The Land of Rivers, Innovation, and Central Power
Hubei Province (湖北省) is located in central China, named for its location “north of the lake” (referring to Dongting Lake). Known as the “Thoroughfare of Nine Provinces” (九省通衢), Hubei is a transport and economic hub with the mighty Yangtze River flowing through its heart. Its capital, Wuhan, is a historic and industrial powerhouse, symbolizing both ancient legacy and modern dynamism.
Formation and Historical Background
- “Hubei” means “north of the lake”, in reference to Dongting Lake in neighboring Hunan.
- Historically part of the State of Chu during the Warring States period.
- Central to China’s revolutionary history, including the 1911 Wuchang Uprising which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
- Became a formal province during the Qing Dynasty’s administrative reforms.
- Vital role in China’s inland development and Yangtze River transport.
Administrative Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Province Name | Hubei Province (湖北省) |
| Provincial Capital | Wuhan (武汉市) |
| Location | Central China |
| Total Area | Approx. 185,900 sq. km |
| Population | Approx. 59 million (2024 est.) |
| Time Zone | China Standard Time (UTC+8) |
| Abbreviation | 鄂 (È) |
| ISO Code | CN-HB |
Government and Leadership
| Position | Current Officeholder (as of 2024) |
|---|---|
| Party Secretary | Wang Menghui (王蒙徽) |
| Governor | Wang Zhonglin (王忠林) |
| Provincial Legislature | Hubei Provincial People’s Congress |
| Administrative Body | Hubei Provincial People’s Government |
Administrative Divisions of Hubei Province
Hubei has 13 prefecture-level cities, 1 sub-provincial city (Wuhan), and 3 directly-administered prefectures, along with districts, counties, and county-level cities.
- Wuhan (武汉市) – Provincial Capital
- Districts: Jiang’an (江岸区), Jianghan (江汉区), Qiaokou (硚口区), Hanyang (汉阳区), Wuchang (武昌区), Qingshan (青山区), Hongshan (洪山区), Dongxihu (东西湖区), Hannan (汉南区), Caidian (蔡甸区), Jiangxia (江夏区), Huangpi (黄陂区), Xinzhou (新洲区)
- Huangshi (黄石市)
- Districts: Huangshigang (黄石港区), Xisaishan (西塞山区), Xialu (下陆区), Tieshan (铁山区)
- County-level City: Daye (大冶市)
- County: Yangxin (阳新县)
- Shiyan (十堰市)
- Districts: Zhangwan (张湾区), Maojian (茅箭区), Yunyang (郧阳区)
- Counties: Zhushan (竹山县), Zhuxi (竹溪县), Fangxian (房县), Danjiangkou (丹江口市 – county-level city)
- Yichang (宜昌市)
- Districts: Xiling (西陵区), Wujiagang (伍家岗区), Dianjun (点军区), Xiaoting (猇亭区), Yiling (夷陵区)
- Counties: Yuan’an (远安县), Zigui (秭归县), Xingshan (兴山县), Changyang (长阳土家族自治县), Wufeng (五峰土家族自治县)
- County-level Cities: Yidu (宜都市), Dangyang (当阳市), Zhijiang (枝江市)
- Xiangyang (襄阳市)
- Districts: Xiangcheng (襄城区), Fancheng (樊城区), Xiangzhou (襄州区)
- Counties: Nanzhang (南漳县), Gucheng (谷城县), Baokang (保康县)
- County-level Cities: Laohekou (老河口市), Zaoyang (枣阳市), Yicheng (宜城市)
- Ezhou (鄂州市)
- Districts: Echeng (鄂城区), Huarong (华容区), Liangzihu (梁子湖区)
- Jingmen (荆门市)
- Districts: Dongbao (东宝区), Duodao (掇刀区)
- County: Jingshan (京山市 – county-level city), Shayang (沙洋县), Zhongxiang (钟祥市 – county-level city)
- Xiaogan (孝感市)
- Districts: Xiaonan (孝南区)
- Counties: Dawu (大悟县), Xiaochang (孝昌县), Yunmeng (云梦县)
- County-level Cities: Yingcheng (应城市), Anlu (安陆市), Hanchuan (汉川市)
- Jingzhou (荆州市)
- Districts: Shashi (沙市区), Jingzhou (荆州区)
- Counties: Jiangling (江陵县), Gong’an (公安县), Shishou (石首市 – county-level city), Jianli (监利市 – county-level city), Honghu (洪湖市 – county-level city), Songzi (松滋市 – county-level city)
- Huanggang (黄冈市)
- Districts: Huangzhou (黄州区)
- Counties: Tuanfeng (团风县), Hong’an (红安县), Luotian (罗田县), Yingshan (英山县), Xishui (浠水县), Qichun (蕲春县), Guangshui (广水市), Macheng (麻城市)
- Xianning (咸宁市)
- Districts: Xian’an (咸安区)
- Counties: Tongshan (通山县), Chongyang (崇阳县), Tongcheng (通城县), Jiayu (嘉鱼县)
- County-level City: Chibi (赤壁市)
- Suizhou (随州市)
- District: Zengdu (曾都区)
- County-level City: Guangshui (广水市)
- Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (恩施土家族苗族自治州)
- County-level Cities: Enshi (恩施市), Lichuan (利川市)
- Counties: Jianshi (建始县), Badong (巴东县), Xuan’en (宣恩县), Xianfeng (咸丰县), Laifeng (来凤县), Hefeng (鹤峰县)
Summary:
| Level | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Prefecture-level Divisions | 13 |
| County-level Divisions | 100+ |
| Township-level Divisions | 1,600+ |
Local Government Structure
- Prefecture-level cities and the Enshi Autonomous Prefecture are led by People’s Governments and Party Committees.
- Urban districts manage municipal affairs, while counties and county-level cities handle rural governance.
- Wuhan is a sub-provincial city, directly governed under provincial authority with enhanced administrative power.
Leadership & Governance
- The Governor and Party Secretary coordinate:
- Industrial innovation in Wuhan
- Yangtze River ecological protection
- Rural revitalization and disaster resilience
- Special focus on flood control and high-speed rail integration
Law Enforcement & Safety
- Hubei’s law enforcement is managed by the Hubei Provincial Public Security Department.
- Major tasks include:
- Urban safety
- Border and river port security
- Public health emergency management
- Emergency Numbers:
- 110 – Police
- 119 – Fire
- 120 – Ambulance
Economy & Industry
- Key Sectors:
- Optics, electronics, and biotechnology (centered in Wuhan)
- Automotive manufacturing
- Steel, chemicals, construction materials
- Agriculture: rice, cotton, freshwater fish
- GDP Growth (2023): Approx. 6.1%, with Wuhan as a Tier-1 industrial center
Education & Institutions
- Leading Universities:
- Wuhan University (武汉大学)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (华中科技大学)
- China University of Geosciences (中国地质大学)
- Major fields: engineering, medicine, AI, optics, environmental science
Healthcare
- Top Hospitals:
- Tongji Hospital (Wuhan)
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
- Wuhan Union Hospital
- High-level medical research and national epidemic response base
Transport & Connectivity
- Airports:
- Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
- Yichang Sanxia Airport
- High-speed Rail: Wuhan is a major national HSR hub (Beijing-Guangzhou, Shanghai-Chengdu)
- River Transport: Yangtze River ports (Wuhan Port) handle major cargo flow
Tourism & Attractions
- Three Gorges Dam – world’s largest hydroelectric power station
- Yellow Crane Tower – iconic symbol of Wuhan
- Wudang Mountains – Taoist spiritual site and martial arts heritage
- Enshi Grand Canyon, Shennongjia National Park
- Historical sites from 1911 Revolution, Chu culture, and Han relics
Culture & Lifestyle
- Rich Chu cultural heritage, traditional music, and dance
- Cuisine: Hot dry noodles (热干面), Wuchang fish, duck neck, Enshi tea
- Blend of cosmopolitan and rustic styles, shaped by rivers and valleys
- Hosts the Wuhan Marathon, international expositions, and music festivals
Summary
Hubei Province is where China’s geography, history, and future converge — a province of rivers and resilience, temples and tech, war and wisdom. Anchored by the powerhouse city of Wuhan, Hubei remains central to China’s strategic map, bridging east and west with culture, commerce, and connectivity.