Why was Wuhan better than Guangzhou during the Republic of China?

Wuhan, as the dock of the Yangtze River "thoroughfare of nine provinces", the important town of Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty, and the city with the first significance of the Revolution of 1911, was once called "Chicago of the East" and was once famous. During the Republic of China, Wuhan was once equal to Shanghai economically and almost equal to Beiping politically, but Guangzhou did not have such a status.

1. Wuhan, as an important town in the Westernization Movement, began to gradually develop its industry in the late Qing Dynasty. Hanyang Iron Works and Hubei Gun Works became famous, which laid the foundation for the rise of Wuhan in the Republic of China, but Guangzhou did not develop in the Westernization Movement.

2. Wuhan has a superior geographical position. Wuhan is located on the bank of the Yangtze River, bordering Nanjing (then the capital) in the east and Shanghai and Chongqing in the west. It can reach Henan, Hebei and Beijing via Luhan Railway (1906), and reach Hunan via Yuehan Railway (to Guangzhou 1936). Pingxiang's coal is transported to Wuhan by Zhuping and Yuehan railways. At the same time, various countries have set up various commercial institutions in Wuhan.

However, after the reform and opening-up in new China, the wind and water turned around, and Guangzhou became the third largest city in China with the east wind of reform, while Wuhan in the inland fell behind. But now Wuhan is catching up and optimistic about the prospect of developing Wuhan.