Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was the first national forest park in China, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
It is also famous for the inspiration for the movie AVATAR, the Hallelujah Mountain.
ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL FOREST PARK / Photo: https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/nantonov
WHY VISIT ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL FOREST PARK?
Zhangjiaije National Forest Park is the main part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992;
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first national forest park in China. It is noted for more than 3000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks with striking beauty of landscape.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations which can be seen through the park.
Inspiration for the Movie AVATAR, the well-known Hallelujah Mountain. It shows the real Pandora on earth.
Travelers can try a lot of featured activities like walking, hiking, photography to catch the best scenery of Zhangjiajie.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF ZHANGJIAJIE FOREST PARK
hangjiajie National Forest Park, the most beautiful place on earth, has been described differently, such as, majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild. It is known for its odd-shaped peaks and rocks, exquisite forests, tranquil water, beautiful canyons, limestone caves and breathtaking views. It mainly includes Yellow Stone Village (Huangshi Village), Golden Whip Stream and so on. Taking a visit to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, you won’t miss Golden Whip Stream and Huanshi Village.
HUANGSHI VILLAGE
Location: northeast part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, connected with Golden Whip Stream
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Recommended Visiting Time: 2-2.5 hours Hiking Time: about 1-2 hours to get up and 1 hour to get down Huangshi Village Physical Needs: Moderate (It is suggested to take cable car to get up and down to save energy and time. Only 10 minutes is needed on the cableway.)
A saying goes “He who does not reach Huangshi Village does not pay a true visit to Zhangjiajie”. With an elevation of 1080 meters, Huangshi Village (Yellow Stone Village) presents the largest collection of marvelous spectacles and also provides the largest sightseeing platform in Zhangjiajie. From here, travelers can overlook the Precious Box for Hiding Sealed Book, the Magic Needle, South-Heaven Pillar, South-Heaven Gate, The Platform of Snatching Stars, Six Wonder Pavilion, the Ruin Piers and so on.
GOLDEN WHIP STREAM (金鞭溪)
Location: 500 m from the Entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-3 hours Fitness Needed: relaxing pace, easy to walk
With a length of 7.5 kilometers, Golden Whip Stream (Jinbian Stream) is famous for its tranquil water, its verdant mountains, its steep cliffs and its serene valley. It is called “the most poetic valley in China”. Hence, Golden Whip Stream is suitable for 2-3 hours’ hiking. When walking along the pathway, you’ll appreciate flowers, trees and grasses, many green hills and colorful flora, hear song of the birds, and of course, pass many splendid scenery: Mother and Child Peak, Bajie Carrying His Wife on the Back, Golden Whip Crag, Magical Hawk Protecting the Whip, Journey to the West, Drunk Arhat, etc.
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SURROUNDING SCENIC AREAS OF ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL PARK
YUANJIAJIE (袁家界)
Location: in the north of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours Fitness Needed: Moderate (It is suggested to take Bailong Elevator to get up and down Yuanjiajie.)
You must know the movie AVATAR. "Avatar makes its mark on China’s Zhangjiajie, floating Hallelujah Mountain featured in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar". The surreal world is Yuanjiajie. With an elevation of 1074 meters, Yuanjiajie is connected Golden Whip Stream in the east, Huangshi Village in the south, Tianzi Mountain in the west and Suoxiyu in the north. Yuanjiajie is a naturally formed platform mountain,
surrounded by higher summits which are divided by deep valleys. The famous sights in this scenic area include: the First Bridge under Heaven, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Lost Soul Platform, Back Garden, Overlooking Bridge Terrace, etc.
There are two routes leading you to the top of Yuanjiajie. One is by Bailong Elevator. Take the sightseeing bus from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to the Elevator, only 15 minutes needed. By Elevator, you’ll get up in 2 minutes with grand scenery on the way. On the top, you can explore Yuanjiajie by visiting Back Garden, Lost Soul Platform, Hallelujah Mountain, First Bridge under Heaven and more sights which takes about 2 hours. The other way is by hiking from Luanchuan Slope in the middle of Golden Whip Stream to Back Garden which takes about 80 minutes along the way. It is very changeling your physical condition. It is suggested to visit Yuanjiajieby Bailong Elevator to save time and energy.
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TIANZI MOUNTAIN（天子山）
Location: north of Wulingyuan Scenic Area Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours Fitness Needed: Moderate
Tianzi Mountain is the one of the four scenic spots in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Tianzi Mountain has four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter. Travelers can view different scenery in different seasons and even in different time of the day.
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Tianzi Mountain takes the name from Xiang Dakun who was the leader of the Tu ethnic group during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Xiang led a revolution and avowed himself as Tianzi (Son of Heaven). Paying visit to Tainzi Mountain, traveler will find many sites related with Xiang Dakun. Among them, the most impressive sights are the Yu Bi Peaks, the Xian Nv San Hua and Shen Bing Ju Hui.
Usually, many travelers put Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie in a day. You can take sightseeing bus from Yuanjiajie to Tianzi Mountain which takes about 1 hour. If time permits, you can stop at Shentang Bay and Nod-to-the-General Platform to have fantastic view, and then continue to visit Helong Park, Platform, Imperial Writing Brush Peaks, Fairy Maid Scattering Flowers (Xian Nv San HuA) Tainzi Ge (Son of Heaven Pavilion), the Mid-Air Farmers’ Cottage (Kong Zhong Tian Yuan), Heavenly Warriors Gathering, etc.
Ten Miles Gallery
Take mini train to travel through the gorgeous 5 kilometers scenic area. You won’t miss the sights Three Lady Peaks, Old Man Peak, Monkey Slope and so on.
YANGJIAJIE（杨家界）
Location: northwest of Wulingyuan Scenic Area Recommended Visiting Time: about 3 hours Fitness Needed: Moderate
Yangjiajie is a newly developed area of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is the least crowed area, with peaks, cliffs, waterfalls, streams, gullies and other natural landscape. The area is also abundant with plants and animals, such as white cranes, macaques, ancient trees and rare flowers.
Travelers can visit Yangjiajie after Yuanjiajie. Sightseeing bus from Yuanjiajie can transfer visitors to Yangjiajie with 10 minutes. Or you can visit Yangjiajie separately by cableway to get up and down. There are two routes for you to continue your visit. Try the right route first which you can visit Gate of Oolong Village, Tianbo Mansion (General Yang’s Family House), and then try the left route by visiting One Step to the Heaven, Corridor the Cliffs, Hawk Beak Peak, etc. Be careful when you are hiking the Yangjiajie for the road is narrow and slippery.
BAOFENG LAKE
Named Water Paradise, Baofeng Lake is typical scenery of Wulingyuan. Grotesque green peaks turn around clean water and water turn around peaks. There are two elegant small islands in the lake. Taking a boat in the lake is the wonderful experience where you could encounter the One Line Gorge, Hawk Nest Village, Guanyin Temple and Baofeng Waterfall.
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YELLOW DRAGON CAVE
Yellow Dragon Cave, also Huanglong Cave , is the underground-lost palace which praised as the most beautiful cave in the world by UNESCO Experts. With an area of 100,000 square meters, length of 7.6 kilometers, height of 140 meters, two underground rivers, four waterfalls, 13 caverns and 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites, it is a huge limestone cave. The Magic Needle and Chair of Dragon King are famous sights in the cave.
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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Facts
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was the first national forest park in China, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is also famous for the inspiration for the movie AVATAR, the Hallelujah Mountain.
Type: World Heritage Site, National Forest Park, Historic Walking Area
Best Seasons: Spring / Autumn
Popular Activities: mountain hiking, photography
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2 days
Open Hours: Apr – Oct: 08:00~18:00 / Nov – Mar: 08:30 – 17:30
Tickets: CNY 224/ person during March to November and CNY 144 during December to next February, valid for 4 days. Sightseeing bus (CNY 60/person) is included. Insurance (CNY 3/person) is not included.
Address: Jinbian Road, Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province
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