Review Overview
Zhangjiajie, a fairyland listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is renowned globally as a "natural secret realm" for its unique quartz sandstone peak forest landform, deep canyons, and misty sea of clouds. Its scenic spots combine grandeur and grace, with core scenic areas and distinctive attractions complementing each other to form a three-dimensional landscape painting. Below are the most worth-visiting core scenic spots in Zhangjiajie:I. Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park)
As the soul of Zhangjiajie, the Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area covers 264 square kilometers. Composed of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, Tianzishan Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie Nature Reserve, it is a rare cluster of peak forest and canyon landforms in the world.
1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Huangshi Village: Known as "He who doesn’t visit Huangshi Village, hasn’t truly seen Zhangjiajie," it is the highest point of the scenic area. From the top, you can overlook thousands of quartz sandstone peaks rising from the ground, which look like a fairyland when shrouded in clouds. Core landscapes include "Liuqi Pavilion," "Star-Picking Platform," and "Tianqiao Yidun" (Remains of the Heavenly Bridge).
- Golden Whip Stream: A 7.5-kilometer-long canyon stream, known as the "Mother River" of Zhangjiajie. The stream is crystal clear, with peak forests facing each other on both banks. Along the way, you can see stone landscapes such as "Golden Whip Rock," "Divine Eagle Guarding the Whip," and "Splitting the Mountain to Rescue the Mother." Walking along the stream is like wandering in a painting, and the air is rich in negative oxygen ions.
- Yuanjiajie: Famous as the filming location of "Hallelujah Mountains" in the movie Avatar. The "floating mountain" wonder here—Qiankun Column, stands 150 meters tall vertically in the canyon. Combined with the "World’s First Bridge" (a natural stone bridge, 1.5 meters wide and 25 meters long), it fully demonstrates the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.
2. Tianzishan Nature Reserve
Tianzishan is famous for its four wonders: "peak forests, sea of clouds, winter snow, and sunset glow," with an average altitude of 1,262 meters and a broad view. Core attractions include "Yubi Peak" (dozens of slender peak forests standing like writing brushes), "Fairy Scattering Flowers" (peak forests shaped like a fairy scattering petals), and "Helong Park" (a theme park in memory of Marshal Helong, offering a panoramic view). After rain on a clear day, the sea of clouds surges, and the peak forests appear and disappear in the mist, like an ink wash painting.
3. Yangjiajie Nature Reserve
Relatively less crowded but full of wild beauty, it is famous for its "danger." The core landscape "Wulong Village" was once a refuge for bandits. To reach it, you need to pass through dangerous trails such as "Reaching the Sky in One Step" and "Air Corridor." Along the way, the peak forests are dense, and the "Tianbo Mansion" viewing platform offers a bird’s-eye view of the peak forest barrier like "four city walls," which is magnificent.
II. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
Located only 8 kilometers from Zhangjiajie urban area, Tianmen Mountain stands 1,518.6 meters above sea level. It is named after the natural through-cave "Tianmen Cave" on the top of the mountain and is known as the "No.1 Divine Mountain in Western Hunan."
- Tianmen Cave: A natural cave 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep, like a gateway to heaven. Tourists need to climb 999 steps of the "Heavenly Staircase" to reach the cave entrance and experience the wonders of "Tianmen Spitting Mist" and "Tianmen Rosy Clouds." Every year, extreme sports such as wingsuit flying and low-altitude skydiving are held here.
- Tianmen Mountain Glass Plank Road: Built on the cliff at an altitude of 1,430 meters, it is 60 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, with the deck paved with transparent glass. Below is an abyss, making it a "game for the brave." Nearby, there are also characteristic experience projects such as "Guigu Plank Road" and "Tongtian Avenue" (a winding mountain road with 99 bends, known as the "No.1 Highway Wonder in the World").
- Yunmeng Xianding (Yunmeng Fairy Peak): The highest point of Tianmen Mountain, with a viewing platform where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Zhangjiajie urban area and peak forest landforms. In the early morning, it is often surrounded by sea of clouds, like being in a fairyland.
III. Distinctive Scenic Spots: Less Crowded but Stunning
1. Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Centered on "canyons, waterfalls, and glass bridges," it is a good place for leisure and adventure. The core landscape "Yuntiandu Glass Bridge" is the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, with the deck 300 meters above the valley bottom and 536 meters long. Walking on the bridge, you can feel the excitement of "walking in the air." Below the bridge, the canyon stream gurgles, and both banks are covered with dense vegetation. In addition, landscapes such as "One-Line Sky," "Rainbow Waterfall," and "Shenquan Stream" in the canyon are also worth visiting.
2. Huanglong Cave
Known as the "Best Cave in China" and "World Karst Cave Wonder," it is a typical karst cave. The cave is huge, with a total length of 13 kilometers. There are caves within caves and rivers within caves. Core landscapes include "Dinghai Shenzhen" (a 19.2-meter-tall stalactite, insured for 100 million yuan), "Huaguoshan (Flower and Fruit Mountain)," and "Dragon Palace." The stalactites are of various shapes, and with lighting effects, they look like an underground palace.
3. Baofeng Lake
The only alpine lake in Zhangjiajie, at an altitude of 430 meters, built by damming a high mountain canyon. The lake water is as clear as a mirror, and the peak forests on both banks are reflected in the water, forming the "peak forest on water" wonder. Tourists can take a cruise to enjoy the scenery, appreciate landscapes such as "Fairy Looking in the Mirror" and "Golden Toad Holding the Moon" along the way, and listen to the folk song duets of Tujia girls to experience the folk customs of Western Hunan.
IV. Travel Tips
- The Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area is large; it is recommended to arrange 2-3 days for visiting. You can take scenic area shuttle buses, Bailong Elevator, or Tianzishan Cableway to save energy.
- It is recommended to reserve 1 day for Tianmen Mountain. Tickets need to be booked in advance during peak seasons, and shoe covers need to be purchased separately for the glass plank road.
- The best travel time is from April to June (lush vegetation in spring) and September to November (colorful forests in autumn). Avoid peak seasons such as summer vacations and holidays.
- Some scenic spots have steep trails; wear comfortable sports shoes and carry rain gear and sun protection products.