Enshi

The oldest records of Enshi date the Spring and Autumn period of 776 BC. At that time the area was a state known as Bazi, which lasted until 476 BC. Enshi then became a county from 475 to 221 BC, prior to it being absorbed into the Chinese dynasties during the Qi period. In 1925, the city of Enshi formed the Exi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which in 1935 became the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

Enshi has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with short, cool winters, hot, humid summers, and high humidity year-round. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) in January to 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in August, while the annual mean is 16.3 °C (61.3 °F). More than two-thirds of the annual precipitation of 1,424.7 millimetres (56 in) occurs from May to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 12% in January to 50% in August, the city receives only 1,212 hours of bright sunshine annually; winter is especially overcast while July thru September is the sunniest period of the year.

Enshi City is built alongside the Qing River and is surrounded by forest-covered mountains. The city has many hotels, restaurants and spas. The food in Enshi is spicy and includes many "hot pot"-style dishes as well as smoked pork and chorizo-style sausage meat, spicy fried potatoes and lamb skewers. There is a Forest Park in Enshi which offers views of the city as well as an amusement park.

Enshi Xujiaping International Airport Yiwan Railway China National Highway 209 G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway, which crosses the Qing River near the city over the Qingjiang Bridge.