Why is Wuhan called the ‘thoroughfare of the nine provinces’?

Wuhan is the capital of the Hubei province in the central part of China and is one of the largest and most populous cities of the region. It is also an important centre for trade, finance, industry, and information technology. Wuhan is also the place where the river Hans joins Changjiang, the third largest river of China. Three major railways meet and two major expressways intersect here. That’s why since the 14th century, Wuhan has been known as the ‘thoroughfare of nine provinces’. The term nine provinces stands for multiple directions.