Wuhan Central China

Wuhan is the biggest city in the Central China and the fourth biggest city in China. It is located at the intersection of the Yangtze and Hanshui Rivers. These two rivers divide Wuhan into three parts, which are generally known as Wuhan’s Three Towns. Water surface occupies 25% of Wuhan’s total area, and has always been referred to as “the thoroughfare of nine provinces”.

Natural Resources:

Wuhan is rich in natural resources, and has abundant land and minerals.

Local Government:

The Wuhan Municipal Government governs 13 district governments, and has 26 directly subordinated departments, and manages the city according to the needs of the national economy and social development.

Economy:

Wuhan’s economy represents around 1% of Chinese economic activity, and is one of the most important industrial cities in China. In 2002, GDP of Wuhan reached NZ$30 Billion, showing a 12% increase on the previous year. The total number employed is 4.07 Million. The total value of imports and exports accounts for 14% of its GDP. Wuhan has a large industrial economy with 33 different sectors and over 30,000 manufacturing enterprises.

Investor Environment:

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization rated Wuhan as one of the most preferable destinations of Midwest China for foreign investment.

Development Zones:

There are three Development Zones in Wuhan which play a critical role in its growth. These are the Wuhan Economical & Technological zone, which includes over 1500 multinationals and domestic companies; the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone, know as the Optics Valley of China; and the Wujiashan Taiwan Business Investment Zone, which is the national food and beverage industry base.

Wuhan is an historical and cultural city with a history of over 3500 years, located on the banks of the Yangtze River. It is the largest city in central China, and the fourth largest in China with a population of 8.3 million. Wuhan is a major industrial city, and its economy represents around 1% of Chinese economic activity. In 2002, the GDP of Wuhan was NZ$ 30 billion, up 12% on the previous year. (Compared to Christchurch’s NZ$ 13.8 billion.) Imports and exports account for 14% of Wuhan’s GDP.

Location Map

Total Population:

8.3 million

Area:

8,467 square kilometres- most of which is plain and supplemented by hills with a great number of lakes and ponds.

History:

Wuhan is an historic and cultural city with a history of over 3500 years. In 1861, Hankou, one of Wuhan’s three towns today, was opened up to foreign trade. In 1927, the National Government established today’s Wuhan City. Only recently, in 1992, Wuhan was approved to be open to the outside world.

Climate:

Wuhan has a subtropical wet monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Known as "the Stove", being one of the cities in China famous for its heat.

Average Temperature:

The annual average temperature is 16.8C (Christchurch: 12.1C), and yearly rainfall is 1093.3 mm. Annual average sunshine is 208.9 days.