Wuhan is dusting off its image as one of China?s movers and shakers, and welcoming back international visitors Few foreign tourists make their way to this old port city that hugs the Yangtze and Han Rivers, and even for those that do find their way here, Wuhan is often merely a jumping on and off point for travellers making their way along the Yangtze. But that's going to change. In recent years, the city has taken on a new look. Old historical sites have been dusted off, the waterfront area has been given a face-lift, and Jianghan Lu, the oldest shopping street in the city, has been turned into a pleasant pedestrian mall. Meanwhile, a new generation of entrepreneurial Wuhanese has opened nicely designed restaurants, bars, teahouses, coffee shops and shopping venues around the city. Wuhan today is a rapidly changing and dynamic city that has much to offer visitors. Andy Xie, a fellow onlooker, and a Morgan Stanley economist, was excited by a recent visit, and not just by the economic potential of the city. ?Wuhan has much more to offer to tourists than Shanghai, but receives few of them? he writes. Xie says the city ?must make tourism work as a first step to reclaiming its past glory.? Travel writer Eric N. Danielson, the author of The New Yangzi River Trilogy, published by Times Editions in Singapore, argues that Wuhan has ?the best preserved and most concentrated collection of Western architecture in China,? surpassing even Shanghai. ?Walking down Jianghan Lu , Zhongshan Dadao or the waterfront bund is simply so impressive because you see one monumental colonial building after another for as far as your eyes can see,? says Danielson. ?There aren't high-rise glass towers intermixed between them, the historic buildings' facades are not covered up with enormous flashing neon signs, and their exteriors are bright from a fresh cleaning.? The Hubei Provincial Museum, one of the best museums in China, has an amazing collection of ancient treasures, the most impressive being artifacts excavated from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng. This is the home of the Yellow Crane Tower, immortalized by Chinese poets throughout history, and colorful temples. The city also has a rich cultural tradition with its local opera, performances of which can be seen on the streets of the city. And when you need a break from the pressures of city life, escape to the well-landscaped East Lake, or nearby Mulan Shan, famous for its Buddhist and Taoist temples. Hubei cuisine is another underrated attraction. Influenced by several regional cuisines, the Hubei menu, somewhat spicy, is among the most interesting in China. You can eat your way through the city. In the morning wander down Hubu Lane, where more than 100 vendors turn out the excellent morning snacks, and you'll understand why the Wuhan breakfast is such an institution. At noon, try one of the restaurants specialising in local dishes. In the evening, have a meal at one of the spots on Jiqing Street while being entertained by some of the several hundred performers who put on private mini-shows right at your table. If you're adventuresome, visit the Changdi Jie night market on Qiaokou Lu and try some of the city's favorite snacks, or head over to Jingwu Road for a taste of Wuhan?s famous super-spicy duck necks.
