In the northwest of Hunan Province, there is a city that thrives on tourism – Zhangjiajie. It is like a bright green pearl inlaid on the vast land of China. The unique quartz sandstone peak – forest landform has created a beautiful landscape here, with strange peaks, deep valleys, streams and waterfalls, attracting countless tourists. Here are the must – visit tourist attractions in Zhangjiajie.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first national forest park in China and the core scenic area of Zhangjiajie. Stepping into the park is like entering a natural kingdom of animals and plants. There are numerous strange peaks here, in various postures. Three thousand strange peaks rise from the ground, resembling people, objects, birds and beasts, vivid in image and magnificent in momentum.
Golden Whip Stream
The Golden Whip Stream is known as “one of the most beautiful valleys in the world”. It is 5700 meters long. The stream meanders through the valleys between the peaks, changing with the terrain, winding among the peaks. On the banks of the stream, flowers are fresh and beautiful, and birds are singing. Walking along the clear stream, people feel like walking in a painting. The Golden Whip Rock in the stream is more than 380 meters high, towering into the clouds. At the bottom of the rock, there is a stone in the shape of an eagle, guarding the Golden Whip day and night. This is the famous scenic spot “The Divine Eagle Protects the Golden Whip”, and the uncanny workmanship of nature is amazing.
Yuanjiajie
Yuanjiajie is the essence of Zhangjiajie, with unique large quartz sandstone peak – forests. Standing on the viewing platform of Yuanjiajie, the strange peaks and rocks at all distances and heights come into view. Here is the “Hallelujah Mountain”, that is, the Qiankun Column, the shooting location of the floating mountain in “Avatar”. It soars into the clouds. Among the mist and clouds, it seems like a mysterious landscape from outer space, bringing a strong visual shock. There is also the First Bridge Under Heaven. It is a natural stone bridge. The bridge deck is about two meters wide, four meters thick, with a span of more than twenty meters and a height of more than three hundred meters. It spans between two mountains, which is truly a masterpiece of nature and spectacular.
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
Tianmen Mountain is well – known for its unique natural scenery and rich cultural history, and it has the reputation of “the First Divine Mountain in Western Hunan”.
Tianmen Cave
Tianmen Cave is the iconic scenic spot of Tianmen Mountain. It is the highest natural cave through the mountain in the world, hanging on the thousand – meter – high cliff like a door to the sky. The cave is 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide and 60 meters deep. It opens north – south on the thousands – of – feet – high plain wall, reaching the sky. The weather changes are myriad. Sometimes, clouds and fog billow out of the cave, and sometimes, rays of sunlight penetrate the cave. It is magnificent and magical, just like a fairyland. To reach Tianmen Cave, one needs to climb 999 steps of the Ladder to Heaven, which implies “praying for blessings from Heaven”. Every step seems to be a dialogue with heaven and earth.
Glass Plank Road
The glass plank road on Tianmen Mountain is a challenging place for the brave. Standing on the transparent glass, there is an abyss under your feet and steep cliffs beside you. Every step makes people tremble with fear, but they can’t stop. The excitement and thrill can make you feel the rush of adrenaline, and at the same time, allow you to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Tianmen Mountain from a unique perspective.
Tianmen Mountain Winding Mountain Road
Also known as the “Road to Heaven”, it is 10.77 kilometers long. The altitude rises sharply from 200 meters to 1300 meters. On both sides of the road, there are thousands – foot – high precipices and deep valleys. There are a total of 99 bends, with 180 – degree sharp turns one after another. It is like a jade belt winding around, with the bends closely connected and stacked layer by layer. It is like a giant dragon soaring through the clouds and reaching the sky, which can be called the most amazing road in the world.
Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie is named “Yuntiandu”. It is a large – scale valley suspension bridge. The main span of the bridge is 430 meters, the bridge deck is 375 meters long and 6 meters wide, and the relative height from the bridge deck to the bottom of the valley is about 300 meters. This fully transparent glass bridge is not only the world’s first cable – stayed glass bridge over a high – mountain canyon but also has several world records. Walking on the bridge, with transparent glass under your feet, you can clearly see the scenery at the bottom of the canyon, as if floating in the air, both exciting and romantic. In the Grand Canyon, there are gurgling streams, numerous flying waterfalls and magical springs. The vegetation in the canyon is lush, and the air is fresh. Wandering in it is like being in a fairyland.
Zhangjiajie, this art palace of nature, every scenic spot exudes a unique charm. Whether it is strange peaks and rocks or canyon waterfalls, it can let tourists experience the magic and grandeur of nature and leave an unforgettable travel memory.
