Irresistible attractions

You can also visit the Yellow Crane Bridge Peak Forest scenic area to enjoy similar karst landscapes of rock pillars and peaks.

In the nearby Wild Three Gorges scenic area, visitors can take a cruise to see mountains and waterfalls.

The Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture draws visitors due to its rich tourism resources - ranging from ethnic culture and natural landscapes to delicious cuisine.

Enshi's soil, spring water, animals and plants have a higher amount of selenium - an essential trace element that may help prevent chronic diseases and boost the immune system - than other parts of China. In recent years, the government is working hard to promote healthy food that contains selenium.

Official figures show that tourist arrivals in Enshi prefecture rose from around 16.6 million in 2011 to about 43.7 million in 2016, with an average year-on-year increase of 21.3 percent. Tourism income was 5.64 billion yuan ($853 million) in 2011 and reached 30 billion yuan in 2016, making the prefecture one of the fastest growing destinations in Hubei province.

Enshi is 80 minutes by plane and four hours by train from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.