Flight to Wuhan, China (WUH)

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province and the largest city in central China, built where the Han River flows into the Yangtze. It is really three historic towns in one: Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang, facing each other across the water and joined by some of the country's most famous bridges. A flight to Wuhan suits business travellers heading for one of China's biggest industrial and university hubs, but the city also rewards leisure visitors with lakes, riverside promenades, grand old concession-era buildings and one of the country's great breakfast cultures.

About Wuhan Tianhe International Airport

Location

Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH) is in Huangpi District, on the northern side of the city and some distance from the centre. It is the main airport for Hubei and one of the largest in central China, handling domestic routes across the country as well as international flights to Asia and beyond. From the airport, roads and the metro head south towards Hankou first, then across the Yangtze to Wuchang.

Terminals

Most passenger flights use the large, modern Terminal 3, which opened to take over from the older terminal buildings as traffic grew. It has separate areas for domestic and international departures, with immigration and customs inside the international section. Check your booking for the terminal and allow time at immigration when arriving on an international flight.

Getting to and from the airport

Wuhan Metro Line 2 runs from the airport into Hankou and on under the river to Wuchang, which makes it the easiest budget option for most travellers. Airport buses link Tianhe with the main districts and railway stations, and metered taxis and ride-hailing cars wait outside arrivals. If you plan to continue by high-speed train, note that Wuhan, Hankou and Wuchang railway stations are all separate, so check which one your ticket uses.

Direct and connecting flights to Wuhan

Travellers from Singapore can sometimes find non-stop options to Wuhan, depending on the season and the airlines operating at the time, while other itineraries connect through a larger Chinese hub or another Asian gateway. On Traveloka, search Singapore (SIN) to Wuhan (WUH) and switch on the direct-flights filter to see whether any non-stop services run on your dates. If none do, compare one-stop routings by total travel time and by how long the connection is.

Wuhan is also one of China's biggest rail junctions, with fast trains towards Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu. That opens up another approach: fly into a major Chinese city with more frequent connections from Changi, then continue by high-speed rail to Wuhan. It is worth comparing both ways, especially if you plan to visit several cities on the same trip.

When to fly to Wuhan

Wuhan has a humid subtropical climate with very distinct seasons. Summers are long, hot and muggy, which is why the city is known as one of China's traditional furnaces, and winters are chilly and damp, with the occasional frost. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking, and in spring the cherry blossoms around East Lake draw big crowds from across the country.

Demand within China peaks around the Spring Festival, the Labour Day holiday in early May and the National Day Golden Week in early October, when trains and flights fill up and attractions are busy. From Singapore, fares tend to rise around Chinese New Year and the June and December school holidays. Check the fare-by-month chart on this page, look at nearby dates, and set a Price Alert if you are aiming for blossom season or a holiday week.

Popular places in Wuhan

Yellow Crane Tower

Standing on Snake Hill in Wuchang, the Yellow Crane Tower is one of the most celebrated towers in Chinese poetry. The current tower is a modern rebuild of a much older landmark, and its upper floors give sweeping views over the Yangtze and the first Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge.

East Lake

East Lake is a huge scenic lake inside the city, ringed by parks, forest trails and a long greenway that is popular for cycling. The cherry blossom garden is the big draw in spring, and in summer the lotus ponds bloom along the shore.

Hubei Provincial Museum

Near East Lake, this museum holds treasures from the ancient states of Chu and Zeng, including the enormous set of bronze chime bells from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the sword of Goujian, King of Yue.

Hankou riverside and Jianghan Road

Hankou's riverside is lined with European-style buildings from the old foreign concessions, and the pedestrian Jianghan Road is one of Wuhan's busiest shopping streets. The long riverside park is lovely at dusk, when the bridges and towers light up.

Guiyuan Temple

This large Buddhist temple in Hanyang is known for its hall of hundreds of arhat statues, each with a different expression. Its quiet courtyards feel far removed from the traffic outside.

Where to stay in Wuhan

Wuchang, on the south-east bank of the Yangtze, puts you close to the Yellow Crane Tower, East Lake, the provincial museum and the university quarter, and it is well connected by metro. Its Chuhehan Street area has modern shopping and dining, and the Hubu Alley food street is nearby for breakfast.

Hankou, on the north bank, is the commercial heart of Wuhan, with the riverside promenade, Jianghan Road, big malls and plenty of business accommodation. It is also the nearest side of the city to Tianhe airport. Hanyang is quieter and handy for Guiyuan Temple, while staying near your departure railway station can save time on a multi-city trip.

Food to try in Wuhan

Re gan mian

Hot dry noodles are Wuhan's signature breakfast: springy alkaline noodles tossed with sesame paste, soy sauce, pickled radish and chopped spring onion. Locals often eat them walking to work.

Doupi

A pan-fried layer of egg and bean skin wrapped around glutinous rice, mushrooms and diced meat, cut into squares and crisped until golden.

Spicy duck neck

Braised in a fiery, numbing mix of chilli and spices, duck necks are the city's favourite snack and a popular souvenir to take home in vacuum packs.

Wuchang fish

Steamed bream from the lakes around Wuhan, simply dressed with ginger, spring onion and soy, celebrated in poetry and still a local banquet dish.

Mianwo

A savoury ring of rice and soybean batter, deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside, sold at breakfast stalls alongside a bowl of rice wine soup.

Whether you are travelling for business, blossoms or breakfast, Wuhan is easy to fit into a wider trip through China. Compare flights to Wuhan on Traveloka, check the direct filter for your dates, and manage your booking with e-tickets and Easy Reschedule in one place.