Hubei

Hubei Province is mainly known for the Yangtze River and the cruises that depart or end in Yichang. However the province also has other great destinations to visit.

The capital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, is a pleasant city with a few sights, notably the Yellow Crane Tower perched on top of Snake Hill. A sure sign that Wuhan is booming are the direct flights to Europe that were launched in 2013.

Most travellers to Hubei will at some point arrive in Yichang, a city in the west part of the province where most of the cruise lines operating on the Yangtze River begin or end their Yangtze River Cruise tours. Contrary to popular opinion the cruise are still worth coming here for. While the water levels of the river have risen almost 200 meters due to the completion of the Great Yangtze Dam you can still see the beautiful gorges and enjoy a couple of relaxing days on the cruise ships travelling from Yichang to Chongqing or reverse. The Great Yangtze Dam itself is part of the cruises and certainly a sight to behold. The cruises also have daily shore excursion to sights and places along the
river. Excursion programs vary but Fengdu Ghost Town, Shennongxi Stream and a bunch of other activities are usually a part of the cruises.

In the north part of the province Wudangshan is home to a temple complex inhabited by fighting monks, famous for their martial arts skills. Not quite as famous as their counterpart in Henan Province’s Shaolin Temple area, they are still well worth a visit.

In the far west of Hubei you can visit towns and villages inhabited by the Tujia peoples, a minority group native to these parts of Central China.