Places you should not miss while visiting Wuhu City:
The list of things to see and do in Wuhu is larger than you might think, and there are activities to suit many tastes in this city. The best part is that most attractions in Wuhu have very convenient prices and they are very easy to get to, simply flag down a taxi and you’re on your way.
Zhong Shan Road Shopping Street (Zhong Shan Lu, Bu Xing Jie)
This is it, the centre of Wuhu city, and the meeting place of the town’s well to do. Also known as Walking Street, this pedestrian precinct is lined with the most modern and expensive businesses. Located along this street is a McDonald’s and a KFC, as well as Wuhu’s two nightclubs. Whether you’re craving western food,western electronics orwestern clothes, you’ll find it here. Modern China at its finest.
Mirror Lake (Jing Hu)
The serene mirror lake is located in the middle of town and is surrounded by a well-maintained park that is worth a visit. Mirror Lake Park will afford you some glimpses of the China you were dreaming of, with many beautiful views. The calm, still water of the lake is surrounded on all sides by willow trees, ancient Chinese architecture, and hectic markets. However the centre piece of the park is Jiu Zi Square. Nestled between Mirror Lake and Walking Street, this patriotic square is filled with statues, the grandest of which is an impressive 20 metre high bronze pillar depicting Chinese phoenixes, surrounded on all sides by fountains. In the morning the park is packed with elderly people practicing Tai Chi, who will be glad to teach you some kung-fu moves, an amazing experience!
Guang Ji Temple (Guang Ji Si)
This beautiful Buddhist Temple was first built during the Sung Dynasty (960 AD-1279 AD) but has been renovated many times since. The temple grounds are quite large and kept spotlessly clean, and the smell of incense hangs ever present in the air. Guang Ji Temple is even home to a small group of practicing monks. Here you can wander through exquisite shrines, join the myriads of people burning incense and prostrating themselves before Buddha and glimpse the comings and goings of saffron clad monks and nuns. Entrance is 5 yuan.
Shen Shan Park (Shen Shan Gong Yuan)
Next to Guang Ji Temple, this hilly park provides limited respite from the hectic hustle and bustle of modern-day China. Under leafy ginko trees, winding stone paths lead between shrines and pagodas, and parts of the park are quite picturesque and serene. However the main road of this garden is lined with fair ground rides such as roller coasters and merry go rounds. These cost extra and you use them at your own risk. For 10 yuan more you can visit the attached zoo, a depressing display of animal cruelty, but a must see if you enjoy monkeys and deer in large feces-lined concrete enclosures. Entry is to the park free.
Catholic Cathedral (Jiao Tang)
This picturesque Jesuit Church located on Ji He Jie seems out of place in Wuhu, and was built during the city’s time as a treaty port. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze, this well maintained church is well worth a visit, and services are held there regularly. On Christmas the church is especially packed, with Chinese exchanging gifts in celebration of this imported holiday.
Ting Tang Park (Ting Tang Gong Yuan)
On the outskirts of town, this large public park is a great place to wander through tranquil tree-lined lanes, and admire the crystal-clear lake dotted with islands and surround by bridges an towers. Many activities can be enjoyed here, from paddle boat hire and archery, to the renting of prostitutes who will take you to small house boats out on the lake and show you a good time. Many festivals are held here throughout the year. Entry is 2 yuan.
Ma Ren Mountain (Ma Ren Shan)
Ma Ren Mountain will astound with its breathtaking landscape of jagged yellow rocks jutting out at odd angles from the tree canopy. The Buddhist temple at the base of the mountain is also spectacular. This must-see tourist attraction is only an hour’s bus trip out of town, and provides a great insight into rural China.
Olympic Sports Centre
As part of the build-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this modern stadium stands as a testament to the progress of modern China. You will only be able to glimpse this monolith from the outside however, as entry is only allowed during the infrequent pop concerts that are held here.
Links:
Mirror Lake (镜湖)
Jiuzi Plaza (鸠兹广场)
Yangtze Riverside Park (滨江公园)
Mount Zhe, a hill park (赭山)
Wuhu Olympic Stadium (奥林匹克体育馆)
Yangtze River Bridge Crossing （长江大桥）The Yangtze River Bridge is an important transportation link for the city across the Yangtze River. It is also a good place from which to admire the Yangtze River.
Fantawild Adventure, one of the largest theme parks in the Chinese Mainland （方特乐园-四座）
Phoenix Cuisine Boulevard (凤凰美食街)The Phoenix Delicacy Street in downtown is a good choice for travelers when visiting the city. There are many restaurants along the street serving various local delicacies, as well as foreign food. Visitors can also find pubs, cafes, teahouses and many other recreational places here.
Other things to try:
Eating out: Wuhu cuisine draws heavily from the famed Sichuan school of cooking, and this means its hot…very hot. Sichuan cooking relies on the use of chillies, and a typical meal in Wuhu will always have at least one dish swimming in these little green bundles of joy. The centre of dining in Wuhu is Phoenix Street, a newly built avenue completely dedicated to flashy new Chinese restaurants.
Hotpot: Undoubtedly the best feature of Wuhu cuisine is Hotpot, a town specialty. Eating hotpot is a very communal affair, and the meal begins by boiling a pot of spicy broth at your table. After you have selected many small dishes from the menu, the feast is brought out and you cook it yourself in the pot. This very filling and rewarding dining experience will only cost around 40 yuan per person, and most restaurants offer free beer to boot. There are many hotpot restaurants located on Phoenix Street, and several good establishments can also be found on Jiu Hua Shan Lu.
Dim Sum: One of the most enjoyable ways to partake of food in China is dim sum, a traditional buffet of small dishes. The best dim sum restaurant in Wuhu is undoubtedly Lu He Jie, located next to the Guang Ji Temple. The atmosphere here is excellent, and the buffet only costs 30 yuan per person.
Street food: The cheapest and often the most exciting way to eat in Wuhu is at one of the hundreds of street stalls and restaurants located all over the town. A bowl of delicious fired noodles (mien chao) will only set you back 3 yuan, and 5 yuan will get you a serving of fried dumplings (jiaozi) large enough for two.
Nightlife:
As you can imagine, Wuhu is not brimming with nightlife, but there are a few exceptions. The town’s two nightclubs are situated right next to each other on walking street, 1001 Best Club and Babylon. While Babylon is more an expensive karaoke bar than a nightclub, 1001 Best Club offers a bouncing dance floor and an ‘interesting’ decor of fluro-green plastic skulls. The downside is that both these places close at 1 a.m.
The bar scene in Wuhu is not quite as scarce. One expensive but classy option is City Garden, an indoor/outdoor restaurant and drinking establishment, which serves western food and western alcohol. For the more serious drinkers, two great options are the Doors, a charismatic little bar with a good selection of drinks and occasional live music, and Leon’s Bar, a trippy place to drown your sorrows. Be sure to meet the owner Leon, as a conversation with him will stay with you the rest of you life. Additionally, alcohol may be quaffed at the Overseas Students’ Garden, which is situated next to the west gate of Anhui Normal University. Drinks are a little pricey and the atmosphere a little strained but you will definitely meet some interesting characters here!
