Top 10 Famous Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing in Wuhan

Yellow Crane Tower stands proudly by the Yangtze River, creating a picturesque contrast with Qingchuan Pavilion on the opposite bank. Nearby, the rippling waters of East Lake stretch across 88 square kilometers, adorned with scenic hills and serene reflections. The Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge spans this natural barrier, bearing witness to the blend of history and modernity. In Wuhan, all you need is a relaxed heart, take it step by step, and let yourself feel a city where history meets nature, culture intertwines with breathtaking views. Here are the Wuhan top 10 attractions.

Top 1: Yellow Crane Tower

Yellow Crane Tower, perched atop Snake Hill and overlooking the vast Yangtze River, is a landmark building of Wuhan. Originally built in the year 223 AD, it has undergone numerous reconstructions over successive dynasties. It gained widespread fame thanks to the poem Yellow Crane Tower by the poet Cui Hao. The original structure was destroyed by a fire in the late Qing Dynasty, and the present building was reconstructed in 1985.

Renowned since ancient times as "the superb sights under heaven", it is considered one of the Three Great Scenic Spots of Wuhan, along with Qingchuan Pavilion and Lute Platform. It also ranks among the Three Famous Towers of Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze), alongside Yueyang Tower in Hunan and Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi, and is lauded as "The First Tower Under Heaven".

The main structure of the Yellow Crane Tower is a reinforced concrete frame designed to imitate traditional wooden architecture. It stands 51.4 meters tall, with five tiers of upward-curving eaves and a pointed roof covered in golden glazed tiles. The tower is supported by 72 round columns. Surrounding the tower are bronze sculptures of two crane and a tortoise, a Sacred Stupa, memorial archways, corridors, and pavilions. On each of its four sides hang plaques, with the front displaying a golden inscription of "Yellow Crane Tower" written by the calligrapher Shu Tong.

Originally built as a military watchtower, it was constructed by Sun Quan to defend the area and monitor enemy movements during the Three Kingdoms period. As three kingdoms unified, its military function gradually transformed into that of a scenic site for banquets and leisure. Throughout the ages, countless poets and scholars have visited, leaving behind celebrated verses. Ascending the tower, one commands an unobstructed panorama of the Yangtze River stretching to the horizon and the urban landscape of Wuhan's Three Towns.

• Address: west slope of Snake Mountain, Wuchang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 08:30 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-4 hours

Top 2: East Lake

East Lake, or Dong Lake, located on the right bank of the Yangtze River in the eastern part of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, is named "East Lake" due to its location. Covering a water area of 33 square kilometers, it is six times the size of West Lake in Hangzhou. Mao Zedong was especially fond of this lake and referred to it as "the place of white clouds and yellow cranes".

East Lake features beautiful lakes and mountains with winding shorelines and scattered islets, surrounded by 34 lush green peaks. Each season offers its own charm, with spring orchids, summer lotuses, autumn osmanthus, and winter plums being especially renowned. In spring, the mountains are verdant and flowers bloom with birdsong; in summer, boating on the lake is cool and pleasant; in autumn, red leaves blanket the hills and the air is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus; in winter, walk in the snow and admire the plum blossoms while migratory birds soar through the sky.

East Lake has long been a famous scenic destination. Historical figures such as Qu Yuan and Li Bai once left their footprints here. It is also the largest cultural tourism center dedicated to the Chu civilization. With rich Chu cultural heritage and elegant Chu charm, notable sites include the widely known Xingyin Pavilion, the "Three Marvels" of the Lisao Stele, the statue of Qu Yuan, as well as the Qu Yuan Memorial Hall, all brimming with cultural significance.

• Address: No. 16, Yanhu Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-4 hours

Top 3: Sword of Goujian

The Hubei Provincial Museum, located by the East Lake and established in 1953, holds nearly a thousand pieces of first-grade national cultural relics. Not only is its collection vast, but its quality also ranks among the finest, earning widespread acclaim both in China and abroad. The museum treasures include the Sword of Goujian and the Marquis Yi of Zeng's Chime Bells, among other signature artifacts.

The Sword of Goujian, King of Yue, dating back to the late Spring and Autumn Period, is a bronze masterpiece from the ancient State of Yue and is classified as a top-grade cultural relic of China. It was unearthed in 1965 in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, and is now housed in the Hubei Provincial Museum. Despite being buried underground for over 2,500 years, the sword emerged with its blade still gleaming coldly, its exquisite patterns sharp and vivid, entirely free from corrosion, hailed as the "No. 1 Sword under Heaven".

The Sword of Goujian measures 55.7 cm in length, with a hilt of 8.4 cm, a width of 4.6 cm, and weighs 875 grams. Its pommel flares outward into a circular ring, featuring 11 concentric circles cast only 0.2 millimeters apart. The blade is adorned with intricate black diamond-shaped patterns, and near the guard on the front side bears an inscription in bird-worm seal script that reads, "King Goujian of Yue made this sword for his own use". The guard is inlaid with blue glass on the front and turquoise on the reverse, while the hilt is wrapped with silk threads.

As one of the "Four Great Treasures of Hubei Provincial Museum", the Sword of Goujian boasts an elegant design and high artistic value. It fully reflects the superb craftsmanship of ancient Chinese swordmakers and stands as a true gem among bronze weapons.

• Address: No. 160, Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 4: Wuhan University

Wuhan University, or WHU for short, traces its origins back to 1893 when Zhang Zhidong, the governor-general of Huguang in the late Qing Dynasty, petitioned the imperial court to establish the Ziqiang Institute. After a series of evolutions, it was named National Wuhan University in 1928, becoming one of the first national universities in modern China.

East Lake, with its interlacing harbors and winding shoreline, embraces lush hills on its southern bank, where nestled in the southwest corner lies Luojia Mountain. With Luojia as a screen and East Lake as a mirror, the mountain is covered in dense greenery while the lake shimmers with rippling light. The heavenly gifted verdant hills and clear waters constitutes a beautiful campus environment, earning WHU as one of "the most beautiful universities in China".

Cherry Blossom Avenue, one of WHU's iconic landscapes, is the heart of the university's Cherry Blossom Garden. Stretching about 300 meters, it is lined primarily with Japanese cherry trees, with over six types and more than ten varieties of early and weeping cherry blossoms in rich, vibrant colors. Each blooming season, drifting petals envelop the path, and together with the traditional old dormitory buildings nearby, form a quintessential springtime spectacle unique to Wuhan University.

The campus's blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles is elegant and majestic. Starting from the European-style archway, one ascends 108 steps along the old dormitories that conform to the mountain's contours, reaching the pavilion-style eaved rooftop platform known as Yingding. The old library connects to Yingding, appearing outwardly as a traditional Chinese palace, while incorporating Western-style corridors within, making it a masterpiece and model of modern Chinese university campus architecture.

In the northeastern corner of WHU lies Lingbomen, originally an open-air swimming pool made up of several plank bridges that extend into the lake. Stepping out of Lingbomen leads directly to East Lake. A leisurely stroll along the lakeside reveals serene views of mountains and water, while enjoying the moonlight from the boardwalk at night is a uniquely enchanting experience.

• Address: No. 160, Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM at weekends & holidays
• Tour Length: 2-4 hours

Top 5: Qingchuan Pavilion

Qingchuan Pavilion is located on Yugongji at the eastern foot of Guishan Mountain on the north bank of the Yangtze River. To the north, it faces the Han River, while to the east, it overlooks the Yangtze; and across the river, it stands opposite the Yellow Crane Tower, complementing each other. Originally built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt in 1984, and its name is derived from a verse by the Tang dynasty poet Cui Hao. Known as one of the "Three Great Scenic Spots of Wuhan", it enjoys the reputation of being "the first tower under the Chu". Together with the reconstructed Iron Gate Pass and the former royal palace of Yu Ji, Qingchuan Pavilion forms a complex of ancient buildings.

The pavilion consists of two stories and stands 17.5 meters high, fully embodying the architectural style of the Chu people—"building platforms against the mountain and towers upon the platforms". The two-tiered eaves have copper bells hanging from each corner, which chime in the wind. Dragon-shaped ornaments curl dynamically at both ends of the main ridge, brimming with vitality. The pavilion features whitewashed walls, gray cylindrical tiles, red-lacquered round pillars on two levels of corridors, and bracket sets and beams painted with colorful motifs, all rich in Chu cultural flavor. The ridgeline is decorated with "Chiwen (a dragon that combines the characteristics of fish)" ornaments, reflecting the folk customs of the watery regions of southern China.

• Address: No. 86, Xima Long Street, Hanyang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 6: Hankou Jiangtan

Hankou Jiangtan lies adjacent to the Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street, stretching about 7 kilometers long and covering an area of 1.6 million square meters, eight times the size of Shanghai's Bund. It sits next to Yanjiang Avenue, faces the Yellow Crane Tower scenic area across the river, and complements the bustling traffic on the Yangtze, earning it the reputation of the "Golden Bund".

Hankou Jiangtan has witnessed both the prosperity and decline of "Great Wuhan". On one side runs the busy Yanjiang Avenue, lined with more than a dozen century-old buildings in varied architectural styles, each solidifying an unalterable chapter of history. On the other side is an open riverside park, composed of three tiers of viewing platforms. During the high-water season each year, the second platform becomes submerged by the river, offering an experience as if watching the sea from within the city. In the dry season, the lowest platform reveals sandy banks where visitors can descend to play in the shallows of the Yangtze.

In the winter months, the reeds along Hankou Jiangtan become a striking sight. A stretch of wild reeds grows tenaciously along the riverbank, sprawling over six kilometers in grandeur. Every autumn and winter, as the river breeze rises, the reed and bulrush flowers sway like flowing white silk. At sunset, when the wind sweeps across the water and through the sea of flowers, the fluffy white plumes dance in the warm golden light, romantic and magnificent.

• Address: Yanjiang Avenue, Jiang'an District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 2-3 hours

Top 7: Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge

Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge is a cross-river passage in Wuhan that connects Wuchang District and Hanyang District, spanning across the Yangtze River. It is the first dual-purpose highway and railway bridge built over the Yangtze after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and is one of Wuhan's most important historical landmarks, famously known as the "First Bridge over the Yangtze River".

The bridge is a double-deck steel truss structure: the upper level is a four-lane highway with sidewalks on both sides, and the lower level carries the double-track Beijing–Guangzhou Railway. Upon completion, together with the supporting Hanshui Railway Bridge and Jianghan Bridge, it integrated the three towns of Wuhan, ending their long history of being separated by the river.

The bridge stands with Guishan Mountain and the Qingchuan Pavilion to its north bank, and connects to Sheshan Mountain and Yellow Crane Tower to the south bank. The upper level adopts artistic techniques from ancient Chinese bridges, allowing the imposing approach arches to harmonize with the strong yet light diamond-shaped steel trusses of the main span, avoiding monotony in its lines. The design of the bridge towers also draws inspiration from the pavilion-style "clustered pointed roofs" of the Qing-era Yellow Crane Tower, highlighting the unique charm of Chinese bridge architecture.

• Address: No. 19, Linjiang Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 00:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 8: Mulan Tianchi

Mulan Tianchi is located north of Huangpi District in Wuhan, on a branch of the southern foothills of the Dabie Mountains, adjacent to Mulan Mountain and Mulan Lake to the east. Covering an area of 13 square kilometers at an elevation of about 450 meters, it boasts a water area of 360 mu (about 24 hectares) with an average lake depth of over 50 meters, making it a well-known forest canyon eco-tourism destination in Wuhan.

According to local oral tradition, here was the hometown of General Mulan's maternal family and the place where she lived and practiced martial arts as a child. It is said that when Mulan was 18, the Qiang and Hu tribes invaded the border. Her father, old and frail, could not enlist, so Mulan cut her hair, disguised herself as a man, and took her father's place in the army. Twelve years later, she returned victorious, declined all rewards, and only wished to go back to her parents to fulfill her filial duty. The people of the surrounding areas were so moved by her story that they carved a memorial arch for General Mulan on Mulan Mountain.

Mulan Tianchi has a grand canyon stretching 5 kilometers, with more than 200 natural wonders formed by its waterfalls, pools, strange rocks, and unique trees, earning it the praise "the Jiuzhai Valley of Hubei" and "the Lushan Mountain of Wuhan". Especially striking is the highland Tianchi, encircled by mountains, whose crystal-clear waters reflect like a mirror, with an elevation difference of about 380 meters between the upper and lower Tianchi lakes.

• Address: Shimen Street, Changxuanling Town, Huangpi District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 08:00 AM – 05:30 PM
• Tour Length: 4-8 hours

Top 9: Lute Platform

Lute Platform, also known as Boya Platform, borders Guishan Mountain to the east and faces Moon Lake to the north. It is one of China's most renowned historical sites of musical culture. Originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty, it was erected to commemorate Zhong Ziqi and Yu Boya of the ancient Chu State. Though repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, the story of their legendary friendship, "High Mountains and Flowing Stream Meet a Zhiyin", has endured through the ages. Alongside Yellow Crane Tower and Qingchuan Pavilion, Lute Platform is considered one of Wuhan's three most famous landmarks.

According to ancient texts such as Lüshi Chunqiu, during the Spring and Autumn Period, Yu Boya once encountered Zhong Ziqi at this very site. When Boya played the piece High Mountains and Flowing Stream on the guqin (Lute), Ziqi was able to perceive the vivid imagery within the music. Boya regarded Ziqi as his Zhiyin (intimate friend), and they agreed to meet again in a year. But when Boya returned, he learned that Ziqi had passed away. Overwhelmed with grief, Boya broke his guqin and vowed never to play again.

The Lute Platform complex spans approximately 15 mu (about 10,000 square meters). In addition to the main hall, it features a courtyard, landscaped gardens, flower beds, and a teahouse, all arranged with elegance and harmony. In front of the main hall stands a square platform made of white marble, around 20 square meters in size, believed to be the very spot where Boya played his guqin.

• Address: No. 10, Qintai Avenue, Hanyang District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 10: Gude Temple

Gude Temple was originally founded in 1877 during the Qing Dynasty by Longxi under the name Gude Thatched Hut. Between 1914 and 1919, it was expanded twice under the abbot Changhong and renamed Gude Temple. Covering nearly 30,000 square meters with a building area of around 8,000 square meters, it uniquely blends features of Eurasian religious architecture and integrates the three major Buddhist traditions of Mahayana, Theravada, and Tibetan Vajrayana. Such a combination is exceptionally rare among Chinese Buddhist temples, earning it the reputation as "an extraordinary wonder among Buddhist holy sites" and "the first marvel of Chinese Buddhist temples".

Gude Temple is laid out in the traditional three-courtyard style, oriented east to west. To the west of the temple runs a small stream approximately 10 meters wide. The main structures within the temple include the Yuantong Hall (also known as the Mahavira Hall), the Four-Faced Buddha, and the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The central Yuantong Hall employs structural elements reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture, such as ambulatories and numerous square columns between its inner and outer walls. The round and long windows on its facades resemble those of Christian churches. The finials of its nine pagodas are particularly unique: they look like both weather vanes and crosses, making them stand out distinctively within the context of traditional Chinese pagoda culture.

• Address: No. 74, Shanghuapo Road, Huangpu Street, Jiang'an District, Wuhan
• Open Hours: 06:00 AM – 05:00 PM
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours