Hubei

Hubei is a landlocked province in central China, named for its location north of Dongting Lake. Its capital and largest city is Wuhan, a major transportation hub at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. The province lies along the Yangtze River corridor and borders Henan to the north, Anhui to the east, Jiangxi to the southeast, Hunan to the south, and the provinces of Sichuan and Chongqing to the west.

Its terrain ranges from the western mountains to eastern plains, with the Wudang Mountains in the northwest and the Three Gorges region in the west. The Yangtze and Han rivers shape transport and agriculture; the climate is humid subtropical with four seasons.

Historically, the area was part of the ancient Chu state. The Wuchang Uprising in 1911, centered in Wuhan, helped trigger the fall of the Qing Dynasty. The Wudang Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for Taoist temples. Wuhan hosts several major universities and is a national industrial center.

Economy is diversified, with manufacturing (automotive, electronics), energy, chemicals, and agriculture (rice, wheat). Dongfeng Motor Corporation is a major base. As of 2020, the population was about 59 million, with Wuhan and cities such as Yichang and Jingzhou as key urban centers. The region was central to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019–2020. Transport includes Wuhan Tianhe Airport and extensive high-speed rail.

Tourism and culture: Notable attractions include Yellow Crane Tower, East Lake, the Three Gorges region, and the Wudang Mountains, a UNESCO site recognized for Taoist temples and architecture.