Enshi Dixin Valley Scenic Area: Uncovering the Earth’s Core Secret

Nestled among the towering peaks of Jianshi County in Enshi, Hubei, lies a geological wonder known as the “Earth’s Scar”—the Enshi Dixin Valley Scenic Area. Centered around its “striking, perilous, secluded, and picturesque” canyon scenery, this site features 250-million-year-old karst formations. Its deep gorges, murmuring streams, and dense network of limestone caves are complemented by a glass bridge spanning the canyon and suspended walkways. Visitors can marvel at nature’s artistry while enjoying thrilling outdoor adventures. As a pivotal point along the ancient Ba Salt Road, it carries a millennia-old salt-transportation heritage. Where natural beauty and cultural history converge, this “earth-core adventure destination” stands as an unmissable highlight of Enshi tourism.

Location and transportation​

Enshi Dixin Valley Scenic Area is located in Gaoping Town, Jianshi County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. It is located at the intersection of the Wuling Mountain Range and the Wushan Mountain Range in Western Hubei. It is about 8 kilometers away from Gaoping Town, Jianshi County, about 120 kilometers away from Enshi City (about 2.5 hours by car), and about 30 kilometers away from Jianshi Railway Station (about 40 minutes by car). The transportation is more convenient.One of the core attractions of Enshi East Front tourism. ​

Recommended transportation method​

1. Public transportation：​

• If you are departing from Enshi, you can take a bus to Gaoping Town, Jianshi County at Enshi Bus and Passenger Transportation Center (about 6-8 daily, the journey takes about 2 hours, and the fare is about 40 yuan); after arriving in Gaoping Town, you can transfer to the scenic area through train or taxi to the scenic area (it takes about 15 minutes by car from the town center to the scenic area, taxi fare).About 20-30 yuan). ​

• If you take the high-speed rail, you can go directly to “Jianshi Station”. After leaving the station, you can take a taxi to the scenic area for about 40 minutes, which costs about 50-60 yuan. You can also transfer to a shuttle bus to Gaoping Town at the bus terminal next to the high-speed rail station, and then transfer to the scenic area. ​

2. Self-driving travel: Navigate the ‘Enshi Dixin Valley Scenic Area Visitor Center’, which is suitable for tourists from surrounding provinces or who like flexible travel. The surrounding areas of the scenic area are mostly rural roads, and some sections of the road are narrow, so you need to pay attention to meeting cars. There is a large parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is about 20 yuan / day. It is recommended to arrive early during the peak season to avoid tight parking spaces. ​

3. Local follow-up group: There are many one-day or two-day tours in Enshi City that include the Enshi Dixin Valley Scenic Area , Changlunye Three Gorges, Huangheqiao Peak Forest and other eastern-line attractions, including transportation, tickets and tour guide services. It is suitable for tourists who don’t want to plan transportation. They can also listen to professional explanations and gain an in-depth understanding of the scenic spots.History and culture. ​

Ticket information​

Enshi Dixin Valley tickets implement the basic package system of ‘ticket + round-trip sightseeing bus’. If you need to experience special projects such as glass bridges and vertical elevators, you need to purchase additional tickets. The specific prices are as follows：​

• Basic package (ticket + round-trip sightseeing bus)：​

• Adult ticket:150 yuan / person；​

• Discount ticket: Students (with valid student ID) and 60-69-year-olds (with ID) enjoy a half-price discount, that is, 75 yuan / person；​

• Ticket-free policy:Children under 1.2 meters, the elderly over 70 years old (with ID card), the disabled (with disability card), and active-duty soldiers (with officer card) are free of tickets, and only need to pay a round-trip sightseeing fare of 30 yuan / person. ​

• Featured project charges：​

• Dixin Valley Glass Bridge (Yunzhiduan Glass Bridge): 50 yuan/person (across the canyon, about 200 meters high and 268 meters long, it is the first canyon suspension glass bridge in Hubei)；​

• Vertical sightseeing elevator: 30 yuan/person (located at the exit of the canyon, about 180 meters high, it can quickly reach the ground and save time on foot down the mountain)；​

• Kayaking experience: 80 yuan /person (open in summer, go boating in the canyon and streams to experience cool fun, the duration is about 30 minutes). ​

• Ticket purchase tips: It is recommended to book tickets on the official official account of the scenic area or travel platform (CTRIP, Meituan) 1-2 days in advance to avoid on-site queuing; during the peak season (April-October), there are more tourists, glass bridges, elevators and other items may need to be queued. It is recommended to experience the wrong peak. ​

Attraction features​

The charm of Enshi Dixin Valley lies in the “geological wonders of hundreds of millions of years + the imprint of thousands of years of humanities + stimulating outdoor experience”. The core attractions cover natural landscapes and cultural relics, and each place is worth exploring in depth.：​

1. Glass bridge at the end of the cloud (core check-in point)​

As the first canyon suspension glass bridge in Hubei, the Yunzhiduan Glass bridge spans the cliffs on both sides of the Geocentric Valley. The deck is made of three-layer laminated tempered glass, which is about 200 meters high, 268 meters long and 3.2 meters wide. Standing on the bridge, you can overlook the deep scenery of the entire canyon: under your feet are turquoise streams and jagged rocks, and in the distance are continuous green mountains and misty clouds, as if walking in the clouds. The glass bridge also has a ”special effects glass’ area. When you step on it, there will be “broken” sound effects and visual effects. It is thrilling and exciting. It is a must-see place to take pictures and check in. Especially on sunny days, the blue sky is reflected on the glass, and the film output rate is extremely high. ​

2. Geocentric Valley Canyon (geological Wonder of Hundreds of Millions of years)​

The canyon is the core natural landscape of the scenic area. It has a total length of about 5 kilometers and consists of three sections: “Wenxin Valley, Washing Heart Valley, and Shuxin Valley”. The bottom of the valley is about 600 meters above sea level, and the highest point of the cliffs on both sides is more than 300 meters. It is named because the canyon is as deep as the “heart of the earth”. The streams in the canyon rush all year round, forming a number of waterfalls, deep pools and shallows. The streams are crystal clear, and the pebbles and small fish at the bottom of the river can be clearly seen. The rock walls along the way are covered with caves, stalactites and folds formed over hundreds of millions of years, such as the “First line of Heaven”, “Tianshengqiao”, “Shi Shuya” and other landscapes, which can be called the “karst Geological museum”. Hiking on the canyon trail, you can not only feel the cool mountain breeze, but also enjoy the geological wonders up close, as if traveling through hundreds of millions of years. ​

3. Bashan Ancient Road (the mark of a thousand years of humanities)​

The Bashan Ancient Road is an important cultural relic in the scenic area. It began in the pre-Qin Period and was an important passage for the ancient Bashan people to transport salt. It has a total length of about 1.5 kilometers and runs through the valley of the heart of the earth. The ancient road is paved with bluestone slabs, and some sections of the road are inlaid on cliffs. The narrow places can only accommodate one person. Along the way, there are still ruins such as the “Yanfu Plank Road”, “Cliff stone carvings” and “Ancient stations”. Walking along the ancient road, it seemed that you could see the figures of the salt masters walking forward with their shoulders on their backs, and the sound of the salt masters’ trumpets seemed to echo in their ears. In the “Salt Road Museum” next to the ancient road, the historical changes and salt culture exhibits of the Bashan Ancient Road are displayed. You can gain an in-depth understanding of this thousand-year-old trade legend. ​

4. Cave in the heart of the earth (cave wonders)​

Geocentric Cave is located in the middle of the canyon. It is a natural cave. The entrance of the cave is hidden between the rock walls. The constant temperature in the cave is about 18℃, and it is cool and pleasant in summer. The total length of the cave is about 800 meters, and the stalactites in the cave are colorful. Some are like “stalagmites” and “stone pillars” inserted directly into the top of the cave, while others are like “stone curtains” and “stone flowers” hanging from the cave wall. With the lighting effects in the cave, it is like an “underground palace”. There is also a walking plank road in the cave. Along the way, you can enjoy the “Dragon Palace Treasure Hall” and “Crystal Curtain” and other landscapes. Some sections of the road need to pass through narrow passages, which adds to the fun of exploration and is suitable for tourists who like the cave landscape. ​

5. Shuxingu Shoal (Leisure Experience Area)​

Shuxin Valley is located in the lower reaches of the canyon. It is a gentle and shallow area with crystal clear streams and a depth of about 0.5-1 meter. It is a great place for parents and children to play in summer. Visitors can step barefoot on the pebbles of the shallows to feel the coolness of the stream; they can also take a kayak and walk slowly in the stream to admire the green mountains and green waters on both sides. There are rest pavilions and awnings next to the shallows, where you can take a break, taste local snacks (such as cold noodles and potatoes), and enjoy a leisurely canyon time. ​

6. Vertical sightseeing elevator (convenient experience)​

The vertical sightseeing elevator is located at the exit of the canyon and is about 180 meters high, which is equivalent to 60 floors high. It adopts an all-glass car design and has a running speed of about 2 meters per second. It only takes 90 seconds to reach the ground from the bottom of the valley. When taking the elevator, you can enjoy the vertical scenery of the canyon through the glass and feel the visual impact of “rapid lift-off”. It is especially suitable for tourists with weak physical strength or who do not want to go down the mountain on foot. While saving energy, you can also experience a different kind of fun. ​

Precautions​

Outfit recommendation：​

• Clothing: The temperature difference in the canyon is large (3-5℃ lower than the outside world), and the humidity is high. It is recommended to wear long-sleeved trousers that penetrate comfortably (can prevent mosquitoes and scratches), and bring a thin coat; Quick-drying clothes can be worn in summer. If you plan to experience kayaking, it is recommended to bring an extra set of changing clothes.；​

• Shoes: Most of the canyon trails are stone steps. Some sections of the road are wet and slippery. You need to wear non-slip sports shoes or hiking shoes. High heels and sandals are strictly prohibited to avoid falling.；​

• Others: In summer, ultraviolet rays are strong, so you need to bring sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses; if you need to hike the whole journey, it is recommended to bring hiking poles (available for rent at the entrance of the scenic area, 10 yuan /root) to reduce knee pressure. ​

Tour tips：​

• The scenic tour route is long (the whole journey is about 6-8 kilometers, and the hiking time is about 3-4 hours). It is recommended to travel lightly and bring a small amount of snacks and drinking water (there are commissaries along the scenic area, but the price is higher)；​

• Separate tickets are required for projects such as glass bridges and elevators. It is recommended to choose according to your own needs. If you have better physical strength, you can choose to hike down the mountain to enjoy more scenery along the way.；​

• The signal in the internal sub-regions of the canyon is weak. It is recommended to agree on a meeting time and place with peers to avoid getting separated. You can download the scenic area map in advance to familiarize yourself with the tour route. ​

Safety and environmental protection：​

• When hiking, you need to support the guardrail and pay attention to the steps under your feet, especially on rainy days when the road is slippery, and avoid chasing and fighting; when visiting the glass bridge, do not jump or shake on the bridge, and it is strictly forbidden to lean on the edge of the guardrail.；​

• It is strictly forbidden to discard garbage into the streams of the canyon. There are trash cans along the scenic area, and the garbage needs to be sorted and put out; do not touch the stalactites and vegetation on the rock walls to protect the geological landscape and ecological environment.；​

• When experiencing kayaking, you need to follow the guidance of the staff, wear a life jacket, and do not leave the channel without authorization to avoid danger. ​

Itinerary planning：​

• The best season to visit: spring and autumn (April-May, September-October), the climate is cool, the vegetation is lush, and the precipitation is less, making it suitable for hiking; in summer (June-August), you can experience kayaking, but you need to pay attention to heatstroke and rainstorm prevention; in winter (December-February), the temperature is low, and some sections of the road may freeze and need to be frozen.Pay attention to keep warm and non-slip；​

• Schedule: It is recommended to enter the park before 9 o’clock in the morning, so you can visit all the attractions calmly to avoid congestion on the return trip in the afternoon; if you choose to follow the group, you need to confirm the meeting time and place in advance.；​

• Surrounding series: If you have plenty of time, you can connect the Valley of the Earth with other attractions in Jianshi County (such as the Wild Three Gorges and Huangheqiao Peak Forest) and arrange a 2-day and 1-night itinerary to get a deep experience of the natural scenery of Jianshi. ​

Other reminders：​

• There is a restaurant in the scenic area, where you can taste local specialties (such as Heji, bacon, and social rice), with a per capita consumption of about 50-80 yuan; you can also bring your own dry food and eat in the rest area.；​

• The humidity in the canyon is high, and electronic equipment such as cameras and mobile phones may be damp. It is recommended to bring a waterproof bag. When taking pictures on the glass bridge, avoid using flashlights to avoid affecting the transparency of the glass.；​

• There are specialty shops near the exit of the scenic area. You can buy special products such as Jianshi kiwi and selenium-rich tea. Pay attention to the quality and consume rationally. ​

The Valley of the Heart of Enshi Earth is a secret realm that allows you to “touch the geology of hundreds of millions of years and listen to the story of thousands of years.” Here, you can not only feel the excitement of walking in the clouds on the glass bridge, but also experience the fun of hiking in the canyon, and you can also pursue the legend of the salt luck for thousands of years on the Pakistan Salt Trail. Whether it is a family trip, a group of friends, or a solo exploration, you can find your own “adventure in the heart of the earth” here, and reap an unforgettable journey of nature and humanity. ​