From pandemic epicentre to modern metropolis
WUHAN is the capital of Hubei province in China and the most populous city in central China, with a population exceeding 11 million.
Traditionally, Wuhan has not been among the top travel destinations for Sarawakians. However, it gained worldwide attention in December 2019 following the emergence of the COVID-19 virus at the Huanan Seafood Market. Wuhan became the epicentre of the outbreak, prompting the Chinese government to impose a strict citywide lockdown starting January 23, 2020, which lasted for 76 days.
Today, Wuhan serves as the political, economic, financial and transportation hub of central China.
I had the opportunity to visit the city recently during a trip to the Hunan and Hubei provinces. My journey from Kuching, via Kota Kinabalu International Airport, landed me directly at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Our tour group from Kuching spent one night in a hotel within the city. The following morning, we continued our journey by tour bus to various tourist destinations.
Along the way, our tour guide, Siaw Ling, pointed out numerous vacant houses and apartments visible from the roadside.
Many of these remain unsold due to the financial hardships endured by residents during the two-year COVID-19 pandemic when economic activities grounded to a halt.
During a brief tour of the older part of the city, my overall impression was that of a striking contrast between the old and the new.
Along Yanjiang Road, which ran parallel to the Yangtze River, I observed traditional street hawkers selling their goods. Some were cooking food such as baked sweet potatoes and corn using mobile stoves. Fruit and cake vendors could also be seen operating by the roadside.
Several noodle stalls were set up on the streets, complete with low tables and stools for customers — reminiscent of the street scenes in Jakarta and Vietnam.
Manual carts were still commonly used for transporting goods while three-wheeled scooter trucks remained a familiar sight, functioning both as delivery vehicles and scavenging trucks.
Odd-job workers and technicians sat on parked motorcycles along the streets, waiting for business. Many displayed handwritten signs offering services such as plumbing, electrical wiring, home repairs and more.
In contrast, another side of the city featured modern commercial buildings, hotels and towering high-rise apartments, some soaring beyond 30 storeys. These lined the banks of the Han Jiang River and showcased Wuhan’s rapid urban development.
A striking western-style heritage building located on Yanjiang Avenue stands out in this area. This four-storey European Renaissance-style structure, with a central clock tower, is the Jianghanguan Museum. Originally built in 1924 as a customs office, it was converted into a museum of modern and contemporary Wuhan history in 2015. Though a popular tourist attraction, I was unable to visit it due to time constraints.
Adjacent to it is another western-style building topped with a dome-shaped tower, now housing the Grand Madison Hotel.
Both buildings mark the entrance to the renowned Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street — a bustling shopping hotspot especially popular among tourists. At night, the street comes alive with vibrant lighting and bustling trade activities
Spanning approximately 1.5 kilometres, this vibrant pedestrian street is flanked by beautifully preserved colonial-era buildings, modern shoplots and malls. It houses a wide variety of retail outlets — from international brands to local boutiques.
Well-known international chains such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chagee (a popular milk tea brand), and TSUTAYA Bookstore are located here.
The street is especially famous for its variety of food stalls, cafés and restaurants, where visitors can savour Wuhan’s signature local delicacies and a wide assortment of street snacks.
Souvenirs, along with locally made cakes and cookies, are particularly sought after by tourists as take-home mementoes.
Key attractions in Wuhan include the iconic Yellow Crane Tower, designed in traditional Chinese architectural style; the grand Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge; East Lake; Hubei Provincial Museum; Guiyuan Temple; Wuhan Botanical Garden, and more — all awaiting exploration by curious travellers.
