Yellow Crane Tower, located on Snake Hill, near the southern end of the Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, is one of the three most famous towers along the Yangtze River. It is a symbol of Wuhan city.

Bordering on the Yangtze River and crouching on the top of the Snake Hill, the Yellow Crane Tower is one of the three most famous towers on the south bank of the Yangtze River. (The other two are Yueyang Tower in Hunan and Tengwang Tower in Jiangxi)

First built in 223 AD, the tower has a history of over 1700 years. It is not only an important scenic spot, but also a symbol of "piping times of peace" in people's minds. Scholars in the past dynasties wrote hundreds of poems and scores of writings in praise of the magnificent Yellow Crane Tower. The legend about the tower has become a bright pearl of the Chinese literature.

Rebuilt in 1985, the Yellow Crane Tower Park occupies a hilly area and consists of towers, pavilions and corridors, forming an architecture complex and a garden complex of man--made and natural scenery. It has become the symbol of Wuhan for its long history, its magnificent outlook, and its imposing architectural style.

Hubei Provincial Museum, located in the East Lake, is the best Museum in the central part of China, displaying the relics unearthed in Hubei, mostly ancient Chu State, including some of the world's most exciting recent archaeological discoveries.

Hubei Provincial Museum was established in 1953. More than 200,000 pieces of historic relics are well preserved here, including 645 first class cultural relics and 16 national treasures.

In 1978, a great tomb that can be dated back to the early Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) was discovered in Sui County of Hubei Province. More than 15,000 relics were excavated from the tomb, including bronze ritual vessels, musical instruments, weapons, lacquer ware and so on. Among these relics, the 65 chime bells are the most famous. The biggest bell is 153.4 cm (60.4 inches) with a weight of 203.6 kg (448.9 pounds). Although the bells had been buried underground for more than 2,000 years, people can still use them to play music! The bronze Zun and Pan, which were also found in the tomb, are also incredible. The Zun was situated inside the Pan to receive wine; meanwhile, ice could be put into Pan to cool the wine. Then, people could enjoy a cold drink! A lacquer box found in the tomb is also marvelous. The twenty-eight constellations, into which the celestial sphere was divided in ancient Chinese astronomy, were painted on the box.

As the first highway-railway bridge, as well as the first bridge over the Yangtze River, Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge was built in 1955 and opened to traffic in October 1957. The bridge is 1670.4 meters (5480.6 ft) long with 8 piers and 9 holes. The upper floor is used for motorcars and the lower one for trains. Visitors can climb the bridge by elevators on the sightseeing towers at either end of the bridge. Standing on the tower, visitors can appreciate the beautiful landscape of Wuhan City and the splendid Yangtze River

In 1913, Zhan Tianyou, one of China's well-known railway engineers, visited Wuhan and studied the possibility of the construction of the Yangtze River Bridge. The bridge was to be built between the Tortoise Hill in Hanyang and the Snake Hill in Wuchang. Unfortunately, his dream could not come true. Again, six years later, Dr. Sun Yat-sen put forward a proposal to build a Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan. Then Nanjing Government invited American experts and made a draft plan. Mao Yisheng, a bridge expert, organized for two designs and the construction was about to begin. Because of war and lack of money, no one was able to have the bridge built.

After the founding of New China, the central government decided to build the Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan in 1950. Five years later, news came that the construction would soon begin and it became the focus of world attention. However, more overseas people were half believing and half doubting. Within two years, the Chinese engineers, technicians and workers, with the help of the Soviet experts, completed a double deck bridge for the dual use of automobiles and trains. The wish of "turning a deep chasm into a thoroughfare" was fulfilled.

Guiyuan Temple, situated on Cuiwei Street of Hanyang district, is one of the four largest Buddhist temples in Hubei Province as well as an important Buddhist temple in China. It is the leading temple in Wuhan with prosperous public worship, flourishing Buddhist ceremonies, and many pilgrims.

Gui Yuan Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple dating from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), is an example of classic architecture commonly seen in southern China.

Inside the temple is a huge hall containing 500 Luohans (also known as arhats or disciples) in different postures, each with a highly individualized facial expression. Some look experienced and astute, others jolly, angry, or complaisant; in other words, the expressions show the full spectrum of human feelings. There is also a large 105-ton Buddha sculpted of white stone--a gift from Burma in 1935. Guiyuan Buddhist Temple (Temple of Original Purity). The Temple, situated on Cuiwei Street, is one of the four largest Buddhist meditation temples in Hubei as well as an important Buddhist temple in China.

The temple was first built in the early Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911) by two monks named Baiguang and Zhufeng on the base of Sunflower Garden, which was owned by a poet. The temple got its name from the Buddhist chant: "When guided by purity, one can go anywhere." Guiyuan Temple has survived through more than 300 hundred years of repeated cycles of prosperity and decline. Above all others, it has always led the other temples in Wuhan with prosperous public worship, flourishing Buddhist ceremony, and welcoming many pilgrims.

The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times in its history and the present temple dates from the early Republic of China (1912-1949 AD). Covering an area of 46,900 sq. m with a floor space of 20,000 sq. m, the temple mainly consists of Daxiongbaodian Hall, Arhat Hall, and the Sutra Collection Pavilion. Daxiongbaodian Hall is the main hall of the temple. A statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism who preached for 45 years, is enshrined in this hall. On his right is a statue of Mahakasyapa, one of the ten disciples of Sakyamuni. It is said that he was of eminent virtue and is believed to be the first patriarch. After Sakyamuni died, Mahakasyapa carried on his career. On the left is a statue of Ananda. Also one of the ten disciples of Sakyamuni, Ananda was the master of hearing and memory and is believed to be the second patriarch. He followed Sakyamuni for more than 20 years and is attributed with compiling the Buddhist sutras. Arhat Hall was first built in 1850 AD during the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing dynasty; the hall is the most characteristic building of the Temple with its structural layout being in the four-in-one-square shape. In the Arhat Hall are five hundred statues of the disciples of Buddha, sculpted by two artists between 1822 and 1831. Sitting, standing, or reclining, in anger, sadness, or delight, they stimulate people's imaginations. The 500 arhats are the best-preserved and most highly valued artistic group of carvings in China.

East Lake, located on south bank of the Yangtze River and the east of Wuchang, is the biggest city lake within China and one of the major tourist attractions in Wuhan. In 1982, this scenic area was listed as a state-class major scenery researching zone.

The whole scenic area of East Lake spreads over 88.2 square kilometers, including a water area of 33 square kilometers, which is 5 times that of the area of the West Lake in Hangzhou. The lake, with over 120 bends in the branch streams and 111.5 kilometers in shoreline, was famed as "a lake with 99 bays". The surface of the lake looks vast, clean and bright. The scenery around the lake is lovely, including flowers and willow trees as well as pavilions and terraces. There are four major characters in this scenic area: beautiful mountains and waters, abundant plants, the strong conditions and customs of Chu, and a unique garden.

The lake covers 33 square kilometers and stretches far into the distance. Ancient pagodas and temples scattered in 34 verdant hills around the lake make the scenic spot more historic and imposing. All the six areas of the East Lake have in common green hills, clear waters, an abundance of woods, and the typical style of Chu Culture. Perhaps you'll enjoy yourself most in two of them----Tingtao Pavilion and Moshan Hill.

Willows dance gracefully and water lily sleeps deeply around Tingtao Pavilion, a three-storey palace building, in front of which the grand and lifelike statue of Qu Yuan is looking up at the sky and sighing sadly at the subjugation of Chu.

East Lake Park is divided into six scenic areas, namely Tingtao (wave-hearing), Moshan (millstone-shaped Hill), Luoyan (Diving Wild Goose), Baima (White Horse), Chuidi (Playing the Flute), and Luohong Hills adding additional beauty to the lake. Of which, Tingtao Pavilion and Moshan Hill are most famous.