In today’s post, we will introduce you to one of most famous landmarks in Wuhan – the Yellow Crane Tower – and the nearby Hubuxiang Food Market – one of the most popular markets for locals.
But first things first. Why visit Wuhan? A megacity of more than 11 million people, Wuhan is located in the centre of mainland China at the confluence of the Yangtze River and its largest tributary, the Han River, and offers a unique experience for travelers, especially those with a passion for authentic Chinese cuisine.
The city became widely known due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has much more to offer. It has a rich history dating back over 3,500 years, several prestigious universities (including Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology), a strong economy (known for its steel production, manufacturing and a growing high-tech industry) and stunning tourist attractions such as the iconic Yellow Crane Tower or the romantic East Lake scenery.
How to get to Wuhan?
- Wuhan Tianhe Airport – the city does have an international airport, however, international connections are limited
- (High-speed-)train – convenient, comfortable and cheap
- Direct international connections limited
- Extensive high-speed links to major Chinese cities like Shanghai (<4 hrs)
- Car – careful with Wuhan’s congested traffic; opt for train or plane
- Note: International driving licenses aren’t valid in China
Where to stay in Wuhan?
- Hankou – Central hub with modern amenities, historic sites, shopping, and the Yangtze River Bridge
- Wuchang – Center for universities, history, and cultural landmarks like Yellow Crane Tower
- East Lake Scenic Area – Peaceful natural setting with parks, gardens, and Hubei Provincial Museum
- Optics Valley – Southeastern tech hub ideal for business travellers
Due to its convenient location in the heart of China, Wuhan is influenced by many regional cuisines. Food lovers will find everything from spicy Sichuan delicacies to sweet Cantonese treats, satisfying breakfast options, tempting night markets and a wide variety of delicious street food. All at relatively low prices compared to other more popular destinations in Asia such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai or Beijing!
The Yellow Crane Tower – the symbol of Wuhan
The Yellow Crane Tower (Chinese: 黄鹤楼 – “Huanghe Lou”), a storied icon of Wuhan, China, with a history dating back to the 3rd century during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, has been a constant source of inspiration for celebrated poets and scholars, with famous works such as Cui Hao’s “Yellow Crane Tower Farewell”. This architectural masterpiece, symbolising grace and elegance, has become a cornerstone of Wuhan’s tourism industry, contributing significantly to the local economy while representing China’s rich cultural heritage and inspiring a sense of national pride. The Tower’s historical significance and numerous reconstructions over the centuries exemplify the enduring resilience of Chinese civilisation, ensuring its status as an enduring symbol of literary and historical significance.
You can buy tickets online at Ctrip:
- 08:30~12:00 Morning session (check again)
- 12:00~17:00 Afternoon session (check again)
The price is currently around 70 RMB per person.
To get there, it is recommended to use Wuhan Metro – the easiest way is to get off at Line 5 – Simenkou Yellow Crane Tower (in Chinese: 司门口 黄鹤楼). From there it is only a few minutes walk to the tower. On the way you can get a first impression of the monumental building.
Once you arrive at the Yellow Crane Tower, there are plenty of places to visit. Be sure to climb the tower and take a look at the beautiful murals, traditional Chinese interior design and all kinds of artwork scattered around the building. From the balconies of the tower you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city.
Other places of interest include the bronze statue of Yue Fei (岳飛像), the Holy Stupa and the Goose Pond. Just wander around and enjoy the cultural heritage of Wuhan.
Hubuxiang Food Market
After visiting the Yellow Crane Tower, it is only a few minutes’ walk to the famous Hubuxiang Night Market, which offers an abundance of authentic Chinese street food at low prices. The Hubuxiang Food Market includes Hubu Alley, a lane over 150 metres long with a history stretching back over 100 years. This market is popular in Wuhan for its amazing variety of food for breakfast, but it is also very lively at night and the food is amazing all day long.
Here you will find a variety of food options, the famous cold dry noodles or duck neck, grilled and fried vegetables, meat and seafood, pancakes, spicy meat and vegetable sticks, sweets, drinks and much more. We spent several hours at this market, fascinated by all the different flavors and spices. It was really hard not to overindulge. Therefore, if you happen to have some extra time, I would recommend visiting this market another time.
In this article, I’m going to focus on a few dishes that we found really amazing and would like to share with you. The famous stinky tofu as a starter, grilled seafood and Xiao Long Tang Bao including a local drink, and a local sesame-peanut paste dessert to round off a heart-warming eating experience.
The famous fermented tofu, or as many like to call it – stinky tofu (臭豆腐) because of its strong distinctive odour, is usually sold as a street food snack in night markets, shopping malls or passenger street stalls. Stinky tofu is a versatile dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways, including deep-frying, steaming or braising, and is usually served with chilli or soy sauce. Despite its strong smell, it is known to have a unique and desirable flavour, with the intensity of the smell often correlating with its taste.
There is no standardised starter bacterial formula for tofu fermentation, which leads to regional and individual variations in preparation. Traditional methods involve a long (sometimes several months) brine fermentation with various ingredients, while modern factories use shorter marination processes that add odour without complete fermentation.
The smell may be difficult for people to get used to. Once you get used to it, you can really appreciate the unique flavor of stinky tofu. The taste itself is quite mild compared to the smell, or in other words, the smell is much worse than the taste. For me, it is very similar to the flavor of a fine cheese with a spicy note. Savory, salty, but also sour and a bit sweet!
If you get the chance, try the stinky tofu. It’s usually very cheap (only a few RMB), so if you don’t like it, that’s okay.
As we walked through the market, we were surrounded by delicious temptations and market criers loudly advertising their wares. Two dishes caught our attention. The first was something called Xiao Long Tang Bao (小笼汤包), a special version of Chinese steamed buns. The term Xiao Long Bao can be translated into English as ‘small bun in a steam basket’. Tang means soup or soupy. Originating from Jiangsu Province in western China (a province to the north-east of Shanghai), Xiao Long Bao tend to be more soupy and sweeter than regular steamed buns – called Baozi (包子) – and are similar to a type of dim sum from southern China and Hong Kong.
Xiao Long Bao are traditionally stuffed with pork, but can be made with a variety of meats, seafood and vegetarian fillings. During steaming, the gelatin in the aspic or meat melts inside the patties and creates a soup. Xiao Long Bao are traditionally a breakfast dish, served hot in bamboo baskets on dried leaves or a paper mat, often dipped in vinegar with chili crisp, but can be eaten at any time of day.
What makes the Xiao Long Bao here special are the different colors, and therefore ingredients, of the dough and the fillings. While the dough for regular Xiao Long Bao is made of flour, water and sometimes a bit of salt and oil, these dumplings contain other ingredients such as spinach, taro or carrots, etc.
Another stall that immediately caught our eye and nose was selling grilled octopus. The octopus is served on a stick, seasoned with a spicy barbecue sauce and grilled for a few minutes. A spice mixture with chilli is then sprinkled on top.
Grilled octopus has a distinct and delicious flavor, with a combination of smokiness from the grilling process and the natural sweetness of the octopus. When grilled properly, octopus becomes tender on the inside and slightly crispy and caramelized on the outside. The octopus absorbs the flavors of the spicy and tangy seasoning and marinade used before grilling. No other ingredients are needed, the fried octopus is super aromatic! This is a must for seafood lovers.
What is missing after a savory and spicy feast? A great dessert, of course! At least if you are like me and have a real sweet tooth. As we walked around the market, one dessert in particular caught my eye – a Ying and Yang shaped black sesame and peanut cream dessert. I have always loved sesame, as a filling for baozi, on bread or in Bing Fen – a traditional Chinese dessert, so I could not resist trying this one. And I did not regret it! If you’ve got room for a few extra calories and want to settle your stomach after a nutrient-rich meal, find one of these places and try it.
