Lying on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, Yichang covers an area of about 21,000 square kilometers (8,108 square miles). It is an ancient city and its history can be traced back for 4,000 years. During what is known as its Spring and Autumn Periods (770 BC-476 BC), Yichang was regarded as a city of great strategic importance.

Sanxia Airport is not far from the city center and there are more than ten domestic airlines with services to the major cities of China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xian. In addition, Yichang Port, Yichang Railway Station and Yichang Bus Station offer visitors convenient ways of traveling to and from other parts of the country.

Yichang has abundant water resources and it is lauded as the largest hydroelectric base in the world, indeed it is a bright pearl shining on the Yangtze River. The river runs through the city center and the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project and Three Gorges Dam Project are located there. In addition, the tourism centered on the Three Gorges has made the city more famous and more prosperous. The Three Gorges Dam Project is one of the great wonders of modern human history and it has become a tourist hot spot of the world. Every year, millions of visitors gather here to witness this great man made project.

Apart from the Three Gorges, the abundant natural resources and historical sites of Yichang are also attractive. Mountains, waterfalls, caves, stone forests and pools form picturesque scenes. There are many natural reserves in or around the city, including Chaibuxi National Forest Park and Houhe Natural Reserve. As an ancient city, Yichang is the site of some important historical relics such as Qu Yuan Hometown, Zhaojun Residence and Ancient Battle Relics of Three Kingdom Period.