Zhangjiajie

1.Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park)

China’s first national forest park and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Wulingyuan is famous for its quartz sandstone peak forest landscape. Over 3,000 towering stone peaks rise abruptly from the ground, with sharp tops and steep cliffs, like a fairyland. It served as the prototype for the “Hallelujah Mountains” in the movie Avatar. The Golden Whip Stream winds through the peaks, with clear water and lush trees; the Bailong Elevator, a 326-meter-high outdoor elevator, offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire scenic area.

2.Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Known as the “Gate to Heaven,” Tianmen Mountain features the natural Tianmen Cave, a 131.5-meter-high arch formed by thousands of years of erosion. The 99-bend Tongtian Avenue winds up the mountain, and the glass plank road clinging to the cliffside tests visitors’ courage. The cable car from the city to the mountain top is the longest passenger cableway in the world, offering a panoramic view of the mountain ranges and the city below.

3.Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge

The Grand Canyon is a valley with clear streams, waterfalls, and karst caves. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, spanning the canyon, is the world’s tallest and longest glass-bottomed bridge, 375 meters long and 300 meters above the valley floor. Walking on the transparent glass, visitors feel as if they are floating in the air, with the magnificent valley scenery at their feet.

4.Huanglong Cave

A typical karst cave, Huanglong Cave is known as the “Underground Pearl.” It features a vast cave space, spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars, shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of groundwater erosion. The cave is divided into several layers, with underground rivers flowing through it. Boat rides on the underground river allow visitors to admire the unique rock formations in the dim light.

5.Baofeng Lake

A high mountain lake surrounded by green peaks, Baofeng Lake is crystal clear. The lake is dotted with small islands, and the reflection of the mountains shimmers on the water surface. Visitors can take a boat tour to enjoy the scenery, listen to the folk songs sung by local Tujia girls, and feel the tranquility of the mountain lake.

6.Ten-Mile Gallery

A 5.8-kilometer-long valley path in Wulingyuan, Ten-Mile Gallery is lined with uniquely shaped stone peaks on both sides, each resembling a different figure or object, such as “Golden Monkey Watching the Moon” and “Panda Paying Homage to Buddha.” Taking a small train along the path, visitors can enjoy the ever-changing natural sculptures, as if walking in a landscape painting.

7.Yuanjiajie

A plateau-like scenic area on the top of the mountain, Yuanjiajie is home to many famous peaks, including the “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.” It offers a broad view, and when the mist shrouds the peaks, it creates a magical and ethereal atmosphere. The Bailong Elevator connects Yuanjiajie to the valley, making it convenient for visitors to reach.