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Enshi is the only autonomous prefecture for ethnic minorities in Hubei Province. It has 29 ethnic groups including the Tujia and Miao. The area has unique landforms and is dotted with mountain valleys. It is not only an excellent tourist attraction, but also a popular filming location for various famous works such as "Eternal Love", "Nie Yinniang", and "The Wrath of the West Hunan".
The most loyal men in the world, the most beautiful daughter in the world!
Enshi Tujia Daughter City, located in Qiliping, Enshi City, Hubei Province, is a national hub for Tujia culture. As the eighth man-made ancient town in China, Tujia Daughter City features a thoughtfully designed architectural style, combining antique-style architecture with Tujia stilt houses, perfectly embodying the Tujia people's customs and traditions.
Tujia Daughter City boasts 300 small commodity shops, 500 charming inns, 30 specialty restaurants, 40 delicious snacks, an 8,000-square-meter landscaped lawn, a 10,000-square-meter comprehensive sports center, and the Daughter City Grand Theater, China's first indoor situational theater. Furthermore, Enshi Tujia's most renowned folk matchmaking event, the Daughter Meeting, will be permanently located at Tujia Daughter City.
Tips:
Address: No. 41, Ma'anshan Road, Enshi City
Transportation: Take a taxi from Enshi City Center, 15-20 minutes, about 20 yuan
Admission: Free
Accommodation: There are many inns with ancient style and charm in Daughter City. You can choose to stay there directly. It is convenient for sightseeing, but it is relatively noisy. It is difficult to find a room in the peak season, and you may need to drag your luggage for a distance when checking in. Staying in a hotel in the center of Enshi City is also a good choice, which is more convenient for travel.
Opening hours: All day
Reference time: 4 hours. Remember to pay attention to the performance time of Daughter City, there are many free and wonderful performances.
Enshi's Tusi system, originating in the Yuan Dynasty and ending during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, spanned over 450 years. In the past, Tusi were effectively local emperors, wielding immense power over the people. Locals called them "Jie Ye," and Tusi palaces were often named after characters beginning with "nine" (jiu jin tang) or "jiu chong tian" (jiu chung tian).
The existing Enshi Tusi City is located in the northwest of Enshi City. It includes 12 scenic areas and more than 30 attractions, including the gatehouse, Dong ethnic group wind and rain bridge, Linjun Temple, parade ground, Tujia folk houses, Tusi Palace - Jiujintang, city wall, bell tower, drum tower, Hundred Flowers Garden, White Tiger Statue, Crouching Tiger Iron Bridge, Tingtao Teahouse, and National Art Garden. Wandering around Tusi City, you can learn about Enshi's hundreds of years of history and culture.
Tips:
Address: No. 138 Tusi Road, Enshi City
Transportation: Take a taxi from Enshi City Center, about 15 minutes, or take the bus. The parking lot at the entrance is small, so driving is not recommended.
Ticket price: 50 yuan
Accommodation: Enshi City
Opening hours: 8:00-17:00
Reference time: 2-3 hours
The Enshi Grand Canyon, praised by experts as comparable to the Grand Canyon in the United States, is a section of the Qingjiang Grand Canyon. The canyon is 108 kilometers long and is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.
The canyon boasts breathtaking scenery, including hundreds of miles of cliffs, thousand-foot waterfalls, towering peaks, primeval forests, and ancient villages. Classic attractions such as the Yunlong Ground Crack, Qixing Village, Yizhu Incense, and the Cliff Corridor are all breathtaking.
Tips:
Address: Tunbu Township, Enshi City
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes 1.5-2 hours, 50 km
Ticket price: 180 yuan (excluding cable car, one-way cable car 105 yuan)
Accommodation: Enshi City or the entrance of the Grand Canyon Scenic Area
Opening hours: 8:30-15:00
Reference time: 1 day
Luyuanping was once an outdoor paradise visited only by hikers. With no access to a road, the path from Qiaowan Pass on the mountain to Qiaowan at the bottom of the valley descends with a vertical drop of over 500 meters. The path, carved from the cliffs, features dozens of zigzag turns, earning the locals the nickname "42 Turns." This mountain path, with 1,520 steps and nearly a kilometer in length, has preserved the pristine landscape of Luyuanping's mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, roads, and farmhouses.
It was not until July 2017 that Luyuanping became a scenic spot charging admission fees. The reception conditions for entertainment, food, accommodation, etc. began to mature, and it gradually became famous, becoming a new business card for Enshi tourism.
Tips:
Address: Luyuanping Group, Xintian Village, Banqiao Town, Enshi City
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 2.5 hours and 90 km
Ticket price: 128 yuan
Accommodation: The conditions of the inns and B&Bs in Luyuanping Scenic Area vary. Liunian B&B is the largest and best in the area. Rooms are very tight during the summer, so please book early.
Opening hours: All day
Reference time: 1 day and 1 night
The Qingjiang Ancient Riverbed, located in Lichuan City, Enshi, is one of China's most classic outdoor hiking routes. It stretches 8 kilometers and boasts uninhabited terrain within a ten-mile radius, creating breathtaking scenery. The ancient riverbed boasts a comprehensive geological structure, a typical karst landscape. The route features caves within caves, interconnected caves, mountains within caves, caves within mountains, and numerous underground streams, numerous rock crevices, and numerous stalactites.
While hiking along the ancient riverbed, the main attractions you can see include Yitiantian, Panda Cave, Big and Small Dragon Gate, Dujiazhai, cave groups, underground rivers, ground fissures, Dufeng, Elephant Trunk Hill, Qingjiang River Gallery, etc.
Tips:
Address: Huangnipo Road, Huangnipo Village, Tuanbao Town, Lichuan
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 2.5 hours and 80 km
Admission: Free
Accommodation: You can stay in Lichuan City, which is convenient for food, accommodation and transportation
Opening hours: All day
Reference time: 1 day
Tenglong Cave has always been a classic trump card of Enshi tourism, and is as famous as the Enshi Grand Canyon. It is the largest karst cave discovered in China, ranks seventh among the longest caves discovered in the world, and is one of the world's super caves.
The Tenglong Cave Scenic Area currently consists of a water cave, a dry cave, a catfish cave, a cool breeze cave, a Duyouzhai (a village), three dragon gates, and the Huaxiankeng (immortal pit). The various water and dry caves are interconnected, and the main and branch caves are interconnected. In addition to admiring the stunning cave scenery, there are two performances: a large-scale, original song and dance performance called "Yi Shui Li Chuan" and a laser show.
Tips:
Address: No. 1 Tenglong Avenue, Lichuan City
Transportation: From Lichuan City, the drive takes about 0.5 hours and 5 km
Ticket price: 180 yuan
Accommodation: You can stay in Lichuan City, which is convenient for food, accommodation and transportation
Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
Reference time: 0.5 days
Enshi tourism has exploded in popularity in recent years, and Pingshan Canyon is largely responsible. A few photos of floating boats circulating online have made this place the "Semporna of China."
Due to the rugged terrain and immature reception conditions, the Pingshan Canyon Scenic Area has experienced many setbacks in its opening and closing. In 2019, it finally reopened smoothly. Although the number of visitors is restricted daily, it does not affect our ability to see the floating boats.
Tips:
Address: Hefeng County, Enshi City
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 4 hours; from Hefeng County, the drive takes about 0.5 hours
Ticket price: 258 yuan
Accommodation: It is recommended to stay in Hefeng County one night in advance
Opening hours: 8:00-16:00
Reference time: 0.5 days
Tip: The best time to take photos of floating boats is at noon when the sun shines vertically on the bottom of the canyon.
The Suobuya Stone Forest, known as the world's largest Ordovician stone forest, resembles a giant gourd, surrounded by verdant screens and a cluster of peaks. The unique "karst" and "crown" landscapes are highlights, along with hidden crevices and fossil remains, making it a veritable ancient geological museum. Research by Sun Yat-sen University and China University of Geosciences has determined that the stone forest formed 460 million years ago during the Ordovician period. The entire forest resembles an underwater maze, a breathtaking spectacle.
Tips:
Address: Taiyanghe Township, Enshi City
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 1.5 hours
Ticket price: 108 yuan (including sightseeing tour)
Accommodation: Available in Enshi City
Opening hours: 8:00-15:30
Reference time: 0.5 days
Lion Pass is a scenic spot in Xuan'en County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. The mountains here are majestic, with five large and small rocky mountains, shaped like tiger teeth. Among them, two stone mountains are shaped like lions, guarding the main road leading to Changtan River, hence the name Lion Pass.
This place went viral thanks to a TikTok video that showed a plastic bridge floating on the turquoise waters, which turned out to be a one-way road. As cars passed by, long ripples appeared on the calm surface. The Lion Pass scenic area is not large, and there are not many attractions, but the scenery is very unique.
Tips:
Address: Zhuyuanbao, Group 3, Fengkouba Village, Zhushan Town, Xuanen County, Enshi Prefecture
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 2.5 hours; from Xuanen County, it takes about 0.5 hours
Ticket price: 100 yuan (not very cost-effective)
Accommodation: You can stay in Enshi City or Xuanen County
Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
Reference time: 2 hours
The poem "A vast sea of forests is a wonder, with four closely connected caves. The first cave is filled with fragrance that reaches the outside world, the second cave is a mirror that reflects the universe, the third cave is a skylight that reveals longing dreams, and the fourth cave is a canyon of the Yaochi Lake. A sword pierces the heart, and one is in this fairyland, never wanting to leave." vividly depicts the beautiful scenery of Pingbaying.
Until now, this place is still a virgin land for tourism development. In addition to the standardized construction of infrastructure, the scenic spots still maintain their original appearance, and the reception and service facilities also retain the ethnic characteristics of the Tujia, Miao and other ethnic groups.
The cabins and cable cars in the forest are the most special places in Pingba Camp, especially the Xiaolan car. Each car can only seat 2 people. It goes up and down during the journey, slowly crossing over small hills, which is very interesting.
Tips:
Address: Pingbaying Village, Pingbaying Town, Xianfeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Transportation: From Enshi City, the drive takes about 4 hours; from Xianfeng County, the drive takes about 1 hour
Ticket price: 140 yuan (including round-trip cable car)
Accommodation: You can stay in the cabins in the scenic area. The rooms are tight during the peak season, so you need to book as early as possible.
Opening hours: 8:30-17:00
Reference time: 1 day and 1 night
In Enshi, the word "Guo Zao" (literally "early morning") signifies the beginning of the day. When greeting someone, you can say, "Guo Zao no more?" or, "Let's go, Guo Zao cut." Snacks are a major part of Enshi's culinary culture. Here are some foods you won't find elsewhere in Enshi to spice up your trip.
The people of Enshi call potatoes "yangyu" (potatoes), because the mountainous cultivation makes them juicy and crispy. Enshi potatoes, with their "potato aroma," are soft and tender, and their small size makes them perfect for eating on a kang (steamed bun). First, boil the potatoes, add a thin layer of oil over low heat, drizzle with the sauce, and simmer for a while with the lid closed. Once the potatoes are soft and flavorful, sprinkle them with chili peppers, chopped green onions, and sesame seeds. Enjoy one bite at a time. You can also add Enshi's homemade pickled radish to your taste.
Hezha, also known as lazy tofu, is a dish that the Tujia people of Enshi have a deep affection for. Especially during the chaotic years of war, when food was scarce, Hezha saved many lives. There’s a saying that goes, “Eat chili peppers as salt, and enjoy Hezha during the New Year.”
Nowadays, for people in Enshi, eating Hezha is no longer a "luxury" that can only be eaten during festivals. They can eat Hezha at home on a regular basis, and many restaurants even serve it as a special dish.
Youxiang'er is crispy and delicious, charred on the outside and tender on the inside. People in Enshi often eat it for breakfast and even lunch, and they never tire of it. Youxiang'er can be enjoyed slowly at the table with noodles or soy milk, or if you're in a hurry, you can wrap it in paper and eat it on the go. However, since it's fried, be mindful of the oil dripping from it.
Also known as "crumb-dropping sesame cake" or "shake-off sesame cake," it's named for its crispy, crumb-dropping outer layer after baking, which crumbles away with a slight shake. It's also known as the "Chinese pizza." Tujia sesame cakes may not contain meat at first bite, but the aroma of the fluffy dough is irresistible.
Tujia oil tea soup is a kind of snack similar to tea soup. It is fragrant, crispy, smooth, fresh, delicious, refreshing and thirst-quenching. It is a traditional favorite food of the Tujia people. Therefore, there is a folk saying: "If you don't drink oil tea soup, you will feel anxious" and "If you eat three big bowls of oil tea for three meals a day, you will feel tired when working."
At the same time, drinking oil tea soup is a traditional etiquette of the Tujia people to entertain guests. Whenever a distinguished guest comes to visit, the Tujia people will serve him a bowl of fragrant oil tea soup.
Enshi people's "gege" is a small type of steamed pork with flour, which they always order for breakfast. It is made by placing potato cubes on top of flour-coated pork ribs, mutton, or pork intestines, sprinkled with a little sesame oil, and steamed in a steamer.
Bamboo steamers, stacked like pagodas, are placed in the pot, each containing more than a dozen compartments. Over high heat, the steam rises and the aroma wafts forth. A bite reveals a pleasantly spicy, mellow, and hearty flavor, fresh but not greasy, tender but not greasy.
The people of Enshi particularly love spicy and sour food. There's a saying that goes, "If you don't eat something sour and spicy for three days, you'll feel like you're being scratched by a cat." Zhaguangjiao, also known as Zhaguang chili pepper, is
made by grinding corn into powder, mixing it with chopped chili peppers, adding salt, and fermenting it in a jar. After being roasted in a pot, it can be stir-fried with Tujia bacon or steamed as a base for braised pork. The resulting dish is slightly reddish and has a distinctive spicy and sour flavor. Zhaguangjiao is also used as a base for steamed meat, braised pork, or as a side dish. The resulting steamed meat is non-greasy, refreshing, and easily digestible.
Enshi is neither big nor small, and its scenic spots are scattered around, so there are many ways to travel around. Depending on your vacation time, you can plan a 3-8 day itinerary.
Enshi has a subtropical monsoon and humid monsoon climate, characterized by mild winters, mild summers, frequent fog, year-round humidity, abundant rainfall, and simultaneous rainfall and heat. However, due to its complex topography and varying elevations, the climate exhibits significant vertical regional variations.
Enshi Prefecture has an average annual temperature of 16.2°C and an average annual precipitation of 1,600 mm. Located between the two hottest cities of Wuhan and Chongqing, it is one of the most habitable areas. Travelers in Enshi spend most of their time in the mountains, experiencing significant temperature swings between morning and evening, and a high probability of rain, so be sure to take protective measures to keep warm.
The scenery of Enshi does not change significantly with the seasons, and you will not be disappointed when traveling to Enshi all year round. May to October is the rainy season in Enshi, which is also the peak period for tourists to travel to Enshi.
Tourism has always been one of Enshi's pillar industries. With the explosive growth of tourism in recent years, local consumption has also risen, comparable to that of second-tier cities. However, mobile payment is widely available, eliminating the need to carry large amounts of cash.
Instead of spending hours searching for guides, why not ask someone who lives in Enshi? Scan the QR code below to join the Enshi Tourism Advisory Group and learn more about the beautiful scenery and things to do in Enshi!
