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An essential part of the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan is the first national forest park in China. The park was listed on the World Geopark in February 2004 due to its pillar-like mountains of quartz sandstone. Besides being the main reason for most visitors’ travel to Zhangjiajie, the park is also a top destination for people who want to explore some of the best natural wonders during their China tours.
It is about 32 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie city center, covering an area of about 4810 hectares. Boasting not only eye-catching natural landscapes, the park is also home to a wide variety of plant species and wildlife. Some of the most popular scenic areas in the park include Huangshizhai, Tianzi Mountains, Yangjiajie, Yuanjiajie, Golden Whip Stream, and Ten-mile Natural Gallery.
Fast Facts of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Location: Located at 279 Jinbian Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City. It lies in the eastern section of the Wuling Mountain Range, and in the southeast of Zhangjiajie city center.
Area: About 4,810 hectares
Opening Hours: 7:00-18:00from March to November, 8:00-17:00 from December to February.
Highlights: Pillar-like karst mountains, Bailong Elevator, great hiking experience, stunning natural landscapes, inspiration of Avatar.
Best Time to Visit: March to May and September to November
Visiting Time Needed: 2-4 days
What to See in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – Main Scenic Areas
The forest park encompasses several scenic areas, offering some of the most magnificent natural masterpieces in the world. There are scenic areas both on mountain tops and at the
foot of the mountains. Golden Whip Stream and the Ten-Mile Gallery are the two popular scenic areas on the mountain foot.
Among the four major mountain-top scenic areas, Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie, and Yuanjiajie can be explored in a circular route and each of them has its own transportation
equipment for ascending and descending. While Huangshi Village is a scenic area apart from the other three mountain-top scenic areas and can only be accessed by a separate route.
Location: At the eastern part of the forest park, about 300 meters from the eastern entrance.
Visiting Time Needed: about 3 hours
Features: A relaxing hike experience with scenery, suitable for all ages
Main Attractions: Golden Whip Rock, Wenxing Rock, Purple Grass Pond, Fish Jumping Pool, Eagle Protecting the Whip Peak
Golden Whip Stream is about 300 meters from the entrance of the park. It got its name because flowing past the Golden Whip Rock. Spanning about 7.5 kilometers long, this scenic area is blessed with clear streams, deep gorges, unique rock formations, lush vegetation, and a variety of wildlife. The hike in this area is enjoyable and leisurely, suitable for visitors of all ages.
Location:At the eastern entrance of the park.
Visiting Time Needed:About 1.5-2 hours by walk, about 0.5 hours by sightseeing train
Features: A breathtaking and serene gorge offering leisure walking or train sightseeing.
The Ten-mile Natural Gallery is just next to the eastern entrance of the park. It is actually a gorge 5.8 kilometers long, with picturesque landscapes on both sides. Either by walking or the mini sightseeing train, you will see the unique karst formations, clear streams, waterfalls, charming mists, and sea of clouds unfold before you one by one, just like opening a scroll of traditional Chinese landscape painting.
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Location: In the eastern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Visiting Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Features: Sandstone peak forest landform, convenient accessibility (thanks to the Bailong Elevator), verdant valleys.
Yuanjiajie is a core scenic area in the forest park, located in the northern part of the park. Covering about 1,200 hectares with an average altitude of 1,074 meters, this area borders and offers distant views of several major scenic areas in the park. It is a vast and gentle mountain featuring peculiar terrain, mist-covered and overlapping peaks, and lush forests. It is widely titled “Three Thousand Unique Peaks”, with Bailong Elevator offering a quick ascent to its top. The famous attractions in Yuanjiajie include:
The First Bridge Under Heaven: A natural stone bridge spanning between two mountains.
Southern Sky Column: Aka Hallelujah Mountain or Avatar Mountain, it is a standalone rock pillar standing at a vertical height of about 150 meters. It is where the floating mountains in Avatar are inspired.
Bailong Elevator: With a vertical height of 335 meters, Bailong Elevator boasts the highest elevator in the world. It provides a convenient and fast way to ascend to the mountain top in this area.
Enchanting Platform:An excellent viewing platform offering panoramic views of Yuanjiajie.
Back Garden: A hidden natural garden that is dominated by primitive forest and diverse rock formations.
Travel tips:
The roads to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area are steep, so it is necessary for visitors to be careful on road.
Taking Bailong Elevator can directly get to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, which only takes 1 minute and 58 seconds. But if you want to get to Yuanjiajie by hiking, it may take 2.5 to 3 hours. So, choosing to take Bailong elevator is the most time-saving and energy-saving way to reach Yuanjiajie.
Location: In the northern part of the park
Visiting Time Needed: Half a day to one full day
Features: Stone pillar forests, rich cultural heritage, charming waterfalls
Main Attractions: Helong Park, Yubi Peak, Fairy Spreading Flowers, Tianzi Pavilion, Tianzi Mountain cable car.
Boarding Suoxiyu Scenic Area to the east, Tianzi Mountain is a core scenic area in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This scenic area is known for its peak forest landscape, with thousands of pillar peaks rising sharply from the ground. The unique climatic conditions in the area make Tianzi Mountain often shrouded in a sea of clouds. Visitors can take a cable car to reach these wonders conveniently.
Location: In the western part of the park
Visiting Time Needed:
Features: Some sections are steep, and need a certain level of physical fitness.
Main Attractions: Xiangzhi Stream, One Step to Heaven, Sky Corridor (a walkway along the cliffside), Liulang Peak. Wulong Village, Yangjiajie Cableway.
Located in the western part of the park, Yangjiajie is the last developed scenic area in Wulingyuan, featuring more rugged peaks and wild natural landscapes than other areas. Visitors can reach its best sights easily by the Yangjiajie cable car. This area also stands out for its crisscrossing ravines, streams, and a forest coverage rate of up to 95%.
Location:In the central area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Visiting Time Needed:About 4-6 hours
Features: Rugged terrain, rich natural landscapes, and a 360-degree panoramic view of the park.
Main Attractions: Tian Shu Bao Xia (Heavenly Book Treasure Chest), Nan Tian Yi Zhu (Southern Pillar of Heaven), natural rock paintings, Zhai Xing Tai (Star-Picking Platform), Hei Cong Lai (Black Pine Ridge), Tian Qiao Yi Dun (Sky Bridge Ruins).
Huangshi Village is situated in the central part of the park, seeing the most concentrated natural beauty in Zhangjiajie. Thanks to its central location and high elevation, the area is surrounded by peaks on all sides, offering an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of the park. Many people ascend to the summit of this vast square-shaped plateau by the Huangshi Village cable car. While there are still multiple mountain trails available for those who love hiking.
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