Enshi offers different ways to explore history, Tujia culture and the landscape: an exhibition sheds light on the wartime period, Enshi Daughter City draws on traditional Tujia architectural styles, and Qingjiang Chuangtan is known for a river stretch with rafting. If you are looking for a hotel in Enshi, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay.
War history in a former government building
The Enshi Anti-Japanese War History Exhibition Hall is located at 6 Park Street in the old Liujiaoting district. It is housed in a former office building of the Enshi Party and County Office, which is protected as a major cultural heritage site in Hubei Province. The exhibition covers the relocation to Enshi of the Hubei provincial government and the headquarters of the Sixth War Zone after the fall of Wuhan.
Documents, photographs, models and multimedia bring the history to life. A 2023 municipal cultural services report also described digital scenarios and high technology used to recreate historical events. It also mentioned an online exhibition through which items from the collection and stories from Enshi were shared.
Tujia architecture and intangible cultural heritage
Enshi Daughter City is located in Qiliping, on the outskirts of Enshi. This tourist and leisure district is designed in the style of a traditional Tujia old town. The city of Enshi has recognized the site as a base for passing on and presenting intangible cultural heritage. Two aspects thus come together here: traditional architecture and cultural interpretation.
Tusi culture and sites in the old town
Enshi Tusi City is a Tusi culture attraction within the city of Enshi. Jiujintang is one of the visitor highlights within the complex. At a cultural event in 2022, the South Gate Tower, Wusheng Palace and Wenchang Shrine were included as historic sites in Enshi Old Town (Shizhou Ancient City).
The themes are distinct: Enshi Tusi City represents Tusi culture, while the three old-town sites were connected with a cultural program at the time. Together with the wartime exhibition, they offer several different ways to explore the city’s history and culture.
Qingjiang Chuangtan: river route and rafting
Qingjiang Chuangtan follows the Qingjiang River from the urban area of Enshi toward Hunshuihe Bridge and is 13 kilometers long. The rafting experience involves traveling by inflatable boat through five gorges and 48 rapids. Steep cliffs rise along the banks, alongside unusual rock formations, waterfalls and springs. Water conditions can vary by season. Before planning a trip, check whether operations are running on your preferred date.
Plan your stay around your interests
The exhibition and old-town sites offer historical insights; Enshi Daughter City combines Tujia architecture with intangible cultural heritage; Qingjiang Chuangtan offers a very different focus on river scenery and rafting. These distinctions can help you decide which interests to prioritize during your stay in Enshi.
Discover more destinations: Xianning, Huanggang, Wuhan, Xiangyang, Jingmen, Suizhou, Huangshi, Yichang
For the main travel overview: Hubei.
