Enshi Grand Canyon

恩施大峡谷 · ēn shī dà xiá gǔ

A 108 km limestone canyon with a 150 m stone needle called 'One Incense Stick' (一炷香). Karst cliffs, cloud seas, and Tujia villages on the rim.

The story

Enshi is Hubei's Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture — the food, dances and wooden stilt houses are different from the Han lowlands. The canyon rivals Zhangjiajie with a fraction of the crowds.

Getting there

HSR Wuhan → Enshi (~4h), then bus 1.5h

Local tips

• Take the Seven-Star Village cable car up, walk 4–5h down through Qixingzhai and Yunlong Ground Fissure.
• Stay one night in Enshi city; try the Nü'er Cheng (女儿城) folk street at night.
• HSR from Wuhan takes about 4h; Enshi airport is faster.