A Brief introduction to Yichang
—a comfortable city, a prosperous place
Yichang is located at the joint of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It covers an area of 21,000 km²,with a population of 4.15million,and more than 20 ethnic groups live harmoniously here for many years, including Han, Hui, Tujia, and Manchu etc., among them Han is the biggest group.
Yichang is the sub-center city of Hubei province, the regional center city in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the world famous Hydropower Tourist City. The world famous Three Gorges Project and the Gezhouba Water Control project are all locatedhere.
Yichang is a comfortable and livable city just as its name literally means. It boasts of a long-civilized history of more than 2700 years and it was regarded as the cradle of the ancient Bachu culture, and the birthplace of Tujia minority people. Yichang is the hometown of Madame Leitsu, the silk inventor as well as the wife of China's ancestral Emperor Huangdi; Chuyuan, a famous patriotic poet and celebrity of world history and culture; Wang Zhaojun, one of the four most beautiful ladies in ancient China. Yichang has a terrain of undulating mountains, countless hills as well as meandering rivers and streams. Therefore, its forest coverage rate exceeds 65.7%.With fresh air, agreeable climate, and beautiful environment, the diligent and kindhearted local people enjoy their happy lives here.
Yichang is the core city of ecological cultural tourism circle of western Hubei and the international destination city of Yangtze River three gorges tour. The towering mountains, magnificent gorges, fascinating sceneries, splendid cultures and modern projects attracted more than 20 million tourists annually, including more than 500 thousand tourists from abroad.
Yichang is an open and inclusive international city. Up to now, it has international sister cities and friendly
cooperative cities in more than 10 countries, and its trade relationship extend to more than 100 countries as well. More than 100 foreign presidents, prime ministers,parliament speakers and Party leaders visited Yichang in the past thirty years.
Yichang is a well-known prosperous place. It is the geographical center of China. With a superior geographical position and convenient transport infrastructures, it is becoming the regional transportation hub in central China. With modern airport, harbor, railway station and express ways, you can quickly and easily go to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an and other major cities of China by various means.
There are four gigantic hydropower stations here including the Three Gorges Project, and the Gezhouba Hydropower Station, with a total installation capacity of 29 million kw and the annual electricity output is more than 130 billion kwh. It is regarded as the Power Heart of China. What's more, Yichang has been selected as one of the most appropriate cities for establishing factories and one of the best cities for investors. With a state-level high-tech industrial park and 12 province-level development zones, Yichang has a solid industrial foundation and a broad prospect for development. A number of well-known domestic and foreign enterprises have been settled in Yichang including L'Oreal, and Mitsui and so on.
They all grow very fast in such an excellent investing environment. Yichang is home to the biggest yeast base of Asia, the famous fine chemical production base, the piano base, anesthetics base and top-brand liquor base, it is also a production area of high-quality oranges and teas. Yichang is expanding and strengthening the four pillar industries such as electric power, chemical industry, food and pharmaceuticals, and equipment manufacture. It is also seeking breakthroughs in fields of strategic emerging industries such as biology, new energy, magnetic electronics, nano materials, environmental technology, and modern service industries such as cultural tourism, business and logistics. In 2013,Yichang's GDP exceeded 4.3 million USDs, and ranked second in terms of comprehensive strength among similar cities of central China.
In recent years, with vigorous development in the economy and society, the city image of Yichang raised rapidly. It has been honored as the National Civilized City, the National Health City, the National Model City for Environmental Protection, the National Forest City, the National Garden City and the Chinese Outstanding Tourist City.
City of Hydropower
Besides the Yangtze River and the Qingjiang River, another 99 middle and small rivers run across Yichang. The potential 30 million kWh of hydropower capacity accounts for 8% of the state total, 15% of the Yangtze River, and 99% of Hubei province. The Three Gorges Hydropower Station, the world biggest one, generate over 100 billion kWh of electricity annually by its 32 generators with capacity of 22.4 million kW. The first hydropower station in Yangtze River, Gezhouba station generates 15.7 billion kWh of electricity annually by its 21 generators with capacity of 2.715 million kW. The provincial biggest hydropower station, first on the Qingjiang River, produces 3.4 billion kWh of electricity ever year by 4 generators with capacity of 1.2 million kW. Another station on the Qingjiang River, Gaobazhou Hydro station produces 0.898 billion kWh of electricity each year by 3 generators with capacity of 252 thousand kW. Together with another 300 medium and small hydropower stations,a total amount of electricity capacity of 30 million kW is produced in Yichang.It's pretty rare in the world for such rich hydropower resources and developed exploration system centered in less than 100 kilometers distance.Yichang,obviously,lives up to the title"the world city of hydropower".
The General Situation of Water Resources
The river water system belongs to the Yangtze River basin and can be divided into the 5 water systems: the trunk river of the upper Yangtze River, the middle the Yangtze River, the Qingjiang River, the Dongting Lake and the Lishui River. Not counting the mainstream of Yangtze River and the Qingjiang River, there are 164 rivers occupying respectively a catchment area of over 30 square kilometers within the territory which accounts for 91.5%of the catchment areas in Yichang. The total length of the rivers is 5089 kilometers and the river density is 0.24 kilometers per square kilometer. Among them,there are 14 first-level tributaries occupying respectively a catchment area of over 300 square kilometers and 4 tributaries which cover respectively a catchment area of over 1000 square kilometers (the Juzhang River, the Huangbai River, the Xiangxi River and the Yuyang River).The reserves of hydraulic power(except for the Yangtze River and the The Qingjiang River) are 1.75 million
kilowatts and the exploitable hydropower is 1.05 million kilowatts. The total capacity of water resources is 13.1 billion cubic meters; and the volume of cross-boundary water is about 457.2 billion cubic meters.
Main Rivers
Yangtze River
It passes through the Yichang City beginning from the Pishuixia Gorge in Zigui County, and ending at the Yiazikou Village of Zhijiang County,with a total length of 237 kilometers in Yichang city.
The Qingjiang River
The Qingjiang River,originating from Xiaojiatang village, Qiyue Mountain, Lichuan City, Enshi Autonomous Prefecture,is the largest tributary of Yangtze River with a total length of 440 kilometers. Flowing from the Salt Pond Town of Changyang Tujia Autonomous County into Yangtze River in Lucheng Town of Yidu City, it is 153 kilometers long in Yichang City
Xiangxi River (Fragrant River)
This river was named according to the story which told that one of the Chinese ancient four beauties, Wang Zhaojun, once washed yarns in it and made the water diffuse aroma. It originates from Luomadian, Shennongjia Forest Region, flows through Xingshan County (the original Gaoyang Town in old town areas)and finally infuses into the Yangtze River in Xiangxi Town, Zigui County after a long journey of 110 kilometers.
Ju-Zhang River
The Ju-Zhang River is converged from two tributaries in Lianghekou, Dangyang City.One is the west tributary---Ju River, with a length of 226 km,which originates from Weijia Dayan of Baokang County. The other is the east tributary---Zhang River,with a length of 199 km, which originates from Heilin of Baokang County. It is 88 kilometers long and flows into the Yangtze River in the boundary of the Yichang City and the Jingzhou City.
Huangbai River
Its east tributary, originating from Heiliang Mountain, Zhangcunping Village of Yichang County, is 126 kilometers long. Its west tributary, originating from Wulang Village of Yichang County,is 70 kilometers long. These two tributaries converge into a 32 km main river nearby Huanghuachang Village of Yichang County, which flows through Xiaoxita, the county town of Yichang County, and infuses into the Yangtze River at the end.
Glory of Yichang
In 2003,Yichang was designated by the Provincial Government as the sub-central city of Hubei Province and instructed to better play an exemplary and stimulating role in the development of the southwest areas of Hubei Province.
On January 25,2005, Yidu City was named “the Village of Chinese Oranges and Tangerines” by the National Forestry Department.
In 2005, Yichang City was selected into the list of "China's 20 Most Suitable Cities for Building Factories" published by the US Forbes Magazine.
On September 29, 2005,Yichang City was jointly named the “Provincial Exemplary City on the Construction of Barrier-Free Facilities" by the Provincial Construction Hall, Bureau of Civil Affairs, Aging Problem Commission and Disabled Persons' Federation of Hubei Province.
On October 26,2005,Yichang City once again won the “National Advanced City in Constructing Civilized City".
On November 24, 2005, the Yichang Highway Bridge over Yangtze River was awarded the “2005 Luban Prize” for Chinese constructional engineering - a national high-quality project.
(Luban: an ancient Chinese master carpenter)
China Three Gorges International Tourism Festival in Yichang was honored as one of "the Most Potential Ten Festivals Activities in China" by the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA).
On December 7, 2005, the Yichang Municipal Government was conferred the title of “Advanced Unit of National Dragon Boat Race” by General Administration of Sport of China, Yichang division praised as the national best one.
On December 24,2005,Yichang City ranks the 76th in the information session of "China top 100 Cities in Comprehensive Strength in 2005”.
On December 28,2005,Yichang City was honored with the title of "The 2003-2004 National Advanced City in the Progress of Science and Technology".
In 2006,Yichang City was listed into "China Top 100 Investment Cities" by World Eminence Chinese Business Association and China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC), and selected into the “Ten Best Investment Cities for Merchants of Zhejiang Province(outside of Zhejiang Province)" in the Conference of Zhejiang Merchants.
In June,2007,the 9th congress of Party Representatives of Hubei Province further reassured the status of Yichang City as the sub-central city of Hubei Province and stated clearly to provide supports to speed up its development. In August 2007,Yu Zhengsheng, Secretary of Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Luo Qingquan, the then Hubei Provincial governor, visited Yichang and surveyed the methods to accelerate its development as the provincial sub-central city. From a strategic and overall perspective, the construction of the provincial sub-central city was placed in the position of equal importance with the Wuhan City Circle Construction and provided full supports.
In 2007,due to its excellent investment environment, Yichang City was named the one of “Top 100 Investment Cities in China” and “Best Investment City in Central China” by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and China Academy of Social Sciences respectively.
In 2008,Yichang was recognized as one of the second destinations for the gradient transfer of coastal industries by the National Ministry of Commerce.
On June 1,2008,the torch of Beijing Olympic Games was relayed to Yichang.
On November 26,2008,under the approval of the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee (PHCC), Yichang was named the National Sanitary City.
In 2009,Yichang was honored the "National Model City of Environmental Protection", as the only city receiving the award in Hubei Province.
In 2010,Yichang won the honor of "National Model City of Environmental Protection" again.
On the morning of December 20,2011,during the commendation congress on the cultural and ideological progress held in Beijing, Yichang City was awarded the "National Civilized City" by the Central Committee of National Cultural and Ideological Construction. Yichang city came to the fore from many candidates, became one of the 14 prefecture-level civilized cities in the third selection of national civilized city and achieved the zero breakthrough in the number of national civilized cities of Hubei Province.
CULTURE
With a long history and glorious culture, Yichang used to be the birthplace of the ba and chu culture,the hometown of many eminent persons such as the famous poet Qu Yuan, the beauty Wang Zhaojun,and the world-famous scholar Yang Shoujing.Literati and poets like Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi,Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, Lu You, once visited the historic interests here and wrote many poems to describe and praise the beautiful scenery of Yichang.
The Ba and Chu culture is a regional and historical cultural system that has mainly generated in the border areas of Sichuan, Shanxi, Hunan, Hubei and Guizhou, with the Three Gorges as the center of generation. According to the article The ba and chu Culture in Yichang published on Guangming Daily, the main characteristics of ba and chu culture include regional overlapping and interaction, fusion of inner core, inter-ethnic marriage and custom blending.
The distinguishing cultural resources of Yichang include the six following kinds:
(1)Ecological Culture
Located in the intersection zone of the central and western regions, Yichang, with its abundant precipitation and pleasant weather, become one of the most suitable places for habitation. The Three Gorges, the Qingjiang River, the Ju River and the Zhang River together form the system of Yichang's tourist attractions. Gifted with the mild climate and unique location, of Yichang has developed its system of ecological culture with more than 340 major and minor scenic attractions, such as the magnificent Xiling Gorge, the paradise-like Qingjiang River Gallery, the Three Visitors' Cave and the Chexi Folk Custom Tour Site, etc.
(2)The Ba and Chu Culture
The Ba and Chu Culture is a unique regional culture of Yichang; and Yichang has been the cradle of Chu culture and the birthplace of Ba culture, and it is also the place where the two cultural systems have integrated with each. As two cultural miracles in the history of China, the Ba culture and the Chu culture, respectively standing for the Bashu civilization of the Three Gorges Area and the
civilization of the Jinchu Plain, have blended harmoniously to form the circle of magnificent Yichang Culture, which enjoys prominence among the local cultural systems in China. In recent years, the studies and development of the Ba and the Chu culture has advanced much with many wonderful achievements, for example, the Awards of “Five-One” Project have been awarded by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC to the artistic works including The Rustic Ba People, Quegar Flying, The First Village of Resettles
from the Three Gorges Area, Home at the Three Gorges. Besides, The Rustic Ba People (1995) and The Chu Rivers and Ba Mountains (2007) have successively won the Special Prizes of the "Splendor Award by the Ministry of Culture".
(3)Tujia Ethnic Culture and Folk Culture
Tujia Ethnic Group is a member of the family of 56 nationalities of China, and its culture has been historically rooted in the vast territory of Yichang,where the long-term accumulation of the regional culture have brought the occurrence of more than ten artistic forms including folktales, folk songs,wind and percussion music, Bashan Dance, Nanqu tunes, Flower Drum Opera, folk clothes, etc.
(4)Celebrity Culture
Yichang is a place propitious for giving birth to many great historical figures: Qu Yuan, a great patriotic poet from Zigui, Wang Zhaojun, a beautiful national ambassador from Xingshan, and Yang Shoujing, the famous scholar from Yidu. In addition, a large number of historical and cultural celebrities such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, Lu You and so on have ever frequented Yichang, leaving behind volumes of poems in praise of Yichang.
(5)Military Culture
Military culture, represented by the Three Kingdoms Culture, is not only a unique cultural heritage, but an extension of celebrity culture. In recent years, the researcher have integrated resources of celebrity culture and military culture, exploited their profound cultural connotation to upgrade the level and enlarge the scale of historical military sites, effectively developing and utilizing tourism resources and historical relic resources.
(6)Hydropower Engineering Culture
At present, there are five extra-large hydroelectric dams in Yichang, such as the Geheyan Dam, the Gaobazhouba Dam, the Shuibuya Dam, the Three Gorges Dam, which, together with some small and middle-sized power stations have gained priority of Yichang as a city rich of hydroelectric resources and hydroelectric culture.
These hydroelectric dams have generated not only powerful electrical energy, but abundant cultures such as hydropower engineering culture, hydropower production culture, hydropower culture of science and education, immigration culture, etc.