Wuhu (wú hú 芜湖), located in the southeast of Anhui Province (ān huī shěng 安徽省) and in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (cháng jiāng 长江), is the subcenter of Anhui Province in terms of politics, economy, transportation and culture, as well as a member of Nanjing Metropolitan Coordinating Region (nán jīng dū shì quān 南京都市圈).

Overview

Wuhu, standing on the alluvial plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is located in the southeast of Anhui Province. It connects its north to Jianghuai Plain (jiāng huái píng yuán 江淮平原) and its south to many scenic spots such as Huangshan Mountain (huáng shān 黄山), Jiuhuashan Mountain (jiǔ huá shān 九华山), Qiyunshan Mountain (qí yún shān 齐云山) and Taiping Lake (tài píng hú 太平湖). Wuhu has a history of more than 2000 years. The city used to be called "Jiuzi (jiū zī 鸠兹)" because in ancient times, this area abounded with turtledoves due to its wide range of marsh land. It has been always regarded as an important harbour city and the representative of Anhui Province. Since the reformation, the economy of Wuhu has boomed and there has appeared many well-known brands, the most famous one of which is Chery (qí ruì qì chē 奇瑞汽车). As an important traffic hub, Wuhu has a very significant building—Wuhu Yangtse Bridge (wú hú cháng jiāng dà qiáo 芜湖长江大桥), one of the landmark sites in China. The bridge is an important transportation link for Wuhu across the Yangtze River. It is also a good place from which to admire the river. At the same time, with the construction of the Fantawild Adventure Theme Park (fāng tè huān lè shì jiè 方特欢乐世界), the tourist industry of the city has also come to a new age. Every year, there are many tourists visiting those popular sight-seeing spots such as Guangji Temple (guǎng jì sì 广济寺), Tingtang Park (tīng táng gōng yuán 汀棠公园), Longxing Temple (lóng xīng sì 龙兴寺), the First Celebrities' Museum of Anhui (ān huī dì yī míng rén cáng guǎn 安徽第一名人藏馆), Mingzhong Capital City (míng zhōng dū chéng 明中都城), Luhe Village Tea Culture Museum (lù hé cūn chá yì bó wù guǎn 陆和村茶艺博物馆), Maren Striking Peak (mǎ rén qí fēng 马仁奇峰) and Taoxin Water (táo xín shuǐ yùn 陶辛水韵). Walking Street (bù xíng jiē 步行街), the main shopping street in the city center, is China's 3rd biggest shopping street after the similar Nanjing Road (nán jīng lù 南京路) in Shanghai (shàng hǎi 上海) and Wangfujing Road (wáng fú jǐng 王府井) inBeijing (běi jīng 北京).

History

As early as Tang Dynasty (táng cháo 唐朝), Wuhu had been a well-developped place. Because there was a long lake which was not deep and overgrown with weeds species, in 109 BC, Emperor Wudi (hàn wǔ dì 汉武帝) set up a county there and named it Wuhu. It had played an important role during Three Kingdoms period (sān guó shí qī 三国时期). Zhou Yu (zhōu yú 周瑜) was even appointed as a magistrate of Wuhu County. In Song Dynasty (sòng cháo 宋朝), due to the rise of trade and agriculture, it became a city where commercial babbles could be heard day and night. This also contributed a lot to the expansion of the city. During the battle between Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty (yuán cháo 元朝), and the battle between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty (míng cháo 明朝), Wuhu had been destroyed a lot. In Ming Dynasty, everything was recovering: the coastal ports of the city were open up. According to "Heavenly Creations (tiān gōng kāi wù 天工开物, a famous science and technology book in ancient China)" Wuhu was also the printing center of the country. Later there formed a large rice market because of which, Wuhu was regerded as the top one of the four rice city in Qing Dynasy (qīng cháo 清朝). Furthermore, most of the Hui merchants (huī shāng 徽商) had began their businesses from this city. Up to now, 34 of the Top 500 Global Corporations has come to invest here. Wuhu has also accessed to "national scientific and technological progress advanced city".

Climate

Wuhu is located in the subtropical zone and enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate with plenty of sunshine, appropriate precipitation and four distinct seasons. The rainy season here extends from spring to early winter with the heaviest concentration from mid-June to early July. However, since the southern part is much higher than the north, the topographic features are various in forms of plains and hills, rivers and lakes. Autumn is usually the best time to visit Wuhu as the weather is cool and the chrysanthemums are in blossom.

Attracions

Fantawild Adventure Theme Park

Fantawild Adventure Theme Park, the largest theme park in China covering an area of 1,250,000 m², is located in the Yantze River Bridge open area, invested by Shenzhen Huaqiang Group (shēn zhèn huá qiáng jí tuán 深圳华强集团). It belongs to the Huaqiang Tour City (huá qiáng lǚ yóu chéng 华强旅游城). Constructed by adopting a unique combination of modern technology, animatronics, digital simulation, film, optical and oral simulation and other hi-tech resources, the park can be termed world-class quality. This is a theme park fully undertaken and controlled by Chinese people in terms of its design and creation, software and hardware, management and operation. It is composed of 15 theme attractions—Sunshine Plaza, City Walk, Fish Market, The Space, Mysterious River Valley, Vesuvius, The Lost Empire, Dwarf Kingdom Hill, Wild West, Dino-Peninsula, Conch Bay, Duludubi Farm, Kid’s Zone, Water Zone and Flare Meteor. The access to Sunshine Plaza, City Walk and Fish Market is free. With an adventurous and exciting new interface, it's a dream park blending virtual reality as well as past history and the future where for example, children can come back to the age of the Dinosaurs, experience a journey to outer space and discover the magic of filmmaking and magical experience.

Tel: 0553-5889800; 0553-5889880
Admission Fee:
1. Full Price: CNY 160 (Visitors higher than 1.4 m and less than 70 years old.)
2. Child Price: CNY 120 (Children shorter than 1.4 m in height, must accompanied by adult with full-price ticket)
3. Free Ticket: 
1) Children (Children with a height 1.1 m and below, must be accompanied by adult with a full price ticket. One adult can only bring one child with free entrance.)
2) Seniors (Visitors of 70 years old and above, requires the presentation of an ID card and must be accompanied by adult with full-price ticket. One adult can only bring one senior with free entrance.)
4. Note: One adult with full price ticket can only bring one child or one senior for free entrance.
Opening Hours:
1. 9:00 - 19:30 on Spring Festival, Labor Day, International Children's Day and National Day.
2. 9:30 - 18:00 from Monday to Friday
3. 9:00 - 18:30 on Saturday
4. 9:00 - 18:00 on Sunday
Transportation:
1. Take bus No. 5, 13, 23, 30, 32, 103 to Yinhu North Station
2. Take buses No. 8, 19, 25, 26, 34 to Fantawild Adventure
3. Take buses No. 19, 32 from train station or bus station directly to Fantawild Adventure.

Ocean Of Flowers and Stone Forest on Mt. Ya

Ocean Of Flowers and Stone Forest on Mt. Ya (yā shān huā hǎi shí lín 丫山花海石林) is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River and the blending place of Tongling (tóng líng shì 铜陵市), Chizhou (chí zhōu shì 池州市) and Wuhu. It is rated as an AAAA Tourist Attraction covering more than 60 rare peaks and hundreds of spectacular rock groups. Since local residents used to planting beautiful peonies in the blank spaces between those stones, seen from a distance, it seems that the flowers are growing on the stones. Besides, there are more than 90 karst caves in this area in different sizes and many clean steams and attractive waterfalls. People also call this scenic spot as "the hometown of peonies" since in mid-spring, all the flowers will be in bloom offering a magnificent view for visitors. It is said that many historical figures had lived or been there such as Li Bai (lǐ bái 李白), the God of poetry (shī xiān 诗仙), Wei Yingwu (wéi yīng wù 韦应物)，Wang Anshi (wáng ān shí 王安石), etc.

Location: Hewan Town (hé wān zhèn 何湾镇), Nanling County (nán líng xiàn 南陵县), Wuhu, Anhui Province
Tel: 0553-6417888; 0553-6417999

Zheshan Park

Located at the heart of the city, Zheshan Park (zhě shān gōng yuán 赭山公园) is composed of two hills on the top of which people can possess a full view of the whole city. It is said that in ancient times, generals had forged the swords here, which contributed to the formation of the colour of the mountains. There are many historical sites in the park such as Qinglan Sienna Tower (zhě tǎ qíng lán 赭塔晴岚), the head of the ten famous sightseeing spots and Guangji Temple.

Admission Fee: free except for zoo (CNY 8)
Location: at the center of Wuhu
Transportation:
1. Take bus No. 11, 8, 3, 4 to the east gate of Zheshan Park
2. Take bus No. 24, 26, 17 to Wangnan Medical College (wǎn nán yī xué yuàn 皖南医学院)

Food

The street snacks in Wuhu are the most famous and delicious cuisines. Wuhu Phoenix Food Street (wú hú fèng huáng měi shí jiē 芜湖凤凰美食街) is the best place for visitors to satisfy their appetites. Crab Dumplings in Soup (xiè huáng tāng bāo 蟹黄汤包) is one of the best snacks here. It features white and slice wrapper, fresh and replete meat and agreeable taste. When it is steamed, the surface becomes translucent. It is suggested that customers bite a bit and then sip the rich broth gradually. Spiced vinegar and shredded ginger can also add its flavor.

Transportation

Waterway
Wuhu port is the last fine deepwater port here going against the Yangtsze River. It is the main foreign trade base and oversea transportation center with capacity of tens of thousands tons. There are more than 70 berths in Wuhu port. Business cooperated with more than 40 countries has been started up here.

Air
There's no civil airport right now in Wuhu. Visitors have to spend about one hour from the city to Nanjing Lukou International Airport (nán jīng lù kǒu jī chǎng 南京禄口机场) and to Hefei Luogang Airport (hé feí luò gāng guó jì jī chǎng 合肥骆岗国际机场) through 205, 204 National Highway or expressways.

Railway
There are totally 5 lines passing through Wuhu. They are Wuhu-Nanjing line, Wuhu-Tongling line, Wan (wǎn 皖, short name of Anhui Province)-Gan (gan 赣, short name of Jiangxi Province) line, Wuhu-Huainan (huái nán shì 淮南市) line, Xuanzhou-Hangzhou (háng zhōu 杭州) line. Having had Wuhu Yangtze River Bridge, Wuhu has become the second key spot of railway transportation in East China. Passengers and cargoes can be easily dispatched from Wuhu to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wenzhou (wēn zhōu shì 温州市), Fuzhou (fú zhōu shì 福州市), Xiamen (xià mén shì 厦门市) and Nanchang (nán chāng shì 南昌市) directly by railways.

Bus
The bus system through Wuhu is becoming better and approaching perfection day by day. Both 205 national road and 318 national road pass through the city. Expressways from Wuhu to Xuancheng (xuān chéng shì 宣城市), Hefei (hé féi shì 合肥市), Ma'anshan (mǎ ān shān shì 马鞍山市)，Nanjing (nán jīng shì 南京市) have been already opened to traffic.

The inner public transportation is very convenient. Normally, the fee is only CNY 1 and CNY 2 for air-conditioned buses

Taxi
In the day time, the taxi starts at CNY 6 for first 2.5 kilometers and after that CNY 1.6 for each kilometer. In the evening (from 22:00 to 5:00), it starts at CNY 7 for first 2.5 kilometers and then CNY 1.8 for each. The waiting fee is free for 4 minutes and passengers have to pay CNY 0.32 for each minute after that by day and CNY 0.36 by night.