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Situated in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Hubei Province is considered the geographical center of China. In the Spring and Autumn (722-481BC) and Warring States (453-221BC) periods, the region was governed by the Chu State.

With 800 years of Chu history present, a huge number of historical relics remain in the province. The Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan is one of the finest pavilions in China. Wudangshan is a sacred Taoist mountain with hundreds of temples and palaces.

Hubei also boasts impressive natural scenery. The Three Gorges is an unmatched stretch of water and mountains and Shennongjia is a virgin forest-covered mountain where China's Yeti are reported to live. Chibi and Jingzhou are spectacular for recalling the history of the Three States.

Nowadays, the cities of Wuhan and Yichang are major ports along the Yangtze River. Shiyan has developed into a leading automobile producer.

Hubei has a subtropical monsoonal climate with a hot and humid summer. Frequent droughts and floods occur in the region. Its provincial capital is one of the hottest cities in China with recorded temperatures over 40C. The average temperature in January is 1-6C and 24-30C in July. Most places in Hubei enjoy four distinct seasons. The best times to visit are spring and autumn.

Annual average temperature: 15C.

Annual average rainfall: 800-1,600 mm; high precipitation in the southeastern and southwestern mountains.

Annual frost free period: 220-300 days.

Day 1: Arrive in Wuhan. Visit the Guiyuan Temple in the morning and the East Lake and Yellow Crane Tower in the afternoon. Shop into the evening. Stick to local produce.

Day 2: Catch the early bus to Yichang (4hours). Check into a Yichang hotel. Then take the bus to Gezhou Dam for a visit. In the afternoon, go on to Sanyou Cave.

Day 3 & 4 & 5: Three day trip to Shennongjia scenic area (7hours bus trip from Yichang). Stay in local hotel. On the afternoon of the third day, take the bus north to Shiyan. Find a hotel and check in.

Day 6 & 7: Two day visit to the secluded Wudangshan scenic area. Stay in a local hotel. In the afternoon of the second day, take bus back to Yichang.

Day 8: Catch the Ferry from Yichang to Chongqing. Enjoy the Three Gorges scenery especially at Xiling Gorge.

As the geographic centre of China, Hubei Province is conveniently connected by air, railway, highway and water.

By air:
There are five major civil airports in Hubei: Wuhan, Jingzhou (Shashi), Yichang, Enshi and Xiangfan. The Wuhan Tianhe International airport has flights to more than 60 cities including Hong Kong and Fukuoka, Japan. (For detailed information, please click here.)

By train:
Hubei is a busy railroad province. Beijing-Guangzhou, Xiangfan-Chongqing and Hankou-Danjiangkou lines pass through. Wuhan, the provincial capital, serves as a major junction. It has trains to a dozen major cities. (For detailed information, please click here.)

By road:
Hubei has built up a complex road network. Major cities are linked by highroad. The province is also well connected with its neighbor provinces of Hunan, Sichuan (Chongqing), Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan and Shaanxi.

By water:
Yangtze River flows more than 1,000 kilometres through Hubei. Wuhan and Yichang are the two major ports in Hubei with ferries to Chongqing, Nanjing and Shanghai.