Flying stilt houses! A guide to the hidden wonderland of the Tujia people in Xuan'en.

Discover a hidden gem nestled in the Wuling Mountains ⛰️, where the Lion Gate Floating Bridge seems to drift on emerald waters, and the stilt houses of Pengjia Village appear to sprout wings and take flight! The mountain songs of the Tujia people resonate stronger than a Wi-Fi signal 🎤, the city lights illuminate your Gongshui River night cruise 💡, and even the cured bacon exudes a postmodern artistic flair. Trip Preparation ✅ Best time to visit: April–October (avoid the cold and damp winter) 🍃 ✅ Non-slip wading shoes + light jacket (The Difeng Scenic Area maintains a constant temperature of 18°C) 🧥 ✅ Bring CNY 300 in cash (bargaining is encouraged when buying handicrafts in the village) 💵 ✅ Waterproof phone case (you will definitely get wet during the Gongshui River night cruise) 📱 ✅ Come hungry! You'll want to eat three bowls of Tujia community rice 🍚 Two Days and One Night 🔵 Day 1: Explore a mystical wonderland Morning: Drive across the Lion Gate Floating Bridge (roll down the windows and feel the emerald spray on your face) 🚗 → Take stunning photos of the stilt houses reflected in the water at Pengjia Village 📸 Lunch: Enjoy cured pork knuckle hot pot in the village (paired with corn liquor, it's an instant hit) 🍲 Afternoon: Dress up as a tea-picking fairy at the Wujiatai Tea Plantation 🍃 → Watch the Tujia brocade weaving at Moda Tower 🧵 Evening: Enjoy the Gongshui River musical fountain + night cruise and release river lanterns (the light show is worth the ticket price) 🎇 🟠 Day 2: Embark on a subterranean adventure Morning: Explore the Yaotianyan Scenic Area (walk across the steel cable bridge in the Earth's Core Canyon) ⚡ → Take photos at the Luoquanyan sinkhole, just like in "The Grave Robbers' Chronicles" 🕳️ Lunch: Enjoy a farmhouse meal of firewood-cooked potato rice + baked potatoes 🥔 Afternoon: Ride the popular swing at the Xianshan Gongshui Tourist Area → Buy a Xilankapu scarf 🧣 Evening: Head back home with 10 bags of Xuan'en ham (vacuum-packed, it can last for six months) 🚗 Tips ⚠️ The speed limit on the Lion Gate Floating Bridge is 20 km/h! Drive too fast and you'll get yelled at by security 🎤 ⚠️ Pengjia Village performance times: 10:00 and 15:00 (you'll regret missing it) ⏰ ⚠️ You need to check your bags at the Difeng Scenic Area! You'll have to suck in your stomach and squeeze sideways through the narrow passages 🤰 ⚠️ Don't actually smash the bowl when drinking "smashing bowl" liquor. You'll have to pay CNY 5 per bowl, and it hurts 💔 ⚠️ Navigation often fails in the mountains. Save the phone numbers of the scenic areas so you can ask for directions 📞 Accommodation Guide 🏨 Luxury: Xu'en Jinyuan Hotel (panoramic view of the Gongshui River + free night cruise tickets) 🌊 🏡 Budget-friendly: Pengjia Village Homestay (sleep in a stilt house and be lulled to sleep by mountain songs) 🎶 🎒 Backpackers: Xianshan Gongshui Campground (watch the stars spin from your tent) ✨ Food 🔥 Top 5 Must-Eats ① Zhangguan Hezha (an all-you-can-eat carb feast) 🍚 ② Tujia Cured Pork Knuckle Hot Pot (the smoky aroma will captivate your senses) 🍖 ③ Baked Potatoes (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, served with chili powder, it's divine) 🥔 ③ Oily Tea Soup (crispy fried tea leaves with glutinous rice, a heavenly combination) 🍵 ⑤ Corn Baba (steamed in corn husks, a fragrant delight) 🌽 Save this guide and come be the king of the mountains in Xuan'en for two days! ⛰️ (Be careful not to get so lost in the patterns of the Xilankapu that you don't want to go home) 🧳💨