# Yichang travel guide (宜昌) Hubei Province · Central China, China · 9 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hubei/yichang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Three Gorges Dam → Xiling Gorge, Sanxia Renjia - **Day 2:** Xiaoting → Chexi Homestay Scenic Area - **Day 3:** Chaibuxi ## The feel of the place - **Rafting:** If you set aside the Neolithic history dating back some 4,000 to 5,000 years, and Yichang's title of “Rafting Capital,” you may still think of this place only in terms of the Yangtze Three Gorges. ## The feel of the place Setting the Yangtze Three Gorges aside, the mountains and rivers here are more than enough to satisfy a full itinerary. With plenty of mountains and water, the area offers abundant rafting resources. Whether you want the full high-speed course or a mix of calm and fast water, bamboo raft or twin-raft trips, Yichang is the right choice if you want to try different kinds of rafting. ### Getting Between the Airport and the City 1. Airport bus: runs between the airport and the Qingjiang Hotel in the city centre, a journey of about 50 minutes, fare ¥20, stopping at major bus stations and piers along the way. 2. Public bus: take Bus 618 or Bus 67 to Xiaoxita in Yiling District, then continue by taxi. ### Bus Stations and Waiting Halls The Wuhan Tianhe Airport route has opened, and there are direct shuttle buses from Yichang to Wuhan Tianhe Airport, so getting to Yichang is now very convenient. - tip: 1. Dagongqiao Bus Station This is the main departure point for direct buses to Chaibuxi Scenic Area, Mingfeng Mountain Scenic Area in Yuan'an, Yuquan Temple in Dangyang, Jiuwanxi in Zigui County, Ancient Chaoyin Cave in Yidu, Xiaofeng Scenic Area in Yiling District, and Sanxia Qishi Village in Zhijiang. - phone: 0717-6222143 ### 2. Long-Distance Bus Station Long-distance buses run to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. - phone: 0717-6445314 ### 3. Haitong Bus Station Mainly short-distance routes. - phone: 0717-6444123 ### Preparation and Information ### Language Communicating in Mandarin is no problem. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Although Yichang has a subtropical monsoon humid climate, the mountain barriers of the Xiling Gorge of the Yangtze and the Qingjiang and Xiangxi river basins mean that summer temperatures are noticeably higher than in Wuhan, one of the three “Furnace Cities.” Avoid the scorching summer; spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away ### By Air Yichang Sanxia Airport is the second-largest airport in Hubei Province, with daily flights to and from Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Chongqing, and regular flights to and from Guangzhou and Kunming. ### By Rail Yichang has six railway stations. Yichang East Station is the main transport hub for entering and leaving Yichang, mainly serving direct trains to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuxi, Xi'an, Taiyuan and Wuhan. It is also Yichang's high-speed rail station. ### High-Speed Rail High-speed trains from Wuhan Hankou Station to Yichang East Station take under 2 hours. ### By Road Yichang and the rest of the province are mainly connected by the Yihuang Expressway. Within the city, there are three main bus stations: Dagongqiao Bus Station, the Long-Distance Bus Station and Haitong Bus Station. ### By Waterway Perhaps because it is a riverside city, people are used to travelling by boat, followed by bus. The Yichang–Chongqing route is the most important passenger and tourist route on the Yangtze. The completion of the Gezhouba and Geheyan hydro projects greatly improved navigation conditions in Yichang, and passenger cruise ships now run to Chongqing, Wanzhou, Fengjie and other destinations. ### Side Trips The Jingzhou Museum, which preserves the famous Western Han mummy, and the Ancient Ying Capital of Chu (Chu Jinan Ancient City) are also worth a detour. ### Getting Around the City Yichang's buses run on natural gas, which is green and environmentally friendly. Standard bus fare is ¥1; air-conditioned and sightseeing buses are ¥2, and tourist express routes have tiered fares. Yichang taxis start at ¥8 for the first 2 km; each additional km costs ¥1.6, and each additional 500 m costs ¥0.8. - **Sanxia Airport Information Desk** — - **Yichang East Railway Station** — (Chengdong Avenue, Wujiagang District) - **Yichang Port Passenger Inquiry Office** — - **Changjiang High-Speed Passenger Ship** — ## Eat & drink Yichang cuisine emphasises natural flavours, savoury freshness and a slight spiciness. The main dishes are river fish and home-style local cooking. Local river fish is best when killed and cooked to order, served in generous portions with great flavour. Choose a spot by the Yangtze so you can enjoy the river view while eating Yangtze fish. For local home cooking, try the “Lao Jiu Wan” (Old Nine Bowls): nine dishes of mixed stew, crispy fried pastries, fried spring rolls, fish-cake meatballs, squid with bamboo shoots, lotus seeds, white pork belly, mushroom chicken and pearl meatballs, served in large bowls, each with a strong rustic character. ### Tu Li Ba Ren Yichang is the birthplace of Ba-Chu culture. The Changyang Bashan Dance won a gold prize at the National Galaxy Award, and “Tu Li Ba Ren” in particular became a nationwide hit. ### Yichang Local Specialties Well-known products include citrus, kiwi, persimmons, Chunmei tea, Xiazhou emerald green tea, jasmine spring-tip tea, Yihong congou tea, cactus tea and dark-red gastrodia. The Tea City wholesale market in Yiling is a good place to buy Yichang tea. ### Food Streets - **Xiaomian Noodle Street** — Yichang people love xiaomian noodles, much as Wuhan people love hot dry noodles, Beijing people love luzhu (braised meats) and Shanghai people love shengjian bao (pan-fried buns). Early in the morning, locals gather in noodle shops to eat a bowl of hot, savoury xiaomian, made with a bone broth base and topped with pork intestines, beef, shredded pork and fried egg. It is both good value and filling. (Xiaomian Noodle Street on Huancheng North Road, and Xiaomian Noodle Street on Fusui Road) - **Xiba Riverside** — This is the best choice for enjoying a drink in the breeze while savouring good food. The river views are magnificent, and the Yangtze fish is large, fresh and cooked to order. A restaurant worth recommending is “Xian,” which gives you the flavour of a fishing-village meal. It is often full, so book your table in advance. (Yichang Xiba Riverside, Yichang) - **Changjiang Fat Fish Street** — Beyond the fame it enjoys with visitors from other places, it is also well known locally. Recommended dishes include Baicha fat fish, Xiangqiu fat fish and Mudan zhenzhu fat fish. ## Where to stay - **Taohualing Hotel** — Taohualing Hotel is located on Yunji Road in the heart of Yichang. This garden-style hotel, built in 1957, is the “old guard” of luxury hotels. Surrounding facilities are complete, transport is convenient, and there is a park opposite. (29 Yunji Road, 0717-6089999) ## Things to see - **Three Gorges Dam** (★★★★★): Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/three-gorges-dam - **Sanyou Cave Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 8：30—16：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/sanyou-cave-scenic-area-yichang - **Chexi Folk Culture Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission ¥90; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chexi-folk-culture-scenic-area - **Chaibuxi Grand Canyon** (★★★★): Admission ¥100; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chaibuxi-grand-canyon - **Three Gorges People's Family Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥210 (round-trip ferry included); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/three-gorges-people-s-family-scenic-area - **Xiling Gorge Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Sanyou Cave ¥60; Three Gorges Monkey Stream ¥45; Shangri-La ¥50; combo ticket ¥260 (three sites plus cable car); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xiling-gorge-scenic-area ## Day trips & beyond - **Jingzhou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Tourist Area** (★★★★): Admission City-wall combo ticket ¥90; museums free; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jingzhou-ancient-city-historical-and-cultural-tourist-area - **Qingjiang Gallery Tourist Resort** (★★★★): Admission ¥145 (boat ride included); Time needed 2–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qingjiang-gallery-tourist-resort - **Qu Yuan's Hometown** (★★★): Admission ¥80; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qu-yuan-s-hometown --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2057–2068. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.