History

　　In Yao Period (about 2550 BC - 2070 BC), it was the state of Fan.

　　In Xia Dynasty (2070 BC - 1600 BC), it was the land of the ancient Sanmiao.

　　In Yin and Shang Dynasties (1600 BC - 1046 BC), it was the state of E.

　　In the 7th year of King Yi of the Western Zhou Dynasty (879 BC), Xiong Qu, the King of Chu State, attacked Yangyue, and arrived in Hubei. He named his second son Xiong Hong the King of E and built the city of King E.

　　In Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), it was the temporary capital of the state of Chu. Xiong Shen, the Chu Gong King, named his third son, Zi Xi, as Lord E, who started to cast bronze mirrors. Zi Xi and the Yue people in E boated around Ezhu, and ballad created by Yue people were getting about.

　　In the 6th year of King Ping of Chu (522 BC), Wu Zixu went to the State of Wu for shelter. Shenying Bay in Zelin Town was said to be the hometown of Shen Baoxu.

　　In the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC), the place was named E Yi.

　　In the 6th year of King Huai of Chu (323 BC), King Huai named his younger brother Qi the Lord of E, and awarded the "Prince E's Tallies" (unearthed in Shou County, Anhui Province), and trade caravans from E Yi delivered goods to all parts of the state of Chu via land and water transport.

　　In the 21st year of King Qingxiang of Chu (278 BC), Qu Yuan visited E Zhu and recited poems when he was exiled to the region in the south of the Yangtze River. In "Nine Chapters: Crossing River" he wrote: “Landed in E Zhu, I looked back at the capital, and sighed at the cold wind of autumn and winter.” Qu Yuan's "Wangchu Pavilion" is in Xishan Mountain.

　　In the 5th year of King Fuchu of Chu (223 BC), the State of Qin attacked the state of Chu, and the King of Chu was captured. Ying Zheng, the King of Qin marched from the Han River to Fankou, E Zhu, and dethroned Fuchu as a commoner. The state of Chu perished.

　　In the 26th year of First Emperor of Qin (221 BC), the State of Qin established E County, which belonged to Nan Prefecture. Its territory was bounded by the Yangtze River in the northwest, Jiangxi Province in the east, and Hunan Province in the south.

　　In the 6th year of Emperor Gaozu in Han Dynasty (201 BC), the place was set by Han Dynasty as E County, which belonged to Jiangxia Prefecture. Emperor Liu Bang named Fan Kuai senior general in E County, and Guan Ying build the city of E County; in the 11th year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (196 BC), Liu Jia, the King of Jing fought against Ying Bu, the King of Huainan in Zhaoshan Mountain, and died in battle. Liu Bang built the King Jing Temple for him.

　　In the 13th year of Jian'an in Han Dynasty (208 AC), Cao Cao marched south, and Guan Yu was stationed in Fankou. The allied forces of the southern warlords Sun Quan and Liu Bei were against the forces of the northern warlord Cao Cao in the Red Cliffs, creating the separation of the three kingdoms (Wei, Shu and Wu); in the 14th year of Jian'an in Han Dynasty (209 AC), while Sun Quan was discussing the plan to establish the capital with Zhou Yu, Lu Su and Zhang Zhao at Hutoushan Mountain in the east of the county, they heard the tweet of phoenix, so the Phoenix Terrace was built.

　　In the 1st year of Huangchu of the Kingdom of Wei (220 AC), Sun Quan set up the Fanshan garrison in Fankou; in April of the 2nd year of Huangchu of the Kingdom of Wei (221 AC), Sun Quan moved from Gong’an to E County. He changed the name of E County to Wuchang County, indicating "using military force to secure prosperity”. Wuchang Prefecture was established, and had jurisdiction over six counties including Wuchang, Yangxin, Shaxian, Xiazhi, Chaisang and Xunyang. In August, Cao Pi named Sun Quan the King of Wu. The King Wu City was built.

　　In the 3rd year of Huangwu of the Kingdome of Wu (224 AC), Zhi Qian, a famous Buddhist scholar, with the Indian monks Vighna, lived in Wuchang and jointly translated "Dharmapada", which started the spread of Buddhism in the south of the Yangtze River; in the 5th year of Huangwu of the Kingdome of Wu (226 AC), Sun Quan used copper and iron from Wuchang to make a thousand swords and ten thousand broadswords. Later, an inscription crossbow of Sun Quan's nephew and "General Sun's Gate Tower” of Sun Quan's grandson were unearthed.

　　In April of the 1st year of Huanglong of the Kingdom of Wu (229 AC), Sun Quan claimed himself emperor, the Great Emperor of Wu; he built an altar in the southern suburbs to worship the heaven. It was said that a yellow dragon (huang long) curled on the rock in the middle of the river and stayed for days, and the place was then renamed Yuan Huang Long. Thousands of wealthy families were moved from Jianye to Wuchang, and the residents increased to 100,000. A summer palace and a reading hall were built in Xishan Mountain. Tuntian order was issued to encourage land reclamation. Wuchang was one of the four major mirror casting centers in China, and had the reputation of "the hometown of bronze mirrors". In September, the capital was moved to Jianye; Sun Deng, the heir prince, accompanied by Lu Xun, stayed in Wuchang, and the city thus served as the second capital of Wu.

　　In the 1st year of Chiwu of the Kingdom of Wu (238 AC), it was said that a Kylin was shown in Wuchang.

　　In September of the 1st year of Ganlu of the Kingdom of Wu (265 AC), the last emperor Sun Hao moved the capital from Jianye to Wuchang. Those who refuse to leave Jianye created the ballad "I would rather drink water from Jianye than eat fish in Wuchang", and Fankou bream was therefore renamed "Wuchang fish". In December of the following year, the capital was moved back to Jianye.

　　In the 3rd year of Jianheng of the Kingdom of Wu (271 AC), Meng Zong, the Fishery Sima of Wu died. Zong lived in Wuchang, and he was filial to his mother. There was a folk story of "Meng Zong’s tear nourished bamboo shoots in winter".

　　In March of the 4th year of Tianji of the Kingdom of Wu and the 1st year of Taikang in Western Jin Dynasty (280 AC), Wang Jun, the Longxiang General, led the army of Bashu to conquer Wuchang and invaded Jianye. The Kingdom of Wu perished, and the Three Kingdoms were incorporated into Jin Dynasty. Wuchang County was reset to its original name of E County. Wuchang was still under the administration of the prefecture, and belonged to Jingzhou.

　　In the 1st year of Yuankang in the Western Jin Dynasty (291 AC), Wuchang County belonged to Jiangzhou.

　　In the 5th year of Yongjia in Western Jin Dynasty (311 AC), Tao Kan served as the prefecture chief of Wuchang. He established “yi shi” to start a market fair; and planted “government willows” in the west of the county. The Taokan Reading Hall was built at the east foothill of Xishan Mountain, and there was a "Tao’s Well" in front of the hall. Later, a seal with the inscription of "kan" character was unearthed.

　　In the 1st year of Yongchang in Eastern Jin Dynasty (322 AC), Wang Dun, the prefecture governor of Jingzhou, guarded Wuchang; two years later, he killed Guo Pu in Nangang and betrayed Jin Dynasty. Wen Qiao and Yu Liang sent armed force to suppress Wang Dun. In the 1st year of Xianhe in Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wen Qiao guarded Wuchang. In the 3rd year of Xianhe, Wen Qiao and Yu Liang elected Tao Kan as the leader of the alliance and led Wuchang troops to march in Jiankang, suppressing the rebels of Su Jun and Zu Yue.

　　In the 9th year of Xianhe in Eastern Jin Dynasty (334 AC), Tao Kan died in Fankou. Yu Liang took over as the chief governor of the six states of Jiang, Jing, Yu, Yi, Liang and Yong, and led the governors of Jiang, Jing and Yu to guard Wuchang. The South Tower was named by common people as Yu Liang Tower.

　　During the Yongjia period of Eastern Jin Dynasty (307-312 AC), Ge Hong stopped in Wuchang, set a hut to make alchemy and produce immortality pills, and cultivated himself according to the religious doctrine. Geshan, Honggang, Gedian, Shenshan Town and Hongdao Town were named after his story. There are historical sites such as Geshan Stone Cave, Medicine Washing Pool, Qinchuang Stone, Gedian Bullfighting Temple, and Bailu Rock.

　　In the 6th year of Taiyuan in Eastern Jin Dynasty (381 AC), the eminent monk Huiyuan lived in Xihanxi temporarily and built a temple in the summer palace of King Wu, advocating "Pure Land Buddhism". In the 3rd year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty, Guanwen, the Viceroy of Huguang, rebuilt the temple and renamed it "Gu Lingquan Temple".

　　In the 2nd year of Yuanxi in Eastern Jin Dynasty (420 AD), Che Yin died and was buried in Chehu, Yanji Town. Yin was born in a poor family and had been diligent in his childhood. It was well praised and passed through the ages that in order to read at night, he put fireflies in a gauze bag for illumination. He was later named the Vassal of Linxiang. Dai Kai, a botanist and a native of Wuchang, wrote the first book "Bamboo Species Chart" in China.

　　In the first year of Xiaojian's in Southern Dynasty (454 AD), Wuchang Prefecture, having the jurisdiction of Wuchang County, Yangxin County and Hubei County, belonged to Yingzhou, and Xiakou was established as the state government.

　　In the 12th year of Datong in the state of Liang in Southern Dynasty (546 AD), Xiao Lun, the Shaoling King, built Wuxiang Temple in Fanshan.

　　In the 2nd year of Dabao in the State of Liang in Southern Dynasty (551 AD), King Xiao Yi of Xiangdong sent Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian to lead the army to pacify the rebellion of Hou Jing and won a big victory in Luzhou.

　　In the 1st year of Yongding of the state of Chen in Southern Dynasty (557 AD), Wuchang County still belonged to Yingzhou, and included three counties of Wuchang, Hubei and Xiling.

　　In the 9th year of Kaihuang in Sui Dynasty (589 AD), the two counties of E and Xiling were revoked and both were incorporated into Wuchang County. Wuchang Prefecture was established, Yingzhou was changed to E Zhou, and Wuchang County was put under the administration of E Zhou. In the 18th year of Kaihuang in Sui Dynasty (598 AD), Yang Guang, the King of Jin, smelted copper and cast coins in Baizhi Mountain, starting the copper coins casting in E region.

　　In the first year of Daye in Sui Dynasty (605 AD), Xi Shixuan, the county magistrate, built Tangcheng City in Baihu Town, Gedian. The town of Wuchang County was built later; in the 3rd year of Daye in Sui Dynatsy (607 AD), E Zhou was re-allocated as Jiangxia Prefecture, and the west area of Wuchang County as put under the administration of Chengtang County, which also belonged to Jiangxia County; in the 9th year of Daye in Sui Dynasty (613 AD), Chengtang County was revoked and put under the administration of Wuchang County again.

　　In the 14th year of Tianbao in Tang Dynasty (755 AD), Han Zhongqing (father of Han Yu) was appointed magistrate of Wuchang. He was respected and supported by locals. After he left, people in the county carved stone tablet to praise his governance, and Li Bai wrote the essay "Wuchang Magistrate Han Left, A Tablet was Established for his Eulogy".

　　In the 2nd year of Zhide in Tang Dynasty (757 AD), Li Bai was appointed to Wuchang and served as Advisor of Commanding Officer Song Ruosi. He ascended the South Tower and wrote the poem “Night Drink with Song Zhong Cheng and Meditation on the Past”. Meng Haoran, Liu Changqing, Chang Jian, Cen Shen, Qian Qi and Lu Lun all traveled to Wuchang and wrote many poems.

　　In the 1st year of Guangde in Tang Dynasty (763 AD), Yuan Jie resigned from officialdom and lived in seclusion in Wuchang.

　　In 765 AD (the 1st year of Yongtai in Tang Dynasty), the famous scholar Pei Wei built a pavilion by the river outside Xiaobeimen. Li Yangbing, a calligrapher, inscribed the pavilion "Yiting" in seal script, Pei Qiu wrote an epigraph, and Li Ju carved it on the cliff in ba fen ti (a type of clerical script), known as "Three Wonders", which is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

　　In the 2nd year of Huichang in Tang Dynasty (842 AD), Du Mu was appointed as the prefectural governor of Huangzhou. He traveled to Wuchang and write poems such as "Night in the Nanlou Tower" and "Sorrow for the City of King Wu".

　　From the end of Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties (900-960 AD), the ceramic techniques in Wuchang were well developed, and now in Liangzidao there is the historical site of tile kilns.

　　In the 3rd year of Yuanfeng in Song Dynasty (1080 AD), Su Shi was demoted to the Deputy Tuanlianshi Huangzhou (a very low-grade official), and he often travel to the south by boat, and took a rest in Fankou and Xishan. He composed essays such as "Traveling with Ziyou in Xishan, Hanxi", "Journey to Fanshan", “Inscription and Preface for Bodhisattva Spring". Su Zhe wrote essays and poems including "Accompanying Zi Zhan to Xishan, Wuchang" and “Journey to Jiuqu Pavilion, Wuchang".

　　In the 1st year of Yuanyou in Song Dynasty (1086 AD), Su Shi wrote "Wuchang Xishan Poems" in Bianjing, which was sung by more than 30 literate celebrities such as Su Zhe, Huang Tingjian, Zhang Lei and Chao Buzhi. "Dongpo Cake" of Xi Mountain Temple became a famous snack in the regions south of the Yangtze River.

　　During the Yuanfeng years in Song Dynasty (1078-1085 AD), Pan Kun opened a wine shop in Fankou, known as "Mr. Pan’s Wine". The poet Pan Dalin traveled with Su Shi and Huang Tingjian, and wrote the famous poem line of “Double-ninth Day is coming, wind and rain swept through the whole town”.

　　In the autumn of the first year of the Jianzhongjingguo in Song Dynasty (1101 AD), Huang Tingjian revisited Xishan and wrote the poem "Pine Wind Pavilion" (the original copy is a treasure of calligraphy history, and now kept in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan). Zhang Lei, Qin Guan, Fan Chengda, Wang Shipeng and others traveled to Wuchang and wrote poems.

　　During the Chongning years in Song Dynasty (1102-1106 AD), the population of Wuchang doubled compared to that of the Tang Dynasty as the government encouraged farming and sericulture.

　　In the 4th year of Shaoxing in Song Dynasty (1134 AD), Yue Fei was named the Kaiguozi of Wuchang County as he rendered meritorious service in resisting Jin Dynasty. In the next year, he was promoted to Kaiguohou of Wuchang County, and now there is the historical site of Yuewang Temple. In the 32nd year of Shaoxing in Song Dynasty (1162 AD), Xue Jixuan, the county magistrate built city wall terrace, rebuilt Shu Pavilion and Hanxi Hall, and wrote "Story in Songfeng Pavilion” and "Wuchang Local Customs".

　　In the 7th year of Gandao in Song Dynasty (1171 AD), Lu You traveled to Wuchang, and wrote the poems "Wuchang Feelings" and "Parking Boat at Sanjiangkou".

　　In the 14th year of Jiading in Song Dynasty (1221 AD), Wuchang County was upgraded to Wuchang Jun (Region), and in the following year it was renamed Shouchang Jun and became the seat of Jiangxi Lu.

　　In the 3rd year of Jiaxi in Song Dynasty (1239 AD), General Meng Gong repeatedly defeated the Mongolian army, and was later buried in Jinzi Mountain in Wuchang, as ordered by the emperor.

　　In the 2nd year of Jingyan in Song Dynasty (1277 AD), the Shouchang Jun was upgraded to Shouchang Sanfu (State) and still had the administration of Wuchang County.

　　In the 5th year of Dade of the Yuan Dynasty (1301 AD), the Sanfu was revoked, and Wuchang County belonged to Wuchang Lu (Province).

　　In the 5th year of Zhizheng in Yuan Dynasty (1345 AD), Tieshan, a Mongolian, was appointed as the supervisor of Wuchang, and built a temple on Longpan Rock (Dragon Curling Rock) in the middle of the Yangtz River, which was later named Guanyin Pavilion; in the 12th year of Zhizheng in Yuan Dynasty (1352 AD), Chen Youliang occupied Wuchang, and the county government was once moved to Bao’an. In the 22nd year of Zhizheng in Yuan Dynasty (1362 AD), Ding Henian took refuge in Wuchang and was known as "Ding, the submissive and obedient son". He lived in seclusion by the South Lake and wrote many poems.

　　In the 7th year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (1374 AD), Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang visited the Qingfeng Temple in Taihe, and wrote the plaque “Qingfeng Ancient Temple” in calligraphy.

　　In the 21st year of Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty (1542 AD), Chen Qian, the county magistrate, built the Wenxing Pagoda, and in the following year, built Phoenix Terrace Academy in Phoenix Terrace. During the reign of Qianlong, the academy was rebuilt and renamed “Ancient Phoenix Tweeting Temple” (Gufengming Temple).

　　In the 4th year of Longqing in Ming Dynasty (1570 AD), Li Youpeng, the county magistrate, built the Fenghuang Tower （Phoenix Tower）; in the 5th year of Longqing in Ming Dynasty (1571 AD), Xiong Fu, the famous general to fight against the anti-Japanese pirates and a native of Wuchang, died. In Xishan locates the historical site of "Fuhu Tower” (Tiger Crouching Tower).

　　In the 1st year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1573 AD), Wuchang Stone City was built; in the 37th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1609 AD), Meng Deng, a native of Wuchang, was appointed as the governor of Yunnan, who later returned to Xishan to build the Jiyan Towers and Lengguang Pavilion.

　　An earthquake happened in March of the 7th year of Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty (1634 AD), and impacted as far as more than 2,000 miles away; in the 10th year of Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty (1637 AD), Li Hua from Maji Township led a peasant uprising; and in the 16th year of Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty (1643 AD), Zhang Xianzhong attacked and occupied Wuchang City.

　　In the 1st year of Shunzhi in Qing Dynasty (1644 AD), Wu Mingchang, a native of Wuchang, resigned from county magistrate of Qiantang and returned to Dongshan Mountain to live in seclusion, where there is a "Tomb of Wu Jinshi"; in the 2nd year of Shunzhi in Qing Dynasty (1645 AD), Li Zicheng and the Qing army fought in Wuchang.

　　In the 5th year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1666 AD), Xiong Deng, the county magistrate, rebuilt Wenxing Tower, Songfeng Pavilion and Yuliang Tower; and he began to compile the "Wuchang County Chronicle".

　　In the 1st year of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty (1723 AD), the first foundry workshop in the county was established in Baihu Town, Gedian.

　　In the 30th year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty (1850 AD), Chang Yuzhao from Changling passed the imperial examination at the provincial level and was granted the official title of Neigezhongshu, and served as a lecturer at Shao Ting Academy in Wuchang, Fengchi Academy in Jiangning, Lianchi Academy in Baoding, Lumen Academy in Xiangyang, etc. His calligraphy became a well-recognized style and was introduced to Japan. And he wrote "Lianting Anthology".

　　In the 2nd year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (1852 AD), Peng Dashi, Ke Yigui, Wang Ande and others gathered civilians in Lingxi and Maji Mountains to rebel Qing Dynasty, known as "Thirty-six Kings", echoing the Taiping Army.

　　In the 1st year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1862 AD), Fan Minghe, a native of Gedian, was appointed as Neigezhongshu, and was once the study server of the heir prince. The emperor wrote in person the tablet of “Men Sheng Tian Zi” （Teacher of the Son of Heaven） for him. In the 9th year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1870 AD), Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, rebuilt the Jiuqu Pavilion in Xishan; in the 12th year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1873 AD), Zong Jingpan, the county magistrate, donated his salary to buy back saplings of white mulberry (Sang), encouraging white mulberry planting, sericulture and silk (Chou) weaving, and was regarded as "Zong Gong Sang” and "Zong Gong Chou".

　　In the 4th year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1878 AD), Peng Yulin, Minister of War, inspected Fanhu and proposed a plan for building embankments and water-gates and dividing the rivers and lakes to control flood. His stone carvings of plum blossom locates in Xi Mountain; in the 15th year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1889 AD), Huang Dahua, a native of Wuchang, wrote more than ten kinds of detailed historical classification tables such as the "Lineage of Prince and Royal Family in Eastern Han Dynasty", which was included in "Supplement to The Twenty-Five Histories” by the World Journal Bookstore; In the 25th year of Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1899 AD), academies of classical learnings was abolished and schools was established, therefore the Shouchang Academy was changed to Wuchang Advanced Primary School; in the 29th year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1903 AD), Wuchang Post Office and its Jinniu and Gedian Branches were established. Cheng Qingquan, a native of Zelin, created a ginning machine and a human-powered textile machine, and won the silver award at the China Industrial Machinery Promotion Association.

　　In the 2nd year of Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1910 AD), the county chamber of commerce was established; on October 10, the 3rd year of Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1911 AD), the Revolution of 1911 broke out. Peng Chufan and other three martyrs died heroically. Wu Zhaolin was elected as the interim commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army (later awarded the army general). More than 80 Ezhou native patriots including Hu Tingzuo, Hu Tingyi, Ma Rong, Xu Daming, Cheng Zhengying, Zhou Desheng and Yu Pinlong participated in the attack of the governor-general office and the Battle of Yangxia, and made outstanding contributions.

　　In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913 AD), Wuchang County was renamed Shouchang County, and put under the administration of Huangde Dao, Wuhan. Xiong Jinhuai founded a ferry company, and firstly started the route from Hankou to Gedian.

　　In the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914 AD), Shouchang County was renamed Echeng County, and put under the administration of Edong Dao.

　　In the 8th year of the Republic of China (1919 AD), Wang Yujia established Echeng Iron Mine Co., Ltd., the first official business enterprise.

　　In the summer of the 9th year of the Republic of China (1920 AD), Liu Bocui, a native of Duandian, joined the Shanghai Communist Group, and returned to Hubei to establish the Wuhan branch of the Communist Party of China. In October of the same year, the Beijing Communist Party Group was established, and Fan Hongjie, a native of Gedian, was one of the earliest members of it.

　　In the spring of the 10th year of the Republic of China (1921 AD), Zhao Zijun, a native of Huarong, joined the early organization of the Communist Party of Wuhan as an unemployed worker, and started to engag in the working-class movement.

　　In the 11th year of the Republic of China (1922 AD), Wu Zhaolin supervised the repair of the Fankou Embankment, the Minxin Water-Gate and the Minsheng Water-Gate.

　　In the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924 AD), the Bureau of Tobacco and Alcohol Affairs was established. Ruyizhai Lithography Studio opened.

　　In the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926 AD), the Echeng County Special Branch of the Communist Party of China and the Echeng County Party Headquarters of the Kuomintang were established respectively.

　　In the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927 AD), a rally was held near the city gate to celebrate the victory of the Northern Expedition. The National Revolutionary Army led by He Long moved to and settled in Echeng, and reorganized as the 15th Independent Division. The County Federation of Trade Unions, the County Farmers' Association, the County Women's Association, and the Echeng County Committee of the Communist Youth League were established. Fan Hongjie member of the Beijing Communist Party and a native of Gedian, and Li Dazhao, died heroically in Beijing.

　　In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928 AD), Zhang Jinbao, a native of Gedian, was elected as a member of the Sixth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Echeng Telegraph Branch Office was opened; in 1929 AD (the 18th year of the Republic of China), Zhang Nansheng founded the Zhenhuan Electric Lighting Company.

　　In the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930 AD), Peng Dehuai led the Chinese Red Army into Echeng. The county soviet government was established;

　　In August of the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931 AD), the water level of the Yangtze River was 26.1 meters, and the Baba Dike burst.

　　In the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932 AD), Sheng Haoru organized a peasant movement and was killed in Changling by the Kuomintang. Chen Fusheng started the Zhenya Machine Rice Factory.

　　In the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935 AD), the telephone line between Wuhan and Echeng was set up, and the Echeng Telephone Bureau and Gedian Telephone Office were established. The Wuhan-Echeng Highway was completed and opened to traffic. Silent film was premiered near the city gate.

　　On August 28, the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938 AD), Japanese military aircraft bombed Echeng four times. The 55th Division of the National Government Army (National Revolutionary Army) led the people to fight bloody battles. On October 23, Echeng was occupied. Wang Shui, Kuang Gongfu, Wang Su united the like-minded to formed the Lianghu Anti-Japanese Guerrilla.

    　　In 1987, Huangzhou District was put under the administration of Huanggang County, four detached offices were revoked, and three municipal districts of Echeng, Huarong and Liangzihu were established. The Central Military Commission awarded the martyr Zhao Yizhong, a native of Ezhou, the title of "Battle Hero". Xi Mountain was listed as the first batch of provincial-level scenic spots.

　　In 1988, Ezhou was approved as the first batch of pilot zones for reform and opening up in the province.

　　In 1990, Hubei Gedian Economic and Technological Development Zone was established.

　　In 1992, Ezhou became sister cities successively with Sanjo (Japan), Abengunu (Cote d'Ivoire, Africa) and Whyalla (Australia). Wan Laisheng, a martial artist and a native of Gedian, passed away.

　　In 1993, the provincial government announced Ezhou as a famous historical and cultural city in Hubei Province.

　　In 1994, Ezhou Power Plant was built.

　　In 1997, Duojia Co., Ltd. was approved for IPO. The branch of Cathay Securities Co., Ltd. opened.

　　In 1998, a huge flood occurred in the Yangtze River, and its water level at Fankou reached 27.26 meters. The construction of the E'huang Yangtze River Bridge started. The Binhu Building was completed, and started to be used as the office building for the Ezhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal Government and the Municipal CPPCC.

　　In 1999, Yang Ye Police Station took the lead in implementing the Public Security Commitment System and was commended by the Ministry of Public Security. Ezhou was awarded the title of "Well-off City in Hubei Province".

　　In 2000, the fairy tale Peking Opera "Xiao Feng" won the national "Wenhua Prize". Ezhou was named "the hometown of calligraphy art in Hubei Province".

　　In 2001, the Zhang Yuzhao Cemetery jointly built by China and Japan was completed. Liangzi Lake was listed as a wetland nature reserve protected at provincial level. The Phoenix Plaza was built and Fenghuangtai (Phoenix Terrace) was rebuilt.

　　In July 2006, a development zone was planned based on Fankou Industrial Park.

　　In November 2008, with the approval of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, the Ezhou Economic Development Zone, a county-level unit, was officially established with Fankou Sub-district as the center. Ezhou was listed as a pilot city for expanding medical insurance for urban residents in China.

　　In 2009, the construction of the provincial circular economy demonstration zone in the Ezhou Development Zone was accelerated, and the construction of the Wuhan Port Industrial Park was started full-scale. The "Overall Urban and Rural Planning of Ezhou City" was compiled. As a representative, Ezhou participated in the 13th World Lake Conference to exchange experience in protecting Liangzi Lake.

　　In 2010, the pilot project of urban-rural integration was proceeded in a more detailed way. The city has been listed as a pilot city for national public hospital reform, and achieved major breakthroughs, and was highly affirmed by leaders from the central government.

　　In 2011, the joint urban development of Wuhan and Ezhou was accelerated, and with the joint effort of Wuhan, the “Qingshang-Yangluo-Ezhou” circular economy and the provincial pilot demonstration area of the greater Liangzi Lake eco-tourism were built. Ezhou was the first in the province to pave cement roads in every village, and to integrate the water supply in both urban and rural area.

　　In 2012, the construction of a 500-square-kilometer ecological demonstration zone in Liangzi Lake was promoted. In September, the construction of Huanggang Yangtze River Bridge was successfully completed. In November, the unveiling ceremony and project signing ceremony of the national Ezhou Gedian Economic and Technological Development Zone was held. The Bus No. 301 from Wuhan to Gedian Development Zone was officially in operation, connecting Fenglian Avenue in Wuhan and Phoenix Avenue Ezhou.

　　On July 22, 2013, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, visited the rice breeding base in Ezhou under the scorching sun to check the growth of rice. Afterwards, he went to Tongshan Village, Changgang Town, to learn about the urban-rural integration progress, and had a discussion with some villagers.

　　In the same year, Gedian Development Zone was approved as the first batch of e-commerce demonstration bases in the province, and was expected to build the largest e-commerce base in Central China by 2016. Ezhou was included in the first batch of national pilot cities for water ecological civilization construction, and Liangzi Lake District was listed as a national pilot city for ecological civilization construction. Pollution related industries was restricted within the 500-square-kilometer area.

　　In June 2014, Wuhan-Huangshi Intercity Railway and Wuhan-Huanggang Intercity Railway were completed and opened to traffic, creating a half-hour traffic circle from Ezhou to Wuhan. Ezhou received the approval to create the province's first demonstration zone of ecological agriculture standardization. It was listed as one of the 28 pilot cities of "multi-plan integration" in China. The city won the title of provincial civilized city for the 6th consecutive year.

　　In 2015, Corvette Ezhou of the People's Liberation Army Navy was launched.

　　In 2016, the Liangzi Lake area started to restore embankment to lake, and a number of lakes such as Tuzhen Lake, Caojia Lake and Yiwang Lake were therefore connected back to the Liangzi Lake, their mother lake. The city won the honorary titles of National Tourism Standardization Demonstration City, National Greening Model City, Provincial "Double Support" Model City, Provincial Civilized City and "Broadband China" Demonstration City.

　　In April 2016, Ezhou once again ushered in a new stage of development. As approved by the National Civil Aviation Administration, Yanji was selected as the location of the Hubei International Logistics Core Hub Project.

　　In January 2017, "Corvette Ezhou" joined the naval battle array. On December 20, the construction of the Hubei International Logistics Core Hub Project officially started. The city was officially awarded the title of "National Sanitary City".

　　In February 2018, the Central Military Commission of the State Council officially approved the construction of a civil airport in Ezhou, Hubei. In December, its feasibility study report passed the expert evaluation of the National Development and Reform Commission. On December 24, Wuhan and Ezhou were both included in the "Overall Arrangement and Construction Plan of National Logistics Hub", becoming a city contributing to the overall arrangement of national logistics hub. Ezhou customs was successfully approved.

　　In 2019, Ezhou Airport, the fourth special cargo transportation hub in the world and the first in Asia, was completing water system management and starting field construction; a number of projects started construction successively, including Gedian Economic and Technological Development Zone, the world's largest lithium-ion battery cathode material production base, and the first large-scale optoelectronic chip project based on third-generation semiconductors ... 28 key projects driven by the cargo transportation hub were well in process. As of July, the total investment of Ezhou's ongoing construction projects had reached more than RMB 30 billion, creating a record since the establishment of the city.

　　In 2020, Ezhou ranked among the top 100 cities in China's Science and Technology Innovation and Development Index. The city was on the 17th place of the "Sixth National Civilized City", and the 66th in the comprehensive well-off index of prefecture-level cities in China. It was awarded the title of "Demonstration City of Express Delivery in China", and its strategic importance as an airport-driven national logistics hub city had been enhanced. On December 7, the construction of the one-hour commuting circle of the Wuhan metropolitan area was started, and Ezhou was "included in the circle".

　　On January 2, 2021, the Gedian section of Wuhan Metro Line 11 (the third-phase) opened for operation. This was Hubei's first cross-city metro line. Ezhou therefore became the first prefecture-level city in the province to have a metro line. On April 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced Ezhou to the world. Relying on the construction of the Science and Technology Innovation Corridor in the Optical Valley, Wuhan-Ezhou joint urban development had entered an accelerated period. The integration of urban planning, transportation, technology development, industrial chain and public service has been speeding up, aiming at jointly building an urban circle connected by rail network.