Experience the best of Yichang

Yichang sits on both banks of the Yangtze in western Hubei, where the river leaves the Three Gorges and flows out onto the plain. The Xiling Gorge, the easternmost of the three gorges, lies within the city's territory, and the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, stands near Sandouping, with the older Gezhouba Dam downstream.

A visitor area at the dam looks over the great wall of concrete and the ship locks. Upriver in Zigui County, the memorial temple of Qu Yuan honours the poet of the Warring States period, and the Qing River valley, with limestone walls above the water, is explored by boat. Cruise ships pass through the gorges on their way to Chongqing.

Citrus, tea and river fish are the main local products, and the oranges of Zigui are especially well known. Hubei cooking is hot and savoury, with the river's fish steamed or stewed. Most of the rain falls between May and September.