The People of Enshi’s Mountains

The people of rural Enshi are kind, hard working, self-sufficient, and very isolated from the world. They live a hard life off the land, but their big smiles never seem to fade. They are farmers of vegetables and tea and are proud of their daily life with each other. There is no running water for most and squat toilets for all.

All hard work and smiles, always, in Enshi.

I saw children with no shoes or with one worn pair, and I thought about my children with too many shoes. I saw all the diseased and sick dogs lying in the comfortable shade of old, tired trees and wanted to rescue them all.

I guess it’s all relative. My daily life of iPods, cell phones, and laptops is a world away from the mountain people of Enshi. They are surrounded everyday by trees, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and beautiful lush green mountains. Maybe, they have it right!

The Other Enshi

There is another world below the mountains in the city of Enshi. By day, I would recommend a visit to the Tusi Castle. It dates back to 700 AD and is a lesson in the culture of the area. This Chieftain castle was destroyed by a fire in 2004 and perfectly restored soon after. It is home to the largest archaized Pagoda style buildings in China.

Men gather to play Mahjong on a warm summer evening in Enshi.

As I wandered through the exhibits of architectural and decorative arts, I felt like I was walking through a living book. It tells the story of the Tujia folk cultures through sculptures, gardens, artwork, and furnishings.

Afterward, there is a must-see play that features the primitive reenactment of the local Chinese culture. It will make you feel as if you’ve been transported back in time.

Make sure you head to Dingshihui for lunch! During a long hot day, I was looking forward to lunch and a drink, but I could never have imagined the surprise that Dingshihui had in store for me. As I followed my guide up the stairs, my eyes became wide with amazement.

Dingshihui was like walking through a boutique style hotel in Manhattan, and the food was incredible! I couldn’t believe that a luxurious oasis such as this existed in this city.

The city came alive in the evening. Neon lights lined the buildings and bridges in the Central Square and reflected off the river below. There were men gathered in groups playing Mahjong and residents participating in a huge outdoor aerobics class.

Enshi city is alive and beautiful in the evening.