Reverse Travel: Escape the Crowds This Labor Day and Explore an Underwater Maze

Who says Labor Day is only about battling crowds? I discovered this little-known geological wonder in Enshi, Hubei, and it felt like stepping into the alien world of *Avatar* 🌌. There were fewer than 100 tourists that day! (Package tour guide included) ——Enshi Shuzibuya Stone Forest—— 📍Location: Taiyanghe Township, Enshi, Hubei 🚗Transportation: 1.5-hr drive / direct shuttle bus from the scenic area 💰Tickets: CNY 168 (cheaper online) ✨[My Reverse Itinerary] The night before, I checked into the Dayin Bosen Hotel, ate Zhang Guan He Zha, and strolled back to the hotel from the Fengyu Bridge to enjoy the night view before taking a bath and going to bed early! ⏰7:30 AM Enter the park in the first off-peak batch → Take over the entire Lotus Village! The coral fossils on the stone walls are clearly visible. → Take photos of the "A Thread of Sky" in Rhino Gully without waiting in line at all. ⏰11:00 AM Picnic at Qinglong Platform → Bring your own hot pot and enjoy it in the open space of the stone forest. → Look up to see stone pillars resembling "giant beast teeth." ⏰2:30 PM Light hike in Mozi Gully → Follow local Tujia herb gatherers along hidden paths. → Discover hidden marine fossil layers. 📸[3 Alien Civilization Check-in Spots] 1️⃣ Lotus Village Suspended Plank Road ✔️Wear techwear! Take silhouettes against the rock walls. ✔️Use a wide-angle lens to capture the layers of stone curtains. 2️⃣ Rhino Gully Skylight ✔️When the midday sun shines directly, the Tyndall effect is stunning! ✔️Use your phone's 0.5x zoom to take a top-down shot of the abyss. 3️⃣ Jiulonghui Waterfall ✔️Stand in the stone cave behind the waterfall! Use the water curtain as a natural frame. ✔️Use high-speed continuous shooting to capture the rainbow. 💡[Tips to Avoid Pitfalls, Learned Through Blood and Tears] ⚠️You must bring hiking poles! Some sections require climbing. ⚠️Prepare raincoats + non-slip shoes! Water drips from the cracks in the rocks year-round. 🌮[Local Favorite Foods] ▫️Stewed Preserved Pork with Stone Bamboo Shoots (a crisp bamboo shoot unique to the stone forest!) ▫️Corn Cakes (steamed in corn leaves using a stone mill) ▫️Smashing Bowl Wine (super relaxing to smash the earthenware bowl after drinking the rice wine) Compared to the crowded Zhangjiajie, this is a true ancient geological museum! The moment I touched the Ordovician reef from 400 million years ago, I suddenly felt how small humans are ⏳. Next vacation, I'll continue to explore lesser-known paradises. Who understands the joy of having fewer people and more beautiful scenery?!