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One Incense Pillar

Short answer: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang, 'one stick of incense') is a limestone karst pillar in the Enshi Grand Canyon, a national 5A scenic area and geopark in Enshi, western Hubei. Scenic-area descriptions give it a height of 150 m, a base diameter of 6 m and a minimum diameter of 4 m.

They attribute its stability to flat-lying Triassic limestone beds with high compressive strength. Tourism and media sources say it has withstood several major earthquakes, though I found no independent geological documentation of specific quakes. Local Tujia legend says a deity gave the pillar to the people as an incense stick to light in times of disaster. The canyon itself runs about 108 km.

VideoWrite-up3 sources

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What should you know about One Incense Pillar?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. One Incense Pillar is about 150 m tall and 4 m wide at its narrowest.

    DD-682-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit E (The legend)

  2. It's made of horizontally bedded Triassic limestone.

    DD-682-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Why it stands)

Video transcript: One Incense Pillar: 150 m Tall, 4 m Wide

DID YOU KNOW? The One Incense Pillar is a remarkable natural rock formation in the Enshi Grand Canyon, located in Hubei Province, central China. Rising ~150 m from the canyon floor, yet narrowing to just 4 m across its slimmest point, this slender karst pillar defies gravity and earthquakes by standing tall among steep cliffs and rugged terrain. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 19.8s Reel ·

Video coming soonOne Incense Pillar · Instagram Reel
One Incense Pillar: 150 m Tall, 4 m Wide Instagram Reel · · 19.8s

The write-up

150 m tall, 4 m wide. A limestone spire in Hubei's Enshi Grand Canyon.

  1. Exhibit A

    Where

    The pillar stands among the cliffs and peaks of the roughly 108 km Enshi Grand Canyon in western Hubei, a national 5A scenic area and geopark.

  2. Exhibit B

    Size

    Scenic-area descriptions give it a height of 150 m, a base diameter of 6 m and a minimum diameter of 4 m.

  3. Exhibit C

    Why it stands

    It's made of Triassic limestone in horizontal beds with high compressive strength. With no tilting or slipping layers, it resists wind and rain.

  4. Exhibit D

    Earthquakes

    Travel and media sources say it has survived several major earthquakes. I found no independent geological record of which ones.

  5. Exhibit E

    The legend

    Tujia legend says a deity gave the people the pillar as an incense stick to light in times of disaster, and it's also been called the 'razor stone'.

Questions people ask about One Incense Pillar

In which Chinese province is One Incense Pillar?

Hubei, in the Enshi Grand Canyon.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Where) · CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China; China Top Trip: Enshi Grand Canyon

About how tall is the pillar?

About 150 m.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide; CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China

How wide is it at its narrowest point?

About 4 m.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide; CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China

What rock is the pillar made of?

Triassic limestone.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Why it stands) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide

What does the Chinese name Yizhuxiang mean?

One stick of incense.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The legend) · China Top Trip: Enshi Grand Canyon; Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. In which Chinese province is One Incense Pillar?

    1. Hubei
    2. Yunnan
    3. Sichuan
    4. Guangxi
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hubei Hubei, in the Enshi Grand Canyon. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Where) · CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China; China Top Trip: Enshi Grand Canyon

  2. About how tall is the pillar?

    1. About 150 m
    2. About 15 m
    3. About 1,500 m
    4. About 50 m
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 150 m About 150 m. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide; CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China

  3. How wide is it at its narrowest point?

    1. About 4 m
    2. About 40 m
    3. About 0.4 m
    4. About 14 m
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 4 m About 4 m. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Size) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide; CGTN: One Incense Pillar wows tourists in Enshi Canyon in central China

  4. What rock is the pillar made of?

    1. Limestone
    2. Granite
    3. Basalt
    4. Sandstone
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Limestone Triassic limestone. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Why it stands) · Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide

  5. What does the Chinese name Yizhuxiang mean?

    1. One stick of incense
    2. Dragon's tooth
    3. Heaven's pillar
    4. Stone sword
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. One stick of incense One stick of incense. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The legend) · China Top Trip: Enshi Grand Canyon; Trip.com: One Incense Pillar (Yizhuxiang) attraction guide

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "One Incense Pillar." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-682, last updated Dec 21, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/one-incense-pillar/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/one-incense-pillar/ · Last updated

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