

By taxi

Battery-operated electric carts are an inexpensive (1Y fare) way to get around the campus of the Huazhoung University of Science and Technology

Taxis are sometimes hard to find, especially in commercial areas. Taxis are supposed to switch drivers at 17:30 however often they will appear to do so much earlier. After 16:00, expect half of all taxis to display a sign indicating they are not for hire. In congested areas, especially 1-way streets with no convenient exit, taxi drivers displaying the for hire sign (空车） will often wave you away when you try to flag them down or stop the car to ask where you are going and dismiss you if it's not to an area they wish to go to. Be aware and plan accordingly if you have to be somewhere on-time. The lack of adequate taxis in congested areas (Wuhan Plaza, for example), people in Wuhan are much more aggressive when trying to get a taxi. Expect to race to any car that stops and to hold your ground at the door (for example if you're waiting at the front door, someone will jump in the back). Rates are relatively cheap at ¥6 on the flag and with around ¥70 getting you between almost any two spots you are likely to want to travel between. It is possible to get higher taxi fares, but usually only because the taxi driver has deliberately taken you on a longer trip (which is, thankfully, not a common occurrence).

Airport taxis are the exception. Foreigners in particular are likely to get ripped off by taxi drivers at the airport. They will demand prices starting at ¥150 to go anywhere in the city. For reference, going from the airport to the middle of Hanyang costs about ¥50 typically. It is advisable to insist on the metre before the taxi starts moving and if the driver refuses, step out, collect your luggage and go back to the taxi stand. This is not a serious problem in the daytime when there is a supervisor at the taxi stand who is an airport employee, rather than a taxi driver.

One oddity of the taxi system is crossing the bridges. Because of the traffic problems and snarls at the bridges, the city has instituted a system in which half the taxis are not permitted to cross the bridge on half the days. Basically, if the day of the month is odd, odd-numbered taxis are allowed to use the Number One Bridge. If the day of the month is even, even-numbered taxis are allowed to use the Number One Bridge. This system may extend to the Number Two Bridge (this is not yet confirmed) but it does not extend to the Number Three Bridge. In most circumstances, however, it is not advisable to use the Number Three Bridge as it tends to increase the taxi fares dramatically (although it is an interesting ride).

By ferry

A ferry on the Yangtze

The Yangtze River can be crossed by ferry for a very reasonable fee of ¥1.5. The ferry runs frequently starting at 07:00 and ending at 21:00. It offers by virtue of its unique location some nice views of the city, the Number One Yangtze River Bridge, Yellow Crane Tower, etc. during the day and an interesting nightscape view after dark.

By car

Wuhan's perpetually snarled traffic has long been famous. The city, however, has invested a lot of money and effort in improving the road infrastructure. In the 2000s, a popular type of project was building two-level intersections at important street crossings, or putting sections of a street underground in locations with a lot of pedestrian traffic (e.g. in front of Wuchang or Hankou Railway Stations). Sometimes, an entire street was put underground (e.g. Ba Yi St south of the Wuhan University campus). In the 2010s, the city starting converting entire streets into two-level structures, with most traffic going on the elevated highway, and the local traffic, on the street level below. This, for example, has been done to Xiongchu Rd in Wuchang. While all these projects improve the traffic situation in the long run, they -- as well as subway construction -- create temporary bottlenecks for the duration of the construction work.

By bicycle

Bicyclists can be frequently seen on Wuhan's streets, although by 2018 there seem to be more riders of rental bikes than people who ride their own bicycles. If you want to see an iconic Chinese scene of the late 20th century, a huge crowd of people riding bicycles, you'll need to come to a popular park, such as the East Lake, on a good-weather weekend.

The ambitious Wuhan Greenway (武汉绿道) project aims to create a large network of wide pedestrian / bicycle paths throughout the Greater Wuhan. As of 2018, the paths along Ba Yi Rd and around all the sections of the East Lake have been completed, providing for a pleasant, even though not always very direct routes e.g. from several numerous university campuses in eastern Wuchang (Wuhan University, Sports University, Geosciences University, HUST) all the way to the Wuhan Railway Station area.

Crossing the Yangtze with a bicycle is somewhat of a challenge. Apparently, only the First Bridge allows bicycle riders; the Second Bridge allows pedestrians, but requires that bicycles be pushed. The rest of the bridges are for the automotive traffic only. Bicycles can also be taken on river ferries, for an additional fee (¥1). (More info: 武汉自行车免费“坐船”过江延至年底 "The bicycles-ride-free ferry offer is extended to the end of the year").)

See

Around the East Lake

Occupying much of the north-eastern part of Wuchang, the East Lake Scenic Area (东湖风景区, Donghu fengjing qu) is larger than either New York City's Central Park of Hangzhou's West Lake. In 2017-2018, its system of landscaped trails ("the East Lake Greenways", 东湖绿道) has been expanded. Most of the area is now free, with the exception of certain specific attractions (such as the Botanic Garden), where admission is charged.

The most easily accessibly areas of the park (close to subway stations, bus line, or parking lots) may get very crowded on good-weather weekends.

The park is huge, and can be accessed from many directions. From the northwest, the Liyuan Subway Station (on Line 8 of the Wuhan Metro) is the easiest access. From the north, the Wuhan Railway Station Subway Station and, even more, the nearby Yangchun Hu Subway Station are, in theory, within the walking distance from the park's bounds; however, as of early 2018, due to construction, pedestrian access is somewhat difficult; instead, you can take No. 643 from Wuhan Railway Station. From the southwest, you can walk to the lake from Wuhan University (see below). From the south, several buses go to Molu Street Moshan stop (鲁磨路磨山站), including 401,402, 413. From the east and southeast, the park can be accessed from several stops of bus route 513, which runs from Wuhan Railway Station to Guanggu Circle (光谷广场) along the park's eastern and southern border. More bus routes for individual sites in this article (in Chinese). See also listings below for individual sites.

• 🌍 Wuhan Botanical Garden (武汉植物园) (Buses 401 (from Guanggu Guangchang subway station, Line 2); 402 (from the NW side of the East Lake; bus crosses the lake on a causeway), 403), ☎ [phone]. The Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was established in 1956 and is known today as one of China's top research botanical gardens. There is an impressive variety of gardens and greenhouses within the grounds of the botanical garden. It is in the Moshan Hill area south of the East Lake, next to a number of other scenic sites. ¥40. (updated Oct 2015)
• Moshan Hill Scenic Area (磨山景区) (South of the East Lake (Donghu); see the Wuhan Botanical Garden for bus routes). A large park area filled with monuments, temples, and various shops. While most of the monuments in the area were built in the 1990s, Moshan Hill is still a great place to go hiking and enjoy the natural scenery. The Botanical Garden (separate admission) is nearby. Free. (updated Oct 2015)
• 🌍 Chuidi Scenic Area (Ma'anshan Forest Park) (吹笛景区(马鞍山森林公园)) (southeast of the East Lake (Donghu), bordering on Huazhong University of Science and Technology. To get to the west gate of the scenic area, you can take bus 327 from the main gate of HUST (the future Guanshankou 关山口 Subway Station).).
  

  Monkeys at Houshan (Monkey Mountain), Chuidi Scenic Area
  
  Another large forest park area, with lots of walking and biking trails, hilltop gazebos, and various waterfront attractions (many of them set up in 2017-2018). Yujia Lake (喻家湖 Yujiahu), a bay of the East Lake west of the park, is regularly used by dragon boat teams for training; their shore base is on the west side of the bay (outside of Chuidi's limits). A group of monkeys resides in an enclosure near the appropriately named Monkey Hill (猴山); a few particularly trusted individuals are allowed to roam outside and interact with visitors.
  There are a couple of villages inside the park, but the trail network is laid out in such a way that the visitors don't need to cross the villages; they just see them and their fields from the outside, without interfering with the residents' life too much. Free. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Mao Zedong's Summer Villa (Maozedong Donghu Jiuju). Wuhan is home to one of the villas of Chairman Mao. He returned here annually and typically stayed a few months. The decor was designed in the 1950s fashion, which strikes many visitors as odd, yet there are plenty of indicators that it is no ordinary person's home. One of the most interesting sites is Mao's large indoor swimming pool. Mao's pool seems to no longer be accessible. Also, the villa is not where Google Maps says it is, and it is difficult to find since there are no signs (not even in Chinese). To get there, get to Hubei Museum first. As you face the museum main entrance, turn left and walk along the main street. Immediately a street will branch off to your right - take it (the museum will be on your right). The street will lead to a roundabout, on which you should turn right, into a narrow shaded alleyway with some dilapidated houses and chicken coops. Eventually you will come to a gate (may look closed but will have an opening). Continue through the gate and straight along a causeway with water on both sides. You will get to an intersection - turn left. You will come to a parking lot in front of a large building complex - you want to get behind that complex, i.e. pass it so that it's on your left (there's a road with a blue forward-pointing arrow going there - take that road, then turn left). You will see an unremarkable-looking building with Mao's old car in a glass enclosure - this is Mao's villa. In March 2019, it seemed to be closed for the public, and not possible to visit. ¥50. 

A popular swimming area in Liyuan Park on the East Lake, as seen in 2008

• Liyuan Park (梨园公园 Liyuan Gongyuan), Donghu Rd, Wuchang District (Liyuan subway station (Line 8). Or take bus no 401 or 402). One of the oldest and most accessible parks on the East Lake, all summer long it is a popular swimming area for the youths and families alike. Elsewhere on the lake, there are fancier beaches where admission is charged. 
• Famous People's Culture Park (名人文化公园) (Shimenfeng Cemetery (石门峰陵园)), Entrance from Shimenfeng St (石门峰路), about 1.5 km NE from the crossing of Senlin Rd (森林大道) and Qingwang St (青王路). The slopes of the Stone Gate Peak (石门峰) are occupied by a large cemetery whose owners apparently are very serious about sponsoring public art. As a result, the hill's foothills are home to what may be the largest sculpture park this side of Skopje. The 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution were commemorated by a series of monuments to its participants. Another memorial complex commemorates the heroes of the war against Japan (1931-1945), and, closer to the entrance, yet another sculpture garden honors the marshals and generals of the People's Liberation Army. The famous personages of more ancient history are not forgotten either: deeper in the park, forty-plus statues of China's kings and emperors, from the earliest beginnings and to Empress Dowager Cixi (apparently, the only woman in this alley), not omitting Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan, have lined up a mountain path in the style reminiscent of a tradtional spirit way (神道). And, of course, there is plenty of more light-hearted statuary around the park.
  
  You can also walk up the steep stairs, through the actual cemetery to the top of the hill (marked by a tower with a star on top), for a fairly decent view of the surroundings. (updated Mar 2018)

Elsewhere in Wuchang

• 🌍 Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼 Huanghelou) (In downtown Wuchang, about 1 km north of Fuxinglu station on No. 4 subway line).
  

  Snake Hill Park from the Yellow Crane Tower.
  
  The single largest tourist attraction in Wuhan, the tower is a modern construction built on the site of twelve previous incarnations. It is considered one of the four great towers in China. The tower sits atop Snake Hill near the Number One Yangtze River Bridge and affords a commanding view of the Yangtze River as well as the mouth of the Han River where it connects. The view of the city is very impressive, although at times made slightly hazy by smog. On the clearest days, one can see practically the entire city of Wuhan and far up and down the Yangtze River. Entering the park costs ¥80 (as of Dec 2010) which gives access to Snake Hill Park, Yellow Crane Tower and the Mao Pavilion (in which many of the poems of Chairman Mao are etched into stone for viewing pleasure).
  The park as a whole is nicely landscaped with many charming buildings. Of particular interest is the enormous bronze bell behind Yellow Crane Tower and a teahouse on the premises which features regular performances of traditional Chu-era music. The performance is free, but it is expected that patrons enjoying it order at least a beverage or a small snack The current tower was completed in the 1980s using modern materials. Most notably, concrete is used instead of wood for all supporting members so as to prevent yet another disaster, since the twelve previous towers were all destroyed by fires and war. The ground floor of the tower contains a large entrance hall, two stories tall, with enormous decorative lamps and a giant ceramic fresco displaying the quasi-mythical story of the tower's initial construction. The second story, essentially a balcony around the entrance hall, contains a souvenir shop as well as displays of traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The third story has a residence done up in the very ancient, Chu style modelled after the kinds of sitting rooms used by nobility greeting guests in the ancient period. The fourth story contains another souvenir shop and a set of models displaying the tower in five of its previous incarnations. This latter display shows the fascinating development of an essentially military watchtower into an increasingly residence/tourist-oriented showpiece. The top accessible story has pay telescopes and some nice art displays. Yellow Crane Tower (and, in fact, Snake Hill Park in general) is wheelchair-accessible in most areas of interest. The tower even has two elevators suited to the elderly and the handicapped who would otherwise not be able to climb the stairs to the top. Ramps abound in most of the areas of interest. 80 CNY (as of 2012).  
• 🌍 Memorial Hall of Wuchang Uprising in 1911 Revolution (In downtown Wuchang; just below Snake Hill on the south side). On October 10, 1911 the Wuchang Uprising started the Xinhai Revolution, which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the election of Sun Yat-Sen as the provisional president. This was one of the biggest events that shaped modern China, making its headquarters a must-see for anyone interested in historical travel. The Revolutionary Army was here, and inside the Red Chamber (the main building) they issued the edict to bring down the Qing Dynasty. In the outside Uprising Plaza (首义广场), stands a statue of Sun Yat-Sen. Free.  

On the grounds of the Hubei Provincial Museum

• 🌍 Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省博物馆) (About 1 km south-east of Dongting subway station (Line 4)), ☎ [phone]. Exhibit of ancient Chinese artifacts excavated from throughout Hubei Province. Displays range from pottery, jewelry, clothing, and even ancient human skulls. One of the highlights are the well-preserved musical instruments, and a brief concert is played daily on replica instruments. Also houses one very famous weapon: the Sword of Goujian. Free.  
• 🌍 Changchun Taoist Temple (长春观), 269 Wuluo Rd, ZhongNan ShangQuan, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430072 (NE of downtown Wuchang (NE corner of Wuluo Lu and Zhongshan Lu)).
  

  A wall painting in Changchun Temple
  
  A large Taoist temple. ¥5.  
• 🌍 Baotong Temple (宝通禅寺), 549 Wuluo Rd, HongShan JieDao Kou ShangQuan, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430072 (Baotong Subway station (Line 2) in Wuchang).
  

  A bixi turtle carrying a tablet in Baotong Temple
  
  A large Chan Buddhist temple, although ancient in origin, had most of its buildings constructed fairly recently. The Hall of 500 Arhats is worth seeing. There are two bixi turtles on premises, although one of them is fairly new, carrying a stele commemorating the temple's renovation in 2006. Hongshan Pagoda (洪山宝塔), although not at Hongshan Hill's top, provides the best viewpoint around. Climbing the pagoda over steep, narrow winding stairs is an interesting experience. ¥10; ¥2 for admission to Hongshan Pagoda. (updated Oct 2015)
• 🌍 Wuhan University (武汉大学 Wuhan Daxue, Wuda), Luojiashan, Wuchang District (take bus no 519 or metro line 2 (Stations Jiedaokou or Guangfutun)). If you are in Wuhan in the spring, be sure to check out the cherry blossom (sakura) in Wuhan University, a famous tourist attraction. Any time of the year, you can also take a tour among the palatial buildings in "one of the most beautiful campuses." ¥20 during sakura festival; free otherwise. 
• 🌍 China University of Geosciences (中国地质大学) (In Lumo Rd (鲁磨路), about 1 km north of Guanggu Guangchang). This is the Wuhan campus of a national university that also has a campus in Beijing. The campus has three sections: the eastern and western ones are connected by a pedestrian bridge over Lumo Rd, the western and northern, by a pedestrian tunnel under Fujiashan/Nanwangshan. The well landscaped area around the university's main buildings (on both sides of Lumo Lu) also has the university museum, with a large collection of minerals and an impressive display of dinosaur skeletons. (updated Nov 2015)

Hanyang

Guiyuan Temple

• 🌍 Guiyuan Temple (归元寺) (In Hanyang, a few blocks west of Zhongjiacun subway station (Line 4)), ☎ [phone]. 09:00-17:00. Built in 1658, Guiyuan Temple is known as the first zen temple to be built in Hubei Province. The most famous and impressive building in the complex is the Arhats Hall, which contains 500 arhat (Buddhist saints) statues. When you enter, from whichever part you choose to begin exploring, you are supposed to count the arhats. When you have counted to your current age, you are then supposed to write down the number above the statue that you stopped on and you can then present it to the small shop outside to purchase a golden card with your fortune, as well as a depiction of that statue. The statues inside are all quite different and intricately designed, so it's well worth the time to thoroughly explore the temple. Entrance is ¥10. 
• Wuhan Zoo (In Hanyang, about 2 km SW of Hanyang Railway Station (Hanyang Huoche Zhan subway station on Line 4)). Although it is a zoo, there is more to this zoo than just animals. The zoo contains a small area of amusement park rides, and a beautiful bonsai garden. Of course, those who are interested in seeing the animals will not be disappointed, as the zoo features a Giant Panda (be aware that they occasionally take the panda out to travel to other parts of the country), red pandas, hippos, wolves, zebras, and many other popular zoo animals. No visit to this zoo would be complete without seeing one of the daily shows! Well-trained animals performing unbelievable stunts, from puppies doing tricks to bicycling bears.  
• 🌍 Qingchuan Pavilion and Temple of Yu the Great (晴川阁,禹稷行宫) (In Hanyang, on the Yangtze waterfront). A temple complex dedicated to Yu the Great, a legendary ancient emperor who overwhelmed the great flood and, with the help of a yellow dragon and black turtle, created the geographical features of today's China. Includes a stele-bearing bixi turtle (one of the few such creatures within Wuhan's urban area; see also Baotong Temple and Longquanshan); good views over the river. 

Hankou

• 🌍 The Yangtze River waterfront (汉口江滩).
  

  Armed with the ideas of Mao Zedong, the people of Wuhan are fighting the flood of 1954
  
  Note the tall monument which, from far away, appears to be a monument to Mao Zedong, but which actually commemorates Wuhan's complicated relationship with its great river. Erected in 1969, tt's inscribed with Mao's poem "Swimming" (which not only celebrates the Yangtze in Wuhan, but also foresees the creation of the mighty hydro dams farther upstream), and decorated with reliefs depicting the citizens fighting the flood of 1954. Free. (updated Oct 2015)
• 🌍 10th China (Wuhan) International Garden Expo (2015年第十届中国（武汉）国际园林博览会; abbreviated as 武汉园博会 or 武汉园博园) (just west of the racetrack, a couple miles NW of the Hankou Railway Station). This is a large (a mile across) exhibition grounds on Wuhan's northwestern outskirts. Constructed from scratch on the site of a former landfill, it opened in the fall of 2015. There are two large exhibition buildings on site; at the time (Nov 2015) one has a garden expo running, the other has exhibits from the collections of various museums (jade carvings, coins, furniture, porcelain, etc.) The rest of the grounds are landscaped, divided into a hundred or so themed sections: a dozen or so dedicated to various foreign countries, the rest, to various cities of China.
  Overall, although the landscaping is nice, one can visit plenty of similarly nice landscaped sites for free (or for a nominal admission fee) elsewhere in Wuhan, in city parks or on university campuses.
  The most crowded place at the site seems to be the huge, but rather overpriced cafeteria (which is also divided into themed sections, dedicated to various regions' cuisine). Many visitors choose to bring their own snacks - there are plenty of benches around the site for picnicking! ¥100 (during the 10th Garden Expo; may change for future events). (updated Nov 2015)
• Wuhan Museum, 武汉市汉口青年路373号 (Metro Line 2: Hankou Railway Station). 9:00-17:00; closed on Fridays. A major museum in a park-like setting. Closed for repair through April 30, 2018. (updated Mar 2018)

In the suburbs

• 🌍 Longquanshan Scenic Area (龙泉山) (Bus 909 from Guanggu Guangchang subway station, or a 10 miles' drive or bike ride across the city's new business area and rural suburbs). The resting place of 9 members of the local branch of the Ming Dynasty (starting with one of the sons of the first Ming Emperor), decorated with temples, pavilions, and 3 stele-bearing turtles (bixi), set in the countryside a few miles to the southeast of Wuhan, proudly described as Wuhan's answer to the Ming Tombs of Beijing. A trail leads to a hilltop tower, from which great views of the area could be seen if the visibility were better. ¥36. Some areas don't require payment.. (updated Oct 2015)
• 🌍 Zhongshan Warship Museum (武汉市中山舰博物馆), About 1 km north of Jinkou Town (金口街道), Jiagxia District. 9:00-17:00; entrance closes at 16:00. Closed on Mondays (unless a public holiday)..
  

  SS Zhongshan
  
  This museum, located near the right bank of the Yangtze in the far southwestern suburbs of Wuhan, commemorates a naval battle that happened here, hundreds of miles from the sea, in October 1938. Sunk by the Japanese aviation - just three years before the Pearl Harbor attack on the US fleet - the Chinese warship Zhongshan was raised from the bottom of the Yangzte in 1997, restored, and is now displayed in this museum's main hall. Adjacent are exhibits on the history of the ship, as well as the process of its lifting from the river bottom and its restoration. On the top of a hill across the small lake from the museum is a memorial to the 25 sailors, including the ship's captain, who found their watery grave in the Yangtze, far from their hometowns on Fujian's northern coast. The lake is surrounded by sculptures commemorating various aspects of the Battle of Wuhan in 1938, as well as of the city's eventual liberation after the surrender of Japan in 1945. Various other exhibits of military and patriotic nature, such as a sampling of PLA's older weaponry, can be seen here as well. Free. (updated Mar 2018)
• Wood lion sculpture, Fortune Plaza Times Square. A large carving of a lion. The world's largest redwood sculpture, at 14.5 meters long and 5 meters high, carved from a single tree trunk. 

Do

A bixi turtle at the Qingchuan Pavilion, and the Turtle Mountain TV Tower

• Jiqing Street (吉庆街). An ordinary-seeming street by day, becomes transformed by night into a bewildering maze of streetside restaurants and buskers performing music, dance, opera and stand-up comedy. It is a strongly-recommended experience. Food is plentiful and cheap, and it features a lot of unique local cuisine. The performances can be enjoyed by proxy as performers work other tables or they can be purchased. One can expect to pay about ¥10 per song performed. Other performances are more based on contributions—the more you contribute, the longer the performers will do their routines and the more daring/interesting/funny the routines will be. 
• Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival). fifth day of the fifth lunar month at the East Lake. The famous Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated throughout China however, it's origins lie with the ancient Chu Kingdom that resided in Hubei Province and surrounding provinces during the Warring States Period. The festival was brought about from the story of Qu Yuan, advisor of King Huai, who had made many predictions about the dangers of the surrounding kingdoms to their own. Qu Yuan had advised the king on ways to protect the Chu Kingdom, but the king refused to listen and instead banished his advisor from the court. Years later, when word reached Qu Yuan that all of his predictions had come true, he committed suicide in the river out of despair over the fall of his kingdom. It is said that the people of the town loved him so much that they paddled down the river in dragon boats making music and throwing rice into the river so that the fish would not eat his body. This event is believed to have occurred on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and the festival is celebrated in much the same way today as the event had occurred with the dragon boats and music in the river. People eat zongi, special rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, on this holiday. Although Qu Yuan is said to have drown himself in the Miluo River, just outside of Hubei Province, the festival is believed to have originated in Wuhan.
  Throughout the rest of the year, one can often see teams of dragon boat paddlers exercising on the city's lakes and rivers. For one of the sites, see Chuidi Scenic Area in the "See" section.  
• Happy Valley Wuhan, Crossing of Happy Avenue (named after the Valley) and Renhe Road. (Take subway line 4 and transfer to a bus. Bus numbered 534, 566, 545, 810, 782, 108, and 536 come here.). 09:00 to 18:00. If you like roller coasters or just rides in general, be sure to check out this amusement park. It has some of the fastest and most scary rides in Asia. The gem is a Strata Coaster 30-story tall and reach 135km/h when it launched. Other notable rides include a wooden coaster and 3 other steel ones. ¥150 for General Admission. 

Learn

Wuhan boasts eight national colleges and universities among its 36 colleges and universities. The city is among one of the biggest collegetown with over a million of college students in town. Most of the colleges are in Wuchang and around the Optics Valley Square (Guanggu Guangchang). The OVS station ranks the highest for subway ridership in the system ever since its opening.

National

• Wuhan University(武汉大学 Wǔhàn Dàxué), It is regarded as one of the top ten universities in China, and its history dates back to 1893, making it one of China's oldest institutions of higher learning. It was also one of the first modern "national universities" in post-dynastic China. See more info above, under "See".
• Huazhong University of Science and Technology (华中科技大学 Huázhōng Kējì Dàxué), another of the top ten Chinese university in Wuhan, evolved from a 1953 school specialized in science and engineering studies. It is now a university providing complete education, but some of its engineering programs are among the best in China. It has a medical campus in Hankou (Tongji Medical School), but the main campus is on Luoyu Road, Wuchang. The campus is decorated with a number of parks and lotus ponds, and plenty of public sculpture, including the monuments to Mao Zedong (at the main entrance of the main campus), Albert Einstein (near the dorms and the dining hall on the Eastern Campus, 东校区), and Confucius (in front of the Academic Building West 12, 西十二教学楼, in the western part of the main campus). The forested Yujiashan Mountain (喻家山) at the campus' northern edge offers pleasant hiking trail and a viewpoint with great views of most of the East Lake region (in right weather, of course). The future Guanshankou Station on the eastern extension of Subway Line 2 will be located near the campus' main entrance; at present, take Line 2 to Guanggu Guanchang, and then walk a mile east or take any eastbound bus in Luoyu Rd to Guanshankou 关山口 stop. From the campus' main entrance of Guanshankou, electric minibuses circulate around the campus along several routes.
• South-Central University for Nationalities(中南民族大学 Zhōngnán Mínzú Dàxué). It is a national university located in Wuhan, directly under the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of PRC. It is a comprehensive university founded in 1951 and formerly known as the South Central College for Nationalities(Chinese: 中南民族学院). In March 2002, the school adopted the current name. It is one of the 6 national higher education institutes for ethnic minorities in China. The campus has a pleasant waterfront on Wuhan's South Lake (南湖 Nanhu).
• Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) (华中农业大学) also known as Central China Agricultural University, HZAU is a multi-disciplinary comprehensive university in Wuhan, giving priority to agriculture, characterized by life sciences and supplemented by the combination of agriculture, basic sciences, engineering, liberal arts, law, agricultural economics, economic trade, and management. HZAU, one of the first groups of universities in China which are authorized to confer Ph.D. and M.A. degrees, has produced the new China's first doctor majoring in agronomy. As far as education quality and academic level, HZAU ranks first among the agricultural universities in China. In addition, it has been converted into a nationally important base for training senior special agricultural personnel and developing agricultural science and technology. It is a Chinese Ministry of Education Double First Class Discipline University, with Double First Class status in certain disciplines.Covering an area of 495 hectares, the campus contains well-spaced teaching blocks and lab buildings and is surrounded on three sides by clear lakes and backed by green hills, making it an ideal place for teaching and research. HZAU has established exchange and cooperation relationships with over 150 institutions of 40 countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Britain, France, and Pakistan built up joint training programs with many foreign universities. In addition, there are 20 international foundations and organizations who have developed cooperation programs with HZAU. HZAU also hosts many international students. The university has an International College, engaged in enrollment and management of foreign students (including undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral students, post doctorates and visiting scholars), management and teaching of Chinese as a foreign language of international exchange students. Up to now, there are about 500 foreign students from 50 countries and regions to receive further education in HZAU. Most of these students are sponsored by fully funded scholarships by China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Buy

Malls

Jianghan Road by night.

• Jianghan Road (江汉路) (In Hankou). Of potential interest to a visitor, a pedestrian mall almost as long as Shanghai's famed East Nanjing Road. During the day it is an interesting look at rampant consumerism in China's rapidly-growing middle class. At night, starting at 19:00, it is the same but is expanded on each side a few blocks deep by a night market with literally thousands of little stalls hawking every variety of goods imaginable: makeup, souvenirs, clothing, housewares, food, music, movies, etc. 

Books and maps

• 🌍 Guanggu Book City (光谷书城) (Guanggu Shucheng), Guanggu Plaza (Guanggu Guangchang subway station (Line 2)). A major book store, next to the numerous shopping malls of Guanggu Circle (Guanggu Guangchang 光谷广场). Has a small section with books China in foreign languages (mostly English), and books for foreigner studying Chinese. The actual book store is, as of 2018, part of the national Xinhua chain. This is the part of the city where all the universities are, so if you look like a Westerner, you'd occasionally encounter a student who'd like to practice his/her English. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Changjiang Book City (长江书城) (Changjiang Shu Cheng), Xiongchu Avenu (Xiongchu Dajie) (Near Loushi South Road (Loushinanlu), about 3km east of Wuchang Train Station). 09:00-24:00.
  

  Chongwen Plaza, home of Changjiang Book City
  
  Two separate medium-sized book stores run by the same company, on two separate floors of the same building. While pleasant enough, these two stores combined are much smaller than the huge Chongwen Book City (崇文书城) that used to occupy an entire floor of this distinctive building (Chongwen Plaza) a decade ago. (updated Mar 2018)
• Hubei Province Foreign Languages Book Shop (外文书店) (Waiwen shudian), Zhongnan Road (Zhongnan Lu subway station (Lines 2 and 4). Just north of Wulou Road, no English sign). Another big book shop. The "foreign languages" in its name seems to refer mostly to the textbooks and dictionaries of foreign languages for the Chinese audience and the books translated into Chinese from foreign languages, but they carry some literature in English as well. 

Seeds

Where gardeners shop for seeds...

• 🌍 Vegetable seed shops, The west side of Zhongshan Road (中山路) between Ziyang Road and Wuluo Road (One block north of Wuchang Railway Station). If you are interested in the origin of all the produce you see in Chinese markets and restaurants, you can visit the stores from which farmers and amateur gardeners buy vegetable seeds. There are several dozens seed shops in Wuhan, mostly having the word 种苗 zhongmiao ("seedling") in their names, and they all are concentrated on one block of Zhongshan Road, conveniently located next to a train station and a bus station (to better serve rural customers). Seeds are packaged in somewhat larger bags than those you typically see in North American or European retail shops; some are sold in bulk as well. If you actually plan to buy some seeds and take them outside of China, be aware about any applicable customs and quarantine regulations in your home country. 

Eat

Wuhan is famous for its morning xiaochi - a variety of breakfast foods. Hubuxiang in Wuchang is Wuhan's famous breakfast alley where you will find all of Wuhan's famous breakfast dishes. Reganmian (热干面) (literally, "hot dry noodle") is the epitome of Wuhan's breakfast food. It is noodles with peanut sauce, tossed in sesame paste and other seasonings. You will find these noodles for ¥2 from street vendors. Other Wuhan breakfast specialties include mianwo, a type of savory donut; tangbao (汤包), small dumpling-buns filled with pork and soup; mibaba, a lightly sweetened pancake made with rice flour; and mijiu tangyuan (米酒汤圆), a sweet soup of rice wine (fermented from glutinous rice) with rice flour dumplings stuffed with sesame paste.

Real men find their fuel on the streets betwixt the hours of 12:00-05:00. On these streets there are generous and well-meaning folk selling dumplings, noodles, wok food, and foies gras. On the odd occasion that the lounge is closed, one is able to sit outside and enjoy the night air, the delightful local dialect, and any foods you order. If you are in the mood for a more romantic night on the town, there are countless 3-wall restaurants with candle lights upon the tables, live music flowing from the muses' mouths, and 4-star restaurants' finest fair at a reasonable and sanitary locale.

Since Wuchang is an education center with many universities hosting so many international students, therefore, a number of South Asian and Arabic cuisine restaurants have opened in the city. These restaurants are equally popular among Chinese and the foreigners, especially the international students.

• Desi Masala (Pakistani Cuisine Restaurant （德西玛莎拉巴基斯坦餐厅）), Subway Line 2, Jiedaokou 147, Loushi South Road, Future City Building, F1-002 (exit from Jiedaokou Subway Station, Line 2, B Exit, take U-turn towards main square and turn left towards Future City Building (Joy Park). Enter inside the Future City Building and come upstairs to F1 floor. (WeChat: DesiMasala)), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. All week 10AM-10PM. Traditional Pakistani dishes such as Chicken/Mutton/Beef Karahi, Vegetable Pakora and Samosa, Cheese Naan, Garlic Naan, Shahi Kheer, Seekh Kebab, Chicken Tikka, Raita, Daal Makhni, Beef Handi, Pizza, Burger, Salad, Soup and Tandoori BBQ with a vegan option. The restaurant also hosts a weekly buffet on Saturdays for which the price for lunch is 52¥ and the dinner for 68¥. The restaurant is co-owned by Pakistani and Chinese owners. Its environment has a Mughal Empire theme. The staff speaks both English and Chinese. 50-60¥ for a reasonable meal. (updated May 2019)

• Kebab Kingdom （烤巴巴王国）, 武汉市武昌区桂园路72号华师文化街52号, ☎ [phone]. 11:00-21:30. kebabs in Turkish style plus some Indian dishes. Deliveries from 11:30-21:00, free a 2-km radius and ¥4 for orders more than ¥30 for a 3-km radius. ¥20. (updated Apr 2019)
• Real Taste, shop 2-8-9 Ruihu world no 80, shizishan street, luo shi road (south) (near Huazhong Agricultural University in Hongshan district), ☎ [phone]. All week 10AM-10PM. Traditional Pakistani dishes such as Biryani, Chicken Curry, Cheese Naan, Gol Gappay, Seekh Kebab, Chicken Handi. The restaurant also hosts a weekly buffet for ¥55 per person which is quite popular in international students of Wuhan. 50¥ for a decent meal with a soft drink. (updated Apr 2019)

• Indian Marka (印度玛咖餐厅), 5th Floor, World City Plaza, Optics Valley Square, Luoyu Road, Hongshan District (Guanggu) [洪山区珞瑜路光谷世界城广场负一楼], ☎ [phone]. Traditional Indian cuisine with a vegan option. Indian Marka is a quite popular chain of restaurants in Wuhan with at least three franchises in the City. 60¥ for a decent meal. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Indian Marka Jiedaokou: 7F002, Luojia Creatire City (Near New world department Store), Jie Dao Kou, ☎ 027-8788842 [Chinese address: 街道口珞珈创意体验城7F002]
  • Indian Marka (IKEA): 4-13-08-SU, LIVAT Shopping Center, Wuhan, ☎ 027-83387787 [Chinese Address: 武汉市硚口区宜家荟聚·竹叶海购物中心，4-13-08-SU]

A well-known place is Hubu Xiang (户部巷)], where you can find all kinds of famous foods, including Reganmian (热干面) and mianwo (面窝).

Drink

There are a few drinks that are associated with the city. Included in this list is Jingjiu (a healthy alternative to regular wines), Baijiu. If you would like to taste something slightly more low key, there is a local micro-brew called Singo (Xingyinge), that will be the beginning of every good night, at ¥1.5 per bottle.

Wuchang(武昌)

• VOX live house, Luxiang, Lumo lu（鲁磨路）, ☎ [phone] (Chinese), [phone] (English). The most popular bar in Wuhan for non-Chinese, VOX is a small bar which regularly has shows on the weekend playing host to underground Chinese acts ranging from rock/punk/indie/experimental. Has a DJ after shows playing electro, indie-dance-rock among other things. Beers start at ¥5. 
• Wuhan Prison, Next to the BBQs and Vox on Lumo Lu（鲁磨路）. A dirty, frenzy free for all anything goes dive bar. They have absinthe. Good luck getting out of there sober. 
• Grammy International, Just south of Luxiang on Minzu Dadao (民族大道）. One of Wuhan's International Clubs, playing R'n'B, Hip-Hop, Rap. 
• Topone Bar, On the north end of Luoshi Lu（珞狮路） close to Wuhan University （武汉大学）, ☎ [phone]. Chinese style 'club', lots of tables, live entertainment and not a lot of dance floor. Beers start at about ¥30. 
• Queens Bar/Pin Club, Luoshi Road（珞狮路）. Wuchang's own little club district, refurbished. Limited dance floor, plenty of tables, liquor by the bottle. Friendly atmosphere towards foreigners. Beers start at about ¥30. 
• Sawa, Opposite Wuhan Prison on Lumo lu（鲁磨路）(near CUG中国地质大学), ☎ [phone] (Chinese and English). Opens in afternoon. Opposite Wuhan Prison, and around the corner from VOX, Sawa is a small Hookah/shisha bar that serves a wide range of alcohols (that are cheap) and also does food (which is all foreign-styled), it's a really good place to start before heading to Vox. During the day, they sell coffee and food. Beer from ¥5, cocktails are mostly ¥20, Shisha starts at ¥35 for 2 pipes. 
• Burton / La Provence (华师文化街 - Huazhong University Culture Street). 14:00-close. Adjoining cafes with good coffee and food which transform, as the night comes along, into a packed, wild place to party. Music is heavy on popular rap, hip hop and dance with a bit of African and Caribbean. Closes with the last customer, its where the party people retreat to the place to go after everyone else has closed. wild party atmosphere. students, students, students. its a student place! during the day nice pizzas and coffee. oh and its two places adjoining one another! cheap. 
• Helen's Cafe (卓刀泉北路 - next to Wuhan University's medical). 14:00-04:00. Pizza, Pasta, Hamburgers that are fine for the taste and great for the price. Beer, shishah and a wide variety of cocktails means the dance floor fills up as the night gets on. Wednesday Night is ladies night and it is the place to be. Lots of foreigners, good pizza, good drinks. Can play your own music if you like - sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse. Ladies night Wednesday night - a weekly highlight. cheap. 

Hanyang (汉阳)

• Toucan, On the ground floor of the Holiday Inn Wuhan Riverside on Qingchuan jie (晴川街). Irish bar, pool table, watch sports, Guinness on tap. ¥25 for a something which resembles a pint.. 

Hankou (汉口)

• Blue Sky Cafe, On Xibeihu Lu (西北湖街）. 
• Brussels Beer Garden, Also on Xibeihu Lu, directly below Blue Sky Cafe. A good range of Belgian and German beers on draft and bottled. (西北湖街） 
• Jianghan Riverside Club District, Set among the main entrance to the Riverside area (汉口江滩门)next to Hankou's Ferry port (汉口江滩轮船). Multiple Chinese style clubs with limited dancefloors but plenty of lounges and tables for lively and expensive drinking. As of 2012 Return 97 and Muse are highlights. Venues generally close between 02:00-04:00, later on holidays such as Western New Years Eve. Wuchang residents can stay to 06:00 and catch the ferry across the river for breakfast at hubuxiang 

Sleep

Budget hotels in a small lane near the Wuchang Railway Station

• Citadines Zhuankou Wuhan (馨乐庭武汉沌口服务公寓), No. 159 Dongfeng Avenue, Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. All 249 apartments, ranging from studios to two-bedroom layouts, have separate living and dining areas, a kitchen, broadband internet access and a home entertainment system. Daily rates starts from ¥450. 
• Holiday Inn Wuhan Riverside (at the heart of city a few minutes away from the shopping and entertainment district). Built near the banks of the Yangtze River, opposite to the well-known Yellow Crane Tower, neighbor to the ancient Qing Chuan Pavilion. 315 well-furnished rooms including 10 suites, 80 non-smoking rooms, 2 disabled rooms and 50 rooms on Executive Club floor. 
• Haiyi Jin Jiang Hotel, 1 Hongshan Road, Wuchang District. An intelligent building in the heart of the Wuchang District, offers 72 rooms with cutting edge amenities that are perfect for busy executives. It also has a variety of event venues to suit every function, as well as dining options where you can have the best of local cuisine. 
• Wuhan Pathfinder International Youth Hostel (武汉探路者国际青年旅舍), 368 Zhongshan Road, Wuchang District (武昌区中山路368号) (it cannot be seen from the street, and may be difficult to find, so make sure to write down the address in Chinese and phone number to give to your taxi), ☎ [phone], [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Free wireless access, and very nice and extensive common areas. Restaurant on site with extensive menu of quite good Chinese and Western dishes (¥10-28 per dish). Although quiet hours are listed as 23:00-08:00, this is barely a suggestion and not enforced too rigidly, so request a secluded dorm. Not a hotel for light sleepers. Dorm from ¥40 (¥35 YHA member), single ¥80 (¥70 member), double ¥158 (¥138 member). 
• Super 8 (速8酒店), 98 Donghu Road, Wuchang District (武昌区东湖路98号), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Free internet in rooms. Free simple buffet meals. From ¥180. 
• Wuhan Jin Jiang International Hotel (武汉锦江国际大酒店), 707 Jianshe Avenue, Jianghan District. A 5-star business hotel with over 400 guestrooms replete with the essentials for the traveling businessman. Also has fully-equipped ballrooms made for business conferences and other special events that can accommodate up to 400 guests. The hotel has restaurants offering Chinese and Western cuisine, and a cigar bar. 
• Novotel Wuhan Xin Hua (武汉新华诺富特大饭店) (In Hankou). 5 star hotel. 
• New World Wuhan Hotel (武汉新世界酒店), 630 Jie Fang Avenue, Hankou District, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• Shangri-La Hotel (武汉香格里拉大饭店), 700 Jian She Avenue, Hankou, ☎ [phone]. An upscale hotel offering massages, a fitness room, and a swimming pool. Internet is available in all rooms for no extra fee. From around ¥700. 
• Liangjingjing Hotel, 401 Zhongshan Avenue Jianghan wuhan (Jianghan). The Liangjingjing Hotel is an economy business hotel on Zhongshan Avenue, in Wuhan's commercial center. Each guestroom is furnished with a television, air conditioning, wireless telephone from ¥108-193. 
• 🌍 Somerset Wusheng Wuhan, No. 238, Zhongshan Ave, Qiaokou District, Hankou, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Has studio to four-bedroom apartments with its own private balcony, the property offers courier services, basement car parks, children's playground and Jacuzzi. (updated Oct 2017)
• Warm Way International Youth Hostel (暖途国际青年旅舍), 264 Lumo Road, Hongshan District, Maowu Ridge (武汉洪山区鲁磨路茅屋岭264号) (Take line 2 to the easternmost stop, Optics Valley (光谷广场). Get off at stop C and walk south along the east side of Renmin Ave (人民大道) until you get to the 625 stop which will take you north. Get off at the Lumo Rd. Bigeshan stop (鲁磨路毕阁山) and walk north.), ☎ [phone]. A friendly hostel with a warm and cozy interior. The area is somewhat shady (some prostitutes hang out south of the hostel) and noisy (dogs will sometimes bark late at night) but the staff is friendly and they offer laundry, internet and plenty of bathrooms and showers. You will probably need to speak some Chinese to talk to the receptionist. ¥50. (updated Jul 2018)

Cope

Consulates

• France, New World International Trade Tower Room 1702, 568 Jianshe Ave, Jianghan District, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• United Kingdom, 33F, Pingan Finance Centre, 1628 Zhongshan Avenue, Jiang'an District, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• United States, Room 4701, New World International Trade Tower I, 568 Jianshe Ave, Jianghan District, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• Republic of Korea, 4F, Pudong Development Bank B/D, 218, Xinhua Road, Jianghan District, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 

Go next

There are two train stations in Wuchang (Wuchang station and Wuhan station, the latter for high speed trains) and one in Hankou. There are also long-distance bus stations; one in Hankou, and two (Fojiapo 傅家坡长途汽车站 http://fjp.hbglky.com/ and Xiongji 宏基长途汽车客运站) near the Wuchang train station.

• Jingzhou
• Yichang, for the Three Gorges and the Shennongjia Mountains
• Mount Wudang
• Ezhou
• Xianning, for the Underground Project 131 (Cold-War era nuclear bunkers, now a museum; some travelers report that foreigners are not allowed)
• Zhongxiang, with the Ming Xianling mausoleum

Routes through Wuhan

Beijing ← Zhengzhou ←

N  S

→ Changsha → Guangzhou