Plan at a glance
A mountain route with sustained walking
Qixingzhai is the mountain-focused area within Enshi Grand Canyon, accessed through the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The route includes about 1.7 km of cliffside walkway, along with Yingkesong (迎客松), Yizhuxiang (一炷香) and Muzi Qing (母子情深). Expect continuous climbing, cliffside paths and wide canyon views rather than a stop where you simply get off a vehicle and look around.
How much time to allow
The express route takes about 3–4 hours, the highlights route about 4–5 hours, and the deep route about 5–7 hours or longer. Qixingzhai still involves long walking sections and continuous stairs. Full walking or deep routes are especially demanding; even with the cableway and escalator, you cannot avoid walking on the mountain. Anyone with knee problems, a fear of heights or little experience with long stair climbs should assess the route before entering.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Save energy for the main views
If you have limited time or want to reduce the climbing, take the uphill cableway and downhill escalator, then use your energy on the cliffside walkway, Yingkesong and Yizhuxiang. The cableway costs about CNY 105 and the escalator about CNY 30. They reduce only part of the ascent and descent, so there is still a long walk on the mountain.
Walk uphill for the scenery
Visitors with good stamina who want to see sections such as Shennianfeng (神仙峰) can walk uphill and then complete the main viewpoints above. The uphill walk takes about one hour, with sustained stairs and climbing. Two spare hours in the afternoon are not enough for this route.
Leave the deep route to experienced hikers
The deep route walks uphill, continues past Yizhuxiang to Shuangzita (双子塔) and Yunv Feng (玉女峰), and then descends on foot. It usually takes 5–7 hours or longer. Weather, queues and the return journey can extend the day; if you only want the representative mountain views, the highlights route is easier to keep under control.
Build your day
3–4-hour express route
From the Visitor Center, take the funicular and park shuttle, then ride the uphill cableway. Follow the signs to the cliffside walkway, Yingkesong and Yizhuxiang, adding nearby viewpoints if time allows. Take the downhill escalator to the exit and the park shuttle back. This route assigns the most demanding ascent and descent to the transport facilities and suits first-time visitors with limited time.
4–5-hour highlights route
Start at the Visitor Center and take the funicular and park shuttle. For the uphill section, choose between the roughly one-hour walk and the cableway. The walking route passes Zhonglou Men (中楼门) and Yixiantian (一线天), then continues to the cliffside walkway, Yingkesong, Yizhuxiang and Muzi Qing. Take the downhill escalator and park shuttle back to the Visitor Center.
5–7-hour deep route
The deep route follows the highlights route but skips the uphill cableway and walks the entire ascent. After Yizhuxiang, continue to Shuangzita and Yunv Feng, then descend on foot. There is no quick shortcut between the mountain viewpoints, so carry water and allow for the return journey and changing weather.
Get there
Reach the Grand Canyon Visitor Center first
Take the Grand Canyon shuttle bus from the long-distance bus terminal opposite Enshi Railway Station. The ride takes about 1.5 hours and costs about CNY 25, with buses usually departing at intervals. Qixingzhai has no separate city entrance; handle park transport and admission at the Visitor Center.
Driving and park connections
Drive to the “Enshi Grand Canyon Visitor Center”; parking costs about CNY 10 per day. From the Visitor Center to the Qixingzhai core area, take the funicular and park shuttle. Take the park shuttle back after the Qixingzhai exit. The Visitor Center, rather than the cableway terminus or Yizhuxiang, is the correct parking and navigation target.
Know before you go
Opening hours, tickets and reservations
As a guide, peak-season hours are about 08:00–16:00 and low-season hours about 08:30–15:00, so arriving early at the Visitor Center is advisable. Qixingzhai admission is CNY 105 in peak season and CNY 80 in low season; the Enshi Grand Canyon scenic-area ticket is currently valid for two days. Seasonal ticketing hours and packages are shown on the ticketing page for the day. Foreign visitors using a passport or another travel document should confirm in advance that their chosen official or OTA channel accepts it and how on-site verification works.
Stairs, heights and weather
The cliffside walkway runs along high rock faces, so visitors who are afraid of heights should choose carefully. Rain and mist may leave you seeing mostly cloud, while wet sections make descents harder. Wear shoes with good grip, bring water and carry a light rain layer; buying a mobility option does not remove the mountain walking.
Supplies and photography on the route
There are supply points along the route for basic drinks and snacks, but travelling light is easier than carrying a large amount of food all day. Yizhuxiang is often in better light before 10:00, while the cliffside walkway works well for canyon views and leading-line photographs. Keep all photography within the open path.
Optional paid services
The uphill cableway, downhill escalator and sedan-chair rides are optional paid services; choose them according to your companions' stamina and the day's queues. “Free” photos may incur an extra charge for large prints. Using your own camera or phone keeps the cost clear.