■ Prize winning route: East Lake – Honghu Lake – Qingjiang River gallery – Wuluo Zhongli Mountain – Enshi Grand Canyon

■ Prize winning reason: This route covers East Lake, Honghu Lake, Wuluo Zhongli Mountain, Qingjiang River gallery, Enshi Grand Canyon and other representative ecological landscapes in Hubei which reflect the splendor of its natural environment.

■ Highlights of the route: Forming a tie by water, numerous attractions jointly constitute a destination fertile with ecological wonders.

Water is the source of life and also the source of spirits in Hubei. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Hubei is the site of the Three Gorges Hydro Project and the core water source for the middle route in the South-to-North Diversion Project. The Yangtze River and Hanjiang River run through this territory. Lakes represented by East Lake, Honghu Lake and Taiji Lake adorn the river branches, like scattered pearls forming a magnificent water landscape.

With the nourishment of shrouding water vapor, Hubei is endowed with vast “green clothes.” Shennongjia is the only well-preserved subtropical forest ecosystem in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and is well known to the world as the, “Roof of Central China” and “Green Treasure House.” Paradise Village and Wudang Mountain with, “22 peaks, the highest rising as if in worship and brooks gurgling in 24 valleys” are covered by luxuriant forests and enjoy a high reputation among outdoor excercisers . The fascinating Qingjiang River and Enshi Grand Canyon are the essence of the scenery in Hubei.

While traveling along rivers on the vast land of Hubei, one not only appreciates the beautiful scenery and legends associated with it, but of the peaceful unity between man and the nature.

The main ecological attractions in Hubei are the East Lake, Honghu Lake, Wuluo Zhongli Mountain, Enshi Grand Canyon, Paradise Village, Jiugong Mountain, Shennong Stream, Shennongjia, Fangxian Hot Spring Temple, Wudang Mountain, Qingjiang River gallery, Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam. ¬