Wanzhou

 Facts
Phone Code: 023
Postal Code: 400000
Area: 3,457 square kilometers (1,334.8 square miles)
Population: 1.73 million (2010 statistics)
Nationalities: Han, Tujia, Hui, Miao
Neighboring Areas: Yunyang County, Shizhu County, Zhong County,

 Location: Wanzhou District is located at the northeast border of Chongqing. About 327 km (203 miles) from downtown Chongqing and 320 km (199 miles) from Yichang, Hubei, it is the largest city and port between Chongqing and Yichang. Its longitude is between 107°55′- 108°53′E and latitude between 30°24′- 31°14′N.

 Physical Features: Wanzhou lies at the east of Sichuan Basin. Hills and low mountains cover nearly half of the area. The highest point in the disrict is the Shaping Peak, which is 1,762 meters (5,781 feet) above sea level, whilst the lowest point is only 106 meters (348 feet) at the riverside of the Yangtze River. The tributaries of the Yangtze River flow through the district, and the watershed reaches 108.66 square kilometers (42 square miles). Wanzhou is also located at the hinterland of Three Gorges Reservoir, and both the Three Gorges and Three Little Gorges are within the area.

 History: Wanzhou has a long history. As early as the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th Century - 771BC), the area belonged to Qin, and was called Ba Shire. The name of "Wanzhou" was given in 634 during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), meaning the place where ten thousand of rivers and ten thousand of merchants gathers ("wan" refers to ten thousands in English), which indicates that it has long been one of the busiest ports along the Yangtze River.

 Attractions:
Wanzhou is endowed with beautiful natural scenery and precious history relics. There is Taibai Rock Mountain, which is a 400 meters high (1,312 feet) and located in the north of the district. It has long been a famous attraction since the Tang Dynasty, and stone steles and inscriptions of the Song (960 - 1279), Ming (1368 - 1644), and Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasties can be found. Standing on the top of the mountain, visitors can enjoy the full view of Wanzhou. Another famous attraction is the Green Dragon Waterfall. It is 105 meters (115 yards) wide and 64.5 meters (221.6 feet) high, and is 19 meters (21 yards) wider than the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou, so also known as the No. 1 waterfall in Asia. More Wanzhou attractions: Dayakou Forest Park, Wulong Pool Forest Park, Tanzhang Gorge, Wang'erbao Natural Reserve, Yanjinggou Cave, and Son of Heaven City.

 Weather: Wanzhou has a subtropical monsoon wet climate with four distinct seasons: a foggy but warm winter, a dry but hot summer, an early spring with instable temperature, and a long and rainy autumn. The average annual temperature is 17.7°C (63.9°F). Generally, Wanzhou has a mild climate with plenty of rainfall and sunshine.

 Transportation: 
 By Air: Wanzhou Airport is about 15 km (9 miles) from the city center. There are flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Nanjing, Xiamen, and Xian.
 By Train: Trains from Wanzhou Railway Station reach many major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Yichang, Hangzhou, and Wuhan.
 By Coach: There three long-distance bus station in district, Wanzhou Long-distance Bus Station, South Long-distance Bus Station, and North Long-distance Bus Station. Coaches can reach most major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Haikou, Wuhan, and Zhuhai.
 By Ship: There are both passenger ships and sightseeing ships from Chongqing or Yichang to Wanzhou Port.

 Dining and Shopping:
Hot-pot, Wanzhou roast fish, fish boiled in stone pot are famous local food. Many restaurants can be found in Baiyan Road and Taibai Road.

Baiyan Road and Taibai Road are also a commercial center where shopping malls and stores gather, such as Parkson, Wanzhou Department Store, and New Century Department Store.

 More Yangtze River Attractions
Chongqing → Fuling → Fengdu → Precious Stone Fortress (Shibaozhai) → Wanzhou → Yunyang 
→ Fengjie → Qutang Gorge → Wushan → Wu Gorge → Zigui → Xiling Gorge → Yichang