Day 1 Gathering Day ★ Anywhere → or → Enshi
All day
Today is the gathering day for the event. Tourists from all over the world will choose their own transportation. Upon arrival at the designated hotel in Enshi, they will submit a "China-Travel Note + Name" form. After their rooms are arranged, they will be free to explore at their own leisure.
Recommended Itinerary |
If you arrive early, we recommend visiting Tusi City, a landmark of Tusi culture in the Tujia region, where you can gain a deeper understanding of the region's culture. Inside, you'll find the towering Tusi Gate Tower, and further inside, you'll find the distinctive Wind and Rain Bridge, with its exquisitely crafted eaves, angled corners, and carved beams. You'll also find the Linjun Temple, the ancestor of the Tujia people, and the Tusi Parade Ground, where Tusi soldiers practiced martial arts, offering a glimpse into the training of the time.
In the afternoon, visit Enshi Tujia Daughter City, known for its "unwavering love for men and the world's foremost city of daughters." Although a man-made ancient town, its meticulous and well-designed design showcases Tujia folk customs and is a national hub for Tujia culture. Every evening, the scenic area presents Enshi Tujia's famous folk dating drama, the Daughter's Meeting, and performances of the Tujia hand-waving dance.
In addition, you can also taste Enshi’s local specialties here, such as Zhangguanhezha, kangyangyu, oil tea soup, Gongpobing, bean skin, etc.
Please be safe during free time!
Kind tips:
1. Due to the terrain of Enshi, even in the scenic area, you will need to walk and climb mountains, which is different from the regular seaside leisure line!
2. This route includes outdoor hiking. If you have no outdoor experience or do not exercise often, we recommend [Enshi Secret Realm] or [Explore Enshi]
Day 2 Enshi → Tusi City → Sobuya Stone Forest → Enshi Grand Canyon
·morning
After breakfast, we will depart for Enshi Tusi City, the birthplace of Tujia culture and a witness of the ancient Tusi system in China.
Here, we can visit the Tusi Palace, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Beacon Tower and other historical buildings, and experience the history and culture of the Tujia people.
Tourists can choose which part of the Tusi City to go to according to their physical strength.
At around 10:00, there will be a traditional Tujia song and dance performance in the stilt houses in Tusi City. Come and learn about the customs and habits of the Tujia people!
After visiting Tusi City, we will have lunch nearby.
·afternoon
Go to Suobuya Stone Forest at the right time.
This afternoon we will immerse ourselves in the "underwater world" of billions of years ago! The entire stone forest was formed 460 million years ago due to geological karst formation, like an underwater maze.
Secret crevices and fossil relics can be seen everywhere in the stone forest, which can be called an ancient geological museum.
Each area of the scenic spot has its own unique characteristics. Let your imagination run wild as you wander through them!
Jiulonghui has landscapes such as waterfalls, phoenix facing the sun, dragon and phoenix seals, and pearls and walls;
Mozigou is mainly composed of caves and natural rock cracks;
Lotus Village has stone lotus as its flowers and green trees as its springs. Looking down from the sky, it looks like a bunch of white lotuses.
Walking through the mysterious stone forest, sometimes majestic and sometimes wild, we can't help but marvel at the wonders of nature. While enjoying the scenery, you can learn what the name "Suobuya" means in Tujia language. The Sobuya Stone Forest is also home to many myths and pictographic legends. Let your imagination run wild and imagine what Sobuya looks like in your mind!
We will go to [Enshi Grand Canyon] in time to experience the magnificence of the Grand Canyon in advance. We can stroll around the area at night, which will also be convenient for us to visit the Grand Canyon the next day. We will stay in a hotel near the Grand Canyon.
Day 3: Enshi Grand Canyon (full day) → Luyuanping
All day
After breakfast, we took the Grand Canyon's characteristic ground cable car to the core area of the Grand Canyon scenic area.
The Enshi Grand Canyon is a complex karst landform that combines "earth fissures, cenotes, and rock pillars." Many of its features suggest it's comparable to the Grand Canyon in the United States.
The entire Qixingzhai scenic area and part of the Yunlong Earth Fissure scenic area of Enshi Grand Canyon are currently open to the public.
We'll first visit Qixingzhai, known as the "Natural Museum of Karst Topography," where cemeteries abound, including tiankeng (sinkholes), fissures, cliffs, peaks, rock pillars, caves, and underground rivers. Marvel at the miraculous karst formations and the ingenious cliffside plank roads, marveling at the uncanny craftsmanship of nature. Here, you'll find the Grand Canyon's "treasure"—a stick of incense.
Next, we'll visit the U-shaped Yunlong Fissure, formed 50 million years ago. Its lower reaches flow into the Qingjiang River, leaving a deep groove carved into the earth like a knife or axe. Within the fissure, water gurgles and waterfalls cascade. Don't miss the colorful Huanglong Waterfall, Rainbow Waterfall, Yunlong Waterfall, Icefall, and Mufu Waterfall.
Lunch is a road meal~
·night
After the hike, stretch and relax.
Afterwards, take the bus to Luyuanping
Tonight we stayed at a farmhouse near the scenic area, where we could make tea around the stove, dig winter cabbage sprouts, and overlook the unique karst landscape around the Grand Canyon - Luyuanping.
In the evening, we'll enjoy a farmhouse dinner and experience the Tujia ethnic group's bowl-smashing wine-making ritual. If you're still not satisfied with the wine, you can celebrate the New Year by bonfire. Reveling in this isolated valley might just be terrifying! If you still have energy and the weather is clear, you can enjoy stargazing.
Tips: Bonfire will be cancelled if it rains.
Special Note:
The area around Luyuanping is relatively primitive, and the overall accommodation conditions are average. We stayed in a special standard room with a private bathroom in the B&B. The main purpose was to experience the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year with everyone. Please do not compare it with hotels in big cities. Please be advised!
Day 4 Luyuanping → → Icheon
·morning
Start the day with the sound of birdsong. Far from the city, surrounded by greenery, you can briefly forget about life's worries and enjoy a moment of relaxation and leisure for yourself, who usually lives in the steel jungle.
After breakfast, we set off for the beautiful canyon cenote Luyuanping. Reminiscent of Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Spring, this ancient village nestled deep in a pit, still inaccessible by road, is said to have been inspired by the imperial court's immigration policy during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Legend has it that the Pei brothers from Hunan and their ilk migrated here, guided by a herd of beautiful mountain deer. The deer often visited the courtyards where people lived, leading them to name the area Luyuanping.
We walked through the canyon, surrounded by cliffs. The vertical drop is over 500 meters. We descended along a plank path, known locally as the "42 bends." The mountain path has 1,528 steps. This unique topography has preserved the pristine landscapes of Luyuanping, including its mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, roads, and farmhouses, fostering a unique culture and customs. We hiked deep into the valley, experiencing this ancient village nestled in a deep pit from multiple perspectives (you can also take the elevator and cable car directly to the valley floor at your own expense).
After reaching the valley floor, we'll hike deep into the ground, past the Deer Drinking Pond and the four-tiered waterfall, to experience the pristine scenery of Luyuanping. The unique topography and landforms have preserved the pristine ecology well, with quiet paths, winding streams, and spectacular waterfalls all radiating the charm of a paradise.
·afternoon
We had lunch at Luyuanping at noon. After exploring in the afternoon, we slowly walked out of Luyuanping and took a bus to Lichuan Hotel to check in.
Feel the "human atmosphere" in Lichuan, because Lichuan belongs to Hubei administratively, is close to Sichuan and Chongqing culturally, and is also influenced by Hunan. The cuisine has both the spicy characteristics of Sichuan and Chongqing and the fresh and spicy style of Hunan.
During your free time for dinner, you can try some Lichuan delicacies like Lichuan water shield and Boyang dried tofu! Have a good rest today!
Day 5 Lichuan → Qingjiang Ancient Riverbed → Xuanen County
·morning
After breakfast, we'll charter a small car to the ancient Qingjiang Riverbed for a light hike. Step by step, we'll descend to the bottom of the canyon, allowing you to experience the vicissitudes and history of the ancient salt road.
After entering the bottom of the canyon, we started a fantastic caving trip under the guidance of the team leader. The first thing that caught our eyes was the huge white cave. Curious people were eager to explore it.
After the tour, we hiked to Stonehenge, an ancient riverbed where the folds of the rocks transported us back 100 million years. Following the ancient Qingjiang underground river, we passed through the wondrous landscape of three caves and two day pits, feeling the powerful allure of water. As we passed through the Great Dragon Gate with our lighting equipment, another fascinating scene unfolded: a large canyon lawn, one of the filming locations for the movie "Nie Yinniang," where several lambs and a cow harmoniously and leisurely graze on leaves and grass.
We had fun here and took photos! Tourists, please be careful not to slip!
Kind tips:
1. If you have a headlamp, bring it!
2. The Qingjiang ancient riverbed is an outdoor hiking section. If it rains, the tour leader will adjust the hiking length based on the actual situation for safety reasons.
·afternoon
After coming out of the ancient riverbed, adjust yourself at the farmhouse. Go to Xuanen, where the New Year atmosphere is the most lively, and spend a special New Year in Xuanen.
Xuan'en's nightscape is particularly stunning. As dusk falls, the riverbanks, starting from Wenlan Bridge, are ablaze with lights. The night view of Xinglong Old Street, known as the Little Hongya Cave, and the winding bamboo rafts in the Gongshui River, like a swimming dragon, are also a truly spectacular sight. During the Spring Festival, a lively lantern festival is held here, with large red lanterns hanging high, creating a festive atmosphere. There are also markets and snack streets, and you can enjoy the local specialty, grilled live fish, which is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and is incredibly delicious.
Day 6 Xuanen County → Enshi
·morning
After getting up in the morning, tourists can choose to visit Xuanen County Morning Market.
From your hotel, cross the Gongshui River, enjoy the morning view of the Gongshui River, and visit the bustling morning market of this treasure town.
It is recommended to try Enshi's specialties [Bean curd skin] and [Oil fragrance]
Then go to the market and take some local specialties home! Recommended [cured meat products]
At about 10:30, we started to return to Enshi City
Arrive at Enshi Railway Station at around 11:30. Tourists are advised to book trains and high-speed trains after 12:00.
Arrive at Enshi Airport at approximately 12:00 PM. It is recommended to book a flight after 1:00 PM.
