Writen by Shuo - A Chinese writer in South Korea
📍Location: Enshi, Hubei Province, China
I went to Enshi on a whim — and walked into a place I can only describe as a living fairy tale.
You may never have heard of this place. I hadn’t either — until I saw it featured by CNN as one of China’s most beautiful hidden paradises, and by Chinese National Geography as “one of the most beautiful places in China.” Even UNESCO put parts of it on the World Heritage List.
But none of those titles could prepare me for what I saw.
A place where every season feels like stepping into a painting.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
And the roads? They’re an adventure in themselves.
1.Cliffside Highway — A Hand-Carved Mountain Road Built by Villagers
I’m standing on this stretch of mountain road between Shuanghe Village and Muliyuan Village in Xintang Township, Enshi, and honestly, I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. Locals call it the “Sky Road,” but to me, it feels more like a miracle highway clinging to the edge of a cliff.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
This road wasn’t built by machines or big construction crews — it was literally carved out by local villagers, pickaxe by pickaxe. In an age where we use drones and AI to build highways, these folks hacked a lifeline into the mountains the old-fashioned way — with grit and calloused hands.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
The road snakes along the mountainside, hovering high above the valley — like a thin ribbon stretching across the cliffs. As I ride along in a car, I glance out the window and see the drop just a few feet away. Yeah, my heart definitely skips a beat.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Sure, the road is dangerous — no question. But it’s also stunning, almost unreal. To me, it’s more than just a route — it’s a journey that hits deep, a story of people battling nature and finding a way to live with it.
2.Shiziguan Floating Walkway — A Path That Lets You Walk on Water
This floating walkway stretches for about 500 meters and winds along a curvy river in Shiziguan Scenic Area, located in Xuan’en County, Enshi.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
In the past, the only way to enjoy the views here was by boat. But now, I get to walk on the water — literally — and experience nature up close and personal.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
The water is this kind of crystal-clear green, and lush green mountains rise on both sides. As I walk, I hear birds chirping and insects buzzing — it feels like I’ve stepped into a slower, more peaceful world. Honestly, it’s the kind of spot where you just want to take a deep breath and say, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed.”
3.Sidu River Bridge — China’s tallest cable-stayed bridge built deep in the mountains
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Driving across the Siduhe Bridge felt like stepping into a movie set. Located in Yesanguan Town, Badong County of Enshi, this was hands down one of the most jaw-dropping feats of engineering I saw on my trip. It’s the highest suspension bridge built in the mountains of China, with the deck towering 560 meters (about 1,840 feet) above the valley floor — that’s like stacking 200 stories straight up!
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Sure, my heart skipped a beat while driving across — it’s hard not to feel a little nervous at that height — but the view of the surrounding mountains completely blew me away. That moment gave me a whole new appreciation for the phrase “breathtaking beauty in rugged terrain.”
4.Enshi Grand Canyon
Press enter or click to view image in full size
One of the most jaw-dropping experiences I had in Enshi was visiting the Enshi Grand Canyon. Honestly, it could totally hold its own against the Grand Canyon back home in the U.S. Everything here is 100% carved by nature — untouched forests, waterfalls that look like they’re dropping from the sky, cloud seas floating right on mountaintops, and bizarre karst formations that made me feel like I was on another planet. But what really blew my mind was this man-made plank trail built right into the side of the cliff. It felt like walking in midair. As I stepped along it, I looked down to see tiny villages, open fields, and rivers far below. It was both breathtaking and nerve-wracking — in the best way possible.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
What really surprised me, though, was finding something super modern tucked into this wild landscape — the longest sightseeing elevator in China! It stretches a whopping 688 meters and is located in the Qixingzhai area of the canyon. It connects the main entrance to the return center down below. The top of the elevator is built with traditional Tujia-style gray tile roofing, and there are vines and plants all around it, so it totally blends in with the natural vibe of the canyon. Riding it felt like floating up through a movie scene — the views unfolding all around me were just unreal.
Get Notes by Shuo’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Subscribe
- Remember me for faster sign in
🎫 Tickets
When I went, it was peak season, so the full-price ticket was 120 RMB (around 17 bucks). If you’re a student or senior, you can snag a discounted ticket for just 80 RMB(around 11 bucks). During the off-season, everyone pays the lower price — 80 RMB across the board.
🕗 Opening Hours
During peak season (March 1 — October 30), they open at 8:00 AM and close at 4:00 PM. In the off-season (November 1 — end of February), hours shift a bit — 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Heads-up: the schedule can change slightly, so I recommend checking the day’s official notice before heading out.
5.Ping Shan Canyon in Hefeng — a hidden paradise you can only reach by boat
Press enter or click to view image in full size
You’ve probably seen that viral photo of a boat “floating” on crystal-clear water, right? Well, I finally got to see it in real life — and it was taken right here in Ping Shan Canyon, located in Hefeng County, Enshi. The place is pretty remote, which honestly works in its favor. The tough access has helped keep this natural wonder pristine and untouched.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
We hopped on a small boat and drifted into a river so clear and green it looked like something out of a dream. The water was so transparent, our boat seemed to hover in mid-air. Towering cliffs rose up on both sides, and it was so quiet I could literally hear birds flapping their wings. In that moment, it felt like I had stepped into another world — like nature had hit the pause button on reality, just for us.
6.The Lichuan Xiaoxi Metasequoia Forest — A Fairytale World I Stumbled Into
As I walked through Xiaoxi Village in Lichuan, Enshi, I realized I was completely surrounded by Metasequoia trees — to my left, right, front, and back, all I could see were these towering giants.
The deeper I wandered into the forest, the more it felt like I had stepped into another realm — vast, endless, quiet, and tinged with something mysterious, like a hidden world just waiting to be discovered.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
These Metasequoias are rare species left over from the Quaternary glacial period. When scientists discovered them here, it caused quite a stir. The area was quickly declared a top-level national nature reserve, and the trees earned the nickname “The First Tree Under Heaven.”
Press enter or click to view image in full size
When early autumn rolls in, the forest turns golden under the evening sun — seriously, it glows like something straight out of a storybook.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Walking here is pure magic. I felt like I was whispering to the leaves, greeting the green grass, humming tunes with the cows and sheep, and striking up casual conversations with the shepherds. It was one of those moments that made me stop and think, “Wow, this is the kind of peace I didn’t even know I needed.”
7.Asia’s Largest Dry Cave — Tenglong Cave in Lichuan
This place absolutely blew my mind! Tenglong Cave, located in Lichuan city in Hubei’s Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, is said to be the largest dry cave in all of Asia. The entrance alone is massive — 74 meters high and 64 meters wide. I looked up and literally thought, “This could be straight out of Lord of the Rings!” They’ve mapped almost 60 kilometers of cave passages, covering more than 2 million square meters — it’s like a full-on underground empire.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
It’s not just huge — it’s insanely intricate. Inside, there are five mountain-like rock formations, ten massive chambers, and over ten underground waterfalls rushing through the space. It’s like nature made a secret labyrinth — mountains inside caves, caves inside mountains, with both dry and water-filled passages twisting together. Some spots are as tall as 237 meters, and the widest part is 174 meters — I’m not even kidding when I say it feels like you could fly a plane in there.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
8. Luyuanping — A Tiny Bridge to a Hidden Paradise
Luyuanping is tucked away in Banqiao Town, Enshi. If I had to explain it simply, I’d say it’s like the quieter twin of the famous Enshi Grand Canyon — one lies before the mountain, the other behind it — but both are absolutely top-tier in terms of natural beauty.
It’s an untouched village, and here’s the kicker — there’s still no road leading in. To get there, I had to hike down 1,520 stone steps. Yeah, you read that right. It’s not exactly a casual Sunday stroll, but totally worth the effort.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Its jaw-dropping beauty, raw simplicity, and that “hidden-away-from-the-world” mystery vibe — it’s got everything you’d want if you’re into adventure spots that feel untouched by time.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
People who’ve been there often say, “Once you go, you never want to leave — and once you leave, you instantly want to go back.” And honestly? I totally get it.
— — — — — — — — — -
At the end of the day, Enshi isn’t the kind of place you “check off” a list. The mountains here don’t just sit pretty — they speak in silence. The rivers don’t just flow — they heal in whispers. Every turn holds a story, every village holds a little warmth.
So now I’ve got to ask you —
If you had the chance to visit Enshi, which path would you take first?