■ Prize winning route: Yellow Crane Tower – Hubei Provincial Museum – ancient Xiangyang city – ancient Longzhong – nightscape of Jianghan Road – Wudang Mountain – Shennongjia – Three Gorges Dam – ancient Jingzhou city

■ Prize winning reason: Hubei is the cradleland of ancient Chinese culture. Precious cultural relics and historical sites fill the province. The route allows one to explore the tower culture, Shennong culture, Taoist culture of Wudang Mountain and Three Kingdoms culture of Hubei. It is the ideal route for travellers to understand Oriental culture..

■ Highlights of the route: Setting out from Wuhan and traveling west, tourists will visit Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum, ancient Xiangyang city, ancient Longzhong, Wudang Mountain, Shennongjia and the Three Gorges. Cultural, historical and natural sites complement each other.

Following the rise of the status of China in the international arena, Hubei, with its strong Chinese cultural essence, is attracting more and more tourists. Sightseers visiting Hubei are interested in the profound history and culture, spectacular natural landscape and unique folk custom of Hubei.

Hubei, located in the central part of China, incorporates characterisitcs from different Chinese regional cultures; it collects snacks from the south and north, and the customs from the east and west.

Hubei has a long history and splendid Chu culture. Tourists get to immerse in the ancient charm of Yellow Crane Tower and Guiyuan Temple in Wuhan, appreciate the precious historical cultural relics in Hubei Provincial Museum, experience the appeal of the two 1,000 year-old cities of Xiangyang and Jingzhou, look for the footprints of famous ancient figure Zhuge Liang, and explore the 6,000 year history of Hubei in Jingzhou Museum.

Hubei also offers magnificent natural scenery. Visit world famous forest Shennongjia, the spectacular Three Gorges, holy Taoist Wudang mountain Wudang, Qingjiang River gallery and 100 km long precipices at Enshi Grand Canyon.

Each city and county in Hubei has its unique appeal. Experience local life by the Yangtze River in Wuhan, visit Hanjiang River, drink yellow wine in Jingzhou, listen to the songs of Tujia people, Three Gorges ballads, Huangmei opera in Enshi and Yichang, and learn Wudang Taijiqua (Chinese shadow boxing) in Wudang Mountain.