Huanghelou Park is located on the top of Sheshan Hill in Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area and the leading one among the three famous towers along the Yangtze River. The park covers an area of 17.2 hectares. The main building, Huanghelou (Yellow Crane Tower), is 51.4 meters high with five floors and has a floor area of 3,219 square meters. Huanghelou was first built in the Three Kingdoms period (223 AD) and has a history of more than 1,800 years. It has always been renowned as "the First Tower of the Land under Heaven".
Historical Culture
Huanghelou is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese architectural art and is known as one of the "Three Famous Towers in the South of the Yangtze River" together with Yueyang Tower and Tengwang Pavilion. Numerous literati and poets throughout the dynasties have left a large number of popular poems here. Among them, the poem Huanghelou by Cui Hao, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, is the most famous, making Huanghelou an important symbol in the history of Chinese culture.
Huanghelou has experienced destruction and reconstruction several times. The existing building was reconstructed in 1981 according to the style of "Tongzhi Tower" in the Qing Dynasty. Inside the tower, there are precious cultural relics on display, such as models of Huanghelou in different dynasties, poems, calligraphy works and paintings, which showcase the vicissitudes and cultural accumulations of Huanghelou.
Main Scenic Spots
Huanghelou (Yellow Crane Tower)
It is the core building of the park, 51.4 meters high. It has five floors on the outside and nine floors inside, symbolizing the "supreme imperial status". The tower is made of reinforced concrete imitating wooden structure, with upturned eaves, presenting a magnificent appearance. By climbing up the tower, you can overlook the Yangtze River Bridge and the panoramic view of the three towns of Wuhan, and feel the magnificent artistic conception of "stretching my eyes to enjoy the vastness of the Chu sky".
Baiyun Pavilion
Located on the east side of Huanghelou, it is a two-story ancient-style building, taking inspiration from the lines "The yellow crane has gone and will never return; The white clouds have drifted aimlessly for thousands of years". Inside the pavilion, there are inscriptions of poems and prose praising Huanghelou by literati of past dynasties.
Yue Fei Square
It is a cultural square themed around Yue Fei, a famous general who resisted the Jin Dynasty in the Southern Song Dynasty. There is a bronze statue of Yue Fei in the center of the square, which is 8 meters high, demonstrating Yue Fei's heroic spirit of "serving the country with absolute loyalty". The corridors around the square are engraved with Yue Fei's poems and his life stories.
Ge Bi Pavilion
It is a commemorative building built based on the legend that Li Bai put down his pen and stopped writing poems after seeing Cui Hao's poem on Huanghelou. Inside the pavilion, the stone stele is engraved with Cui Hao's Huanghelou and Li Bai's poem Seeing Meng Haoran off to Yangzhou from Huanghelou.
Millennium Bell
It is a large bell cast to welcome the new century, weighing 21 tons, symbolizing the 21st century. The bell rings loudly and can be heard several miles away. It has become a new symbol of Huanghelou.
Poetry Stele Corridor
The 200-meter-long stele corridor gathers the calligraphy works of poems praising Huanghelou by literati of past dynasties, including the inscriptions by modern famous figures such as Mao Zedong and Guo Moruo. It can be regarded as a three-dimensional literary history of Huanghelou.
Cuisine
Hot Dry Noodles
It is the most representative special snack in Wuhan. The noodles are chewy and are seasoned with sesame paste, diced radish and other seasonings, giving off an inviting aroma. It is the first choice for Wuhan people's breakfast.
Doupi (Tofu Skin Pancake)
It is a traditional snack in Wuhan. It is made by grinding mung beans and rice into a pulp to make a thin skin, which is then wrapped with fillings such as glutinous rice and diced meat and fried. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a unique flavor.
Wuchang Fish
Mao Zedong's poem "Just had a sip of the water in Changsha, and now I'm tasting the Wuchang fish" has made this dish famous all over the world. The fish meat is tender and fresh. The traditional cooking methods include steaming and braising in soy sauce.
Recommendations for Surrounding Cuisine
Hubu Alley Snack Street and Jiqing Street Night Market gather all kinds of special delicacies in Wuhan, such as steamed stuffed buns, duck necks, and Hu Tang Noodles. They are only a 10-minute drive away from Huanghelou.
Tickets
The ticket price of Huanghelou Park is 70 yuan per person. Seniors over 60 years old and students can enjoy a 50% discount with valid certificates, and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge. The ticket price for the night tour of Huanghelou is 120 yuan per person (including the light show performance).
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open throughout the year. The daily opening hours are from 8:00 to 18:00 (from April 1st to October 31st) and from 8:00 to 17:30 (from November 1st to March 31st of the following year). The opening hours for the night tour are from 19:30 to 22:00 (on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the peak season).
Tour Routes
The recommended tour route is: Enter the park from the west gate → Yue Fei Square → Baiyun Pavilion → Huanghelou (climb the tower to enjoy the view) → Ge Bi Pavilion → Millennium Bell → Poetry Stele Corridor → Exit the park from the east gate. The whole tour takes about 2 to 3 hours. During the night tour, you can enjoy the light show and live-action performances.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Wuhan Metro Line 4 to Shouyi Road Station and it is about a 10-minute walk to reach the park.
- Bus: Take multiple bus routes such as No. 10, No. 61, No. 401, No. 402, and Tram Line 1 to Huanghelou Station.
- Self-driving: There are several parking lots around the park, but parking spaces are tight during holidays. It is recommended to use public transportation.
Must-visit Scenic Spots
- Huanghelou: Climb up the tower and look into the distance to feel the grandeur of "stretching my eyes to enjoy the vastness of the Chu sky".
- Poetry Stele Corridor: Admire the calligraphy works of poems praising Huanghelou by literati of past dynasties.
- Millennium Bell: Listen to the bell ringing of the new century and make wishes for good luck.
- Night-time Light Show: A perfect combination of modern technology and classical architecture.
Tour Tips
- Spring and autumn are the best times for visiting, with pleasant weather.
- It is recommended to climb the tower in the morning or in the evening to avoid the strong sunlight at noon, which may affect the viewing experience.
- The night tour of Huanghelou has unique features, and the light show should not be missed.
- You can hire a tour guide to have an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Huanghelou.
- Reserve 2 to 3 hours for the tour. If you want a more in-depth tour, you can arrange half a day.
Notes
- Smoking is prohibited inside the tower. Please abide by the fire prevention regulations.
- Pay attention to safety when climbing the tower and do not push or crowd.
- Protect the cultural relics and historic sites and do not scribble on them.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded places.
- Pay attention to the illuminated areas during the night tour to prevent falling.