It is easy to have a quick look at China's past and present, but it takes time to gain a panoramic knowledge of China. The "Panoramic China" series is meant to assist readers, especially those overseas, in this respect. Each volume in the series focuses on a province, municipality or autonomous region, describing, with illustrations, the outstanding characteristics of each area from different perspectives.
Hubei: Land of the PhoenixLegend has it that when a phoenix is 500 years old, it will collect sandalwood and set fire to itself. Reborn form the ashes, it emerges more beautiful than ever, never to die again.
The phoenix is the king of birds in ancient legends. Noble in sppirit, commanding winds and coluds, hansome and many-colored, the phoenix perfectly symboizes the culture and spirit of Hubei.
Hubei's capital, Wuhan, stands in the center of China. For centures it has been the largest goods distribution hub on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, a center of trade and commerce. Wuhan is a communications crossroads too, its enviable accessibility writing splendid chapters in the city's development.
The Yellow Crane Tower has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the course of history. It still stands magnficent today. This land of Hubei nurtured the splendid people, descendants of King Zhuang of Chu, are going all out to win keen to perfom of China's economic stage and to show what they can do.
