Enshi: Tujia Culture, History and the Qingjiang

Enshi offers several ways to plan a trip: in the city, exhibitions and historic cultural sites take centre stage; along the Qingjiang, gorges, rapids and riverside landscapes shape the rafting experience. Tujia and Tusi culture add further dimensions. First consider whether your stay will focus more on history, cultural sites or a river activity. This will help you arrange your holiday plans around your interests.

War history and how it is presented

The Enshi Anti-Japanese War History Exhibition Hall is located at 6 Park Street in the old Liujiaoting district of Enshi. It is housed in a former office building of the Enshi Party Committee and County Government, protected as an important cultural relic of Hubei Province. The exhibition covers the relocation of the Hubei provincial government and the headquarters of the Sixth War Zone to Enshi after the fall of Wuhan. Documents, photographs, models and multimedia present this history in a variety of ways.

A municipal cultural overview from 2023 also described digital scenarios and high technology used to recreate historical events, as well as an online exhibition featuring collection items and stories from Enshi. Alongside documentary materials, the focus therefore includes digital approaches to presenting history. The exhibition’s subject differs from cultural sites defined by Tujia old-town architecture, intangible cultural heritage or Tusi culture.

Tujia, Tusi and old-town history

Enshi Daughter City is a tourist and leisure district in Qiliping on the outskirts of Enshi, designed in the architectural style of a traditional Tujia old town. The city of Enshi has recognised the site as a base for passing on and performing intangible cultural heritage. If a particular performance is important to your trip, check the current schedule in advance. This helps distinguish the site’s Tujia character from its role as a venue for passing on and performing traditions.

Enshi Tusi City is an attraction dedicated to Tusi culture in the urban area of Enshi. Jiujintang is specifically mentioned as one of the visitor highlights within the complex. In Enshi’s old town, Shizhou Ancient City, the South Gate Tower, Wusheng Palace and Wenchang Shrine were also included as historic sites in a cultural event in 2022. These examples have different emphases: Tujia old-town architecture and intangible cultural heritage sit alongside Tusi culture and historic sites in the old town.

The Qingjiang as a river experience

Qingjiang Chuangtan offers a distinctly different focus. The rafting route follows the Qingjiang from the urban area of Enshi towards Hunshuihe Bridge and is 13 kilometres long. The inflatable-raft journey passes through five gorges and 48 rapids. Steep cliffs rise along the river stretch; there are also unusual rock formations, waterfalls and springs. Water conditions can vary by season. If you plan to go rafting, check in advance whether it is currently operating and what conditions to expect.

The travel experiences are therefore quite different: the exhibition and historic cultural sites introduce Enshi’s history and cultural themes, while Qingjiang Chuangtan combines a river route with rafting and striking riverside landscapes. When choosing a holiday rental, consider which focus matters more for your stay. Match the locations of specific accommodation options to your personal itinerary. If you want to combine several themes, plan the cultural sites and river activity as separate parts of your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wuhan, Xiangyang, Yichang, Jingmen, Ezhou, Jingzhou, Shiyan, Xiaogan

For the main travel overview: Hubei.