Western Hubei

The mountainous ecological region of western Hubei, with the Shennongjia primeval forest, the Taoist architecture of Wudang Mountain and Enshi Grand Canyon.

Western Hubei is the core of Hubei's "Western Hubei Ecological and Cultural Tourism Circle," including Shiyan, Shennongjia, Yichang and Enshi. Wudang Mountain is a Taoist holy site and World Heritage Site, with the Golden Summit, Purple Cloud Palace and Southern Cliff Palace built into the mountainside. Shennongjia is a World Natural Heritage Site, with Shennong Peak, Dajiuhu Wetland, Guanmenshan and the legend of the "Wild Man," and summer temperatures average only in the twenties °C. Enshi Grand Canyon is known for the Pillar of Incense, the Yunlong Earth Crack and its cliffside corridor, while Tujia Girls' City showcases folk culture. Yichang links the Three Gorges Dam, Three Gorges People's Home and Xingshan, hometown of Wang Zhaojun, and also takes in Badong's Shennong Stream and Wufeng's Chaibuxi. Common combinations are Wudang Mountain – Shennongjia – Yichang (5–6 days), or Yichang – Shennongjia – Enshi. With the Zhengzhou–Chongqing and Wuhan–Shiyan high-speed railways open, transport among Shiyan, Shennongjia (Xingshan), Yichang and Enshi is convenient; within Shennongjia you need to self-drive or use scenic-area buses. Mountain areas see frequent summer thunderstorms, and in winter snow means you need tire chains. Western Hubei's food deserves attention too: Enshi Tujia cured pork, Yichang cool shrimp (a sweet rice jelly dessert), Fangxian yellow rice wine and Shennongjia wild mushrooms each have their own flavor; in summer you can stay long-term to escape the heat in Shennongjia, Lichuan and elsewhere, making this an important summer retreat in central China.

Destinations

Itineraries