Hubei hides "China's Semporna"! A 5-day secret trip guide to Enshi, avoiding crowds to see wallpaper-worthy scenery

Who would have thought that deep in Hubei lies such a fairyland secret—boats seemingly floating on glass-like river surfaces, cliffside plank roads embedded in green mountains, and dreamlike light and shadow in karst caves… This newly organized pit-avoidance guide helps you enjoy Enshi worry-free, just follow the map!

🌿 Brand new 5-day itinerary: all the must-see highlights included

Day 1: First taste of Tujia culture

- Morning: Arrive in Enshi and check into a city hotel (preferably in the Wuyangba business district for one-stop dining, shopping, and entertainment).
- Afternoon: Visit Tusi City, rent traditional Tujia costumes and take a set of ancient-style photos at Jiujintang, immersing yourself in the profound Tusi culture.
- Evening: Stroll through Tujia Daughter City, try Hezha and Shuaiwan wine at the night market, and if lucky, catch a free folk performance—full of lively local atmosphere.

Day 2: Unlock "the most beautiful scar on Earth"

- All day: Deep exploration of Enshi Grand Canyon
✅ Highlights: The thrilling cliff plank road at Qixingzhai, landmark "One Incense Stick" photo spot, and a chance to see the rainbow waterfall at Yunlong Rift (amazing for backlit photos).
✅ Energy-saving tip: Take the cable car up and down, bring some portable snacks, the park is large, start early to leisurely cover all the highlights.

Day 3: Seek the fairyland in Pingshan Canyon

- Morning: Head to Pingshan Canyon, take a transparent boat to shoot "floating water surface" photos, the river is gem-blue; arrive an hour early to avoid crowds for cleaner shots.
- Afternoon: Hike to explore the five-tiered cascading waterfalls, feel the natural coolness on the rift plank road, the sound of flowing streams is deeply soothing.
- Evening: Go to Xuan'en County, enjoy the night view of Gongshui River, try the local specialty grilled live fish—tender and flavorful, you won’t want to stop.

Day 4: Traverse the 460-million-year-old stone forest

- All day: Roam Sobuya Stone Forest, treasure hunt in this billion-year-old karst wonder—layered stone peaks at Lianhuazhai, the magical landforms of Xiniu Valley, every photo looks like a scene from another world.
- Evening: Return to Enshi city, catch up on missed snacks like baked potatoes and Youxiang, don’t miss these authentic delicacies.

Day 5: Wrap up with karst cave wonders

- Morning: Visit Tenglong Cave, Asia’s largest karst cave, enjoy a laser show plus Tujia song and dance performance; the cave temperature is a constant 14°C, remember to bring a light jacket to stay warm.
- Afternoon: Buy selenium-rich tea and Baiyang dried tofu as souvenirs, return home with full memories of mountains and waters.

🚗 Transportation & ticket pit-avoidance guide

- External transport: Wuhan high-speed train reaches Enshi in 4 hours, Chongqing self-drive takes 5 hours; city taxis start at 5 yuan, very convenient for short trips.
- Scenic area transport: Attractions are scattered, car rental (80-150 yuan per person per day) or small group tours are recommended, saving time compared to transferring by public transport.
- Ticket key: Book tickets online 2 days in advance! Strict limits at Grand Canyon and Pingshan Canyon, on-site ticket lines can exceed 1 hour, don’t delay your trip.

🍢 Enshi must-try food list

- Zhangguan Hezha: Tujia specialty "lazy tofu," stir-fried with cured meat, fragrant aroma, side dishes can be refilled for free.
- Baked small potatoes: crispy outside, soft inside, add fish mint and chili powder, one bite after another, irresistible.
- Youxiang: freshly fried crispy snack, choose meat or vegetarian filling, bite into it fresh out of the fryer for a mouthful of crispiness.
- Tujia sauce pancake: the most authentic is at the West Market in Daughter City, spicy and flavorful, a must-buy treat when passing by.

💡 Practical travel tips

- Wear non-slip shoes! Easily walk over 10,000 steps daily, bring knee pads for more comfort.
- Bring mosquito repellent after May, many mosquitoes in the canyon, don’t let bites spoil your mood.
- Protect against sun! Mountain UV rays are stronger than expected, bring sunglasses and a sun hat.

Follow this guide to easily pocket the picturesque landscapes and Tujia stories of Enshi~ 🌄