Visit Wulonggang and Explore Wudang Mountain: 6 Travel Routes for an In-depth Tour of Hubei Province

By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

As the number of travelers between Taiwan and mainland China continues to grow, many renowned natural scenic spots on the mainland have become key destinations for tourists. At a press conference today, Zhang Dahu, Director of the Hubei Provincial Tourism Bureau, unveiled six in-depth travel routes in Hubei. These include the Wuhan urban experience, the Yangtze River Three Gorges and Shennongjia route, the Three Kingdoms cultural and World Heritage sites, the Chu culture, the Enshi ethnic customs, and the Yan Emperor ancestral worship itinerary. Among these, the Yangtze River Three Gorges is the only grand canyon in the world where visitors can travel by boat, and it will be combined with a cruise journey, allowing tourists to sail through the canyon. The Wudang Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Longzhong area in Xiangyang where Zhuge Liang once lived in seclusion, are also included in the itineraries, offering visitors a chance to experience the beauty of Hubei’s landscapes, culture, and history.

Hubei Province is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, featuring iconic landscapes such as the Yangtze River Three Gorges and historical sites from the Three Kingdoms period, as well as the Taoist sacred mountain Wudang Mountain, known as the "Number One Immortal Mountain." Currently, there are about 20 weekly flights from Taiwan to Wuhan. Wang Guo, Governor of Hubei Province, pointed out that there are direct flights from Hubei to Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Penghu in Taiwan, with a flight duration of approximately two hours, making travel very convenient for Taiwanese tourists.

Among the six “Scenic Hubei In-depth Tours” routes launched this time, the Yangtze River Three Gorges route combines the scenery of the Three Gorges with a series of Yangtze River cruises. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful landscapes along the river while aboard the ship and explore Shennongjia, the best-preserved primitive forest in mid-latitude regions of the world. The Tianqiao Scenic Area in Shennongjia has been open to the public since 2003, situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters, and is famous for its waterfalls, natural stone bridges, and perilous cliffside plank paths. Here, visitors can experience the breathtaking natural wonders and majestic landscapes.

Do you still remember the Wulonggang where Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times, hoping to enlist his help? Located in Xiangcheng District and Xiangyang District of Xiangyang, a historic and cultural city in Hubei, the Longzhong Scenic Area has a history of 1,700 years. Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion here for ten years in his youth. Visitors can not only reminisce about the story of the three visits to the thatched cottage but also explore the “Ten Scenic Spots of Longzhong,” including the Thatched Cottage Pavilion, the Three Visits Hall, and the Temple of Marquis Wu.

When it comes to Wudang Mountain, many people think of Zhang Sanfeng and Tai Chi. However, Wudang Mountain in Hubei is not only a famous Taoist sacred site and the birthplace of Chinese martial arts but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fuzhen Temple, located on the 60-degree steep slope of Lion Peak in Wudang Mountain, is hailed as a classic example of architecture built on a steep mountainside.

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