Jingzhou Travel Guide
Fast Facts
Brief Introduction
There is an old saying about Jingzhou City：“The Man Who Controls Jingzhou controls China”.Jingzhou City is located in south of Hubie Province center. Yangtze River crosses the city. Jingzhou is 200 km west of Wuhan City and borders Yichang City, Jingmen City and Xiangyang City. Plains and lake areas account for 78.7% and hills areas 21.1%.
Jingzhou City includes 2 districts, 1 economic developed zone and 6 counties. They are Jingzhou District and Shashi District, Jingling County, Gongan County, Jianli County, Honghu County, Songzi County and Shishou County.
Best Travel Time
The climate in Jingzhou is categorized as subtropical monsoon climate. The average temperature is 16℃. It receives 80% of its rainfall is from April to October. Spring and autumn would be the best time to visit. Each May the Jingzhou International Dragon Boats Festival is help to commemorate the patriotic poet Quyuan.
Top Attractions
As one of main centers of Chu Culture, Jingzhou has many sites which make it a historical and cultural hotspot. Visitors traveling to Jingzhou can revisit 1700 years of history. Jingzhou Ancient City, Jingzhou Museum and the Ancient Tombs at Baling Mountain are the top attractions.
Jingzhou Ancient City
Jingzhou Ancient City is the main reason for visitors going to Jingzhou. Its ancient city wall the best preserved and biggest wall in Southern China. It is the birthplace of the Chu Culture and the ideal place to experience the Three Kingdoms Culture. The wall is 3.75 km long, `1.2 km wide and 29 feet tall. The existing city wall was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. There are 4,567 battlements, 26 batteries, 4 soldiers’ shelters.
The outside ring of the ancient City Wall is for horse racing, inner ring for cars and on the central City Wall for pedestrians. Highlights are sites from the Three Kingdoms period, hiking on Jingzhou Ancient City Wall, Ancient City Wall Discovery, Folklore of Jingzhou Ancient City Wall, Historical and Cultural Festivals.
It opens every day. The entrance fee is 50 Yuan.
Jingzhou Museum
The museum houses collections from the Paleolithic period, Neolithic, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the Qin and Han Dynasties in Central China. They are mainly jade ware, pottery animals, lacquer ware and silk fabrics. The earliest Mathematic Monograph in the world is in the museum. The oldest and best persevered body of a male from the Western Han Dynasty is also housed at the museum.
The entrance fee is 20 Yuan. The museum opens from 9:00-17:30 during Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed on Monday. Bus NOs 1 and 14 will get you there.
Ancient Tombs at Baling Mountain 八岭山古墓群
The ancient tombs are located in Baling Mountains National Forest Park, 20 km northwest of Jingzhou Ancient City. Baling Mountains are also called Dragon Mountains. There are 8 mountain ranges which zigzag like dragons. It was considered a holy place by ancient people.
The 560 tombs of different sizes cover a very big area. Chu tombs are the most numerous and then tombs of the Vassal Kings of the Ming Dynasties follow. Some tombs are so big that they resemble a mountain from a distance. Other attractions on the mountain are Pingjia Tomb and Horse-running Fountain. The towering trees are thick in the park. The admission is 10 Yuan and the park opens all day.
Yangtze University 长江大学
Yangtze University is the best university in Jingzhou City and concentrates on science. As with many other universities in China, there are many cheap and delicious local food available around the school. Reach it on buses NOs 4, 20, 25, 17 and 30.
Transportation
Jingzhou City is an important transport hub in Southern Hubei Province. Railway station, bus stations and boats are available however there is no airport. Currently boats are for cargo only. Rail and buses services go to most big cities in central China.
Jingzhou Railway Station 荆州火车站
There are 3 bus stations in Jingzhou City.
Jiangling Bus Station 江陵中心车站
Jingzhou Long Distance Bus Station 荆州长途车站
Daqiao Bus Station 大桥客运站
Shashi Long Distance Bus Station 沙市长途车站
City Transport
Public buses service the city with the fare being 1 Yuan/person for ordinary buses and 2 Yuan/person for air-conditioned buses during summer and winter.
The flagfall for taxis is 3 Yuan plus 1 yuan for every 1 km up to 5km. 1.5 Yuan/km is required for distances more than 5 km.
Accommodation
Jingzhou offers wide range of hotels and hostels at varying prices. There is no shortage of accommodation catering for every need.
