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Wuhan, Hubei Province

The capital of Hubei province, Wuhan lies at the confluence of the Yangzi and Han Rivers, roughly midway between Beijing and Guangzhou. The city is comprised of three towns ¨C Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang ¨C facing each other across the rivers and linked by several bridges. 

The area was first settled more than 3,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty, when Hanyang became a busy port. In the first and third centuries A.D., walls were built to protect Hanyang and Wuchang. About 300 years ago, Hankou became one of the country's top four trading towns. 

In the early 20^th century, Wuhan became a hot spot of revolutionary activities. In 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen led a revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. There are many memorial structures devoted to the revolutionaries, such as the Red Building, which housed the National Revolutionary Army Government in the 1911 Movement, the Monument to the Martyrs of the February 7 Strike and the Central Peasant Movement Institute. 

HUANGHELOU (Yellow Crane Tower) 
Located on the south bank of the Yangzi River, the Yellow Crane Tower is perhaps China's most badly treated historical monument. It is said to have been built in 333 during the Three Kingdoms period. In the centuries that followed, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In history, the tower inspired many poets and artists. It was last rebuilt in 1983. 

WUDANG MOUNTAINS 
A trip to Wudan Mountains is a very worthwhile outing from Wuhan. Located in western Hubei, Wudang is an ancient sacred Taoist shrine. 

The first Taoist temple there, the "Five Dragon Temple, " was built 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. In the 15th century, the Ming court sent 300,000 soldiers and workers there to build 160 monasteries, temples, pavilions and other structures. It took more than 10 years to complete the construction. It then became a major center of Taoism. Although many of the old structures deteriorated in the ensuing centuries, there are still many well-preserved temples. 

The mountains are also linked with a school of martial arts. It is said that Taiji boxing was invented there by a Taoist priest. 

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