# Enshi travel guide (恩施)

Hubei Province · Central China, China · 6 places
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hubei/enshi

## The feel of the place

Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture lies deep in the rugged mountains of southwestern Hubei. Enshi preserves some of the best-intact Tujia mountain villages, where more than 500 Tujia households still live. Its distinctive ethnic customs include Tujia stilt houses (diaojiaolou), Dong-village wind-and-rain bridges, the Daughters' Festival in July, haocao luogu (薅草锣鼓) drum performances during farming season, sa'erhe (撒尔荷) dances at funerals, and baishou dances (摆手舞) at celebrations. Enshi's summers are not scorching and its winters are rarely severe, but it is foggy and receives abundant rainfall, so it is best to avoid the rainy season.


## Getting there & around

### Getting There

### By Air

Enshi Xujiaping Airport has flights to Wuhan, Yichang, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Beijing and other cities. Bus No. 18 runs from the airport into the city. A taxi costs ¥10–15.

### By Rail

Enshi Railway Station is an important stop on the Yichang–Wanzhou Railway, with direct trains from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu and other cities. Since the Hanyi Railway (汉宜铁路) opened, the high-speed train from Enshi to Wuhan takes just 3.5 hours.

### By Road

Several buses run daily from Wuhan to Enshi, with fares of ¥130–150. The bus from Yichang to Enshi costs ¥110. As Enshi borders Chongqing Municipality and Hunan Province, you can also enter from the Chongqing or Changde (常德, Hunan) direction.

### Getting Around

Local transport is very convenient, with 38 bus routes. Buses are unmanned (pay on board) and cost ¥1. Taxis start at ¥5 for the first 2 km, then cost ¥2 for each additional kilometre.


## Eat & drink

Enshi's Tujia cultural performances are closely tied to food. Built around the Tujia four dishes (white crane greens (白鹤菜), paor greens (泡儿菜), rapeseed soup (油菜汤) and the wine-lapping dish (舔酒菜)), the show weaves in Tujia mountain songs and dances. These include solo, duet and small-chorus singing, along with vibrant numbers such as shuershuer (耍耍儿), lianxiangr (莲响儿) and baishou dance. The full performance lasts about one hour.

### Local Snacks

- **Hezha** — As the name suggests, soybean dregs, peanut dregs and minced meat are stir-fried or boiled together, in a variety of flavours.
- **Cured Pork (腊肉)** — Enshi's cured pork is prepared quite differently from elsewhere. The vendor typically grills the cut the customer has chosen over a coal stove until it starts to render fat, then soaks it in an alkaline solution and scrubs it until the skin turns golden-yellow. Watching the process is mouth-watering in itself.
- **Dried Potato Slices** — Potatoes are sliced and sun-dried until completely dry. Locals stew them with cured pork, and the result is very tasty.

## Where to stay

- **Enshi Yilu Tongxing Hotel** — Located on Yanjiang Road Food Street, with a free car park. The hotel has well-equipped facilities and friendly service. (60 Dongfeng Avenue, 0718-8200006)
- **Enshi Mushang International Hotel** — Well located: a drive of about 5 minutes reaches Enshi Square, Baijia Plaza and other shopping and entertainment centres, and Enshi Tusi City is only 3 km away. (Block B1, Herun City, 168 Shizhou Avenue, 0718-8029999)

## Things to see

- **Enshi Grand Canyon Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission Qixingzhai ¥185; Qixingzhai + cableway ¥290; combined scenic area ticket ¥265; combined scenic area ticket + cableway ¥370; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/enshi-grand-canyon-scenic-area
- **Suobuya Stone Forest** (★★★★): Admission ¥108 (includes sightseeing bus); Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/suobuya-stone-forest
- **Tenglong Cave** (★★★): Admission ¥170; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tenglong-cave
- **Enshi Tusi City** (★★★★): Admission ¥45; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/enshi-tusi-city
- **Luyuanping Scenic Area** (★★★): Admission ¥128; Opening hours 8：00—17：30; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/luyuanping-scenic-area
- **Shennong Stream** (★★★★): Admission ¥140; Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shennong-stream

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2033–2038. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.