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This is life in Wuhan after the warning of the coronavirus 1:33
(CNN) - For many, Wuhan was an unknown word until this month, when the Chinese city became the center of attention when, due to the news of the deadly coronavirus, it made headlines worldwide.
But in reality it is one of the most populous cities in China, a megacity like Shanghai and Beijing.
- Airports around the world increase controls to detect Wuhan coronavirus
This aerial photograph shows dozens of high-speed trains in downtown Wuhan, in the central province of Hubei, in February 2018. (Credit: / AFP / Getty Images)
Where is Wuhan?
With a population of more than 11 million people, according to government figures, Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province and the largest city in the central region of China.
Located on the Yangtze River, it is about 800 kilometers west of Shanghai, or a four-hour high-speed train ride.
The city, which covers 8,494 square kilometers, has played an important role in the government's plan to rejuvenate the central region of the nation for more than a decade.
The transport capital in China
Thanks to its privileged location, Wuhan is often referred to as "jiu sheng tong qu", which means that it is considered the main road of nine provinces.
In addition to conventional rail networks, Wuhan is one of the stops on two of the main high-speed rail lines: Beijing-Guangzhou (from north to south) and Shanghai-Chengdu (from east to west).
It is also home to one of the four main train maintenance centers in the country.
As for aviation, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport is the only airport in the middle region of China that has direct flights to five different continents.
According to data from the Flightconnections.com aviation website, Wuhan Airport offers regular nonstop flights to 109 destinations in 20 countries. These include major cities such as London, Moscow, Paris, Rome, New York, San Francisco, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul.
The passenger performance of the airport in 2018 exceeded 24 million and was expected to reach 29 million in 2019.
Wuhan is temporarily paralyzed
On January 23, government officials announced the temporary closure of the airport and Wuhan railway stations.
All train tickets in and out of Wuhan were also suspended, while several international airlines have canceled flights to the city.
All public transport services are suspended until further notice.
This is expected to create a lot of chaos since China is now in the middle of Chunyun, or the fever of the Spring Festival trips. It is expected that some 3,000 million trips will be made among the Chinese who visit their families to celebrate the Lunar New Year, many of which pass through Wuhan.
A rising business center, tourist destination
Wuhan is an important manufacturing city in China with a strong focus on cars and medical equipment: Bosch and PSA recently relocated their headquarters in China to Wuhan.
But the historical importance of the city goes back more than 3,000 years. Wuhan is listed as one of the state's most famous historical and cultural cities and is home to the ruins of the city of Panlong.
The archeological site, discovered in the 1950s, includes tombs and palace foundations of the ancient walled city of the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC). It was where the Xinhai Revolution broke out in 1911, which led to the overthrow of China's imperial system.
In addition to historical attractions, travelers visit Wuhan for its natural landscapes such as Mulan Mountain, a sacred mountain area for Taoist and Buddhist believers.
Wuhan is also a popular starting point for those who explore the scenic area of the Three Gorges Dam, which is about 400 kilometers west of the city. Many travelers who cruise the Yangtze River begin their trips in or near Wuhan.
coronavirus