New China Archive

China in the 2020s

Walking in Hankou

Hankou is the oldest part of Wuhan (the same city from which covid-19 came). The district was originally constructed by Western merchants and missionaries in the 1800s and rapidly became the wealthiest place in the region. Hankou is my favorite part of Wuhan, it has more history and is more densely “lived-in” than newer parts. There is always something new to see when one feels like going for a walk.

A photo of a man in a residential courtyard in Wuhan, China in 2026.
A man arranges boxes under some residential buildings in Hankou in 2026.
A photo of a mural of Mao Zedong in Hankou, Wuhan, China in 2026. The mural is new.
A man walks past a new mural of Mao Zedong in Hankou, Wuhan in 2026. China’s communist identity has revived in recent years, and the legacy of Mao is reviving.
A photo of some busy people on the streets of Wuhan in 2026.
People on the streets in Hankou, Wuhan in 2026