Xiangfan Travel Guide, China

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Location

Xiangfan is located in eastern China and is one of the largest and most important cities in the Hubei Province. Some of the closeby cities are Wuhan and Zhengzhou. Xiangfan travel guide offers lots of useful information about this captivating city.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

The city is located in a beautiful area on the shores of the Han River and surrounded by low hills and mountains at an average elevation of 80m. This captivating city with a 3000 years old history enchants tourists with its gorgeous scenery offered mainly by the presence of the river with its undulating course.

The climate in this part of China is subtropical and strongly influenced by the monsoon which determines a higher humidity in spring and summer and lower humidity in winter and autumn. The annual average temperatures within the city reach 15ºC and the most frequent climatic phenomenon here is the summer rainstorms.

The city’s hydrograph network is represented by the Han River which is also a huge natural resource for the city and has a high economic importance.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

The flora within the city is represented by local species and cultivated ones; the local flora is characteristic for the subtropical climate area with beautiful deciduous and evergreen trees as well as other species of wild plants. Decorative species include multicolored flowers, rapid growing bushes and small trees and other such plants.

Fauna is represented by few terrestrial species and numerous aquatic ones housed by the Han River. At the city’s periphery one can observe the white deer, pheasants, the tragopan and other bird and mammal species while the waters of the river abound in sturgeons, paddlefish and carps.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Population

Xiangfan houses a number of about 460.000 inhabitants, most of them of Han nationality and having as official language the Mandarin. Several dialects are spoken in the city along with English especially in the business environment. The city is one of the oldest in China, housing numerous proofs of those glory days like religious temples, gardens, defense walls and so on. The landscape is even more spectacular as the old and new city are separated by the Han River course and from the river banks one can admire the pagodas and old city wall on one side and skyscrapers on the other.

Local economy is based on heavy and light industry producing auto and electronic parts, tourism, agriculture with several cotton, tobacco cultures and fruit trees orchards, and commerce.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

With a long history as a cultural and artistic centre, Xiangfan still has a rich cultural and artistic life animated by numerous related events. The city is proud of its culture from the architecture of the old city, music, literature and fine arts every sector attracts foreign visitors with their uniqueness and originality. Religious cultural events are also very important for the locals, most of such events being related to Daoism.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Transport

Due to its strategic location within Hubei Province, Xiangfan is crossed by an important railway and highways. Xiangfan is also a river port; though a smaller one it still plays an important role in the local economy being an important stop for steamers and other small ships. The nearest airport is located only 20 km away, the Xiangfan International Airport, basically connecting Xiangfan with the rest of the world.

Xiangfan, Travel Guide – Festivals

One of the most popular festivals in the city is the Dragon Boat Festival, which commemorates the terrible end of a Chinese personality who lived around 300BC. Qu Yuan lived at King of Chu court and served him until he was accused of treasury and lived in exile until he decided to end his live by drowning himself. Every year in May or June people celebrate this event by organizing dragon boat racings and eating traditional food, the event is nowadays recognized as a public holiday.