Pick up from Yichang Airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel for the national AAAAA-rated scenic area, Qingjiang Gallery. Located in Changyang County, Yichang, Hubei Province, Qingjiang Gallery is the birthplace of the ancient Ba people and known as the “Mother River” of the Tujia people. The 800-li Qingjiang River is as beautiful as a painting, and its most picturesque section lies in Changyang. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours by car.

Upon arrival, take a boat tour of Qingjiang Gallery — boat ticket included, with a tour duration of approximately 2 hours — on the north side of Geheyan Dam. The gorge stretches for 5 kilometres and is famous for its stunning reflections, often described as “fish swimming among tree branches and birds resting in the water.” With calm waters, tranquil valleys, and steep mountain peaks, every view resembles a painting. Highlights include the world’s largest natural Maitreya Buddha, Peacock Spreading Its Tail Mountain, and other scenic attractions.

Afterwards, continue to Xianrenzhai, known as the kingdom of Qingjiang’s flora and fauna. It is home to nearly 200 species of rare plants, including xiangcao, four-season apricot, pseudo-ginseng, Bergenia, rock pine, aloe, and dove trees. You may also encounter Qingjiang macaques along the way. As you walk into Xianrenzhai, you will feel as if entering a fairyland. As a poem says: “Step into Xianrenzhai, and one becomes an immortal within; longing for Xianrenzhai, countless souls forget to return.”

After lunch, proceed to Enshi Tusi Daughter City. Known by the phrase, “There is no man with a second heart in the world; the finest daughters are found in the First Daughter City under Heaven,” Enshi Daughter City is located in Qiliping, Enshi City, Hubei Province. Developed by Huaxi Group with an investment of RMB 700 million, it is a major cultural hub for the Tujia ethnic group, as well as a future urban entertainment and tourism distribution centre in the Wuling region. It aims to become the first cultural tourism commercial ancient town in western China and China’s “capital of matchmaking.”

The most famous traditional Tujia folk matchmaking event in Enshi — the Daughter’s Festival — will also be permanently based in Tujia Daughter City. We hope this place will be worthy of someone as wonderful as you.

After dinner, check in to the hotel.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel by coach to visit the Yaotianyan Scenic Area (approximately 2 hours). Yaotianyan, also known as Luopanyan Tiankeng, is located in Luopanyan Geological Park, Xuan’en County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. It is a karst sinkhole formed over a long period through the dissolution of soluble rock by groundwater. It was formed during the Indosinian tectonic stage in the Mesozoic Triassic period, around 200 to 250 million years ago.

Then proceed by coach to the Shiziguan Scenic Area (approximately 2 hours). Located in Xuan’en County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, about 13 kilometres from Xuan’en County town, Shiziguan is one of the three ancient strategic passes of Xuan’en and was also an important route along the ancient Sichuan Salt Road.

After lunch, continue to Xuan’en – Xianshan Gongshui Tourist Scenic Area. Xianshan Gongshui is located in Xuan’en County town, within the one-hour transport circle of Enshi Prefecture. It enjoys a strategic location and features rich ecological and cultural resources, abundant local specialties, and distinctive ethnic characteristics of the Tujia, Miao, and Dong minorities.

The core area is distributed along both banks of the Gongshui River. Major attractions include Mengchao Town, Lianhuaba Linear Park, Old Courtyard, Ethnic Culture Street, Wenlan Bridge, Gongshui River Musical Fountain, Cultural and Sports Centre (Shinan Xuanfu), Pagoda Forest Park, Xinglong Moda Tower, and Gongshui River National Wetland Park. The scenic area is rich in tourism resources, combining both natural scenery and cultural heritage.

Its profound historical culture, colourful ethnic culture, and unique revolutionary culture blend harmoniously and complement one another. Every year, the scenic area hosts festive events such as the National Inland River Water Sports Games, Strawman Art Festival, Gongshui River Fitness Run, and Lantern Festival Art Exhibition. These events showcase the area’s excellent resource combination, harmonious landscapes, and diverse themed activities.

After the visit, return to the hotel.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel by coach for Yichang. After lunch, visit the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area (approximately 2–3 hours; optional scenic area). Located in Yichang, Hubei Province, the scenic area officially opened to the public in 1997 and was rated as one of the first national AAAAA-level tourist attractions by the National Tourism Administration in 2007.

The area currently includes Tanziling, the 185 Platform, and the River Closure Memorial Park, covering a total area of 15.28 square kilometres. Centred around the Three Gorges Project, the world’s largest water conservancy hub, the tourist area comprehensively showcases engineering culture and water conservancy culture. It offers visitors a multifunctional experience combining sightseeing, education, leisure, and entertainment. By integrating modern engineering, natural scenery, and cultural landscapes, it has become a popular tourist destination for visitors from China and abroad.

In the afternoon, return by coach to Yichang CBD Pedestrian Food Street. The streets and alleys are filled with mouth-watering aromas. You can try the fragrant Yichang grilled fish, with its crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, or enjoy crispy grilled skewers sizzling with oil. There is also the local specialty liangxia, a sweet and refreshing dessert. As you stroll and sample the wide variety of snacks, you can fully enjoy Yichang’s unique food culture.

Check in to the hotel in Yichang.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel for Sanyou Cave in the Xiling Gorge Scenic Area. Located on a cliff by the Yangtze River, about 7 kilometres northwest of Yichang City, Hubei Province, Sanyou Cave sits at the entrance of Xiling Gorge and marks the starting point of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.

In the afternoon, proceed to the Ermalu Cultural District. Ermalu was first established in 1877 and was the earliest form of a commercial street after Yichang opened as a treaty port. It witnessed Yichang’s transformation from a traditional port city into a modern commercial centre. Once an important hub along the Sichuan–Hubei trade route, it attracted merchants from all over and facilitated the flow of goods between north and south, carrying the historical memory of Yichang’s century-long commercial development.

The district preserves many architectural styles from the Republican era, combining Chinese and Western elements. Historic buildings such as the Osaka Warehouse, Taikoo Building, and Manyi Building remain, with details including brick carvings, wooden windows, and arches that reflect the lively atmosphere of old Yichang and the cultural charm of its treaty-port history.

The winding stone-paved paths, narrow alleys, and well-arranged architectural layout retain the original urban spatial form. Streets and lanes such as Youzheng Lane and Pinghe Lane still preserve a traditional way of life.

Yichang Ermalu Historical and Cultural District is not only a “living fossil” of the city’s history, but also a testing ground for cultural inheritance and innovation. With its unique charm, it connects the past and the future and has become an important window into Yichang’s urban civilisation.