Yichang, China

You might well end up spending a night at YICHANG, a transport terminus on the Yangzi; Yichang marks the start of routes north to Shennongjia, and is positioned on the rail line between Xi'an and Hunan. The recent blossoming of Yangzi tourism and the building of the Three Gorges Dam just upstream has got the place kicking again, though in Yichang itself you're limited to seeking out scattered remnants of the colonial era (for instance, the church just east off Yunji Lu) or taking in the animated evening river scenery, complete with moored water traffic and crowds flying kites, gorging themselves on shellfish at nearby street restaurants, or just cooling off with an ice cream.