Wuhan

Abstract

Wuhan, the largest city in central China, locates strategically on the railway line linking Beijing and Guangzhou, and on the Yangtze River linking Chongqing and Shanghai. Its strategic location gave Wuhan a glorious past. Up to the mid-20th century, Wuhan was comparable to Shanghai and Beijing in manufacturing and educational development. After much decline in China's urban hierarchy, as a result of the coastal oriented reform and open policies in the last two decades, Wuhan is under the pressure of revitalization and fast economic growth. This profile outlines the historical development, current conditions, the economic and physical structure of the city, and the main challenges that Wuhan faces in future development. Field reconnaissance surveys, interviews and secondary sources are used in the discussion and presentation. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.