Zhangjiajie
located in the west of Hunnan Province, 330 kilometers from Changsha, the capital of Hunnan Province, over 1,000 kilometers from both Shanghai and Beijing. Zhangjiajie was thrust into foreigner travelers' eyes after the movie Avatar. The Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar were inspired by Heavenly Pillar in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Zhangjiajie is famous for its precarious peaks, limpid streams, dense forests, and large karst caves. In 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became China's first national forest park. The history of the region can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. There are three main ethnic minority groups Tujia, Bai, Miao and other 29 minority groups living harmoniously with the Han Nationality. Many different folk cultures converge here and the visitor can experience the various folk-customs, clothing, decorations, dance and music. Zhangjiajie City features a variety of different terrains including: mountainous regions, upland areas, plains, and Karst rock areas. Among these, the mountains cover 76 percent of the total area.
National Forest Park
is the most famous part of one of China’s best national parks (or national level scenic areas) — Wulingyuan. China’s first national forest park contains the essence of Zhangjiajie scenery: the towering sandstone pillars, sometimes in seas of cloud, rich wildlife, and tranquil streams. The Park can be split into four areas: Gold Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie. source: www.travelchinaguide.com and www.chinahighlights.com
located in the west of Hunnan Province, 330 kilometers from Changsha, the capital of Hunnan Province, over 1,000 kilometers from both Shanghai and Beijing. Zhangjiajie was thrust into foreigner travelers' eyes after the movie Avatar. The Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar were inspired by Heavenly Pillar in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Zhangjiajie is famous for its precarious peaks, limpid streams, dense forests, and large karst caves. In 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became China's first national forest park. The history of the region can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. There are three main ethnic minority groups Tujia, Bai, Miao and other 29 minority groups living harmoniously with the Han Nationality. Many different folk cultures converge here and the visitor can experience the various folk-customs, clothing, decorations, dance and music. Zhangjiajie City features a variety of different terrains including: mountainous regions, upland areas, plains, and Karst rock areas. Among these, the mountains cover 76 percent of the total area.
National Forest Park
is the most famous part of one of China’s best national parks (or national level scenic areas) — Wulingyuan. China’s first national forest park contains the essence of Zhangjiajie scenery: the towering sandstone pillars, sometimes in seas of cloud, rich wildlife, and tranquil streams. The Park can be split into four areas: Gold Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie. source: www.travelchinaguide.com and www.chinahighlights.com
Tianzi Mountain (天子山 'Heaven Son Mountain')
sometimes translated as “Emperor Mountain”. Emperors were thought to be descendants of heaven, and the peaks, like floating islands in swirling mists, are the traditional image of heavenly realms. source: www.travelchinaguide.com and www.chinahighlights.com
sometimes translated as “Emperor Mountain”. Emperors were thought to be descendants of heaven, and the peaks, like floating islands in swirling mists, are the traditional image of heavenly realms. source: www.travelchinaguide.com and www.chinahighlights.com
Yangjiajie Scenic Area ('Yang Family Territory' 杨家界)
is a newly developed area of the park. It is the least-crowded area, with spectacular scenery, and challenging hiking. The highlight of Yangjiajie Scenic Area is its ‘Natural Great Wall’, towering walls of rock snake through the landscape like the Great Wall of China, quite different to the pillars in the rest of the national park. Tianbo House: is at the top of the mountain above Oolong Village (乌龙寨). The ten high, parallel, stone walls of General Yang’s family house look magnificent. source: www.chinahighlights.com
is a newly developed area of the park. It is the least-crowded area, with spectacular scenery, and challenging hiking. The highlight of Yangjiajie Scenic Area is its ‘Natural Great Wall’, towering walls of rock snake through the landscape like the Great Wall of China, quite different to the pillars in the rest of the national park. Tianbo House: is at the top of the mountain above Oolong Village (乌龙寨). The ten high, parallel, stone walls of General Yang’s family house look magnificent. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
Yuanjiajie is a butte (steep-sided platform mountain), surrounded by higher peaks, grotesque rock pillars and deep valleys. contains "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain". Named in 2010, it is now the most popular sight in Zhangjiajie. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Yuanjiajie is a butte (steep-sided platform mountain), surrounded by higher peaks, grotesque rock pillars and deep valleys. contains "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain". Named in 2010, it is now the most popular sight in Zhangjiajie. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Gold Whip Stream (Jinbian Xi 金鞭溪)
is a brook at the foot of the mountain. It is about 7½ km long, about two hours’ walk. It is an easy and relaxing walk along the stream.
Gold Whip Cliff, a 400-meter-high cliff by Gold Whip Stream, is grand, towering, and angular. Patterns are all over the cliff, like the joints on a huge whip. At sunset the cliff looks like a huge golden whip stuck in the earth. source: www.chinahighlights.com
is a brook at the foot of the mountain. It is about 7½ km long, about two hours’ walk. It is an easy and relaxing walk along the stream.
Gold Whip Cliff, a 400-meter-high cliff by Gold Whip Stream, is grand, towering, and angular. Patterns are all over the cliff, like the joints on a huge whip. At sunset the cliff looks like a huge golden whip stuck in the earth. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Tianmen Mountain (天门山Tiānmén Shān - 'Sky Hole Mountain’)
The stunning views, vertical cliffs, the fascinating cliff-hanging walkway, the glass sky walk, and the longest cable car ride, make it unquestionably one of the best national parks to visit in China. The Cable Car Ride up to the Mountain: the cableway is the longest in the world, taking about 30 minutes for over 7 kilometers. The last part of the cable way is very steep, going up at 37 degrees over sheer cliffs to one of the mountain peaks. source: www.chinahighlights.com
The stunning views, vertical cliffs, the fascinating cliff-hanging walkway, the glass sky walk, and the longest cable car ride, make it unquestionably one of the best national parks to visit in China. The Cable Car Ride up to the Mountain: the cableway is the longest in the world, taking about 30 minutes for over 7 kilometers. The last part of the cable way is very steep, going up at 37 degrees over sheer cliffs to one of the mountain peaks. source: www.chinahighlights.com
The Cliff-Hanging Walkway
The walkway was built along the edges of this mountain's summits, clinging to the vertical cliffs. The walkway is about 1.6 kilometers long, about 1,400 meters high. more at: www.chinahighlights.com
The walkway was built along the edges of this mountain's summits, clinging to the vertical cliffs. The walkway is about 1.6 kilometers long, about 1,400 meters high. more at: www.chinahighlights.com
The Glass Sky Walk
part of the cliff-hanging walkway, and is the highest section. The “sky walk” is 60 meters long, with a width of 1.6 meters. On a clear day, walking on it, a sheer drop of thousands of feet below can be clearly seen. It gives a thrilling feeling like walking in the sky. source: www.chinahighlights.com
part of the cliff-hanging walkway, and is the highest section. The “sky walk” is 60 meters long, with a width of 1.6 meters. On a clear day, walking on it, a sheer drop of thousands of feet below can be clearly seen. It gives a thrilling feeling like walking in the sky. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Tianmen Cave (天门 Tiānmén - 'Sky Door')
is a large (30 meters or 100 feet wide) water-eroded hole between two peaks, like a huge doorway in the cliff face. There are 999 steep and narrow steps up to the cave. source: www.chinahighlights.com
is a large (30 meters or 100 feet wide) water-eroded hole between two peaks, like a huge doorway in the cliff face. There are 999 steep and narrow steps up to the cave. source: www.chinahighlights.com
Zhangjiajie Cuisine
The local Hunan cuisine is characterized by its heat, its aroma, and spices. Noted dishes include stinky tofu, spring rolls, pork leg braised in soy sauce, hot and spicy chicken, sliced beef, Tujia Minority salted meat and salted fish, braised chicken with gyrophora ('stone ear' lichen), River Zhi duck, Linwu duck, and Hunan Yellow Chicken, among others.
Tujia smoked dishes include smoked pork, salted lamb, salted beef, and salted pig legs. Their sour and spicy dishes consist of sour wild herbs, pickled vegetables, sour pork, sour fish, sour corn mash, and others.
Tujia pickled dishes include pickled pepper, cured meat, cured corn power, and pickled ginger.
Tujia family dishes include pumpkin soup, rice tofu, steamed pork with rice, meat with vegetables, stewed chicken with gyrophora, loach soup with bean curd, spicy fish, and other treats. Their wild herbs and local rice dishes are also delicious. source: www.chinahighlights.com
The local Hunan cuisine is characterized by its heat, its aroma, and spices. Noted dishes include stinky tofu, spring rolls, pork leg braised in soy sauce, hot and spicy chicken, sliced beef, Tujia Minority salted meat and salted fish, braised chicken with gyrophora ('stone ear' lichen), River Zhi duck, Linwu duck, and Hunan Yellow Chicken, among others.
Tujia smoked dishes include smoked pork, salted lamb, salted beef, and salted pig legs. Their sour and spicy dishes consist of sour wild herbs, pickled vegetables, sour pork, sour fish, sour corn mash, and others.
Tujia pickled dishes include pickled pepper, cured meat, cured corn power, and pickled ginger.
Tujia family dishes include pumpkin soup, rice tofu, steamed pork with rice, meat with vegetables, stewed chicken with gyrophora, loach soup with bean curd, spicy fish, and other treats. Their wild herbs and local rice dishes are also delicious. source: www.chinahighlights.com