Features: It has geological landscapes such as sinkholes, ground cracks, cliffs, peak clusters, rock pillar groups, caves, and underground rivers. There are many waterfalls in the canyon, and the scenery is magnificent. The famous scenic spot “Yizhuxiang” (A Pillar of Incense) is more than 150 meters high, but its diameter is only 4 6 meters. It stands proudly among the peaks, which is very spectacular.
Tourist Tips: You can choose to walk the whole journey or take the cable car up the mountain first and then walk down. The whole tour takes about 5 7 hours. You need to prepare comfortable sports shoes and enough water and food.
Hefeng Pingshan Canyon
Features: The terrain here is dangerous, with cliffs towering all around and streams surrounding it. When taking a boat tour, the water surface is like a mirror, and the boat seems to be floating in the air, so it has the reputation of “China’s Xianbenna”.
Tourist Tips: You need to take a boat into the depths of the canyon first. Pay attention to safety during the tour and follow the arrangements of the scenic spot staff. The tour time is about 3 4 hours.
Cultural and Historical Sites
Tusi City
Features: It is the landmark project of Tusi culture in the Tujia ethnic area with the largest scale in the country. It shows the historical origin, ethnic culture, folk customs of the Tujia ethnic group, etc. The architectural style in the city is unique, including the gate tower, Dong ethnic wind-rain bridge, Linjun Temple, drill ground, Tujia ethnic folk houses, etc.
Tourist Tips: You can follow the tour guide of the scenic spot to visit, so as to have a more in-depth understanding of Tusi culture. The tour time is about 2 3 hours.
Nv’er City (Daughter City)
Features: With Tujia ethnic culture as the core, it is an ancient town integrating tourism, entertainment, shopping, and accommodation. There are buildings such as the Tujia Folk Museum and Baishoutang (Hand-waving Hall). There are also rich folk performances every day, such as the Baishouwu (Hand-waving Dance) and crying marriage.
Tourist Tips: It is better to visit at night. You can enjoy the night view and participate in folk activities and taste local special snacks. You can arrange 2 3 hours for the tour.
Food Guide
Special Dishes
Tujia Youcha Tang (Tujia Oil Tea Soup)
Introduction: It is a traditional delicacy of the Tujia ethnic group. It uses tea leaves, peanuts, walnut kernels, soybeans, sesame seeds, etc. as raw materials. First, fry the tea leaves until yellow, add an appropriate amount of water and boil it, and then add other raw materials. The taste is rich and has the effects of refreshing and quenching thirst.
Recommended Restaurant: Some traditional Tujia cuisine restaurants in Enshi city, such as “Zhangguan Hezha”, provide it.
Hezha (Mixed Soybean Pulp)
Introduction: Also known as lazy tofu. Soak the soybeans in water until they swell, grind them into soybean milk, and then add vegetable leaves and cook it. It has the characteristics of being light and refreshing. You can add minced meat, eggs, etc. according to personal taste.
Recommended Restaurant: “Zhangguan Hezha”. This restaurant has a variety of Hezha with authentic taste.
Enshi La Zhuti (Enshi Preserved Pig’s Trotters)
Introduction: Select the pig’s trotters of local native pigs and make them through processes such as salting and smoking. The meat is firm and the taste is mellow. Usually, it is stewed with potatoes, kelp, etc. The stewed pig’s trotters are bright red and the soup is rich.
Recommended Restaurant: You can taste the authentic La Zhuti in farmhouses near Enshi Grand Canyon, such as “Nv’er Zhai Hotel” (Daughter Village Hotel).
Special Snacks
Kang Yangyu (Baked Potatoes)
Introduction: Boil the potatoes first, and then bake them in the pot until the skin is golden and crispy and the inside is soft. Then add seasonings such as chili, Chinese prickly ash, and scallions. The taste is spicy and delicious. It is a common snack on the streets of Enshi.
Recommended Restaurant: There are many small stalls selling Kang Yangyu on the streets and alleys of Enshi. For example, some snack stalls in Nv’er City make very authentic Kang Yangyu.
Tujia Diaozhabing (Tujia Crumbly Cake)
Introduction: Minced meat, scallions, sesame seeds, etc. are sprinkled on the surface of the cake and baked until the outer skin is crispy and the inside is soft, salty and fragrant. It is named because crumbs will fall off when eating. It is convenient to carry and eat.
Recommended Restaurant: The chain store “Diaozhabing’er” has many branches in Enshi, and the Tujia Diaozhabing it produces is relatively authentic.
Practical Travel Information
Transportation
External Transportation
Airplane: Enshi Xujiaping Airport has opened routes to many major domestic cities, and you can reach Enshi quickly and conveniently.
Train: Enshi Railway Station has both bullet trains and ordinary trains stopping. It is convenient to take a bullet train from cities such as Wuhan and Chongqing to Enshi.
Internal Transportation
Tourist Bus: There are tourist buses to major scenic spots in Enshi city. Tickets can be purchased and the bus can be taken at Enshi Automobile Passenger Transport Center.
Chartered Car/Rental Car: If there are many people traveling together, you can choose to charter a car or rent a car to travel. The travel time is more flexible, but you need to pay attention to driving safety.
Accommodation
Enshi Urban Area: There are various accommodation options, including high-end, middle-end, and low-end hotels and homestays. It is close to the railway station and bus station, and the transportation is convenient. It is suitable as a transit point for visiting various scenic spots.
Near Scenic Spots: There are many characteristic homestays and inns around scenic spots such as Enshi Grand Canyon and Nv’er City. You can feel the atmosphere of the scenic spots up close, but the price may be relatively high, and you need to book in advance during the peak season.
