With more than 7,000 or 8,000 years of history, Yichang is called as 'the throat of Chuan (namely Sichuan province) and Hubei province'. 

In the Xia and Shang Dynasties, it is used to be the ancient 'lands of Jingzhou' and controlled by the Chu State as 'the west frontier fortress of Chu' in history in Spring and Autumn Period (Warring States). 

Yichang is one of the cradles of Chu Culture. It is also known as 'Yiling' for the Yishan Mountain in the northwest and 'Xiazhou' for guarding the Three Gorges.