
The terrain of Hubei Province is high in the west and low in the east and wide open to the south, the Jianghan Plain.
At the end of the year2005, the total population stood at 60.16 million.
Hubei has a sub-tropical monsoonal climate, with a mean annual temperature of 15 to 17 degrees Celsius - the hottest month, July, averaging 27 to 30 degrees Celsius and the coldest month, January, 1 to 5 degrees Celsius - and a mean annual precipitation of 800-1600 mm.
The province is rich in mineral resources. Deposits of phosphate, salt, silica, garnet and marlstone are among the highest in China. Hubei also has rich deposits of metal minerals such as rutile, iron and copper.
An important feature of Hubei food is its blending of fish with other ingredients, including Steamed Blunt-Snout Bream, Dried Sheets of Bean Curd, and Boiled Dumpling, etc.
Han Opera, Chu Opera, Huangmeixi (opera-style), acrobatics, and the art of singing and storytelling such as Pingshu, Dagu, etc.
Hubei is the home of the ancient kingdom of Chu. Archeologists have discovered over 400 ruins and sites of historical value in the province. Beautiful tourist spots in Hubei include Jingzhou Ancient City, Chibi of Puqi, the Shennongjia National Park, Birthplace of Zhaojun, Wudang Mountain - the holy place of Daoism, Longzhong, Huang He Pavilionand the Three Gorges.
Hubei also boasts impressive natural scenery. The Three Gorges offers an unmatched painting of water and mountains. The World Famous Yangtze Three Gorges Dam Project is located in Hubei Province, just outside of Yichang City. It is not only the largest water conservation project in China, but also the largest water conservation project in the world.
The specialities in Hubei are bamboo ware, Yichang black tea, Enshi green tea, Zigui orange, Xiaogan sesame seed candy, etc.