{{Redirect|Yi Chang|the Hong Kong actor|Chang Yi (actor)|the Taiwanese baseball player|Chang Yi (baseball)}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name =Yichang |official_name = |other_name = Ichang |native_name = 宜昌市 |native_name_lang = zh |nickname = |settlement_type =Prefecture-level city |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 270 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/3/2/1 | image1 = Yichang skyline.jpg | caption1 = Yichuan skyline | image2 = Three Gorges Dam in 2021 13.jpg | caption2 = Three Gorges Dam | image3 = 长江三峡最美的地方-三峡人家.jpg | caption3 = Tribe of Three Gorges | image4 = Zhenjiang Pavilion （Yichang） 03.jpg | caption4 = Zhenjiang Pavilion | image5 = Sanyoudong2.jpg | caption5 = Sanyou Cave | image6 = 宜昌三峡大瀑布.jpg | caption6 = Three Gorges Waterfall | image7 = Xiling Gorge 2016 3.jpg | caption7 = Xiling Gorge }} |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Location of Yichang-Hubei.gif |mapsize = 280px |map_caption = Location of Yichang City jurisdiction in Hubei |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = China Hubei#China |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_caption = Location of the city in Hubei##Location of the city in China |pushpin_mapsize = 250 <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = People's Republic of China |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Hubei |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |seat_type = Municipal seat |seat = Xiling District |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = CPC Party Secretary <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = Huang Chuping |leader_title2 = Mayor |leader_name2 = Chen Honghui<br>''Acting'' |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date1 = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |founder = |named_for = <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> |area_footnotes = <ref name="xzqhyc"/> |area_total_km2 =21338<!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = | area_metro_km2 = 4192 | area_urban_km2 = 4234.3 | area_urban_footnotes = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> |elevation_m = 58 |elevation_ft =191 |elevation_max_m = 2427 |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = 35 |elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of =2024 census |population_footnotes =<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-hubei-admin.php|title=China: Húbĕi (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map}}</ref> |population_note = |population_total =3926500 |population_density_km2 =auto <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> |population_metro =1604700 |population_density_metro_km2 =auto |population_urban =2562000 |population_density_urban_km2 =auto |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = | demographics_type2 = GDP<ref>{{cite book|author=湖北省统计局、国家统计局湖北调查总队|title=《湖北统计年鉴－2016》|date=August 2016 |publisher=China Statistics Press|isbn=978-7-5037-7847-6|url=http://www.stats-hb.gov.cn/info/iIndex.jsp?cat_id=10055|access-date=2017-06-05|archive-date=2017-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301095326/http://www.stats-hb.gov.cn/info/iIndex.jsp?cat_id=10055|url-status=dead}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Prefecture-level city | demographics2_info1 = CN¥ 338.2 billion<br />US$ 54.3 billion | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 82,360<br />US$ 22,140 <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = China Standard |utc_offset = +8 |coor_pinpoint = Yichang municipal government |coordinates = {{coord|30.692|N|111.287|E|format=dms|type:adm2nd_region:CN-HB-05_source:Gaode|display=it}} <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = Postal codes |postal_code =443000 |area_code =0717 |iso_code = CN-HB-05 |website ={{URL|en.yichang.gov.cn/}} |blank_name = Licence plate prefixes |blank_info = {{lang|zh-cn|鄂E}} |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |footnotes = }} {{Infobox Chinese |pic=YiChang name.svg |piccap="Yichang", as written in Chinese |picsize=121px |c={{linktext|lang=zh|宜昌}} |w=I<sup>2</sup>-ch'ang<sup>1</sup> |p=Yíchāng |psp=Ichang |mi={{IPAc-cmn|yi|2|.|ch|ang|1}} }}
'''Yichang''' ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|宜昌}}}}), alternatively romanized as '''Ichang''', is a prefecture-level city located in western Hubei province, China. Yichang had a population of 3.92 million people at the 2022 census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=宜昌市2022年国民经济和社会发展统计公报 - 中国统计信息网 |url=http://www.tjcn.org/tjgb/17hb/37506.html |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.tjcn.org}}</ref> making it the third most populous city in Hubei.<ref>{{Cite web |title=湖北省第七次全国人口普查公报（第二号）--湖北省统计局 |url=https://tjj.hubei.gov.cn/tjsj/tjgb/pcgb/qrp/202105/t20210525_3559343.shtml |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=tjj.hubei.gov.cn |archive-date=2024-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914122102/http://tjj.hubei.gov.cn/tjsj/tjgb/pcgb/qrp/202105/t20210525_3559343.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city is famous for the Three Gorges, the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam, all three of which are located in Yiling District, one of the city's districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yichang Top Things to do - Yichang travel activities |url=https://www.yangtzeriver.org/yichang/top-things-to-do/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.yangtzeriver.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/art/2007/11/28/art_6101_79616.html |title=Yichang Information |access-date=2009-12-06 |archive-date=2009-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226221815/http://www.yichang.gov.cn/art/2007/11/28/art_6101_79616.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==History== Yichang was historically known as Yiling. In 278 BC, during the Warring States period, the Qin general Bai Qi set fire to Yiling.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022 |title=Gorgeous Yichang |url=http://www.gorgeousyichang.com/content-63114-32-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515063918/http://www.gorgeousyichang.com/content-63114-32-1.html |archive-date=15 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.gorgeousyichang.com}}</ref> In 222 AD, Yichang was also the site of the Battle of Yiling during the Three Kingdoms Period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2024 |title=夷陵之战古战场遗迹 - 兵道网{{!}}山东孙子研究会{{!}}官网 |url=https://www.sunzistudies.com/m_shownews.asp?id=811 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731105108/https://www.sunzistudies.com/m_shownews.asp?id=811 |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.sunzistudies.com}}</ref>
Yiling was renamed Yichang in 1735.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Yichang |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/hubei/2010-06/19/content_9992971.htm |website=China Daily }}</ref> Under the Qing Guangxu Emperor, Yichang was opened to foreign commerce as a trading port after the Qing and Great Britain agreed to the Chefoo Convention, which was signed by Sir Thomas Wade and Li Hongzhang in Chefoo on 21 August 1876.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yichang Government |first1= |title=History of Yichang |url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-4281-1004064-1.html |publisher=Yichang Government |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2024-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619002458/http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-4281-1004064-1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The imperial government set up a navigation company there and began building facilities. Since 1949, more than 50 wharves, with a total combined length of over {{convert|15|km|sp=us}}, have been constructed at the port.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Yichang was a primary supply depot for the defending Chinese army. In October 1938, as the Japanese moved up the Yangtze River towards the strategic city of Chongqing, it became clear that Yichang needed to be evacuated. In 40 days, under the direction of businessman Lu Zuofu, more than 100,000 tons of equipment and 30,000 personnel were transported upstream by steamship or by porters pulling smaller vessels through the Three Gorges rapids to Chongqing.<ref>'Yichang Evacuation Monument'; http://easternjourney.com/2009/10/yichang-evacuation-monument/ retvd 12 7 17</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://military.china.com/history4/62/20150415/19527270_all.html |script-title=zh:抗战中的宜昌大撤退：保留中国抗战工业命脉的壮举 |date=15 April 2015}}</ref>
In 1940, the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang took place in the area.
==Administrative divisions== Administratively, it is a prefecture-level city; its municipal government has jurisdiction over five counties, five urban districts, and three satellite county-level cities (Yidu, Dangyang, Zhijiang).<ref name="xzqhyc">{{cite web |url=http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/hb/15230.html |script-title=zh:宜昌市历史沿革 |trans-title=Yichang City Historical Development |publisher=XZQH |language=zh-hans |date=14 July 2014 |access-date=5 October 2018 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|1996年，宜昌市面积21338平方千米，{...}2010年第六次人口普查，宜昌市常住总人口4059686人，其中：西陵区512074人，伍家岗区214194人，点军区103696人，猇亭区61230人，夷陵区520186人，远安县184532人，兴山县170630人，秭归县367107人，长阳土家族自治县388228人，五峰土家族自治县188923人，宜都市384598人，当阳市468293人，枝江市495995人。}}}}</ref><ref name="statyc">{{cite web |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2017/42/4205.html |script-title=zh:2017年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：宜昌市 |trans-title=2017 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Yichang City |publisher=National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China |date=2017 |access-date=5 October 2018 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|统计用区划代码 名称 420501000000 市辖区 420502000000 西陵区 420503000000 伍家岗区 420504000000 点军区 420505000000 猇亭区 420506000000 夷陵区 420525000000 远安县 420526000000 兴山县 420527000000 秭归县 420528000000 长阳土家族自治县 420529000000 五峰土家族自治县 420581000000 宜都市 420582000000 当阳市 420583000000 枝江市|}}}}</ref><ref name="govyc">{{cite web|url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-56330-999739-1.html|script-title=zh:宜昌概况|trans-title=Description of Yichang|language=zh-hans|editor=吴月|publisher=Yichang People's Government|quote={{lang|zh-hans|【行政区划】2016年，宜昌市辖13个县市区，即远安县、兴山县、秭归县、长阳土家族自治县、五峰土家族自治县、宜都市、枝江市、当阳市、夷陵区、西陵区、伍家岗区、点军区、猇亭区，共设20个乡、67个镇、23个街道。2016年，全市行政区划及其名称未作调整。}}|date=21 May 2018|access-date=5 October 2018|archive-date=27 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027190011/http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-56330-999739-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Administrative map=== The prefecture-level city of Yichang has direct jurisdiction over 14 divisions: 5 districts ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|区}} |p=qū |labels=no}}), 3 county-level cities ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|县级市}} |p=xiànjí shì |labels=no}}), 3 counties ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|县}} |p=xiàn |labels=no}}), and 2 autonomous counties ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|自治县}} |p=zìzhì xiàn |labels=no}}).
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! colspan="7" | Map |- | colspan="7" |<div style="position: relative" class="center"> {{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Yichang.png|width=500|float=none}} {{Image label|x=910|y=830|scale=500/1560|text='''1'''}} {{Image label|x=970|y=900|scale=500/1560|text='''2'''}} {{Image label|x=1020|y=1000|scale=500/1560|text='''3'''}} {{Image label|x=690|y=870|scale=500/1560|text='''Dianjun'''}} {{Image label|x=780|y=590|scale=500/1560|text='''Yiling'''}} {{Image label|x=1100|y=380|scale=500/1560|text='''Yuan'an<br>County'''}} {{Image label|x=420|y=230|scale=500/1560|text='''Xingshan<br>County'''}} {{Image label|x=300|y=640|scale=500/1560|text='''Zigui<br>County'''}} {{Image label|x=350|y=1040|scale=500/1560|text='''Changyang<br>County'''}} {{Image label|x=230|y=1330|scale=500/1560|text='''Wufeng<br>County'''}} {{Image label|x=890|y=1260|scale=500/1560|text='''Yidu<br>{{small|(city)}}'''}} {{Image label|x=1280|y=720|scale=500/1560|text='''Dangyang<br>{{small|(city)}}'''}} {{Image label|x=1150|y=1040|scale=500/1560|text='''Zhijiang<br>{{small|(city)}}'''}} {{Image label|x=1250|y=1350|scale=500/1560|text='''1. Xiling'''}} {{Image label|x=1250|y=1420|scale=500/1560|text='''2. Wujiagang'''}} {{Image label|x=1250|y=1490|scale=500/1560|text='''3. Xiaoting'''}} {{Image label end}} </div> |- ! Name ! Hanzi ! Hanyu Pinyin ! Population<br/>(2010 census) <ref>{{cite web|language=zh-hans|script-title=zh:宜昌市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报|url=http://www.stats-hb.gov.cn/wzlm/tjgb/rkpcgb/fz/11020.htm|publisher=Yichang Statistics Bureau|access-date=5 December 2013|date=May 30, 2011|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219233024/http://www.stats-hb.gov.cn/wzlm/tjgb/rkpcgb/fz/11020.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! Area<br/>(/km<sup>2</sup>) <ref>{{cite web|language=zh-hans|script-title=zh:宜昌市土地利用总体规划（2006－2020年）|url=http://www.yclr.gov.cn/art/2013/11/18/art_27317_476365.html|publisher=Yichang Bureau of Land Resources|access-date=5 December 2013|date=Nov 18, 2013|archive-date=6 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506214226/http://www.yclr.gov.cn/art/2013/11/18/art_27317_476365.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! Density<br/>(/km<sup>2</sup>) |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:#d3d3d3;"|'''Districts''' |- | Xiling District |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|西陵|区}}}} |Xīlíng Qū |512,074 |68.14 |7,515.03 |- | Wujiagang District |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|伍家岗|区}}}} |Wǔjiāgǎng Qū |214,194 |84.03 |2549.02 |- | Dianjun District |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|点军|区}}}} |Diǎnjūn Qū |103,696 |533.23 |194.47 |- | Xiaoting District |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|猇亭|区}}}} |Xiāotíng Qū |61,230 |130.40 |469.55 |- | Yiling District |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|夷陵|区}}}} |Yílíng Qū |520,186 |3,416.57 |152.25 |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:#d3d3d3;"|'''County-level cities''' |- | Yidu |{{lang|zh-Hans-CN|{{linktext|宜都|市}}}} |Yídū Shì |384,598 |1,354.83 |283.87 |- | Dangyang |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|当阳|市}}}} |Dāngyáng Shì |468,293 |2,148.82 |217.93 |- | Zhijiang |{{lang|zh-Hans-CN|{{linktext|枝江|市}}}} |Zhījiāng Shì |644,835 |2,010.00 |321 |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:#d3d3d3;"|'''Counties''' |- | Yuan'an County |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|远安|县}}}} |Yuǎn'ān Xiàn |184,532 |1,741.06 |105.99 |- | Xingshan County |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|兴山|县}}}} |Xīngshān Xiàn |231,536 |480.20 |73.69 |- | Zigui County |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|秭归|县}}}} |Zǐguī Xiàn |367,107 |2,273.80 |161.45 |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:#d3d3d3;"|'''Autonomous counties''' |- | Changyang Tujia<br>Autonomous County |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|长阳|土家族|自治县}}}} |Chángyáng Tǔjiāzú<br>Zìzhìxiàn |388,228 |3418.82 |113.56 |- | Wufeng Tujia<br>Autonomous County |{{lang|zh-hans|{{linktext|五峰|土家族|自治县}}}} |Wǔfēng Tǔjiāzú<br>Zìzhìxiàn |188,923 |2,370.41 |79.70 |}
615x615px|thumb|A sand table in Yichang Planning Exhibition Hall.|none
==Geography== Like most prefecture-level cities, Yichang includes both an urban area (which is labeled on less detailed maps as "Yichang") and the surrounding country area. It covers {{convert|21,084|km2|sp=us}} in Western Hubei Province, on both sides of the Yangtze River. The Xiling Gorge, the easternmost of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze, is located within the prefecture-level city.
Within the prefecture-level city of Yichang, the Yangtze is joined by a number of tributaries, including the Qing River (right), Xiang Xi and Huangbo Rivers (left).
The central urban area of Yichang is split between several districts. On the north bank of the Yangtze, there are Xiling District (the central part of the city), Yiling District, and Wujiagang District, and Xiaoting District. The urban area on the opposite (south) bank of the river is Dianjun District. All these districts, except the central Xiling District, also include a fair amount of suburban/rural area outside of the urban zone.
===Climate=== Yichang has a four-season, monsoon-influenced, humid subtropical climate (Köppen ''Cwa''), with cool, damp and generally overcast winters, and hot, humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from {{convert|5.0|°C|1}} in January to {{convert|27.7|°C|1}} in July, while the annual mean is {{convert|17.08|°C|1}}. Close to 70% of the annual precipitation of {{convert|1160|mm|in|abbr=on}} occurs from May to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 24% in January to 49% in August, the city receives 1,568 hours of bright sunshine annually, and summer is the sunniest season.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
{{clear}} {{Weather box | metric first = Y | single line = Y | collapsed = Y | location = Yichang, elevation {{convert|133|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) | Jan high C = 8.8 | Feb high C = 11.8 | Mar high C = 16.6 | Apr high C = 23.0 | May high C = 27.3 | Jun high C = 30.5 | Jul high C = 32.7 | Aug high C = 32.1 | Sep high C = 28.2 | Oct high C = 23.0 | Nov high C = 17.2 | Dec high C = 11.2 | Jan mean C = 5.0 | Feb mean C = 7.6 | Mar mean C = 11.7 | Apr mean C = 17.7 | May mean C = 22.2 | Jun mean C = 25.8 | Jul mean C = 28.1 | Aug mean C = 27.4 | Sep mean C = 23.6 | Oct mean C = 18.3 | Nov mean C = 12.7 | Dec mean C = 7.3 | Jan low C = 2.2 | Feb low C = 4.6 | Mar low C = 8.1 | Apr low C = 13.6 | May low C = 18.2 | Jun low C = 22.1 | Jul low C = 24.5 | Aug low C = 23.9 | Sep low C = 20.1 | Oct low C = 14.9 | Nov low C = 9.5 | Dec low C = 4.4 | Jan record high C = 22.5 | Feb record high C = 28.2 | Mar record high C = 34.1 | Apr record high C = 36.7 | May record high C = 38.7 | Jun record high C = 39.9 | Jul record high C = 40.7 | Aug record high C = 41.4 | Sep record high C = 39.2 | Oct record high C = 37.7 | Nov record high C = 29.8 | Dec record high C = 24.6 | Jan record low C = −9.8 | Feb record low C = −4.4 | Mar record low C = −1.3 | Apr record low C = 0.4 | May record low C = 8.8 | Jun record low C = 14.7 | Jul record low C = 18.4 | Aug record low C = 17.2 | Sep record low C = 11.4 | Oct record low C = 3.7 | Nov record low C = −0.9 | Dec record low C = −5.4 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 24.4 | Feb precipitation mm = 38.7 | Mar precipitation mm = 54.8 | Apr precipitation mm = 92.3 | May precipitation mm = 139.4 | Jun precipitation mm = 141.8 | Jul precipitation mm = 211.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 191.3 | Sep precipitation mm = 107.2 | Oct precipitation mm = 73.8 | Nov precipitation mm = 46.7 | Dec precipitation mm = 18.7 | Jan humidity = 74 | Feb humidity = 73 | Mar humidity = 72 | Apr humidity = 73 | May humidity = 73 | Jun humidity = 76 | Jul humidity = 79 | Aug humidity = 78 | Sep humidity = 75 | Oct humidity = 75 | Nov humidity = 75 | Dec humidity = 73 | unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 7.7 | Feb precipitation days = 9.2 | Mar precipitation days = 11.0 | Apr precipitation days = 12.5 | May precipitation days = 13.3 | Jun precipitation days = 12.6 | Jul precipitation days = 14.7 | Aug precipitation days = 13.7 | Sep precipitation days = 10.5 | Oct precipitation days = 10.4 | Nov precipitation days = 8.3 | Dec precipitation days = 7.7 | year precipitation days = | Jan sun = 65.9 | Feb sun = 71.9 | Mar sun = 103.1 | Apr sun = 125.8 | May sun = 132.8 | Jun sun = 134.1 | Jul sun = 157.2 | Aug sun = 168.4 | Sep sun = 126.8 | Oct sun = 118.6 | Nov sun = 103.8 | Dec sun = 81.1 | year sun = | Jan percentsun = 20 | Feb percentsun = 23 | Mar percentsun = 28 | Apr percentsun = 32 | May percentsun = 31 | Jun percentsun = 32 | Jul percentsun = 37 | Aug percentsun = 41 | Sep percentsun = 35 | Oct percentsun = 34 | Nov percentsun = 33 | Dec percentsun = 26 | year percentsun = | Jan snow days = 4.3 | Feb snow days = 3.0 | Mar snow days = 1.1 | Apr snow days = 0 | May snow days = 0 | Jun snow days = 0 | Jul snow days = 0 | Aug snow days = 0 | Sep snow days = 0 | Oct snow days = 0 | Nov snow days = 0.2 | Dec snow days = 1.4 | year snow days = | source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref><ref> {{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans | access-date =28 May 2023 |title=Experience Template }}</ref>NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/China/CSV/YICHANG_57461.csv |title = Yichang Climate Normals 1991-2020 |publisher = NOAA |lang=en-us}} </ref> all-time extreme temperature<ref name = 中华城市地理>{{cite web |url= https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404203050792315805 |title= 中国各地城市的历史最低气温 |access-date= 1 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.roostweather.com/worldclimate/graphs.php?code=CHM00057461 |title= Yichang Climate: 1991–2020 |publisher=Starlings Roost Weather |access-date= 18 July 2025 }}</ref> | source = }}
==Transport==
===Air=== Yichang Sanxia International Airport is located in the Xiaoting District of Yichang City, which is {{convert|26|km|abbr=on}} away from the city center and {{convert|55|km|abbr=on}} from the Three Gorges Dam site. The airport is conveniently located, which borders Yihuang Highway in the north, Long River Golden Waterway in the south and Jiaozhi Railway in the east.
===Roads and bridges=== thumb|Yiling Bridge
* China National Highway 318 runs east–west through most of the prefecture-level city, south of the center city * China National Highway 209 passes through the northwestern corner of the prefecture-level city (Xingshan County) Several provincial highways connect Yichang center city with most counties.
Several bridges span the Yangtze River within the prefecture-level city of Yichang, including (upstream to downstream): * Xiling Bridge, connecting Letianxi and Sandouping in Yiling District, a few km downstream from the Three Gorges Dam. * Yiling Bridge, downtown Yichang (a few km downstream from the Gezhouba Dam). It connects the urban Xiling and Dianjun Districts. * Yichang Yangtze Highway Bridge, on the Hu-Rong Expressway, downstream of Yichang center city * Yiwan Bridge: A Railway Bridge for Yiwan Railway which connects Yichang to Chongqing by high speed trains, almost {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} downstream from the Yiling Bridge.
There are several ferry crossings as well.
===Waterways=== [[File:3 gorges dam at night.JPG|thumb|The Three Gorges Dam is located near Sandouping and Maoping within Yichang prefecture-level city (some {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=on}} from Yichang central city)]]
Yichang has long been a major transit port and distribution center of goods, and serves as the economic hub of western Hubei province and an intermediary between the major cities of Chongqing and Wuhan. Its primary industries are shipping and shipbuilding, taking advantage of its location on the Yangtze River. The Qing River in the southern part of the prefectures, with its cascade of dams, is an important waterway. Maoping Town (the county seat of Zigui County), has an active passenger wharf as well.
===Railway=== Yichang is served by several railway lines.
Yichang Railway Station, located in downtown Yichang, opened in 1971, was the city's first railway station. In 2012 it closed for a renovation project.<ref name=yichangZhan1>{{cite web |url=http://news.huochepiao.com/2012-10/201210917011437.htm |script-title=zh:3个月后宜昌火车站可进出动车 低站台改造成高站台 |website=huochepiao.com |date=October 2012}}</ref>
The Yichang East Railway Station, opened in the late 2010 in the eastern suburbs of Yichang,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discoverchina.com/yichang|title=Yichang|website=Discover China|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> is presently the city's main train station. It is the junction point of two segments of the Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line, one of China's new east–west rail mainlines. To the east, the Hanyi Railway<ref name=hanyi1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707042600/http://english.wh.gov.cn/html/Wuhan_News/Wuhan_News/20080710/1937.html Construction of Hanyi Railway to Kick off], Wuhan City Government web site, 2008-07-10</ref> (opened June 29, 2012) provides frequent service to Wuhan, with some trains continuing to Nanjing and Shanghai. To the west, the Yiwan Railway (Yichang-Wanzhou; opened December 2010) serves as the gateway to Hubei's southwestern panhandle (Enshi), with some service continuing to Chongqing and Chengdu.
The Jiaozuo–Liuzhou Railway, a north–south line, crosses the eastern part of the prefecture-level city. It crosses the Yangtze at Zhicheng in Yidu County-level City. <!-- Currently, Yichang is a dead-end station. However, construction work has started on the high-speed Hanyi Railway<ref name=hanyi1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707042600/http://english.wh.gov.cn/html/Wuhan_News/Wuhan_News/20080710/1937.html Construction of Hanyi Railway to Kick off], Wuhan City Government web site, 2008-07-10</ref> and the Yiwan Railway (from Hankou (Wuhan) to Yichang to Wanzhou), which will be part of the Huhanrong Passenger Dedicated Line from Shanghai to Wuhan to Chengdu. Besides the new Yichang East Railway Station serving Yichang's main urban area, some the high-speed trains will stop elsewhere in the prefecture, namely at Zhijiang Railway Station on the Hanyi line (in Zhijiang City), and at some stations on the Yiwan line.-->
==Demographics== {{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}} [[File:Sandouping-Huangling-Miao-4893.jpg|thumb|left|Huangling Temple, Sandouping]] As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,017,607 inhabitants of whom 1,536,012 lived in the built-up (''or metro'') area consisting of Yiling, Xiling, Wujiagang and Dianjun urban districts. The Xiaoting District has not yet been urbanized. Yichang prefecture-level city, is home to many members of the Tujia ethnic group, who mostly live in several counties in the south-west of the prefecture.
Yichang also formed the border between the cultures of Ba in the west (an ancient state in the eastern part of what is now Sichuan Province) and the Chu State in the east (an ancient state in what is now Hubei Province and northern Hunan Province).
==Education== {{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}} Since 2002, Yichang City has been home of the China Three Gorges University (the result of the merger of the University of Hydraulic & Electric Engineering, Yichang and of Hubei Sanxia University), the largest comprehensive university in Hubei Province outside Wuhan, with over 20,400 full-time students.
*'''China Three Gorges University''' *'''Three Gorges Vocational College of Electric Power ''' There are 170 secondary schools in Yichang enrolling 150,700 students. 53,900 of the citizens in Yichang hold a secondary school degree. There are 282 elementary schools being located in Yichang enrolling 156,900. 27,600 of the citizens hold secondary school degrees. 383 kindergartens located in Yichang with 78,500 children.
==Economy== Yichang has developed rapidly in recent years. In 2023, Yichang's GDP reached 575.635 billion yuan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP: Hubei: Yichang {{!}} Economic Indicators {{!}} CEIC |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/china/gross-domestic-product-prefecture-level-city/cn-gdp-hubei-yichang |website=www.ceicdata.com}}</ref> with a per capita GDP of 146,800 yuan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP: per Capita: Hubei: Yichang {{!}} Economic Indicators {{!}} CEIC |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/china/gross-domestic-product-prefecture-level-city-per-capita/cn-gdp-per-capita-hubei-yichang |website=www.ceicdata.com}}</ref> In 2023, the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors in Yichang increased by 60.856 billion yuan, 228.034 billion yuan, and 286.745 billion yuan, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=阔步迈向"典范城""世界级" 全市地区生产总值从1.51亿元增长到5756.35亿元 - 政务动态 - 宜昌市人民政府 |url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/html/zhengwuyizhantong/zhengwuzixun/jinriyaowen/2024/0928/1063642.html |website=www.yichang.gov.cn |url-status=dead }}</ref> The main industries in Yichang include agriculture, fisheries, chemical manufacturing, food biomedicine, and tourism. Additionally, Yichang possesses abundant mineral resources including phosphorus, iron, coal, manganese, vanadium, gold, copper, lead, zinc, silicon, gypsum, graphite, quartz sand, limestone, marble, and barite.<ref>{{Cite web |title=矿产 - 宜昌简介 - 宜昌市人民政府 |url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-4281-1004063-1.html |website=www.yichang.gov.cn |access-date=2024-10-08 |archive-date=2025-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708060212/http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-4281-1004063-1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its main agricultural resources are citrus, tea, and aquatic products. Hydropower is the most important and renowned resource, as the world's largest hydroelectric power station, Three Gorges Dam, generates 111.80 billion kWh per year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China's Three Gorges Dam sets world hydropower production record – China Daily |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/china-s-three-gorges-dam-sets-world-hydropower-production-record-8211-china-daily-61949193 |website=www.spglobal.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
=== Agriculture === Located at the transition zone from the western Hubei mountains to the Jianghan Plains, Yichang's geography features a mild climate, distinct seasons, and abundant rainfall. The main agricultural products in the Yichang region are citrus and tea because of the geography and climate. Due to the increase in urbanization levels and average income levels, along with a more developed supply chain and export market, there has been an expansion of the customer base for these products. Consequently, demand for high-value products such as premium citrus and tea is rapidly growing. In addition, Southeast Asia, the United States, and the Middle East are the main overseas markets of Yichang's citrus. In 2022, citrus was sold for 6,700 yuan ($960) per ton for exports.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oranges grown in Yichang create harvest of wealth |url=https://www.huangpi.gov.cn/English/MediaCenter/HubeiNews/202212/t20221226_2119229.shtml |website=www.huangpi.gov.cn}}</ref> The total output of tea in Yichang was 119,200 tons in 2023, and the agricultural production value reached 5.984 billion yuan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=一片叶 一方业——宜昌茶产业加速驶入新赛道 - 政务专题 - 宜昌市人民政府 |url=http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-62732-1060271-1.html |website=www.yichang.gov.cn |access-date=2024-10-08 |archive-date=2025-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218134345/http://www.yichang.gov.cn/content-62732-1060271-1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2000 to 2022, the annual growth rate of citrus fruit production was 10.2%, and for tea was 12.8%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hubei Yichang Rural Green Development Project: Report and Recommendation of the President |url=https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/prc-55128-001-rrp |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.adb.org |date=31 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Tourism === Yichang has rich tourism resources, which attract millions of visitors for its natural scenery located among mountains and rivers. In 2023, Yichang welcomed about 79 million visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=湖北宜昌市大旅游行业发展现状及市场策略分析_中研普华_中研网 |url=https://www.chinairn.com/hyzx/20240529/174246565.shtml |website=www.chinairn.com |access-date=2024-10-08 |archive-date=2025-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219090154/https://www.chinairn.com/hyzx/20240529/174246565.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most famous attractions include the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area, Tribe of the Three Gorges, Qingjiang Gallery, Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan, Three Gorges Grand Waterfalls, and Xiling Gorge. The overall revenue from tourism was 110 billion yuan in 2023, which increased 44.5% from last year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=宜昌市2023年国民经济和社会发展统计公报-统计公报-宜昌市人民政府信息公开 |url=http://xxgk.yichang.gov.cn/show.html?aid=1&id=233339 |website=xxgk.yichang.gov.cn |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As the gateway to the Three Gorges Dam, Yichang is a major tourism hub. The Yichang Museum houses important cultural relics, including the Zigui Bell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yichang: Gateway to the Three Gorges |url=http://en.yichang.gov.cn/Tourism/ThreeGorges/202111/t20211122_567890.html |website=Yichang Municipal Government |date=2021-11-22 |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref>
===Hydropower===
Yichang's prefectures have many major hydroelectricity projects. The best known are the two huge dams on the Yangtze River: the Gezhouba Dam (located just upstream of Yichang central city) and Three Gorges Dam, which is {{convert|40|km|sp=us}} upstream. The Geheyan Dam and Gaobazhou Dam on the Qing River are important as well. Besides those, a huge number of medium-sized and small power plants operate on smaller rivers and streams within some prefectures.
These projects not only provide a stable and substantial source of renewable energy, but also play a crucial role in flood control, navigation improvement, and irrigation support for the surrounding regions. The Three Gorges Dam, in particular, is one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in the world and serves as a symbol of China's engineering achievements. At the same time, the construction of large dams has brought about challenges such as ecological changes, relocation of local communities, and preservation of cultural heritage sites, making hydropower development in Yichang both a driver of modernization and a subject of ongoing debate.
== Picture gallery == {{cleanup gallery|date= June 2020}} <gallery> File:文佛山1 - panoramio.jpg|Wenfo mountain File:Yichang skyline 2.jpg|Yangtze River File:Qing river in Changyang 04.jpg|Qing River File:Guanzhuang Reservoir.jpg|Guanzhuang Reservoir File:Mouth-of-Huangbo-boats-4804.jpg|Huangbo River File:Sanxiarenjia.jpg|Tribe of Three Gorges File:宜昌三峡大瀑布.jpg|Three Gorges Waterfall File:Hubei-Yichang.JPG|Boats on the Yangtze River, upstream from the Three Gorges File:Saint James's Church,Yichang.jpg|Christianity in Yichang File:St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral,Yichang2.jpg|Roman Catholic Diocese of Yichang File:Yichang Yangtze River Railway Bridge in the Backlighting.jpg|Yichang Yangtze River Railway Bridge File:Tianran Pagoda.jpg|Tianran Pagoda File:三闾大夫屈原.jpg|Statue of Quyuan File:求索溪2.jpg|Three Gorges University File:夷陵中学正门.jpg|Yiling High School </gallery>
==See also== *List of twin towns and sister cities in China
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==Further reading== *[https://books.google.com/books?id=VopMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA563 Report on the Physical, Commercial, Social and General Conditions of Ichang and Neighborhood. H. A. Little. (Diplo. and Cons. Rpts. [London], Misc. Ser., 1908, No. 671, p. 24).— C. F. Langworthy.]
==External links== {{Commons category|Yichang}} {{Wiktionary|Yichang|Ichang|I-ch'ang}} {{wikivoyage|Yichang}} * [http://en.yichang.gov.cn/ Official website of Yichang Government - English version] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021035001/http://en.yichang.gov.cn/ |date=2019-10-21 }} {{Hubei}} {{Major cities along the Yangtze River}}
{{Hubei topics}} {{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Yichang Category:Cities in Hubei Category:Populated places on the Yangtze River Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Hubei Category:National Civilized City