Enshi is a county-level city in and the seat of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in western Hubei province, China. The prefecture's legislature, executive and judiciary are seated here, as well as its CPC and public security bureau. The entire county-level city of Enshi has an area of 3967 km2 and a population of 780,000.

History

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, 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.

Administrative divisions

Enshi City administers five subdistricts, six towns, six townships and one ethnic township: The five subdistricts are Wuyangba Subdistrict, Liujiaoting Subdistrict , Xiaoduchuan Subdistrict , Qiliping Subdistrict , and Jinziba Subdistrict. The six towns are Longfeng, Cuiba , Banqiao , Baiyangping , Sancha , and Shengjiaba. The six townships are Xintang Township, Hongtu Township , Shadi Township , Taiyanghe Township , Tunbao Township , and Baiguo Township. The one ethnic township is Bajiao Dong Ethnic Township. The one township-level area is the Enshi Daxiagu Landscape Management Division (恩施大峡谷风景管理处).

Tourism

The city is built alongside the Qing River and is surrounded by forest-covered mountains. The city has many hotels, restaurants and spas. Restaurants here in general cater for Chinese tastes; however, there is one western style restaurant called "Mac Home" in the city center. The food in Enshi is spicy and includes many "hot pot"-style dishes as well as smoked pork and chirzo-style sausage meat, spicy fried potatoes and lamb skewers. There is a beautiful Forest Park in Enshi which offers splendid scenery and views of the city as well as an amusement park. There is an out-door café in the park with hammocks which sells fresh ground coffee. During the summer months there is white water rafting tours available on the river. The City Center has a shopping district catering for most tastes. There is a local night club located under the "shelter bridge" called the "Soho Times".

Economy

Climate

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 in January to 26.5 °C in August, while the annual mean is 16.3 °C. More than two-thirds of the annual precipitation of 1424.7 mm 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.

Transportation