Enshi·Xianfeng | National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit·Tangya Tusi Site

Located on the bank of Tangya River in Tangya Town, Xianfeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, it is situated in the western part of Wuling Mountains. The site was historically part of Shizhou, and the main ethnic group is the Tujia people who have settled here since ancient times. It has been ruled by the Tan family since the end of the Yuan Dynasty (14th century). The site has been located here since the establishment of the Tangya Chief Officer at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and the existing ruins were mainly built by the 12th generation leader of the Ming Dynasty, Tan Ding and his wife Tian during the Tianqi and Chongzhen periods (1622-1644). It was abandoned in the 13th year of the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (1735), lasting for 381 years across 16 generations and 18 Tusi leaders. In 2006, the Tangya Tusi Site was announced as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. On July 4, 2015, at the 39th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Bonn, Germany, the site, together with the Tusi sites of Hailongtun in Zunyi and the Old Tusi City in Yongshun, Hunan, was successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of the 'Tusi Sites' project in China. The existing important remains include the government office site, the grand temple site, the quarry site, and the Tusi tombs. The relics mainly consist of porcelain, official Tusi seals, and brick and stone architectural components, with the majority dating back to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th century) when the Tan Tusi's power was at its peak. The main attractions include: Zhangwang Temple, the government office area, Jingnan Xiongzhen Archway, and the Tusi King's Tomb. The signage for the open area (in both Chinese and English) is very clear, and you can follow the signs and plank roads (it is not recommended to deviate from the path and explore on your own). There is a museum in the area, which is recommended for a detailed look, as it provides an overview of the entire site, detailed introductions to the key points, and background knowledge on the Tusi system. The visit takes about 2.5 hours. 🌟 Public Transportation: There are buses from Xianfeng Bus Station to the site, with an average interval of about 20 minutes. It takes another 20-30 minutes to walk from the ticket office to the scenic area, and there is an electric cart available for 10 yuan (I did not take it, there are shaded areas along the path, and it is a flat walk along the Tangya River). Tangya Tusi Site