Hubei 湖北

Wuhan, Hubei, China

Wuhan, Hubei, China By Bar Fabella. Sourced via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

Húběi (湖北) is a province in central China located north of the Yangtze river between Anhui and Chongqing. The principal city of Hubei is Wuhan. The famous Three Gorges Dam project is located here. The Three Gorges have long been a major tourist attraction in China. Although the gorges have been somewhat tamed by the dam and reservoir, cruises along the river between Hubei and Chongqing remain very popular. Eastern and central Hubei consists of the Jianghan Plain. The west of Hebui is mountainous. 

Tourist Attractions

Below is a list of tourist attractions in Hubei:

The Three Gorges Dam by Dan Nelson. Sourced via Flickr.

(宜昌市三峡大坝旅游区; chángjiāngsānxiágōngchéng tán zǐ lǐng lǚyóuqū): The worlds largest dam and reservoir at the end of the famous Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. This is the worlds largest engineering project. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

@ wuhan , Hubei <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2469960661_2fd9d8970f_b.jpg">Large</a> by Jing. Sourced via Flickr.

(武汉市黄鹤楼公园; Huánghèlóu): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(神农架红坪景区; shén nóng jià hóng píng jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌车溪民俗风景区; yíchāng chē xī mínsú fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(归元禅寺; guī yuán chán sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌三峡人家风景区; yíchāng sānxiá rénjiā fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(神农架天燕原始生态旅游区; shén nóng jià tiān yàn yuánshǐ shēngtài lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉市博物馆; wǔhànshì bówùguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州博物馆; Jīng Zhōu bówùguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌西陵峡口风景名胜区; yíchāng xī líng xiákǒu fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(隆中风景区; lōng zhōngfēng jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉市东湖风景区; wǔhànshì dōnghú fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖北省博物馆; húběishěng bówùguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌九畹溪风景区; yíchāng jiǔ wǎn xī fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(巴东神农溪旅游区; bādōng shén nóng xī lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by KongFu Wang. Sourced via Flickr.

(武当山风景区; Wǔ Dāngshān fēngjǐngqū): Ancient Buildings on Mount Wudang 武当山 (Wǔdāng Shān) near Dajiangkou City, Hubei can trace their origins to the Tang Dynasty (AD 627-649). The mountain was a site of worship for both Buddhists and Taoists and the temples here acquired some fame. The the Five Dragon Temple in Wudang dates to this time. The site became strongly associated with the legend of the Great Perfect Warrior Emperor Zhenwu Dadi 真武大帝. It was on Wudang mountain that Zhenwu meditated for 42 years before achieving immortality and ascending form Wudang into heaven. Also, it was on Wudang that Zhang Sanfeng was supposed to have created the form of inner martial arts or Kong Fu that is still taught at the temple today. Zhang Sanfeng This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(洪湖蓝田生态旅游风景区; hónghú lántián shēngtài lǚyóu fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉中国科学院武汉植物园; wǔhàn zhōngguókēxuéyuàn wǔhàn zhíwùyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(鄂州莲花山旅游区; è zhōu liánhuā shān lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市三游洞风景区; yíchāngshì sān yóu dòng fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(三峡石牌要塞旅游区; sānxiá shí pái yàosài lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(中国地质大学逸夫博物馆; Zhōngguó dìzhì dàxué yì fū bówùguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖北汤池温泉旅游景区; húběi Tāng Chí wēnquán lǚyóu jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉辛亥革命武昌起义纪念馆（红楼）; wǔhàn Xīn Hài gémìng wǔchāng qǐyì jìniànguǎn (hónglóu)): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市三峡观坝旅游区; yíchāngshì sānxiá guān bà lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州古城历史文化旅游区; Jīng Zhōu gǔchéng lìshǐ wénhuà lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市柴埠溪峡谷风景区; yíchāngshì Chái Bùxī xiágǔ fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by Laurence & Annie. Sourced via Flickr.

(神农架神农顶风景区; shén nóng jià shén nóng dǐng fēng jǐngqū): Access is usually by road via Yichang city, to the south of Shennongjia Forest District. A remote and unspoilt natural mountain wilderness in the heart of China. Shennongjia National Nature reserve is a UNESCO World Bio Reserve and on the UNESCO tentative list for World Heritage Sites. The reserve contains many rare animals including Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉晴川阁; wǔ hàn qíng chuān dū;gé): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市黄龙电厂工业生态旅游区; shí yàn shì huáng lóng diàn chǎng gōng yè shēng tài lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉市黄陂木兰天池; wǔ hàn shì huáng pō;pí mù lán tiān chí): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市当阳百宝寨风景区; yí chāng shì dāng yáng bǎi bǎo zhài fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉市黄陂木兰山; wǔ hàn shì huáng pō;pí mù lán shān): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市泗溪生态风景区; yí chāng shì sì qī shēng tài fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市紫阳龙洞风景度假区; yí chāng shì zǐ yáng lóng dòng fēng jǐng dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市屈原祠文化旅游区; yí chāng shì qū yuán cí wén huà lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市宋山森林公园; yí chāng shì sòng shān sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市宜都奥陶纪石林; yí chāng shì yí dōu;dū ào táo jì shí lín): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊市米公祠景区; xiāng fán shì mǐ gōng cí jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市房县野人洞（谷）旅游区; shí yàn shì fáng xiàn yě rén dòng（gǔ） lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市月亮湖山庄旅游区; shí yàn shì yuè liàng hú shān zhuāng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市古潮音洞度假山寨; yí chāng shì gǔ cháo yīn dòng dù jià shān zhài): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌市情人泉野人谷旅游区; yí chāng shì qíng rén quán yě rén gǔ lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(恩施市梭布垭风景区; ēn shī shì suō bù yà fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(恩施州龙麟宫景区; ēn shī zhōu lóng lín gōng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(恩施土司城; ēn shī tǔ sī chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(罗田县大别山薄刀峰风景区; luó;luō tián xiàn dà bié shān bò;báo;bó dāo fēng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄冈市东坡赤壁风景区; huáng gāng shì dōng pō chì bì fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(大冶市青龙山公园; dà yě shì qīng lóng shān gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(大冶市雷山风景区; dà yě shì léi shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄石市东方山风景区; huáng shí shì dōng fāng shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄冈市浠水县三角山旅游风景区; huáng gāng shì xī shuǐ xiàn sān jiǎo shān lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖北赤壁中华水浒城; hú běi chì bì zhōng huá shuǐ hǔ chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市赤壁旅游区; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì chì bì lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆门市龙泉公园; jīng mén shì lóng quán gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖北省漳河风景名胜区; hú běi shěng;xǐng zhāng hé fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊市谷城县南河小三峡风景区; xiāng fán shì gǔ chéng xiàn nán hé xiǎo sān xiá fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊市谷城县薤山旅游度假区; xiāng fán shì gǔ chéng xiàn xiè shān lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊市南漳县水镜庄风景区; xiāng fán shì nán zhāng xiàn shuǐ jìng zhuāng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜昌中华鲟园; yí chāng zhōng huá xún yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(兴山县昭君村旅游区; xìng;xīng shān xiàn zhāo jūn cūn lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(当阳玉泉风景区; dāng yáng yù quán fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉东湖鸟语林; wǔ hàn dōng hú niǎo yǔ;yù lín): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(武汉华泰汤孙湖旅游度假区; wǔ hàn huā;huá tài tāng sūn hú lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州市荆州关公馆; jīng zhōu shì jīng zhōu guān gōng guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州市荆州碑苑; jīng zhōu shì jīng zhōu bēi yuàn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州市荆州盆景园; jīng zhōu shì jīng zhōu pén jǐng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆州市万寿园; jīng zhōu shì wàn shòu yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊市米芾纪念馆; xiāng fán shì mǐ fèi jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(南漳县水镜庄风景区; nán zhāng xiàn shuǐ jìng zhuāng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(谷城县南河风景区; gǔ chéng xiàn nán hé fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(谷城县薤山旅游度假区; gǔ chéng xiàn xiè shān lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(保康县五道峡自然风景区; bǎo kāng xiàn wǔ dào xiá zì rán fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(保康县汤池峡温泉度假区; bǎo kāng xiàn tāng chí xiá wēn quán dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(枣阳市白水寺旅游风景区; zǎo yáng shì bái shuǐ sì lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市牛头山森林公园; shí yàn shì niú tóu shān sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市人民公园; shí yàn shì rén mín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市房县神农峡景区; shí yàn shì fáng xiàn shén nóng xiá jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市伏龙山自然风景区; shí yàn shì fú lóng shān zì rán fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市四方山植物园; shí yàn shì sì fāng shān zhí wù yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄石东方山风景区; huáng shí dōng fāng shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊枣阳青龙山熊河风景区; xiāng fán zǎo yáng qīng lóng shān xióng hé fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊锦绣园高新农业观光园; xiāng fán jǐn xiù yuán gāo xīn nóng yè guān guāng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(随州曾侯乙墓景区; suí zhōu céng;zēng hóu yǐ mù jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(随州炎帝神农烈山风景名胜区; suí zhōu yán dì shén nóng liè shān fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄石大冶雷山风景区; huáng shí dà yě léi shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(随州高贵三潭风景区; suí zhōu gāo guì sān tán;dǎn fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆门京山大洪山鸳鸯溪; jīng mén jīng shān dà hóng shān yuān yāng qī): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(鄂州市博物馆; è zhōu shì bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(鄂州梁子岛生态旅游度假区; è zhōu liáng zǐ dǎo shēng tài lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(孝感应城市汤池旅游风景区; xiào gǎn yìng chéng shì tāng chí lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(孝感大悟鄂豫边区烈士陵园; xiào gǎn dà wù è yù biān qū liè shì líng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄冈市浠水三角山风景区; huáng gāng shì xī shuǐ sān jiǎo shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄冈市浠水闻一多纪念馆; huáng gāng shì xī shuǐ wén yī duō jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(黄冈市蓟春李时珍纪念馆; huáng gāng shì jì chūn lǐ shí zhēn jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市玄素洞风景区; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì xuán sù dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市澄水洞旅游区; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì chéng;dèng shuǐ dòng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市太乙洞风景区; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì tài yǐ dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(孝感市董永公园; xiào gǎn shì dǒng yǒng gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(仙桃市沔城风景名胜区; xiān táo shì miǎn chéng fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(通山县闯王陵景区; tōng shān xiàn chuǎng wáng líng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市星星竹海风景区; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì xīng xīng zhú hǎi fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市桃花湖旅游度假区; shí yàn shì táo huā hú lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(十堰市九华山森林公园; shí yàn shì jiǔ huá shān sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆门市王莽洞风景区; jīng mén shì wáng mǎng dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(京山天河度假村; jīng shān tiān hé dù jià cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(咸宁市潜山国家森林公园; xián;xiān nìng;níng shì qián shān guó jiā sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(荆门市博物馆; jīng mén shì bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊南漳香水河风景工; xiāngfán nánzhāng xiāngshuǐ hé fēngjǐng gōng): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊襄王府绿影壁; xiāngfán xiāng Wáng Fǔlǜ yǐng bì): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(襄樊宜城张自忠将军纪念馆; xiāngfán yíchéng Zhāng Zìzhōng jiāngjūn jìniànguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

History

By the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), Hubei was home to the powerful state of Chu. Chu was nominally a tributary state of the Zhou Dynasty, and it was itself an extension of the Chinese civilization that had emerged some centuries before in the north; but it was also culturally unique, and was a powerful state that held onto much of the middle and lower Yangtze River, with power extending northwards into the North China Plain.

During the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC) Chu became the major adversary of the upstart state of Qin to the northwest (in what is now Shaanxi province), which began to assert itself by outward expansionism. As wars between Qin and Chu ensued, Chu lost more and more land: first its dominance over the Sichuan Basin, then (in 278 BC) its heartland, which correspond to modern Hubei. In 223 BC Qin chased down the remnants of the Chu regime, which had fled eastwards, as part of Qin's bid for the conquest of all China.

Qin founded the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC, the first unified state in China. Qin was succeeded by the Han Dynasty in 206 BC, which established the province (zhou) of Jingzhou in what is now Hubei and Hunan. Near the end of the Han Dynasty in the beginning of the 3rd century, Jingzhou was ruled by regional warlord Liu Biao. After his death, Liu Biao's realm was surrendered by his successors to Cao Cao, a powerful warlord who had conquered nearly all of north China; but in the Battle of Red Cliffs, warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan drove Cao Cao out of Jingzhou. Liu Bei then took control of Jingzhou; he went on to conquer Yizhou (the Sichuan Basin), but lost Jingzhou to Sun Quan; for the next few decades Jingzhou was controlled by the Wu Kingdom, ruled by Sun Quan and his successors.

The incursion of northern nomadic peoples into northern China at the beginning of the 4th century began nearly three centuries of the division of China into a nomad-ruled (but increasingly Sinicized) north and a Han Chinese-ruled south. Hubei, which is in southern China, remained under southern rule for this entire period, until the reunification of China by the Sui Dynasty in 589. In 617 the Tang Dynasty replaced Sui, and later on the Tang Dynasty placed what is now Hubei under several circuits: Jiangnanxi Circuit in the south; Shannandong Circuit in the west, and Huainan Circuit in the east. After the Tang Dynasty disintegrated the 10th century, Hubei came under the control of several regional regimes: Jingnan in the center, Wu (later Southern Tang) to the east, and the Five Dynasties to the north.

The Song Dynasty reunified China in 982 and placed most of Hubei into Jinghubei Circuit, a longer version of Hubei's current name. Mongols conquered China fully in 1279, and under their rule the province of Huguang was established, covering Hubei, Hunan, and parts of Guangdong and Guangxi. During the Mongol rule, in 1334, Hubei was devastated by the world's first recorded outbreak of the Black Death, which spread during the following three centuries to decimate populations throughout Eurasia. (Citation needed, as most authorities say Central Asia, some say India, and at least one says Africa).

The Ming Dynasty drove out the Mongols in 1368, and their version of Huguang province was smaller, and corresponded almost entirely to the modern provinces of Hubei and Hunan combined. The Manchu Qing Dynasty which had conquered China in 1644 split Huguang into the modern provinces of Hubei and Hunan in 1664. The Qing Dynasty continued to maintain a viceroy of Huguang, however; one of the most famous was Zhang Zhidong, whose modernizing reforms made Hubei (especially Wuhan) into a prosperous center of commerce and industry. The Huangshi/Daye area, south-east of Wuhan, became an important center of mining and metallurgy.

In 1911 the Wuchang Uprising took place in modern-day Wuhan, overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and establishing the Republic of China. In 1927 Wuhan became the seat of a government established by left-wing elements of the Kuomintang, led by Wang Jingwei; this government was later merged into Chiang Kai-shek's government in Nanjing. During World War II the eastern parts of Hubei were conquered and occupied by Japan while the western parts remained under Chinese control.

During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, Wuhan saw fighting between rival Red Guard factions.

As the fears of a nuclear war increased during the time of Sino-Soviet border conflicts in the late 1969s, the Xianning prefecture of Hubei was chosen as the site of Project 131, an underground military command headquarters.

The province - and Wuhan in particular - suffered severely from the 1954 Yangtze River Floods. Large scale dam construction followed, with the Gezhouba Dam on the Yangtze River near Yichang started in 1970 and completed in 1988; the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, further upstream, began in 1993. In the following years, authorities resettled millions of people from western Hubei to make way for the construction of the dam. A number of smaller dams have been constructed on the Yangtze's tributaries as well.

People and Culture

Han Chinese form the dominant ethnic group in Hubei. A considerable Miao and Tujia population live in the southwestern part of the province, especially in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

People in Hubei speak Mandarin dialects; most of these dialects are classified as Southwestern Mandarin dialects, a group that also encompasses the Mandarin dialects of most of southwestern China.

Perhaps the most celebrated element of Hubei cuisine is the Wuchang fish, a freshwater bream that is commonly steamed.

Types of traditional Chinese opera popular in Hubei include Hanju and Chuju.

The Shennongjia area is the alleged home of the Yeren, a wild undiscovered hominid that lives in the forested hills.

The people of Hubei are given the uncomplimentary nickname "Nine Headed Birds" by other Chinese, from a mythological creature said to be very aggressive and hard to kill. "In the sky live nine-headed birds. On the earth live wise Hubei people." (天上九头鸟，地上湖北佬)

Wuhan is one of the major culture centers in China.

Industry

Hubei is often called the "Land of Fish and Rice" (鱼米之乡). Important agricultural products in Hubei include cotton, rice, wheat, and tea, while industries include automobiles, metallurgy, machinery, power generation, textiles, foodstuffs and high-tech commodities.

Mineral resources that can be found in Hubei in significant quantities include borax, hongshiite, wollastonite, garnet, marlstone, iron, phosphorus, copper, gypsum, rutile, rock salt, gold amalgam, manganese and vanadium. The province's recoverable reserves of coal stand at 548 million tons, which is modest compared to other Chinese provinces. Hubei is also well known for its mines of fine turquoise and green faustite.

Once completed, the Three Gorges Dam in western Hubei will provide plentiful hydroelectricity, with an estimated annual power production of 84,700 Gwh. Existing hydroelectric stations include Gezhouba, Danjiangkou, Geheyan, Hanjiang, Duhe, Huanglongtan, Bailianhe, Lushui and Fushui.

Hubei's economy ranks 10th in the country and its nominal GDP for 2008 was 1.13 trillion yuan (163 billion USD) and a per capita of 19,884 RMB (2,863 USD).

Geography

The Jianghan Plain takes up most of central and eastern Hubei, while the west and the peripheries are more mountainous, with ranges such as the Wudang Mountains, the Jingshan Mountains, the Daba Mountains, and the Wushan Mountains (in rough north-to-south order). The Dabie Mountains lie to the northeast, on the border with Henan and Anhui; the Tongbai Mountains lie to the north on the border with Henan; to the southeast the Mufu Mountains form the border with Jiangxi. The eastern half of the Three Gorges (Xiling Gorge and part of Wu Gorge) lies in western Hubei; the other half is in neighbouring Chongqing. The highest peak in Hubei is Shennong Peak, found in the Daba Mountains and in the forestry area of Shennongjia; it has an altitude of 3105 m.

The Yangtze River enters Hubei from the west via the Three Gorges; the Hanshui and Shen Nong Stream enter from the north. Shen Nong Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze River which has also been degraded by the Three Gorges Dam project. The Yangtze and Hanshui rivers meet at Wuhan, the provincial capital. Thousands of lakes dot the landscape, giving Hubei the name of: "Province of Lakes"; the largest of these lakes are Lake Liangzi and Lake Honghu. The Danjiangkou Reservoir lies on the border between Hubei and Henan.

Hubei has a subtropical climate with distinct seasons. Hubei has average temperatures of 1 - 6 °C in winter and of 24 - 30 °C in summer; punishing temperatures of 40 °C or above are famously associated with Wuhan, the provincial capital.

Hubei is divided into thirteen prefecture-level divisions (of which there are twelve prefecture-level cities and one autonomous prefecture), as well as three directly administered county-level cities and one directly administered county-level forestry area.

Map # Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Type
1 Wuhan 武汉市 Wǔhàn Shì Prefecture-level city
2 Ezhou 鄂州市 Èzhōu Shì Prefecture-level city
3 Huanggang 黄冈市 Huánggāng Shì Prefecture-level city
4 Huangshi 黄石市 Huángshí Shì Prefecture-level city
5 Jingmen 荆门市 Jīngmén Shì Prefecture-level city
6 Jingzhou 荆州市 Jīngzhōu Shì Prefecture-level city
7 Shiyan 十堰市 Suízhōu Shì Prefecture-level city
8 Suizhou 随州市 Suízhōu Shì Prefecture-level city
9 Xiangfan 襄樊市 Xiāngfán Shì Prefecture-level city
10 Xianning 咸宁市 Xiánníng Shì Prefecture-level city
11 Xiaogan 孝感市 Xiàogǎn Shì Prefecture-level city
12 Yichang 宜昌市 Yíchāng Shì Prefecture-level city
13 Enshi (Tujia & Miao) 恩施土家族苗族自治州 Ēnshī Tǔjiāzú Miáozú Zìzhìzhōu Autonomous prefecture
 

The three directly administered county-level cities are more accurately described as sub-prefecture-level cities:

  • Tianmen (天门市 Tiānmén Shì)
  • Qianjiang (潜江市 Qiánjiāng Shì)
  • Xiantao (仙桃市 Xiāntáo Shì)

The county-level forestry area:

  • Shennongjia (神农架林区 Shénnóngjià Línqū)

Transportation

Hubei plays an important role in China's transportation industry. Situated on the Yangtze and Hanshui Rivers, which are important waterways, Hubei also enjoys the convenience of railways linking Beijing to Guangzhou, Beijing to Kowloon, Shanghai to Wuhan, Wuhan to Chengdu, and Zhicheng to Liuzhou, and of the airports in Wuhan, Yichang, Sanxia, Xiangfan and Shashi. National and provincial highways also contribute to Hubei's economic development.

News About Hubei

Peer-to-peer lending takes root in China
When Shang Meigong faced a cash crunch in her vegetable seed business in Xiangyang, Hubei province, she was turned away by local banks and decided to look to the internet for funds. CreditEase, the biggest of a fast-growing pack of peer-to-peer lending ... »

China water project to 'begin operating in 2013′
Chinese ride past the massive Danjiankou Dam near Xiangfan, Hubei Province, China March 23, 2011. A costly project to enable the dam to control "100-year floods" is near completion, according to government officials. When it was completed in 1973, ... »Outcome Magazine (blog)

Sand Carrier Sinks in China, 9 Dead and 2 Missing
The shipwreck occurred during high intensity winds in the Hunan province, according to authorities in the neighboring province of Hubei. There were reportedly a total of 17 people aboard the ship as it sank. Nine people have been confirmed dead ... »The Maritime Executive

Vestas low-wind V100 wind turbines to China
Vestas China has received its very first V100 turbine order from Datang Hubei Renewable Energy (Datang Renewable). The introduction of the newest addition to the 2 MW platform in China took place in early 2011. The order represents not only an ... »

Beer and Jeep Don't Mix
China's Hubei Jeep Brewing Company now sells “Jeep Beer.” Unfortunately, the beer doesn't appear to be sponsored by Jeep. While a Chinese company may own the trademark for Apple's (AAPL) iPad, Chrysler still holds the rights to the word Jeep, and, ... »

Vestas low-wind V100 wind turbines to China
Vestas China has received its first order for the low-wind V100 wind turbines from Datang Hubei Renewable Energy. By Kari Williamson The 27 units of V100-1.8 MW wind turbines with a total capacity of 48.6 MW will be installed in the Long Ganhu wind ... »

China shipwreck kills seven
The capsizing of the 1500-ton sand carrier occurred in high winds in Hunan province, authorities in neighboring Hubei province said. Government officials in Jinzhou said in a statement there were 17 people aboard the ship when it sank Thursday, ... »

20 held over 80m yuan fake health product ring
These were sold in 13 provinces and cities around the country, such as Hubei, Hebei and Guangdong provinces. It was reported that police raided five illegal workshops and seized more than 5 million illegal capsules and 200000 packaging items, ... »

Central China shipwreck kills 7
Authorities in central China's Hubei province said on Sunday that seven people have been confirmed dead and another four are still missing, three days after their boat capsized in the neighboring province of Hunan. A Hubei-registered sand carrier, ... »

2 dead after barge capsizes
TWO people have been confirmed dead, with nine others still missing, two days after a barge from Hubei Province capsized in the neighboring province of Hunan, local authorities said yesterday. One body was found at the scene as a barge transporting ... »

2 dead, 9 missing in Hunan lake
WUHAN - Two people have been confirmed dead, with nine others still missing, two days after a boat from Central China's Hubei province capsized in the neighboring province of Hunan, local authorities said Saturday. One body was found on the scene as a ... »

Chinese Vice Premier urges development of SOEs
Zhang made the remarks during his visit to local bases of the SOEs in central Hubei Province from Feb. 1 to Feb. 3. He said that SOEs has overcome difficulties and achieved steady and rapid growth in 2011, making a good start for economic development ... »

Armed police roll out new China-made trucks
China-made sport-utility vehicles (SUV) are handed over to a branch of the armed police force in Wuhan city, Capital of Central China's Hubei province on Feb 2, 2012. The four SUVs named "Xiaolong" with a highest speed of 115km/h were researched and ... »

WKU Hosting Chinese Spring Gala
The year 2012 is the Year of the Dragon by the Chinese calendar, and in honor of that fact, Hubei University's Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe will be performing traditional dances and skits to bring in the New Year. Established in 1931, Hubei University ... »

Welcoming the year of the dragon
by Eric Van Susteren As a boy growing up in the Hubei province of China, Ken Wang's favorite parts of the Chinese New Year were delicious balls made from rice and meat and the candy he'd get going door-to-door in his neighborhood. »

11 identified in central China boat accident
WUHAN - The list of 11 victims, one dead and 10 missing, in a boat accident in Central China's Hunan province, was released Friday by local officials from the neighboring province of Hubei where the victims came from. The sand-carrying boat capsized at ... »

11 identified in central China boat accident
3 (Xinhua) -- The list of 11 victims, one dead and 10 missing, in a boat accident in central China's Hunan Province, was released Friday by local officials from the neighboring province of Hubei where the victims came from. »

One Dead, 10 Missing after Boat Capsizes in C China
The 1500-tonne boat was from the neighboring province of Hubei, it said. The local governments in Hubei's Jingzhou city and Jianli county, where the boat was registered, had also sent rescuers. Sources in Hubei said on board the vessel were boatmen and ... »

Vestas To Supply Turbines For 'Low Wind' Site In China
by NAW Staff on Wednesday 01 February 2012 Vestas China says it has received a 48.6 MW wind turbine order from Datang Hubei Renewable Energy. The 27 V100-1.8 MW turbines will be installed at the Long Ganhu wind farm in China's Hubei province - a ... »

Vestas to supply turbines for Chinese wind farm
Vestas has secured an order from Datang Hubei Renewable Energy to supply turbines for the Long Ganhu wind farm in the Hubei province of China. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer will supply 27 units of its V100-1.8MW turbine with a total capacity of ... »

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