Yichang

Yichang sits on the Yangtze River in western Hubei at the eastern mouth of the famous Three Gorges, and is best known as the gateway to the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power station on earth. The dam and its ship locks have made the city a major hub for river cruises and clean-energy production. Yichang is also the hometown of the ancient poet-statesman Qu Yuan, commemorated at the Dragon Boat Festival with the zongzi rice dumplings of nearby Zigui. Surrounded by dramatic gorges, karst scenery and the emerald Qing River, it is one of central China's leading eco-tourism destinations. The local economy combines hydropower, chemicals, phosphate mining and a growing tourism sector.