Wuhan, China

Welcome to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China. With a population of over eleven million, Wuhan is the largest city in Hubei and the most populous city in Central China. It is one of the nine National Central Cities of China and is considered the political, economic, financial, commercial, cultural, and educational center of Central China. The name Wuhan came from the city’s historical origin from the conglomeration of Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang, which are collectively known as the Three Towns of Wuhan. Wuhan lies in the eastern Jianghan Plain, at the confluence of the Yangtze river and its largest tributary, the Han River, and is known as Nine Provinces Thoroughfare. Wuhan has historically served as a busy city port for commerce and trading. Other historical events taking place in Wuhan include the Wuchang Uprising of 1911, which led to the end of 2,000 years of dynastic rule. Wuhan was briefly the capital of China in 1927 under the left wing of the Kuomintang (KMT) government. The city later served as the wartime capital of China for ten months in 1937 during WWII. Wuhan is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads, and expressways passing through the city and connecting to other major cities. Because of its key role in domestic transportation, Wuhan is sometimes referred to as the Chicago of China by foreign sources. The Golden Waterway of the Yangtze River and the Han River traverse the urban area and divide Wuhan into the three districts of Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. The Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge crosses the Yangtze in the city. The Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity, is located nearby. While Wuhan has been a traditional manufacturing hub for decades, it is also one of the areas promoting modern industrial changes in China. Wuhan has three national development zones, four scientific and technological development parks, over 350 research institutes, 1,656 high tech enterprises, numerous enterprise incubators and investments from 230 Fortune Global 500 firms. It produced GDP (nominal) of US$274 billion in 2021. The Dongfeng Motor Corporation, an automobile manufacturer, is headquartered in Wuhan. The city is home to multiple notable institutes of higher education, including Wuhan University and the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Wuhan is a major city in the world by scientific research outputs and it ranks 11th globally, 6th in the Asia-Pacific and 5th in China (after Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Guangzhou). In 2017, Wuhan was designated as a Creative City by UNESCO, in the field of design. Wuhan is classified as a Beta- (global second tier) city together with seven other cities in China, including Changsha, Dalian, Jinan, Shenyang, Xiamen, Xian and Zhengzhou by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Wuhan is also one of the world’s top 100 financial centers, according to the Global Financial Centres Index. Wuhan has suffered risks of flooding, prompting the government to alleviate the situation by introducing ecologically friendly absorption mechanisms. Wuhan is a city with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and a promising future. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying its delicious local cuisine, or experiencing its modern industrial and technological advancements, Wuhan has something for everyone. Come and discover the many treasures of this enchanting destination and see for yourself why Wuhan is one of the most exciting cities in China.