One-Day Tour of Xuanen, Enshi | An Encounter with Natural Wonders and Local Culture
| An Encounter with Natural Wonders and Local Culture. Enshi, a magical land named by "Chinese National Geographic" as "one of the most beautiful places in China," captivates visitors with its unique karst landscape and rich Tujia ethnic culture, becoming a poetic destination for countless travelers. This May Day holiday, I set foot on this enchanting land. Let me share my travel experience with you so you can easily explore Enshi too!
I. Pre-trip Preparation
1. Documents: ID card is essential; students, don't forget your student ID for discounts at some attractions.
2. Clothing: The weather in Enshi during May Day holiday is comfortable, but temperature varies greatly between morning and evening in mountainous areas. Bring a light jacket, breathable summer clothes, and comfortable sneakers for walking around scenic spots.
3. Items: Sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, umbrella, and power bank are must-haves. Also remember to bring common medications like digestive medicine and cold medicine, just in case.
II. Transportation Guide
1. External Transportation: Flying directly to Enshi Xujiaping Airport is convenient with many flights available; taking a train or high-speed rail to Enshi Station also offers many options and scenic views along the way.
2. Internal Transportation: Enshi's attractions are scattered and public transportation isn't very convenient. It's recommended to hire a private car for flexibility and the ability to stop anytime to enjoy the scenery along the way; alternatively, you can join local tours for a hassle-free experience.
III. Accommodation Recommendations
1. Downtown: Staying near the train station is recommended for convenient transportation to various attractions. There are many hotels and guesthouses in the area with reasonable prices.
2. Scenic Areas: For a deeper experience, there are distinctive guesthouses near Enshi Grand Canyon and Nü'er City (Daughter's City) where you can enjoy the unique tranquility and atmosphere of the scenic areas at night. Remember to book in advance on major platforms as May Day is peak tourist season.
IV. Five-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Enshi, Encountering Tujia Culture
- Morning: Arrive in Enshi, check in at the hotel, and take a short rest.
- Noon: Begin your culinary journey at Hangkong Road Food Street, tasting the sour and spicy Enshi tofu skin, flavorful Tujia bacon, and crispy-outside-tender-inside baked potatoes. Every bite offers Enshi's unique flavors.
- Afternoon: Stroll through Tujia Daughter's City and admire the traditional Tujia stilt houses. Visit the Folk Museum to learn about Tujia history and culture; you can also experience Xilankarp brocade weaving to feel the charm of traditional craftsmanship.
- Evening: Enjoy dinner at Daughter's City Food Street, don't miss local snacks like Tujia baked flatbread and oil pastries. After dinner, watch folk performances such as the Hand-waving Dance and Wedding Crying Ceremony, then join the lively bonfire party to fully experience Tujia culture.
- Day 2: Exploring Enshi Grand Canyon, Appreciating Nature's Masterpiece
- Morning: Take the direct bus from Enshi Bus Station to Enshi Grand Canyon. Purchase tickets and shuttle bus passes in advance.
- Morning: Upon arrival, first visit Yunlong Ground Fissure. Walk down along the plank road where waterfalls cascade down from steep cliffs. The deep canyon feels like "the most beautiful scar on Earth."
- Noon: Have lunch at restaurants in the scenic area. Mountain bacon fried rice, wild vegetable pancakes and other snacks and simple meals will energize you for the afternoon activities.
- Afternoon: Take the cable car up the mountain to Qixing Village. Walk along the cliff-side plank road to admire unique landscapes like "Incense Stick" and "Mother and Child Deep Love." With steep cliffs on one side and beautiful valleys on the other, it's thrilling yet exciting. You can choose to take the descending escalator when going down, which is easy and effortless.
- Evening: Return to downtown and enjoy a hearty dinner at the night market. Try the bacon trotters hotpot, with rich smoky flavor complementing tender pig's trotters and various side dishes - it gets more delicious with every bite and rewards your tired self.
- Day 3: Pingshan Canyon, Entering a Real-life "Emerald City"
- Morning: Drive to Pingshan Canyon, known as "China's Sipadan." The emerald-green water is crystal clear to the bottom. Riding a small wooden boat feels like floating in the air - it's as beautiful as a fairyland and perfect for photos. Light-colored clothing is recommended for better pictures.
- Noon: Have lunch at a nearby farmhouse restaurant, tasting local specialties such as Tujia bacon, wild vegetable fried eggs, and Xuanen grilled live fish to experience authentic rural flavors.
- Afternoon: Continue exploring Pingshan Canyon, discover the deep canyon's beautiful scenery, and take photos. After finishing, return to downtown Enshi.
- Day 4: Suoboya Stone Forest, Traveling Through a 460-Million-Year-Old Underwater World
- Morning: Take a special bus from Enshi Bus Station to Suoboya Stone Forest, the world's first Ordovician stone forest. Its unique "dissolution patterns," "crowned" landscapes, and strange peaks make you feel like you're in an underwater maze.
- Noon: Dine at restaurants in or around the scenic area. Try the local "hezha" with its delicate texture and rich bean flavor that lingers in your mouth. The Tujia bacon trotters hotpot is also worth trying.
- Afternoon: Continue exploring Suoboya Stone Forest, discover natural wonders, and take photos - every spot is a perfect photo background.
- Evening: Return downtown, visit local supermarkets to buy souvenirs like Enshi jade dew tea, selenium-rich tea, and Tujia brocade.
- Day 5: Shiziguan Floating Bridge, A Perfect Ending to Your Journey
- Morning: Visit Shiziguan Scenic Area and experience the popular floating bridge. Driving on the floating bridge feels like gliding over water - super cool! Enjoy the canyon scenery along the way and take photos.
- Noon: Have lunch at restaurants near the scenic area, tasting local specialties.
- Afternoon: Head to the airport or station according to your departure time, concluding your pleasant Enshi journey.
V. Food Recommendations
1. Zhangguan Hezha: A Tujia specialty made mainly from tofu residue with various side dishes. It has a unique taste and goes perfectly with rice.
2. Tujia Oil Tea Soup: A traditional favorite of Tujia people - aromatic, smooth, and fresh, delicious and refreshing.
3. Baked Potatoes: Crispy outside and tender inside, sprinkled with chili powder and green onions, these aromatic potatoes are a common street snack.
4. Bacon Trotters Hotpot: Traditionally smoked bacon trotters cooked with Enshi small potatoes in a hotpot, resulting in a rich broth and strong smoky flavor.
5. Xuanen Grilled Live Fish: Freshly killed and grilled fish with tender meat, served with secret sauce and side dishes - spicy and flavorful.
VI. Cost Breakdown
- Tickets: Enshi Grand Canyon about 200 yuan, Pingshan Canyon about 210 yuan, Suoboya Stone Forest about 108 yuan, Shiziguan about 120 yuan, totaling approximately 638 yuan.
- Transportation: Private car costs 400-600 yuan per day (depending on vehicle type and itinerary). If shared among 4 people, about 100-150 yuan per person per day; transportation within scenic areas and cable cars cost about 200-300 yuan.
- Accommodation: Downtown hotels cost 200-400 yuan per night, scenic area guesthouses 300-600 yuan. Calculating an average of 300 yuan per night, 4 nights would cost about 600 yuan per person.
- Dining: Daily food expenses are about 150-200 yuan, totaling about 800-1,000 yuan for 5 days.
- Total: Excluding shopping, the total cost per person is about 2,500-3,000 yuan.
VII. Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
1. Accommodation Tips: Avoid booking accommodations in busy commercial areas like Daughter's City and Wuyangba during peak season when prices are several times higher than usual. Choose areas near the train station or Fengyu Bridge, which offer convenient transportation, many hotel options, and cheaper prices.
2. Dining Tips: Most Enshi cuisine is spicy; inform servers in advance if you can't eat spicy food. Food in scenic areas is expensive, so bring some snacks.
3. Ticket Booking Tips: Book attraction tickets in advance on official websites or travel apps. For popular attractions, book tickets several days ahead. Be careful with low-price group purchases as they may have hidden costs - check details carefully.
4. Sightseeing Tips: Enshi Grand Canyon, Suoboya Stone Forest and other attractions are large with many steps. Carry a map while visiting, pay attention to safety, wear comfortable shoes, and consider using scenic area transportation facilities if you have limited physical strength.
5. Transportation Tips: Enshi's attractions are far apart. If driving yourself, be aware that mountain roads have many curves - not recommended if you're unfamiliar with the conditions. Don't trust unlicensed taxi drivers soliciting at stations as they may overcharge and be unsafe. Choose regular transportation or pre-booked private car services.