Central China Travel Guide#
Central China includes Henan, Hubei, and Hunan provinces, located in central China with rich historical culture and natural landscapes.
Henan#
Highlights#
- Historic Sites: Ancient capitals like Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang
- Cultural Sites: Longmen Grottoes, Yinxu, Shaolin Temple
- Cuisine: Henan Cuisine, Stewed Noodles, Hulatang
Key Attractions#
- Longmen Grottoes: UNESCO World Heritage, treasure house of Chinese stone carving art
- Longmen Grottoes Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended to hire a guide to understand Buddhist art
- Shaolin Temple: Birthplace of Zen Buddhism, origin of Kung Fu
- Shaolin Temple Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can watch Shaolin Kung Fu performances
- Mount Yuntai: Global Geopark, essence of Taihang Mountains
- Mount Yuntai Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended 2-3 days visit, experience natural scenery
- Yinxu: UNESCO World Heritage, ruins of Shang Dynasty capital
- Yinxu Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Learn about Shang Dynasty history and culture
Hubei#
Highlights#
- Yangtze River Culture: Three Gorges, Yichang, Jingzhou
- Historic Cities: Wuhan, Xiangyang, Jingzhou
- Cuisine: Hubei Cuisine, Hot Dry Noodles, Duck Neck
Key Attractions#
- Three Gorges Dam: World’s largest hydroelectric project
- Three Gorges Dam Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended to book in advance, learn about the hydroelectric project
- Yellow Crane Tower: One of the three great towers south of the Yangtze
- Yellow Crane Tower Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can climb the tower to overlook the Yangtze River and Wuhan’s three towns
- Mount Wudang: UNESCO World Heritage, Taoist mountain
- Mount Wudang Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended 2-3 days visit, experience Taoist culture
- Shennongjia: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, mysterious primeval forest
- Shennongjia Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended 3-5 days for in-depth visit, experience primeval forest
Hunan#
Highlights#
- Natural Scenery: Zhangjiajie, Phoenix Ancient City, Yueyang Tower
- Red Tourism: Shaoshan, Huaminglou, Mount Jinggang
- Cuisine: Hunan Cuisine, Stinky Tofu, Sugar Oil Baba
Key Attractions#
- Zhangjiajie: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, strange peaks and rocks
- Zhangjiajie Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended 3-4 days visit, can see Tianmen Mountain, Wulingyuan, etc.
- Phoenix Ancient City: Most beautiful small city in China
- Phoenix Ancient City Official Website - Ticket and accommodation information
- Recommended to stay in the ancient city, experience night view and folk customs
- Yueyang Tower: One of the three great towers south of the Yangtze
- Yueyang Tower Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can climb the tower to overlook Dongting Lake
- Shaoshan: Mao Zedong’s hometown, sacred site of red tourism
- Shaoshan Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Learn about red revolution history
Travel Tips#
- Best Time: Spring and autumn are pleasant, suitable for travel
- Transportation: Well-developed high-speed rail network, convenient connections between cities
- Wuhan-Changsha: About 1.5 hours by high-speed rail
- Wuhan-Zhengzhou: About 2 hours by high-speed rail
- Special Experiences: Experience historic sites, taste authentic cuisine, experience natural wonders
- Useful Links: