Enshi in November faded the crowds and sultry heat of the summer, and ushered in the “golden peak season” of autumn. At this time, the lush green of the canyon has not faded, and the stream is still clear, and there is a surprise that “there are fewer people and the scenery is beautiful, and the cost is halved”. From weather, clothing, itinerary to precautions, this guide will help you easily unlock Enshi’s autumn secret realm.
1. Going to Enshi in November: 3 reasons to tell you “it’s just right”
The weather is comfortable and the autumn scenery is intriguing: Enshi in November is mainly sunny and cloudy. Good weather can be encountered on 80% of the days, and occasional light rain will end within half an hour. During the day, the temperature is stable at 15-18℃, and you can travel easily with a thin coat; the vegetation in the mountains is still emerald green, with sporadic autumn yellows, whether it is canyons or stone forests, taking pictures comes with a “fresh filter”.
Wrong peak experience, no need to be crowded: As the off-season for tourism, Enshi Scenic Area in November will completely say goodbye to “crowded people”-there is no need to line up for “floating boats” in Pingshan Canyon to take pictures. The cliff plank road of Enshi Grand Canyon can enjoy the scenery calmly, and there will be no traffic jam when driving on the Lion Pass pontoon Bridge. Every attraction can slowlyStroll around and take a closer look.
Cost-friendly and cost-effective: accommodation, transportation, and travel expenses have ushered in a year-round trough. Comfortable hotels with elevators around the city’s Daughter City are only 150-300 yuan per person per night; the scenic bed and breakfast next to Enshi Grand Canyon can be stayed for more than 200-400 yuan; the 5-day and 4-night pure fun itinerary is much cheaper than the summer.
2. Weather and clothing in Enshi in November: be precise and prepare not to step on thunder
(1) Weather characteristics
Temperature range: 15-18℃ during the day, 8-12℃ at night, the temperature difference between day and night is about 10℃, and the temperature in mountainous areas (such as the top of Enshi Grand Canyon and Fenghuangshan Forest Park) will be 2-3℃ lower.
Precipitation: There is little precipitation, dry air, and occasional short-term showers. There is no need to carry heavy rain gear, just a portable umbrella or jacket liner.
(2) The recommended
core collocation for wearing: ”Thin jacket + long-sleeved inner wear’ is the main one. The inner wear is pure cotton or thin knitwear, and the outer wear is lightweight and windproof (such as denim jacket and thin windbreaker), which is convenient to take off when it is hot during the day, and put on in the morning and evening or when it is cold in the mountains.
Details to supplement:
Choose comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes. There are many canyons and trails in Enshi. Non-slip and well-supporting shoes can reduce fatigue.
There is no need to bring heavy clothing such as down jackets and thick sweaters. You only need to prepare a thin scarf. If you go to the top of Phoenix Mountain and the Grand Canyon, you can resist it.Slightly cool mountain breeze;
if you plan to take pictures on a cruise in Pingshan Canyon and Qingjiang River, you can bring a light-colored top (such as white and light blue) to match the clear landscape.
3. Classic itinerary for 5 days and 4 nights in Enshi in November: play all over the core attractions and don’t look back
Itinerary summary：
| day | 行程安排 | 核心亮点 | 注意事项 |
| Day1 | Arrive at Enshi → Check in to hotels around Daughter City → Tushi City (check in to Tushi Palace Building) → Daughter City (shopping, eating snacks) → Fenghuangshan Forest Park (observation Deck to take pictures of Enshi City, watching the sunset) → Wuyangba Pedestrian Street (eat special food) → Wind and Rain Bridge / along the Qingjiang River (enjoy the night view) | Fenghuangshan Forest Park is the best place to take city views + sunset, and the Qingjiang sunset is a large area; Wuyangba Pedestrian Street must eat: Zhang Guanhe Slag, Enshi Kang Potatoes, fried bacon with squeezed Cantonese pepper | The wind is cool at the top of the mountain, you need to bring a thin coat |
| Day2 | Enshi Grand Canyon (go to Qixingzhai on the cableway →take the cliff Plank Road→ check in for “a stick of incense’ → tour the Yunlong Crevices in the afternoon) | The cliff plank road can overlook the stunning scenery of the canyon; the platform of the ”one stick of incense’ attraction is suitable for taking pictures; you can see the waterfalls and springs in the cracks of the Yunlong Ground. | 30 yuan down the escalator can save physical strength, it is recommended to take priority |
| Day3 | Sob Ya Shilin (enter at the main entrance, take the Qinglong Temple-Lianhuazhai Route) → In the afternoon, Qingjiang Butterfly Cliff (take a cruise to enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Strait) | The stone forest of Sobuya is a geological landscape of hundreds of millions of years, with many shady places and suitable temperature in November; the butterfly Cliff of Qingjiang needs to capture the moment of ‘butterfly spreading its wings”, and the river breeze is pleasant. | No special attention is required, just follow the route to visit |
| Day four | Valley of the Heart of the Earth (take the glass plank road and see the stream caves)→ In the afternoon, Lion Pass (take the pontoon bridge by car and experience the “car on the water’” → in the evening, go to Xuanen (visit Gongshuihe Style street and watch the musical fountain) | The glass plank road in the heart of the earth overlooked the canyon in the sky, stimulating decompression; the Lion Pass Pontoon Bridge is a characteristic spectacle; the night view of the Xuanen Musical fountain is not lost. Big city | You need to pay attention to the safety of your feet on the glass plank road, and follow the traffic guidelines by driving the pontoon bridge. |
| Day five | Pingshan Canyon (experience “suspended glass water’ by cruise ship) →In the afternoon, send to the station according to the high-speed rail / flight time | In November, the amount of water in Pingshan was moderate, and the “sense of suspension” was strong during the cruise, so it was possible to take pictures and make movies. | It is recommended to wear light-colored clothes and take pictures more photogenic |
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: First sight of Enshi・visit the ancient city and enjoy the night view
Itinerary: Arrive at Enshi → Stay at hotels around Daughter City →Tushi City → Daughter City → Fenghuangshan Forest Park → Wuyangba Pedestrian Street →Fengyingqiao / Qingjiang Night Scene
Must-see Highlights: Tushi City: Check in to “China’s Largest Tushi Palace’, watch the Tushi System Cultural Exhibition, climb the bell Tower to overlook the panoramic view of the ancient city,Feel the characteristics of the ancient Tujia architecture;
Fenghuangshan Forest Park: Go at 4-5 pm and overlook the entire Enshi city from the observation deck. In the evening, you can take a beautiful picture of “City + sunset”, and it’s just right to put on a coat when the mountain breeze is slightly cooler
;Wuyangba Pedestrian Street: A must-try Enshi specialty for dinner-ZhangGuanhe slag (boiled with tofu brain and vegetables), Kang potatoes (crispy on the outside and waxy on the inside), fried bacon with squeezed Cantonese pepper (spicy and sour appetizer), you can eat it for 30-50 yuan per person;
Qingjiang nightview: After a meal, take a walk along the Qingjiang River and watch the lights on both sides reflected on the river, the lights of the wind and rain BridgeWhen it is lit up, it is a large film with a sense of atmosphere.
Day 2: Go deep into the canyon・Explore Enshi Grand Canyon
Itinerary: Enshi Grand Canyon (Qiqingzhai Scenic Area→ Cliff Plank Road →a stick of incense → Yunlong Crevice) →
Must-see highlights when returning to the city:
Qiqingzhai Scenic Area: It is recommended to take the cableway up the mountain (saving 1.5 hours of climbing time) and walk along the cliff Plank Road. There is a bottomless canyon under your feet and beside you.It is a steep cliff with a stunning view;
a stick of incense: an iconic attraction of Enshi Grand Canyon, a stone pillar about 150 meters high stands upright in the canyon. When taking pictures on the viewing platform, it can be used with the distant mountains as the background, which is even more majestic;
Yunlongdi Gap: Afternoon tour, watch the flyThe waterfall falls from the cliff, the stream is crystal clear, and the temperature in the crevices is 3-5℃ lower than the ground. Wear a good coat to avoid catching cold;
time-saving skills: When going down the mountain, you can take the 30 yuan downhill escalator to reduce the burden on your knees. , Especially suitable for families with the elderly and children.
Day 3: Geological Wonders・Shilin and Qingjiang
Itinerary: Sopuya Stone Forest → Qingjiang Butterfly Cliff (Cruise)→ Return to the city
Must-see Highlights:
Sopuya Stone Forest: Known as the ‘Billion-Year Geological Museum”, it is recommended to enter from the main entrance and take the ”Qinglong Temple-Lianhuazhai“ route to see the stone forests of different forms (such as ‘Qinglong Temple-Lianhuazhai’).’First line of sky” and ‘Lotus Terrace”), there are many shady places in the forest, and it is not sultry to stroll around in November;
Qingjiang Butterfly Cliff: Take a cruise along the Qingjiang River. On both sides are karst peaks and forests. The most stunning thing is the ‘butterfly Cliff”-a waterfall flows down from both sides of the cliff during the rainy season, shaped like a butterfly spreading its wings., Although there is no great waterfall in November, the shape of the cliffs is still unique, and the river breeze is very pleasant;
tip: Choose the second deck location when cruising, with a better view and unobstructed photos.
Day 4: Net celebrity check-in・The Valley of the Heart of the Earth and the Lion Pass
Itinerary: Dixin Valley→ Lion Pass (self-driving pontoon Bridge)→ Xuaneng Gongshuihe Style Street →Musical Fountain
Must-play highlights:
Valley of the Heart of the Earth: Take the floating glass plank road, overlooking the streams and caves at the bottom of the valley. Although the plank road has a certain height, the guardrail is stable and you can walk slowly even if you are afraid of heights; along the way, you can see the details of the karst canyon up close, and the stream is so clear that you can see the stones under the water;
Lion Pass pontoonBridge: SinceDriving or taking a scenic sightseeing car across the pontoon bridge, the pontoon bridge swayed slightly on the water when the car started. The experience of “driving on the water” is very special. It is recommended to drive slowly to facilitate people with you to take pictures;
Xuanen night view: In the evening, go to Xuanen County, visit Gongshuihe Style street, and have a bowl of XuanenThe characteristic ‘bao noodles” (similar to small wonton), the musical fountain opens on time around 20:00, the fountain changes shape with the music, and the shore lighting is super beautiful;
safety tips: It is forbidden to run or jump on the glass plank road. When taking pictures, pay attention to your feet and avoid stepping on the air.
Day 5: The end of the Secret Realm・Pingshan Canyon and Return Journey
Itinerary: Pingshan Canyon →According to the flight /high-speed rail time, the station
must play highlights:
Pingshan Canyon: The amount of water in November is moderate. When entering the canyon by boat, the water surface is as calm as a mirror, and the boat seems to be ‘suspended” on the glass-like water surface, which is the “highlight’ of the entire trip;
take picturesSkills: Wear light-colored clothes (such as white dresses and light blue tops), and lean forward slightly when sitting on the bow of the boat, so that peers can take pictures from the side or diagonally in front of them, avoiding other ships in the background, which is more ”suspended’;
Time planning: Pingshan Canyon tour is about 2.5 hours, it is recommended to go in the morning, the light is soft, Take pictures more clearly; if the return flight / high-speed rail is in the afternoon, you can reserve 1.5 hours of traffic time (the drive from the city to Pingshan Canyon is about 1.5 hours).
4. Pit avoidance and precautions for Enshi tourism in November
Apply for a group to avoid pits: if you choose to follow the group, give priority to the ”pure play and no shopping’ itinerary to avoid low-cost groups (such as a 5-day group with a per capita income of less than 500 yuan), which mostly include invisible consumption (such as compulsory shopping and additional attractions); You can refer to the itinerary framework recommended by the local tour guide,Book your own hotel and carpool, which is more flexible and free.
Transportation recommendations: Enshi attractions are scattered, and the drive from the city to the Grand Canyon, Pingshan Canyon and other attractions is mostly 1-2 hours. It is recommended that:
self-driving: suitable for 3-4 people traveling together, flexible control of the itinerary, and sufficient parking lots around the scenic area. There is no need to worry about parking difficulties in November;
carpool /charter: single or double travel is optional, local regularTravel agencies or hotels can help contact, 50-80 yuan per person / day, which is more cost-effective than taking a taxi;
dietary tips: Enshi dishes are spicy and sour (such as squeezed Cantonese pepper and sour radish), and people who cannot eat spicy food can inform them in advance when ordering “less spicy’; local drinking water is hard, and those with sensitive stomachsYou can drink plenty of bottled water and avoid drinking raw water;
other details: the signal in mountainous areas is occasionally unstable, and offline maps can be downloaded in advance; prices in scenic spots are slightly higher (such as mineral water 5 yuan per bottle), you can buy it in advance in urban supermarkets and carry it in your backpack.
Conclusion
Enshi in November shakes off summer’s crowds and hasn’t met winter’s chill yet. It’s perfect for autumn trips—warm days, cool mornings/evenings, like nature’s “comfort mode”.
Off-peak perks stand out: uncrowded scenic spots let you relax in canyons or by ancient stilt houses; cheaper flights and stays cut costs; and autumn views shine—Qingjiang’s clear water reflects fall foliage, Suobuya Stone Forest shows geological wonders, and Tenglong Cave stays spring-like warm.
Whether you want to hike Enshi Grand Canyon, explore Tushi City for Tujia culture, or unwind in a mountain town, this guide helps. Pack light, bring a relaxed mood, and discover Enshi’s November tranquility and poetry.
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