Zhangjiajie, first national forest park in China
2022-11-08
Zhangjiajie boasts the first national forest park in China. There are not only various karst landforms, but also rare sandstone peak forests in the world. It’s known as “an enlarged bonsai and a miniature fairyland”, and its scenery varies in different seasons.
Wulingyuan Scenic Area is located in Wulingyuan District and consists of five parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Suoxi Valley.
Yuanjiajie Scenic Spot is the core part, with an average altitude of more than 1,000 meters. It’s surrounded by steep cliffs in the Wuling mountainous area.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the south of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, 8 kilometers away from the urban area of Zhangjiajie. It has six tourist attractions, namely Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream, Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie, Yaozi Village and Yuanjiajie.
Tianzi Mountain is the core part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and the main peak is 1,256 meters above sea level. It has an overpass, two Tianchi, three ancient temples, four fairy gates, five waterfalls, six caves, seven scenic spots and 84 natural viewing platforms.
There is the Bailong Elevator, the world’s highest sightseeing elevator with a height of 325 meters.
Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area is named after the ancient Tujia ethnic group leader Xiang Dakun, who claimed to be Tianzi, which means the King in Chinese. It’s one of the four scenic spots in Wulingyuan. It starts from Tianzi Pavilion in the east, ends at Jiangjun Rock in the west, and connects Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the south. The highest altitude is 1,262.2meters. The mountain are surrounded by stone peaks in its three sides. It’s known as the “King of Peak Forests”. The main scenic spots are Countryside in the Air, He Long Park, Fairy Bridge, The Fairy Spreading Flowers, etc.
The peculiar quartz sandstone peak in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was included in the World Natural Heritage List by the UN and was included in the World Geopark in February 2004.
The natural scenery of Wulingyuan Scenic Area is famous for its peculiar peaks, deep valleys and beautiful forests.
Yangjiajie is located in the northwest of Wulingyuan, adjacent to Tianzi Mountain in the north. There are three tourist areas: Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Gorge and Monkey Valley.
Xiangzhi Stream is located in the east of Yangjiazhai scenic area. Longquan Gorge boasts stone peaks, clear streams, deep pools and waterfalls. Monkey Valley is the home of macaques and egrets.
Here you can have a deeper understanding of the folk customs of Western Hunan while visitng such well-known attractions as Wulong Stronghold and Tianbo Mansion.
In addition, there are more than 200 tourist spots, including One Step to the Heaven and Air Corridor.
The One Step to the Heaven is the highest peak. You can climb to the top through a 32-step iron ladder.
48 General Rock is composed of many stone peaks, which are like soldiers in formation. It’s said that this is the place where Tujia ethnic group leader King Xiang led his troops to launch uprisings.
Suoxiyu means a mountain villa in heavy fogs in Tujia language. Ten-mile Gallery is a famous attraction in Suoxi Valley Scenic Area.
The Oxygen Bar Square is located in the center of the scenic area and is the distribution center for tourists. After entering the forest park and walking straight in, you will see a group of monkeys and a concentric lock at the Oxygen Bar Square.
Suoxiyu means a mountain villa in heavy fogs in Tujia language. Ten-mile Gallery is a famous attraction in Suoxi Valley Scenic Area.
The Oxygen Bar Square is located in the center of the scenic area and is the distribution center for tourists. After entering the forest park and walking straight in, you will see a group of monkeys and a concentric lock at the Oxygen Bar Square.
The square is shady with trees. It’s the place with the highest negative oxygen ions in the country. The first thing that many people come here to do is to take a deep breath and feel the nature. Many people also feed monkeys and take group photos here.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has a subtropical mountain prototype monsoon humid climate, with sufficient light and rainfall, long frost-free period and short cold period. Zhangjiajie is neither cold in winter and nor hot in summer. The annual average temperature keeps at about 16 degrees Celsius. It’s suitable for sightseeing in all seasons.
