Wuhan Bridgehead

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People’s Republic of China. It’s the most populous city in Central China, and one of the nine National Central Cities of ChinaIt lies in the eastern Jianghan Plain on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River’s intersection with the Han river. Arising out of the conglomeration of three cities, Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang, Wuhan is known as ‘China’s Thoroughfare’, it is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and expressways passing through the city and connecting to other major cities. Because of its key role in domestic transportation, Wuhan is sometimes referred to as “the Chicago of China” by foreign sources. Holding sub-provincial status, Wuhan is recognized as the political, economic, financial, cultural, educational and transportation center of central China. Surprisingly, despite the economic success and growth of the city, Wuhan still does not have a clearly formed central business district. 

Wuhan’s very being is tied to its riverfront. For centuries, the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers has served as a generator of commerce and driven growth in the historic towns of Wuchang, Hanyang and Hankou, which today form the modern City of Wuhan. These rivers continue to play a major part in the life of the city and drive prosperity forward into the 21st century.

As Wuhan continues to prosper, it is important to establish a global address for corporate office attraction that is complemented with high quality residential neighborhoods, retail, entertainment and recreational amenities. In response, Wuhan has established a development plan for the Hankou Riverfront Erqi Business District, located between the First and Second Ring Roads, fronting the Yangtze River. This district commonly referred to as the Erqi core, together with adjacent neighborhoods planned to the south, will establish a strong foundation for next generation growth.

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Materials provided by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture