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Enshi Travel Guide

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  • Trackers at Shennong Stream
    Trackers at Shennong Stream
  • Shennong Stream
    Shennong Stream
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'Endless green mountains to walk on, endless clear water going away' - poet of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) described the scenery in Enshi. Located in the southwest of Hubei Province, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is bordered by the Yangtze River to the north and Hunan province to the south. Covering an area of 24,000 square kilometers (9,266 square miles), Enshi has a population of 3,910,800 (2007), more than one third of which belong to Tujia and a half belong to Miao. It is the only autonomous prefecture at the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and also the youngest prefecture in China, which was established in 1983.

History 
The history of Enshi can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC) as the territory of Bazi Kingdom. It is one of the most ancient areas where the ancestors led their life. The domain of present Enshi was basically fixed in 1936.

Topography
Domain, about 220 kilometers (137 miles) from the East and West, North and South is separated by about 260 kilometers (162 miles). The whole region consists of three mountains lying tilted - Wu Mountains in the north, Wuling Mountains in the southeast and center and Qiyue Mountains in the west, with an elevation above 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) in general. The north, southeast and northwest areas are higher and the terrain slopes downward to the south and central regions of Enshi.

Climate 
The prefecture bears a subtropical monsoon mountain climate and is humid all year round. Enshi is seldom bothered by extreme heat in midsummer and chilliness in midwinter. It is usually foggy and rainy. Influenced by the complex topography, hours of sunshine become less from northeast to southwest while the temperature declines with the rise of altitude. The annual average temperature of Enshi is around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

Tourist Resources 
What particularly attracts tourists to Enshi is its picturesque natural scenery, especially the bizarre caves. The soil in Enshi is rich in selenium. The countryside has a diverse range of flora and fauna. 75 percent of the region is covered with forests and it has enjoyed the reputation of being a 'natural botanical garden'. Its various ethnic groups with their unique custom are also interesting for tourists. The famous attractions include Qingjiang Chuangtan, Yumu Village, Building Group in Dashuijing Village, Enshi Grand Valley, Flying Dragon Cavern and Xingdou Mountain Nature Reserve. 

 What to See: Shennong Stream 

Questions & Answers on Enshi Travel Guide
  • We are trying to find out buses/coaches from Wuhan or Yichang to Enshi. Any help would be really appreciated - ie cost and travel time
    Thank you

    Asked By seaview33 (UK) | Jan. 19, 2010 04:39
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