Enshi is incredibly beautiful, but I honestly don’t recommend going in August because............
Enshi Travel Guide (Including Ticket Prices)
Enshi, located in the southwest of Hubei Province, hidden between the Wuling Mountains and the Qingjiang River basin, is home to ethnic minorities such as the Tujia and Miao. Here, you can find canyon wonders comparable to Colorado, misty primeval forests, and unique geological phenomena combined with rich ethnic customs, earning it the title of "China’s Most Beautiful Place." Below is a practical guide covering attractions, food, accommodation, and budget to help you explore Enshi.
1. Must-Visit Attractions and Ticket Prices
Enshi Grand Canyon Tickets: Qixingzhai (core scenic area): 105 RMB/person
Yunlong Rift (geological wonder): 50 RMB/person
Scenic area shuttle bus (must buy): 30 RMB/person
Cable car (one way): 105 RMB/person (optional)
Vertical elevator (downward): 30 RMB/person (optional)
Highlights: Known as the "Natural Museum of Karst Landforms" on par with the Colorado Grand Canyon in the USA, hike spots like "One Incense Stick" and "Cliff Corridor" to experience nature’s craftsmanship.
Recommended visit time: 1 day, wear comfortable sports shoes, bring sun hats and mosquito repellent in summer.
Tenglong Cave Tickets: 150 RMB/person (includes shuttle bus)
Special experiences: Laser show (10:20/15:00): free to watch, a visual feast combining light and shadow with the cave.
Tujia folk song and dance performance (11:10/16:00): free, experience hand-waving dance, crying bride customs, and more.
Highlights: Asia’s largest karst cave, with hot air balloon rides inside (120 RMB/person, 5 minutes) offering a panoramic view.
Tip: Cave temperature is constant at 12-18°C, bring a light jacket.
Tusi City Tickets: 45 RMB/person
Highlights: The largest Tujia stilted building complex in China, climb the Nine-Entry Hall for panoramic views, rent Tujia costumes for photos (20 RMB/set/hour).
Cultural experience: Free folk performances daily at 10:00 and 15:00, participate in Tujia wedding customs interaction.
Pingshan Canyon Tickets: 210 RMB/person (includes boat ticket)
Popular activity: Float on a small wooden boat on the "Suspended River," shoot photos like the famous "Chinese Semporna."
Route suggestions:
A line (classic): Canyon trail + suspended boat (about 3 hours)
B line (adventure): climb 1800 steps, suitable for those with strong physical fitness.
Tip: Crowded on weekends, better to visit on weekdays; wear light-colored clothes for better photos.
Luyuanping Tickets: 128 RMB/person
Highlights: Undeveloped primitive village, hike down 1440 steps of the sky ladder to the valley bottom, explore rifts, waterfalls, and century-old Tujia ancient villages.
Suitable for: Outdoor enthusiasts, about 5 hours total, wear non-slip shoes.
2. Specialty Food and Average Cost
Must-try Tujia dish Zhangguan Hezha: 40 RMB per person, charged per head (small portion 30 RMB/person), Hezha (yellow soybean paste) served with chili and minced meat, free refills of side dishes.
Yuan’s Youxiang: 6 RMB each, crispy outside and tender inside, filled with shredded potato, minced meat, and chili, a local breakfast favorite.
Tujia cured meat: Recommended "Jiumuzi Dangjia" restaurant, 60 RMB per person, must order cured pork knuckle stewed with potatoes and Shefan (wild vegetable sticky rice).
Street snack Kang Potato: 5 RMB per bowl, crispy outside and sticky inside, sprinkled with chili powder and scallions, the most authentic night market stall.
Baiyang dried tofu: 10 RMB per pack, paper-thin, spicy or five-spice flavor, great as a souvenir.
Selenium-rich tea: Enshi is the world’s selenium capital, Yulu tea (green tea) costs 50-100 RMB per liang, available for tasting on site.
Night market recommendations:
Daughter City Night Market: free entry, nightly Tujia song and dance performances, recommended grilled live fish (68 RMB each), Shefan (15 RMB per serving).
Aviation Road Night Market: popular with locals, try divine tofu (cold jelly) and bao noodles (wontons) and other snacks.
3. Accommodation Recommendations and Budget
Budget: Around Enshi Railway Station: chains like Home Inn, Hanting, 150-200 RMB/night, convenient transportation.
Daughter City Inn: Tujia-style homestay, 100-150 RMB/night, great for experiencing folk culture.
Comfort: Enshi Ruixiang International Hotel: five-star, located downtown, river view rooms about 600 RMB/night, includes breakfast and pool.
Grand Canyon Daughter Village Resort Hotel: inside the scenic area, 400-500 RMB/night, windows open to canyon sea of clouds.
Special homestays: Pingshan Canyon homestays: valley bottom or mid-mountain, 300-500 RMB/night, enjoy exclusive morning mist views.
Luyuanping farmhouse: 150-200 RMB/night, stay in Tujia wooden houses, experience making glutinous rice cakes and bonfire parties.
4. Transportation Guide and Costs
External transport:
Airplane: Enshi Xujiaping Airport, limited direct flights, can fly to Wuhan first (tickets 300-600 RMB) then transfer to high-speed train (2.5 hours, 170 RMB).
High-speed train: Enshi Station, about 2 hours from Wuhan/Chongqing, ticket price 170-200 RMB.
Self-driving: Wuhan to Enshi about 5 hours, tolls 200 RMB, suitable for family trips.
Local transport:
Scenic area shuttle bus: Daughter City/train station has direct buses to Grand Canyon and Tenglong Cave, one way 25-40 RMB.
Car rental: 4-person SUV about 500 RMB/day, good for group carpooling.
Bus: city attractions accessible by bus (2 RMB per ride), but service is infrequent.
5. Classic 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Canyon Adventure
Morning: Enshi Grand Canyon (Qixingzhai + Yunlong Rift) → Afternoon: Daughter City (dinner + folk performance)
Day 2: Caves and Ancient Villages
Morning: Tenglong Cave (laser show + song and dance) → Afternoon: Tusi City (photos + cultural experience)
Day 3: Secret Spots Check-in
Morning: Pingshan Canyon (suspended boat photos) → Afternoon: Luyuanping (hiking adventure)
6. Budget Reference (per person)
Budget: 700-1000 RMB
(Accommodation 150 RMB/night × 2 + attraction tickets 400 RMB + meals 100 RMB/day × 3 + transport 150 RMB)
Comfort: 1500-2000 RMB
(Accommodation 400 RMB/night × 2 + attraction tickets 600 RMB + meals 150 RMB/day × 3 + transport 300 RMB + entertainment 200 RMB)
7. Seasonal Activities and Tips
Spring (March-May) Highlights: Grand Canyon rhododendron sea, lush greenery inside Tenglong Cave, great for hiking and photography.
Tip: Mountain areas are rainy, bring raincoat and waterproof shoe covers.
Summer (June-August) Recommended for cooling off: Pingbaying Forest (ticket 90 RMB), average temperature 22°C, camping available (tent rental 100 RMB/tent).
Activities: Qingjiang River rafting (150 RMB/person, 2 hours), water fights to beat the heat.
Autumn (September-November) Red leaf season: Changlinggang Forest Farm (free), golden dawn redwoods cover the hills, perfect for self-driving autumn tours.
Food: Try new rice and glutinous rice cakes, experience Tujia harvest festival.
Winter (December-February) Snow scenery: Qiyue Mountain (free), rare southern grassland snow scene, horseback riding (50 RMB/hour).
Hot springs: Xianfeng Pingbaying Hot Spring (128 RMB/person), soak to warm up.
8. Notes
Terrain: Enshi has many mountain roads and long distances between attractions, wear comfortable sports shoes and bring motion sickness medicine.
Weather: Large temperature difference between day and night in the mountains, bring a light jacket even in summer; carry an umbrella during rainy season (June-August).
Culture: Respect Tujia customs, remove shoes when entering stilted buildings, do not touch Miao women’s silver jewelry.
Shopping: Daughter City silver jewelry is mostly handicrafts, bargain carefully (start at half price).
The beauty of Enshi lies in its wildness and originality, as well as its tranquility and depth. Whether challenging cliff plank roads or boating on clear waters, here you can feel the awe of nature and the warmth of ethnic culture. Take this guide and start your secret journey!