How to travel to the Hometown of Metasequoia
By Airplane
The main airports in China are Beijing (Capital of China in Northern China),
Shanghai (Municipality of China in Eastern China), Guangzhou (Capital
of Guangdong provice in Southern China), Kunming (Capital of Yunnan province
in Southwestern China) and Hong Kong (Special Administration Region of China
in Southern China). From above, you could fly to the following cities: Wuhan
(Capital of Hubei Province in Central China) and Chongqing (formerly city of
Sichuan Provice, now Municipality of China in Southwestern China); and from any of
these you could fly to Yichang (Regional City of Hubei Province, also the Eastern
Startpoint of The Three Gorges on the River Yangtse/Yangzhi - Changjiang),
then Enshi (Regional City of Western Hubei, also the only city around the Hometown
with airport). For detailed travel map in China, please refer to
Map of China.
By Boat
The main waterway to the Hometown of Metasequoia is along the Yangtse/Yangzhi
River - Changjiang in Central China, from the east, start at Shanghai, you would
pass by Nanjing (Capital of Jiangshu province in East China), Jiujiang
(Regional City of Jiangxi province, c. 25 km away from Lushan, the famous tourist spot),
Wuhan (Capital of Hubei Province in Central China), Yichang (Regional City of
Hubei Province, also the Eastern Startpoint of The Three Gorges on the
Yangtse/Yangzhi River - Changjiang), Wanxian (Regional City of Chongqing in Southwestern
China, also the Western Startpoint of The Three Gorges on the Yangtse/Yangzhi
River - Changjiang), and Chongqing (formerly city of Sichuan Provice, now Municipality
of China in Southwestern China). The best way to the Hometown via waterway is either from
Wanxian in Chongqing or Yichang in Hubei. For details about Western Hubei,
please refer to Region Map.
By Bus/Car
From Enshi in Hubei you could travel by Bus/Car to Lichuan (County), and then
from Lichuan you could travel to the Hometown of Metasequoia; and estimated
distances and travel times are: Enshi to Lichuan c. 100 km (c. 2 hours),
Lichuan to Xiaohe c. 75 km (c. 3 hours); Lichuan to Modao(xi) c.
42 km (c. 2 hours); Modao(xi) to Xiaohe c. 80 km (c. 2 hours). Also you could
travel from Wanxian in Chongqing: Wanxian to Modao(xi) c. 84 km (highway,
c. 1 hour). Note: Modao/Modaoxi is the site of the Type Tree of Metasequoia; and
from Shuishaba to Xiaohe there was a large area with the native population of
Metasequoia when it was discovered. However, you could find a lot of cultivated forest
of Metasequoia all the way from Wuhan to western Hubei; but they are no older than 50
years. For a detailed local travel information, please refer to
Local Map.
For details, see Ma et al. 2005, Today's hometown of Metasequoia -
Lichuan, Hubei, China. Thaiszia - J. Bot. Kosice, 14: 23-36, 2004