The Chinese destination of Wuhan has released a new video series to promote the city’s offer, including culture, green living, and gastronomy. The six-episode series, makes bold claims for the city, with the title “Understand China, Discover Wuhan”, and uses visual stoytelling and AI technology to present features on the vast Hubei province hub.
Considered the commercial, cultural, economic, educational, financial, and political centre of Central China, the city is divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers and enjoys expansive lakes and parks, and museums with 5th century BCE relics.
Each part in the series has its own focus: “This is Wuhan”; “Hello Future Wuhan”; “Wuhan, Home to Wildlife”; “Travel Around the World in Wuhan”; “Where to Dine in Wuhan”; and “Look at the Youth.”
A focus on food
A press release from Wuhan’s International Communications Center (ICC) draws attention to the city’s gastronomical delights explored in the “Where to Dine” episode. Against a pop soundtrack singing of the “divine flavours” that emerge from local fusion of east and west Chinese food traditions, the video presents vibrant dishes and neighbourhoods.
Described as in the press release as “ iconic food destinations,” are places such as
Shanhaiguan Road in Jiang’an District where morning vendors call out their menu as steam rising from sizzling pots. With nearly 30 breakfast stalls offering over 30 local delicacies, it’s claimed to be “a living encyclopedia of Wuhan’s breakfast culture.”
Meanwhile, Liangdao Street, reportedly beloved by regulars, is highlighted as a neighborhood that merits repeat visits thanks to its specials, like Zhao Shifu’s crispy pancakes, Xiong Taipo’s dumplings and Taiweiji’s mango sticky rice.
In the more pulsing heart of Hankou, Jianghan Road, “is where the past meets the future. Here, traditional eateries coexist with trendy snack bars, Instagram-worthy cafés, and even the first Chinese outlet of Italian brand Odium,” the materials say.
And in Wansongyuan, another locals’ favourite, a casual dining “paradise” spanning several alleys, crayfish, crab noodles, and time-honored comfort food reign supreme.
For a more “stylish enclave of art and modernity”, head over to Garden Avenue, adjacent to the Northwest Lake and Wuhan’s CBD. With global brands like COMMUNE, Noi, and O’eat opening their flagship restaurants here, it’s the place to be for fans of Western cuisine.
Cuisine as a universal language
The culinary episode also illustrates how cuisine serves as a universal language, bringing people together across cultures, noting that “whether drawn to familiar tastes or enticed by new discoveries, visitors are likely to find something that resonates deeply in this city’s vibrant food scene.” Overall the episode, says the ICC, is “just a glimpse into Wuhan” but also “an invitation to understand its soul through the stories told on every plate.”
Following the strict COVID restrictions imposed in the region, China has been boosting its travel and tourism sector through a range of measures, including reciprocal visa waivers, transit-specific visas and instant tax rebates on tourist purchases. Some destinations, such as Dalian in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province, are aiming for a 50% increase in inbound tourists, according to the Global Times. For Wuhan, a government work report is targeting year-on-year GDP (GDP) growth of 6%.
