A high speed train took me from Shanghai to Enshi in about 6.5 hours . The equivalent distance would be New York to Chicago at 1353 km. Amtrak would be over 18 hours without the inevitable breakdown. The train is not even China’s fastest , averaging only 220 kmh. .From rainy Shanghai I arrived in sunny Enshi, TotalAdventure’s last stop before returning to Chongqing and the flight to Hong Kong and then New York and Miami. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !

View from my beautiful $ 67 a night 460 RMB suite at the Mövenpick.

Spicy Crawfish Hotpot is the city speciality.

Washed down with cold local beer. Enshi is a late city, this was at 11 PM .

About 80 km from Enshi is the lost village of Luyuanping. Not actually “lost” ,but roadless. There are 2 ways in and out – a path that first travels along the side of a cliff followed by 1582 steps down, or a funicular elevator that takes one 2/3 of the way to and from the valley floor. There is also an electric pulley that carries freight bringing in heavy essential supplies. SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE ! There are no cars, but some golf cart type electric vehicles.

The village from above. Everyone is related to either one of two klans.

A very basic hotel for overnight hikers.

Smoked fish for dinner.

Up from the elevator.

Helpful advice.

Back in Enshi to board the train back to Chongqing.