Wuhan is the most populous city in central China and has a rich historical and cultural background as well as many tourist attractions. It is a thriving modern city and a place of contrasts, with architecture ranging from traditional Chinese to European influenced early-20th century as well as plenty of contemporary architecture.
Tours and activities in Wuhan
Wuhan is a city packed full of traditional and modern attractions and to take it all in; you’d be advised to take some organized tours. A local guide will help you book restaurants, tickets to attractions and give you interesting historical background.
We have a full range of tour offers to choose from, or you can contact us for more information.
Best time to visit
Wuhan is known as one of the “four furnaces” of China due to its warm weather. Summers are scorching and wet, while winters are cold and humid. Best times for visiting are March to May when the temperatures are at their most pleasant and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, adding beautiful color to the city.
Top Attractions in Wuhan
Wuhan is a modern state with tons of fascinating and indulging activities. You can have a glimpse of European style facilities, products, food, and architecture. So you pay for a China city but get a reward of European culture for free. It is a great spot to learn, enjoy and spend your holidays.
The most famous landmark in Wuhan is the Yellow Crane Tower. This imposing and beautiful pagoda can be easily seen from a distance, and inside the site itself you can take in exhibits on each of the floors covering local legends, poetry, Dynastic history and more. The area around the tower is stunning, with bronze yellow cranes, waterways, pavilions, and memorial gateways.
Hubei Provincial Museum is the only provincial museum in the area and houses over 200,000 cultural relics and artifacts from Chinese history. There you’ll see three main exhibits – the Chime Bells Exhibition Hall, the Chu Culture Exhibition Hall and the Comprehensive Exhibition Hall (which is still undergoing construction).
The museum has on display pottery, jade carvings, bronze vessels, and ancient weapons as well as an interesting collection of musical instruments. Twice a day, traditionally-attired musicians play a replica of the Chime Bells, an incredible performance filled with beautiful music.
You can visit the National Stone Museum which houses a massive variety of stones from all over China.
By far the biggest and most impressive natural attraction in Wuhan is the Huangpi Mulan Culture Ecological Tourism Area, named for the legendary Mulan who was made famous in the Disney movie of the same name.
A female warrior during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Mulan had many natural monuments named after her here. These include Mulan Mountain, Mulan Heavenly Lake and Mulan Grassland. Aside of the Mulan heritage, the park itself is stunningly beautiful, offering far reaching natural vistas and a wonderful breath of fresh air.
The Yangtze Great Bridge is the Wuhan`s First Yangtze Bridge, is a double-deck road with a rail channel across the Yangtze River in Wuhan. The bridge stretches 1.6 kilometers from Turtle Hill in Hanyang to Snake Hill in Wuchang.
Heptachord Terrace, located at the west of Tortoise Hill, exactly on the bank of the Moon Lake. It is a remembrance site of the legend of Yu Boya who was a heptachord player. Best spot for music lovers.
Mo Hill is popular for its scenic area and never-ending beauty. The unique variety of plants, surprising natural composition of plantation and cherry over the top, the culture of the state will surely make you feel like heaven.
You could also visit Madame Tussauds Wuhan, which displays 50 waxworks of historical figures and celebrities.
There’s plenty of shopping in Wuhan, from traditional to modern goods. Han Zheng Street is a popular cultural street where you can see traditional buildings and busy market stalls. You’ll find vendors selling a wide range of competitively priced local products and goods, although tourists are advised to check for quality and learn how to haggle!
Elsewhere, an intrepid traveler will discover antique markets, department stores and plenty of places to buy souvenirs such as folk artwork, calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures.
The city is home to the Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium where you can watch a competitive game of football and the Wuhan Gymnasium where athletes and basketball players train and compete.
Getting here and getting around
As a modernised metropolis, travel to and from Wuhan is easy. Tianhe International Airport is a 20-km drive from the city, taking than 20 minutes to the downtown area. The airport has many domestic and international flights every day, connection cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Airport shuttle buses leave the airport for the city regularly.
There are three railway stations in the city that operate high-speed trains to many destinations in mainland China, which make it easy to get here from major hubs like Beijing and Shanghai. As a port on the Yangtze River, many tourists also arrive and leave from the city by cruise ship.
Travel around the city is straightforward; city buses, as well as special tourist buses, run regularly to major attractions and tourist destinations. Buses cost around ¥1 but make sure you have change handy as these are mostly self-service.
The subway is an efficient mode of travel around the city, and there are currently five lines in operation. Taxis operate right across the city making getting around convenient. Flag down rates start at ¥10, but it’s advisable to agree on any price before taking long-distance taxi journeys.
Eating and drinking
Wuhan cuisine centers around seafood, with many freshwater fish dishes highlighting local menus. The typical flavor differs from Cantonese or Sichuan cuisine in its light spices and strong tastes, as well as the delicate and complex balancing of flavors in the dishes. Local favorites include steamed Wuchang Fish, Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes, Xiaotaoyuan Soup, and Dongpo Port.
Top restaurants to try local food are Kanglong Tiazi and San Wu Chan Restaurants, both of which have two branches in the city. You can also try Fu Sheng restaurant and Xiao Lan Jing. If you’d like to sample local snacks, there are plenty of street food vendors in the main shopping precincts.
Wuhan also has an exciting nightlife culture where you’ll find young people and businesspeople taking part in karaoke, watching rock bands and playing dice games.
Getting a good night's sleep
Marco Polo Wuhan is one of the city’s most luxurious 5-star hotels with a convenient location close to many bars and restaurants. It also has an indoor pool, gym, and spa as well as gorgeous, spacious rooms with large windows overlooking the city. Buffet breakfasts ensure you’re fully set up for a day of sightseeing, and the two in house restaurants offer a choice of Cantonese cuisine and local snacks if you arrive home hungry.
A fantastic mid-priced hotel is the Mercure Wuhan Changqing Park. Modern rooms bring together all the facilities you’ll need and expect from this reputable brand. A standard room includes use of the gym and meeting rooms as well as full buffet breakfasts each morning.
You don’t need to feel short-changed if you’re traveling on a budget when you stay at BooGoo Inn. This charming hotel has quirky interiors and a choice of private rooms or dormitories as well as hot tubs, a sun terrace and a choice of on-site restaurant or shared kitchen area — a perfect place for relaxing and meeting up with other travelers.
