A picturesque Wuhan before being struck by the coronavirus pandemic.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, is the most populous, wealthy, and developed city in central China. Located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers, it serves as a major transportation hub with numerous railway, road, and highway connections to other major cities in mainland China.

Before being dubbed a "ghost city" due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wuhan was a vibrant city, one of China's most popular tourist destinations, boasting unspoiled natural beauty and ancient charm, with numerous famous landmarks dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Particularly noteworthy was spring, the time when cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, and peach blossoms bloomed most brilliantly, attracting over 100,000 visitors in the first week of the season alone.

The Yellow Crane Tower is considered one of the Four Great Towers of China and is a famous building praised by poets. Today, the tower, located in Yellow Crane Park, is a popular tourist attraction for both domestic and international visitors.

Wudang Mountain is a mountain range located south of Shiyan City, in northwestern Hubei Province, about 400 km from Wuhan. It is famous not only for its beautiful scenery and magnificent architecture but also for its role in the popular martial arts novels of writer Jin Yong. Today, the ancient structures of Wudang Mountain are still relatively well-preserved, with 32 Taoist temples mainly built in the architectural styles of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. However, it has become deserted after this famous tourist city was locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Donghu Park is located within the Tingtaofeng Scenic Area and covers an area of ​​87 square kilometers.²botanical garden, plum orchard, cherry blossoms, and lotus pond.

Founded in 1893, Wuhan University is situated on a beautiful scenic spot on Luojia Hill, next to East Lake, with architecture that harmoniously blends traditional and modern styles. With hundreds of cherry blossom trees blooming in white every spring, Wuhan University has become a popular tourist destination nationwide.

The Yangtze River Bridge (also known as the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge), inaugurated in 1957, is one of the first bridges to span the legendary Yangtze River. The bridge features an eye-catching design with added LED lighting, casting shimmering reflections on the water at night, leaving visitors in awe and admiration.

In addition, Wuhan's nightlife is also a fascinating experience; Grungy iced bars, Belgian beer pubs, and karaoke venues are always packed with customers day and night.

The 1,600-meter-long Jianghan pedestrian street is the longest pedestrian street in China and a delightful Wuhan tourist destination for leisurely strolls. It features buildings in a variety of architectural styles: Oriental, Roman, Byzantine, and more. This century-old street is hailed as Wuhan's open-air architectural museum. At night, Jianghan Street is densely packed with shops adorned with striking LED lights, giving visitors the feeling of walking through the vibrant streets of Hong Kong.

The more than 150-meter-long Hubei Alley is a famous tourist attraction in Wuhan, dating back over 100 years. The alley originated during the Ming Dynasty and is known as the "Number One Snack Alley" in China. Here, visitors can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge and the Wuchang Yangtze River bank.

Wuhan's Tan Hua Lin Art Village is similar to Beijing's 798 Art District. Tan Hua Lin Street itself is a famous old neighborhood with many buildings dating back to the Civil War era.

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in December 2019, Wuhan was completely locked down to prevent its spread. The streets and traffic in Wuhan were deserted, with very few people moving around, while hospitals were the busiest, almost overwhelmed, as the number of people infected or suspected of being infected with the coronavirus continued to increase.

Huong Thao