Many people unfamiliar with Wuhan foolishly mistake it as nothing but a stop-over city, a place where the train stops for a few minutes before moving on into the more scenic south. This is mistake. Wuhan is a city with a rich historical past and a vibrant modern culture. It is also a scenic city where nature meets the modern metropolis. Whether you are moving to Wuhan or are planning a visit, this article shows you how to make the most of the city in 48 hours.

East Lake, Wuhan

Start your day in Wuhan by visiting the city’s enormous East Lake (东湖) – the largest in-city lake in China – and the surrounding attractions. Covering an area of 87 square kilometers, East Lake is located in the eastern suburb of Wuchang, on the south bank of the Yangtze River. The lake area contains six scenic areas, the most popular of which are the Tingtao and Mo Shan Scenic Areas. Tingtao contains many beautiful historic buildings and pavilions. The Shuiyun Xiang (Land of Water and Cloud) building there serves as a teahouse, perfect for a relaxing break and to soak up the scenery. Moshan on the other hand offers many splendid natural sites, namely its collection of beautifully arranged flowers and plants. When in the area you may also want to visit Chairman Mao Zedong’s villa adjacent to the East Lake. The villa was built as a retreat house for the Chairman and other ruling politburo members.

Next make your way to Wuhan’s most famous landmark site, the Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼). Located on the banks of the Yangtze River, the tower’s long and complicated history can be traced back to 223 AD. There is lots to do and see at the tower, including a themed exhibition on each floor that systematically maps out the building’s history and legends and the top floor offers a panoramic view of the Yangtze River and city beyond.

A trip to the Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省博物馆) is the perfect way to appreciate the fascinating history of Wuhan and surrounding Hubei Province. The museum is the most comprehensive one in the province, featuring over 200,000 cultural relics including ancient weapons, musical instruments, bronze vessels, pottery and more.

End a long day packed with sites by indulging in Wuhan’s delicious local foods. “Sijimei” Tangbao (四季美汤包) is a must-try. These steamed dumplings filled with minced meat and gravy are famous worldwide. Sijimei Tangbao Restaurant is the best place to enjoy these juicy local snacks. Alternatively, stroll around Jiqing Street (吉庆街) by Dazhi Lu (大智路) in Hankou District (汉口) where you’ll find an abundance of small restaurants serving cheap local foods.

Spend day two taking in the modern culture Wuhan has to offer. Jianghan Lu (江汉路) walking street is a charming pedestrian area, lined with European style buildings, countless shops, restaurants and department stores. The paved street is one of the most bustling and beautiful places to go shopping in Wuhan. Surprisingly, the street is 177 metres longer than the most famous shopping street in Shanghai, Nanjing Lu. You’ll also find Western chain restaurants here like McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut. The street is easily reachable by bus; bus no. 401 from Wuchang Railway Station and bus no. 533 from Hankou Railway Station go directly there.

Another popular shopping destination is the wholesale commodity street on Hanzheng Jie (汉正街). The century old street houses dazzling shops in traditional buildings. You’ll find anything from clothes to home decorations here but you’ll have to bargain. Also, don’t expect to find the best quality items here. You usually get what you pay for.

Finally, end your trip to Wuhan by taking in the nightlife here. Wuhan actually has a thriving local rock music scene. It’s most popular live music venue Vox Livehouse regularly organises live music events, often including the biggest names in Chinese rock as well as international bands passing through on their China tours. Alternatively, Wuhan also has a number of cinemas and theatres, concert halls and karaoke bars. To find out more, please refer to Wuhan Travel Guide here.

Vox LivehouseView In Map
117 Guoguang Dasha, Lumo Lu, Hongshan District, Wuhan (next to China Everbright Bank)
武汉市洪山区鲁磨路117号国光大银行旁
Tel: 134 3725 1621 (Chinese)
131 63308 577 (English)
Website: www.voxwuhan.cn

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