In 2003, Yichang was designated by the Provincial Government as the sub-central city of Hubei Province and instructed to better play an exemplary and stimulating role in the development of the southwest areas of Hubei Province.

On January 25, 2005, Yidu City was named “the Village of Chinese Oranges and Tangerines” by the National Forestry Department.

In 2005, Yichang City was selected into the list of “China\'s 20 Most Suitable Cities for Building Factories” published by the US Forbes Magazine.

On September 29, 2005, Yichang City was jointly named the “Provincial Exemplary City on the Construction of Barrier-Free Facilities” by the Provincial Construction Hall, Bureau of Civil Affairs, Aging Problem Commission and Disabled Persons\' Federation of Hubei Province.

On October 26, 2005, Yichang City once again won the “National Advanced City in Constructing Civilized City”。

On November 24, 2005, the Yichang Highway Bridge over Yangtze River was awarded the “2005 Luban Prize” for Chinese constructional engineering---- a national high-quality project. （Luban: an ancient Chinese master carpenter）

China Three Gorges International Tourism Festival in Yichang was honored as one of “the Most Potential Ten Festivals Activities in China” by the International Festival and Events Association （IFEA）。

On December 7, 2005, the Yichang Municipal Government was conferred the title of “Advanced Unit of National Dragon Boat Race” by General Administration of Sport of China, Yichang division praised as the national best one.

On December 24, 2005, Yichang City ranks the 76th in the information session of "China top 100 Cities in Comprehensive Strength in 2005”。

On December 28, 2005, Yichang City was honored with the title of “The 2003-2004 National Advanced City in the Progress of Science and Technology”。

In 2006, Yichang City was listed into “China Top 100 Investment Cities” by World Eminence Chinese Business Association and China General Chamber of Commerce （CGCC）， and selected into the “Ten Best Investment Cities for Merchants of Zhejiang Province （outside of Zhejiang Province）” in the Conference of Zhejiang Merchants.

In June, 2007, the 9th congress of Party Representatives of Hubei Province further reassured the status of Yichang City as the sub-central city of Hubei Province and stated clearly to provide supports to speed up its development. In August 2007, Yu Zhengsheng, Secretary of Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Luo Qingquan, the then Hubei Provincial governor, visited Yichang and surveyed the methods to accelerate its development as the provincial sub-central city. From a strategic and overall perspective, the construction of the provincial sub-central city was placed in the position of equal importance with the Wuhan City Circle Construction and provided full supports.

In 2007, due to its excellent investment environment, Yichang City was named the one of “Top 100 Investment Cities in China” and “Best Investment City in Central China” by National Bureau of Statistics （NBS） and China Academy of Social Sciences respectively.

In 2008, Yichang was recognized as one of the second destinations for the gradient transfer of coastal industries by the National Ministry of Commerce.

On June 1, 2008, the torch of Beijing Olympic Games was relayed to Yichang.

On November 26, 2008, under the approval of the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee （PHCC）， Yichang was named the National Sanitary City.

In 2009, Yichang was honored the “National Model City of Environmental Protection”， as the only city receiving the award in Hubei Province.

In 2010, Yichang won the honor of "National Model City of Environmental Protection" again.

On the morning of December 20, 2011, during the commendation congress on the cultural and ideological progress held in Beijing, Yichang City was awarded the “National Civilized City” by the Central Committee of National Cultural and Ideological Construction. Yichang city came to the fore from many candidates, became one of the 14 prefecture-level civilized cities in the third selection of national civilized city and achieved the zero breakthrough in the number of national civilized cities of Hubei Province.