Jingzhou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 荆州 (jīng zhōu)
Population: 6,600,000
Area: 14,100 square kilometers (5,444 square miles)
Location: in the south-central of Hubei Province, central China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Jingzhou, Shashi); 3 counties (Jiangling, Gong’ an, Jianli); 3 county-level cities (Songzi, Shishou, Honghu)
Area Code: 0716
Zip Code: 434000
GDP (2018): CNY 208.218 billion (USD 31.467 billion)
 

Situated at the Jianghan Plain, Jingzhou is close to the Golden Waterway Yangtze River, with Wuhan to the east, Yichang south, and Jingmen north, as well as bordering with the Three Gorges. Jingzhou is the birthplace of Chu culture and the center of the Three Kingdoms (220 - 280) culture. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (770 BC - 221BC), 20 generations of Chu kings set capital in Jingzhou, forming Chu culture comparable to Athens culture in ancient Greece. Many stories of the Three Kingdoms took place here. The Ancient City of Jingzhou of the Three Kingdoms period is still kept, where you can see the old city walls. The development and prosperity of Jingzhou depend on the Yangtze River to a great extent. The 483 kilometers (300 miles) long golden waterway runs through the whole city and Yanka Port is the third largest comprehensive open port in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

 Top 10 Ancient Cities in China
 

Ancient City of Jingzhou lays in the south of the centre of Hubei Province and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and is an ancient cultural city with a long history of more than two thousand years. It was originally one of the birth places of the culture of Chu State in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) and Warring State Period (476 BC-220 BC), which left extremely valuable cultural relics from their 400 plus years' reign equally comparable with the ancient Greek and Roman culture. In the Three Kingdom Period (220-589), the city was the focus of many disputes and wars. Since the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), the city had been established as the capital by 11 emperors in all, making it the political centre in China for more than 100 years. As the city represents so much importance in Chinese history the city has been acknowledged by the State Department in China to be one of the best of 24 famous historical and cultural ancient cities. Its cultural relics and advantageous location has drawn the attention of many visitors' from both home and abroad.

Ancient City of Jingzhou

Earthen Plate, Jingzhou Museum

 Mountains: Mt. Balingshan
 
 Rivers: Honghu Lake, Juzhanghe River, Changhu Lake, Songzihe River, Jingjiang River, Huduhe RiverThe transportation of Jingzhou is very convenient. It is 179 km (111 mi) away from Wuhan City and connected to it by the highway. Railways lead across the country. You can also travel by water to Shashi Port or to Shashi Airport by air.

Jingzhou has subtropical humid monsoon climate with four seasons clearly demarcated. Cloudy and sunny days are not certain in spring, it is humid and hot in summer, fine autumns, and dry cold winter. There is plenty of sunshine in Jingzhou and the frost free period is 220-300 days.
 
Average Temperature: 16 C (61 F) annually
 
Rainfall: plenty of rain, annual even precipitation 1200 mm; concentrated on June, July and August, as well as spring
 
When to go: Spring and Autumn are the best period to see Jingzhou.

 History: a cultural ancient city with 2000 years history with the reputation of "the finest under heaven, being overwhelmed by 9 divisions"; one of the cradles of Chu Culture, and used to be the capital of the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn Period for totally 20 emperors; in Northern and Southern dynasty, the capital of Qihedi, Liangyuandi, the Later Liang; in Five Dynasties, the capital of the Nanping State
 
 Physical Features: higher west and lower east; densely cover by the network of waterway, as well as lakes; with winding river course
 
 Local Highlights: the Shashi Jing Satin; the Shashi basin and plate golden painted
 
 Jingzhou International Dragon Boat Festival: It is held in the first week of May for the memorial of Qu Yuan, a famous patriot of Chu State who jumped into the Miluo River.
 
 Related Hiking Tour Itinerary: Jingzhou Trip