Are you looking to get off-the-grid, away from those places everyone has been to, and into China’s more remote, beauty-packed nature? Look no further than Enshi China!
Nestled into the lush mountains and cliffs of southern Hubei Province, Enshi has to be one of China’s most beautiful and hidden destinations.
I mean, it’s SO off the grid that the majority of Chinese people I’ve asked haven’t even been there!
Its low profile among tourists is both a pity and a blessing. While I wish more people appreciated this place, I was super glad to have barely any tourists in sight while we explored. It let us really soak in the environment around us.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 places that I recommend you visit while in Enshi China:
1. Enshi China Pingshan Canyon
The photos from Pingshan Canyon were what made me know immediately that I HAD to visit this beautiful place! It’s definitely one of Enshi’s top tourist spots.
A cliffside walkway leads you down towards a stunningly turquoise river which has cut through the massive rocky cliffs.
The waters are so clear that shadows from boats can be seen on the river floor. This creates those “floating on air” photos you may have seen.
The park entrance fee is about $15 USD for 2 people. Upon arriving, you’ll be given a bracelet which will allow cameras placed throughout the park to know that you’re approaching.
At the park exit, you can purchase a video made with clips that the cameras took for you. I bought the video (I honestly thought it was awkwardly funny) and it cost me about $3 USD. Worth it!
If you visit on a sunny day, you’ll have the opportunity to take one of these photos for yourself! Traditional Tujia and Miao outfits can be rented, and a photographer will snap professional photos for you.
Don’t be shocked if they become your all-time favorite shots from your travels!
2. Enshi Floating Bridge (Shiziguan Scenic Spot)
Another massive attraction in Enshi, the “floating bridge” is a car bridge which…you guessed it, floats on water. Park entry + a bus tour through the park cost $10 USD for 2 people, and can be bought at the gate.
After snapping photos of the bridge from the lookout, you can head down to the bridge itself for a ride across it.
There’s SO much more to this place than the bridge, though!! Rock formations in the cliff-sides such as the Lion’s Roar and Golden Cat’s Run have held superstitions and stories among the locals for generations.
You can also see the “hanging coffin”, the actual resting place of a superstitious man who was told by a soothsayer to be “buried” suspended on the cliff.
There were also monkeys running around here and there. That was a bonus! So when touring Enshi China, be sure to add Shiziguan Scenic Spot to your list!!
3. Enshi Grand Canyon: Upper Trails
Because of the vastness of the Enshi Grand Canyon and the physical demands of the Upper Trail hikes, I recommend you divide the Enshi Grand Canyon into a two day activity.
The entrance to the Grand Canyon is in a large tourist/hotel area. You can buy tickets at the Park Office, and we paid $15 USD for 2 people (the tickets were good for 2 days).
A cable car will take you up to the top of the canyon (the ticket was $34 USD extra for 2 tickets). Honestly, for the view and for the time it saves you, it’s worth it. I’d rather spend more time on top of the canyon than hiking up it, but if you’re big into hiking, you do you.
The upper part of the canyon is a LOT of stairs, basically a hike. You could spend an entire day up there going from one famous rock formation to the next.
In this beautiful scenic spot, you’ll go from looking over Enshi’s valley villages in one moment to being surrounded by massive rock formations the next.
The most famous balancing stone structure in the upper canyon is called “The Incense Stick”. Pictures don’t do it justice…you have to see it for yourself! It took us about 2 hours to hike to the incense stick, and we were moving fast!
I think we did around 30,000 steps that day–and we didn’t even cover the entire other side of the canyon top. So make sure to carve out a lot of time for this one! Honestly, a half day wasn’t enough time for us.
4. Enshi Grand Canyon: Lower Trails
Save your ticket from yesterday’s trip to the upper canyon trails—because you can use it again the next day for the lower trails!!
Honestly, the lower trails of the canyon (which we did the day after the upper trails) was my favorite part of this trip. I just can’t get over the color of the water here.
The lower trails are considerably easier in terms of physical demand. It took us about 2.5 hours going at a turtle’s pace to go through it.
The sounds of the waterfalls and the river rushing along the canyon floor were so calming. If our tour schedule hadn’t been so rushed, I would have spent hours more there.
An elevator for an extra fee at the very end of the canyon segment will take you back to the surface. Or you can take the stairs for free (a workout) which we did. It took us less than 10 minutes to reach the top this way.
5. Enshi china’s Suoyabu Stone Forest
After the canyons, I was anticipating the Stone Forest to be pretty “meh” in comparison (I may or may not have whined to my travel buddy about this). Wrong!!!
We paid $10 USD for 2 entry tickets, and before long, I felt like I was in another dimension! Honestly, the natural stone structures around us just seemed to defy the laws of nature.
Don’t write this place off just because there’s none of Enshi’s signature turquoise water to be found; it is definitely still one of Enshi’s best travel spots!
6. Enshi Luyanping Forest Village
Buried in the emerald forests of Enshi, the Luyanping village is not accessible by road or railway. We didn’t get the chance to see it, but I know that this spot is an EXTREMELY rural look into Enshi’s mountainside villages.
I would say this site is for the more adventurous travelers as its a bit more “out there”. You can search on YouTube for a video of the shuttle bus cable car (it’s wild!).
Overall, it’s another variation of a beautiful hike through Enshi’s mountains and cliffs, with a bit more insight into how Enshi’s remotest villagers live. This is definitely at the top of my list for the next visit to Enshi!
7. Enshi’s Tenglong Cave
Enshi’s Tenglong Cave is so grandiose that hot air balloons can be flown out of it! This destination was on our itinerary. However, since we went in the off-season (January), they were closed and we weren’t able to see it. Still not over that.
The Tenglong Cave offers another perspective on Enshi’s breathtaking nature. Misty and mystical, this is one of Enshi’s canonical landmarks, so if you’re itching to see it, just make sure you go in the warmer months!
8. Enshi China Geocentric Valley
A more “touristy” park, with a glass bridge providing a thrilling photo op, Enshi Geocentric Valley is a more structured opportunity for tourists.
If you want to explore Enshi’s nature, but maybe aren’t ready for the off-the-grid-ness of Number 7’s forest village, this will be a more comfortable experience with Enshi’s magical terrains still surrounding you.
9. enshi’s Wujiatai Tea Garden
Did you know that Enshi is a very agricultural place? The food is a subject of its’ own entirely, so there will be more to read about that here. But they also grow their own tea!
At the Wujiatai Tea garden, you can see how tea is matured and dried, and even buy some tea for yourself!
We grabbed a bag or two, and even though it was a bit pricy, we were so in love with Enshi that we splurged. We plan to brew it on a special day in the future.
10. The Tujia Daughter Town of Enshi China
In my opinion, visiting a new place should definitely include getting to know something about the history and culture of that place. The Tujia Daughter Town will provide a fun and memorable way to do so!
You can eat traditional Tujia dishes at restaurants in the town (some of them are very pricey, while others are more “cheap” street food options). We got some street food variation of a popular Tujia dish, and it was decent.
Traditional Tujia dances and music happen at regular intervals in the town square. Be aware that it’s loud, and it gets crowded, so try to find out from shop owners when the next showtime is, and get to the square a few minutes early.
So there you have it–my top 10 recommended tourist spots in Enshi China! Honestly, even if you don’t get to see all of them (we didn’t!) you’ll still be blown away by whichever locations you do manage to get to.
Enshi is probably the most overlooked gem in China, so make sure to get there before it’s discovered! You will not be disappointed by taking the time to go and see this breathtaking and culturally rich location.
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