Self-driving from Shanghai to Wuhan, Shennongjia, Enshi, Jingzhou, and back to Shanghai

Nov 4 Shanghai - Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower (original price 70/person, free reservation successful) (10-hour drive)

Yaste Hotel (Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower Conservatory of Music Branch) Next to it is a university snack street, very convenient and delicious for eating. However, the navigation directed us through a small alley that cuts across this snack street, and the road was extremely difficult to drive. I had to run ahead and clear all obstacles (randomly parked bicycles and scooters) so my husband could drive through.

Nov 5 Wuhan - Shennongjia Tianyan Scenic Area (original price 45/person, free reservation successful) (7-hour drive)

Departed at 7 am and arrived at Tianyan Scenic Area at 2 pm. You can drive your own car into the scenic area. After visiting, head to Pingqian Ancient Town (2-hour drive)

Stay: Pingqian Ancient Town

Dajiuhu Hanjiangyuan Hotel The hotel is in Pingqian Town, where Dajiuhu Scenic Area is located, but you have to pass through Shennong Peak Scenic Area to get there. It's ideal to visit Shennong Peak first, then go down to stay in Pingqian Ancient Town, so it's more convenient to take the scenic area bus to Dajiuhu the next day. Because Dajiuhu is for viewing morning mist, and you have to take the scenic area bus (first bus at 5:30 am), so staying in Pingqian the night before is more convenient.

Nov 6 Head to Shennong Peak (original price 130/person, free reservation successful) (1-hour drive) Spend the whole day visiting. You can drive your own car into the scenic area, which is convenient.

Nov 7 Dajiuhu (original price 100/person, free reservation successful) Spend the whole day visiting (You must transfer to the scenic area bus at Pingqian Ancient Town, 60/person, first bus at 5:30 am. The morning mist is very beautiful, and there is already frost this season. If you want to enter a second time to see the sunset in the afternoon, you can handle the re-entry procedures.) By the way, the Shennongjia scenic area currently has an annual pass promotion. You can get it at any scenic area ticket office, 10/person, valid from 2021/1/1 to 2021/12/31, covering all major Shennongjia scenic areas. Each time you can bring one different companion for free. It's quite generous.

Nov 8 Head to Enshi Tusi City (original price 50/person, free reservation successful). The hotel is very close to Tusi City, a 15-20 minute walk. In the evening, head to Enshi Tujia Daughter's City (no reservation needed, similar to Shanghai's City God Temple or Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley, where snacks and local products are sold at reasonable prices) (7.5-hour drive)

Stay: Near Daughter's City in Enshi city center

Enshi Bowei Selected Hotel The hotel has convenient parking, is very close to Tusi City, and when heading to the Grand Canyon later, you don't need to drive through the city center, making self-driving very convenient.

Nov 9 Enshi Grand Canyon full-day visit (original price 70/person, free reservation successful)

Nianshan Xiaoying Tangquan Hotel The guesthouse is quite good for the area, has hot springs, convenient parking, and the food is delicious. The owner has spent many years in big cities, so he has great ideas. There are imported beer, red wine, a sunroom, and a real fireplace. Among all the accommodations on this trip, this one suited me best.

Nov 10 Tenglong Cave (original price 180/person, free reservation successful) full-day visit. The scenic area has song and dance performances and a laser show, which is great. They didn't cancel these shows despite the free admission, and no extra charge. You can walk in, watch the shows, then take an electric cart out for 10/person, which is also a reasonable fee.

Stay: Same as Enshi above

Nov 11 Shiziguan, floating bridge half-day (original price 120/person, free reservation successful. The scenic area is a loop, but due to a landslide in the middle currently under repair, if you drive your own car onto the floating bridge, you have to turn back after reaching Macaque Valley. To visit the other half, you'll need to take the scenic area bus.) — Head to Jingzhou 6.5 hours. Jingzhou Ancient City (free reservation successful, closes at 5:30 pm. Missed the opportunity to go up on the city wall, but you can still see it from below.)

Nov 12 Jingzhou Chariot and Horse Pit (free reservation successful, opens at 8:30 am) "In the north there is the Terracotta Army, in the south the Chariot and Horse Pit." It's very impressive and worth seeing. After the visit, return to Shanghai, a 12-hour drive, arriving in Shanghai near 11 pm.

Summary: During the current free admission period, it's still very worth visiting, and hotels are very cheap, dining and other expenses are not expensive. There was no price gouging. But the physical exertion is quite high. It's very tiring to bring elderly and children. The schedule is a bit tight; if you could stretch it to about two weeks, it would be more relaxed.