Enshi's 'Little Lijiang', Shinan Ancient Town's Tujia Stilt Houses and Vibrant Streets

📍Location: Shinan Ancient Town is located at the intersection of Jinshan Avenue and Fengtian Road in Jinziba Street, Enshi City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. You can navigate directly to "Shinan Ancient Town Scenic Area," which has underground parking. 🚗Transportation: - Self-driving: From downtown Enshi, drive along Jinshan Avenue for about 15 minutes; visitors from Wuhan can take the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway to the Enshi exit, approximately 5 hours total. - Public transit: Take city bus routes 8, 22, 29, or 43 to "Shinan Ancient Town Station" or "Ethnic Garden Station" and walk from there. - Taxi: Enshi taxis have a starting fare of 5 yuan, and a ride from downtown to the scenic area costs about 10-15 yuan. 👍️Must-see attractions: 1. Salt Water Goddess Square: The iconic statue at the entrance depicts the Salt Water Goddess holding a white dove, symbolizing Enshi people's wishes for peace and happiness. The base of the statue is carved with Tujia totems, appearing more mysterious under nighttime lighting. 2. Tusi Cultural Building Complex: Shinan Ancient Town was once the seat of Tusi (local chieftains) during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Remaining features include wall sections, ancient residences, and traditional-style streets. The walls follow the Eight Trigrams layout, stretching over 600 meters, and offer panoramic views of the ancient town. 3. Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Workshops: Featuring Xilanka embroidery, Tujia Nuo mask painting, and oil tea soup making. During weekend markets, craftsmen give live demonstrations, and you can find handmade silver jewelry and bamboo crafts. 4. Rockery Fountain and Bluestone Streets: The central square's rockery fountain combines lights and mist to create a "fairyland" effect at night; streets are paved with bluestone slabs, lined with sculptures depicting local life scenes such as Tuohezhalaoren (bean curd makers) and ancient horse carts. 5. Tujia Food District: Try Tujia oil tea soup, a savory tea broth cooked with tea leaves, peanuts, and soybeans. Zhang Guan Hezha, a stew of bean curd residue and minced meat, served with unlimited side dishes. Smoked bacon with potatoes combines the charred aroma of smoked meat with potatoes. 🎟️Tickets: The main scenic area is free to enter, though some experience activities require separate fees. 💗Other tips: The ancient town's replica building complex perfectly recreates the Tujia stilt house style, with upturned eaves and colorful painted patterns showcasing ethnic aesthetics while incorporating modern commercial vitality. Legend has it that the Salt Water Goddess was the wife of Bawuxiang, an ancestor of the Tujia people. She transformed to protect all living beings along the Qingjiang River, and her image has become a spiritual symbol of Enshi culture.