Tangya River Tourist Scenic Area in Enshi

　　The scenic area is situated in Xianfeng County, Enshi, Hubei Province. The legend of the Tangya River lies in the fact that it flows backward, following the ancient glacial pathway. Upstream of the Tangya River, there is Nv'erzhai—a marvel of Chinese architecture, an ethnic minority village with Qiang-style stilted houses. It also features the world’s largest underground canyon and the world’s largest underground calcified pool—the Huangjindong humanistic geological wonder.

　　It is the only cave complex in the world with seven layers of caves. On April 8, 1984, the former General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee—Bàng, along with the then Secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee, once visited Huangjindong to provide guidance, which is unprecedented not just in our Enshi Autonomous Prefecture but throughout the entire Wuling region. Visit the “March Bamboo Forest” lifestyle pavilion to experience a healthy life in the 21st century.

　　The Tangya River Scenic Area is China's largest ecologically preserved Tusi culture tourism destination. Within the scenic zone, the landscape boasts stunning natural beauty, dense forests, historic relics scattered throughout, a cluster of distinctive stilted houses, and rich folk customs. It forms a vast, diverse, and uniquely featured natural gallery where landscapes and cultural heritage blend harmoniously.

　　Known as Heidong (Black Cave) in ancient times, Huangjindong is located at the junction of Enshi, Lichuan, and Xianfeng. According to joint research by Chinese and Belgian cave experts, this cave was formed before the Jurassic period, dating back 150 million years. Its rare geological wonders and brilliant human civilization make it a true global treasure trove of nature and culture. The tourist area features majestic mountains, unique waters, and an original local culture, earning it the reputation of the "Hundred-Mile Gallery of Wuling." Eighteen ethnic minorities, including the Tujia, Miao, Qiang, and Dong, have thrived here, painting a vibrant tapestry of culture through practices such as the crying marriage songs, hand-waving dances, Nuo opera, and Maogusi performances.

　　Chahai Qiangzhai is located upstream of the Tangya River. It was once the stronghold of the Jintong Tusi, known as Maluxi Village, and is a multi-ethnic settlement, most notably home to the Qiang, Tujia, and Miao peoples. The village has 365 households and over 1,200 residents, and it is the only Qiang ethnic settlement hidden away in China’s inland.

　　"Living against the mountains and building stone houses," "erecting wooden frames and weaving bamboo walls," the area features Qiang-style wooden houses with the architectural flair of Tujia stilted buildings. The locals live off tea cultivation, enjoying a life akin to a paradise on earth. With small bridges, flowing streams, and quaint homes, this romantic and poetic utopia is hailed as "the last Shangri-La in central China."

　　Address: Tangya River Scenic Area, Xianfeng County, Enshi Prefecture

　　Type: Folk Village

　　Recommended Visiting Time: 1 day

　　Phone: 0718-6812888

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:00–17:30

　　Ticket Information:

　　Gate Price: 30.0 RMB

　　Small train: 30 RMB, Huangjindong Cave: 90 RMB, Rafting: 110 RMB.

Tangya River Tourist Scenic Area in Enshi