Yichang is situated in the west of Hubei province, at the end of the third and last gorge of the Changjiang (Yangtse) river.
Yichang has been in existence for 2500 years, and because of its favorable situation has for many years been the political, economic and cultural center of the western part of Hubei province.
The Gezhou Barrier, 5km/3mi west of the town, is the first to be built on the Changjiang river and the largest in China. The complex includes a dam, a power station, three sluices and two weirs, one to regulate the water pressure and the other to filter the sand. The dam is 2606m/7818ft long and 70m/230ft high. The power station has 21 generators with an annual output of 13,800,000 megawatts.
This nature reserve, 3250sq.km/1255sq.mi in area, lies near the border with Sichuan province about 150km/93mi northwest of Yichang. The mountain chain of the same name, with six peaks over 3000m/9846ft, crosses almost the whole of the reserve. The favorable local climate is conducive to the numerous species of plants and animals found here.
Tigers, leopards, bears and monkeys roam in the countryside around Lake Dajiuhu, 38km/24mi west of the highest peak.
Many people claim to have seen Yeti, called the ''large-footed ape-man'' in China, on the wooded slopes hereabouts, something that scientific expeditions have not so far been able to prove or disprove. The Yeti Museum exhibits footprints, 40cm/15in long, and the red hair of the "wild man". There are guided tours to search for Yeti in the nature reserve.
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