Badong, a Land of Grand Mountains and Gorgeous Waters

Badong is located in the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Enshi, southwest Hubei Province in Central China, along the mysterious 30° north latitude and at the junction of Wuling Mountain,Daba Mountain, and Wushan Mountain. The Yangtze River flows through the area in parallel with the Qing River, creating beautiful riverside scenery that have nurtured unique cultures.

Badong, together with Enshi Grand Canyon, the hometown of Lady Zhaojun, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River,and Shennongjia Forestry District, constitute a picturesque dreamland here and fascinate the world with grand and gorgeous landscapes in Central China. On the Shennong Stream, which is renowned as “the First drift of China,” we can still hear the songs of the boat-trackers echoing on the riverside. In addition, Shennongjia, Lianzi Stream, Damian Mountain,Baren Stream, Yesanguan ForestFlower Sea, Sanlicheng Mountain,Lyucongpo Ski Resort Town, Sidu River Bridge, Shuibuya Dam, and paths on the precipice form a grand and magnificent landscape, and nurture a host of unique local cultures and customs—offering a solid foundation for the development of tourism in Badong, which has earned the reputation of “magnificent Three Gorges and mysterious Badong.”

Lover's Peak by Baren Stream (Photo by Tan Dekui) 巴人河情郎峰（谭德魁 摄）

Tourists rafting on a pea-pod-shaped raft on Shennong Stream, a national AAAAA scenic spot in Badong County. (Photo by Huang Hua)巴东县 5A 景区神农溪，游客们正在体验豌豆角漂流。（黄华 摄）

Tracker's Festival, the alpine marathon, the winter swimming competition, the Canola Blossom Festival, and other events greatly integrate the long-held local history and folk culture, and have endowed Badong with profound cultural contents and distinctive regional characteristics. These events have further attracted tourists both from China and abroad, making it a welcome tourist attraction in Enshi.

Guests from all over the world come here to enjoy a cup of Badong black tea,listen to a “Xiajiang trackers' haozi,”and snap pictures of the riverside views.With crisp caressing breeze from the river and resplendent neon lights of the city, visitors are enthralled by the kaleidoscope of Badong's mountains,rivers, and architecture.

Tea fields moistened by morning fog in Xiqiuwan (Photo by Chen Kaiping)溪丘湾：云雾下的梦幻茶园（陈开平摄）

Naked trackers in the past (Photo by Shui Diansong)昔日裸体纤夫 （税典松 摄）