Hubei Province is also called E for short. It is situated in the middle reach of the Yangtze River which an area of 180 thousand square km. and a population of 55.14 million.
The terrain of Hubei Province is high in the west and low in the east and wide open to the south. Its hilly land occupies 70% of the total area and the plain is less than 30%, the main part of which is Jianghan plain. The Yangtze River flows through the whole province from west to east, while the Hanjiang flows from northwest to southeast through Wuhan City into the Yangtze River. There are many lakes in the Jianghan Plain. This province belongs to the moist monsoon climate of sub-tropical zone. It is rich in agriculture, forestry and hydropower resources. In the field of mineral products, iron, copper, phosphorous, plaster and rock salt have captured a most important position.
The main agricultural products are paddy rice, wheat, ramie and sesame. The products of grain, cotton, ramie and vegetable oil among the top of the whole country. The fresh water aquaculture is highly developed. In industry, the metallurgy, machinery, power, textile, foodstuff and chemistry take the main position, while the products of hydro-electricity, iron and steel, motor car, cotton cloths, cotton textile, internal combustion engine and phosphorous mine are on the top of the whole country. In communication, railway is the main force while highway and inland water transport are also convenient.
The natural scenery of Hubei Province is beautiful and splendid, and the historic and cultural resources are also rich. The main places of historic interest and scenic beauty are East Lake and Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, ancient Longzhong (a strategic place of importance in ancient time) in Wuhan City, Wudang Mountain (famous for martial arts) and Shennongjia (a place of primitive forest) etc.
Recommended Scenic Spots
Mt. Wudangshan
The Wudangshan mountains stretch for 400 km, across northwestern Hubei Province. Situated south-east of Shiyan, the highest summit is the 1612m Tianzhu Peak, whose name translates as Pillar Propping Up the Sky, or Heavenly Pillar Peak
The Mt. Wudangshan is a sacred range to the Taoists, and a number of Taoist temples were built here during the construction sprees of the Ming emperors Cheng Zu and Zhen Wu. Noted temples include the Golden Hall on Tianzhu Peak, which was built entirely of gilded copper in 1416; the hall contains a bronze statue of Zhen Wu, who became a Taoist deity.
The Purple Cloud Temple stands on Zhanqifeng Peak, and the Nanyan Temple perches on the South Cliff. Wudangshan is also famous for the Wudangshan style of martial arts developed here, and there are numerous schools in and around the town.
The railway station is called Wudangshan, but the town used to go by the name of Laoying. The entrance gate to the mountain is about l km east of the town.
Shennongjia Scenic Spot
The Shennongjia district in remote northwestern Hubei has the wildest scenery in the province. With heavily forested mountains of fir, pine and hemlock -including something rare in China, old-growth stands -the area is known as a treasure trove of more than 1300 species of medicinal plants. Indeed, the name for the area roughly translates as Shennongs Ladder to commemorate a legendary emperor, Shennong, believed to be the founder of herbal medicine and agriculture. According to the legend, he heard about some special plants growing up high on a precipice, so he cut down a great tree and used it to climb to the site and reach the plants, which he added to his medical collection.
As part of a more modern legend, Shennongjia is also famous for the sightings of wild, ape-like creatures - a Chinese equivalent of the Himalayan Yeti or the North. American Bigfoot. The stories are interesting, but the creatures seem to be able to distinguish between peasants and scientists -molesting the former and evading the latter. Nevertheless, there is a small base station set up in the reserve with displays of evidence of sightings. More real, but just as elusive perhaps, are species of leopard, bear, wild boar and monkey (including the endangered Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey) that reportedly inhabit the area.
Foreigners are only allowed into the area of the Shennongjia district near the town of Muyuping, 200km northwest of Yichang. There are two high peaks in the area, Shennongjiashan at 3105m and Laojunshan at 2936m. Its a 10-hour bus ride to Muyuping from Yichang, or you can take a boat to Xiangxi (five hours) on the Three Gorges and from there its a 90km ride to Muyuping. From Muyuping you will have to hire a car to get into the reserve.
Xiling Gorge
Xiling
Gorge is one of the three gorges between the Gezhouba Dam and Three Gorges Dam.
The 400-kilometre section includes lots of breathtaking natural scenic spots including dozens of small gorges with various shapes. Also found along the route are Qu Yuan Temple and, of course, the two huge dams and lakes blocked by the dams.
Xiling Gorge is renowned for being extremely perilous. The gorge, 80-km-long, is the longest of the Yangtzes Three Gorges stretching from Xiangxikou in the east to Nanjingguan Pass in the west and covering two prefectures in Hubei Province. It is at this spot that the journey appears to be most perilous; the water is full of turbulent whirlpools and dangerous shoals.
The Xiling Gorge consists of three minor gorges, namely the Huangniu (Yellow Buffalo) Gorge, Dengying (Slide Show) Gorge and Huangmao (Yellow Cat) Gorge.