Zhangjiajie Tourism Resources
 2016-12-21 11:14:50   Zhangjiajie Tourism Information Website  

2.Zhangjiajie Core Scenic Areas

About wulingyuan

Wulingyuan lies in the Wulingyuan District of the city of Dayong and covers the entire drainage basin of the Suoxi Brook, which winds for 69 km through the site. The most notable feature, dominating about two-thirds of the site, are more than 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks. Between the peaks are numerous ravines and gorges, many containing attractive streams, pools and waterfalls. The site also contains a number of karst features, notably some 40 caves which are concentrated on the banks of the Suoxiyu River and the south-east side of Tianzi Mountain. Huanglong or Yellow Dragon Cave is said to be one of the 10 largest caves in China. Spectacular calcite deposits are a major feature of many of these caves.

3,000 species of plant occur within the area, including some 600 species of woody plant; these are split fairly evenly between tropical/subtropical and temperate species. Many of the species are of value for timber, medical or ornamental purposes.

A number of faunal species are globally threatened with extinction: Chinese giant salamander, Asiatic wild dog, Asiatic black bear, clouded leopard, leopard and Chinese water deer. The clouded leopard population is likely to be very small, although tracks and others signs have been found they have never actually been seen.

Unlike many other areas of China, the site does not have a long human history. In ancient times it was regarded as remote and inaccessible. Local legends indicate that Zhangliang, a lord in the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), lived in seclusion in Wulingyuan and was buried below Qingyan (now Zhangjiajie) Mountain.

STAR SIGHTS

1.Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

2.Huangshi Village-Golden Whip Stream--Yaozi Village--Yuanjiajie

3.Huanglong Cave (Yellow Dragon Cave)

4.Baofeng Lake

5.Folk Custom Grand Theatre(Zhangjiajie Western Charm Grand Theatre)

Zhangjiajie Baofeng Lake

The benevolent enjoys mountains while the wise relish waters.

Baofeng Lake is a veritable place of graceful mountains, charming brooklets and friendly people. Baofeng Lake represents such a paradise that you would like to visit time after time. Flowing through the high gorges, a body of crystalline and tranquil water is surrounded by emerald mountains. The lake is situated part way up the mountain range, 85 meters above the ground, and attains an altitude of 585 meters. Out of its association with the Baofeng Mountain Range, the lake bears the name of Baofeng.

With an average depth of 72 meters, Baofeng Lake covers an area of 15 hectares, having a capacity of 6 million cubic meters of water in total. The lake water comes from rainfall, mountain springs and underground streams, stays emerald all year around. Therefore, it is reputed as Paradise in the Human World. Star scenic spots in this area include: Baofeng Waterfall, Stone Gate Welcoming Guests, Peacock Displaying Colorful Tail, and Golden Toad Biting the Moon, Fairy Lady Reflected in the Lake and so on.

Baofeng Lake located in Suoxiyu Natural Reserve, half way of the Eagle Mountain. Nonetheless such a miraculous lake is not a natural one. In 1970’s, the local residents filled the small faults of the lake with concrete to store water, thereby water level came up and a beautiful lake took shape. Since then, boat tours on the lake have brought a lot of fun--girls in the boat sing folk songs, and the tourists interacted with girls by antiphonal singing. Altogether the whole picture is decorated by a wonderful waterfall at the entrance.

Zhangjiajie Huanglong Cave

It is more beautiful in the Huanglong Cave than the outside world. No matter day or night, rain or wind, all year long, one can take delight in its wonderful scenery. The cave is of good air circulation, and is cool in summer and warm in winter. Huanglong Cave is one of the foremost scenic areas in Zhangjiajie, and was rated as one of the first 4A National Tourist Attractions. Also it has been honored as magical karst cave both in China and around the globe.

Huanglong cave belongs to a typical karst formation, and it is known to all that water plays an extremely important role in its shaping. Flowing into the fissures of the karst layer, water constantly dissolves the limestone rock, thereby widening the crevice. This process continues year after year thus the caves are created. Huanglong Cave covers a proven area of 100,000 square meters. The inner recess is divided into four layers, two dry ones and two possessing waterways. The natural wonders include: one natural reservoir, 2 underground rivers, 3 pools, 4 waterfalls, 13 grand halls, 96 passageways and hundreds of thousands of stalagmites, columns and stalactites. Huanglong Cave is so complex and unfathomable, possessing such a multitude of geological features, that it’s impossible for us to take them all in at one time. This “magical place” abounds with all the sceneries that we can enjoy in the karst caves and the stalagmites in all different shapes. Many famous scenic spots have been developing: the Dragon Dance Hall, Sounding River, Immortal Waterfall, Heaven Pillar Street, and the Dragon Palace.

Except for a short distance near the entrance, we won’t have to do any backtracking in the cave. The entire tour takes about two hours—2400 meters by land and an additional 800 meters by water.

Huanglong Cave situated in Suoxiyu Natural Reserve, 15 minutes drive from Suoxiyu town, 1 hour drive from Zhangjiajie downtown, 20 minutes drive from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.. It is the longest cave in Asia; also an incomparable realm of gigantic subterranean chambers, fantastic cave formations, and extraordinary features. Today many of the wonders of Huanglong Cave have gained world-renown fame. The cave remained mystic to local villagers before the first caving adventure took place in 1982; they believe it was the holy home for Huanglong (yellow dragon) and spirits. Now the routes are well paved and lighted. Sturdy walking shoes, flashlights, and drinking water are needed if you want to explore the cave.

Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain, a famous mountain first recorded in the history of Zhangjiajie, has an elevation of 1518.6 meters. It is only 8 kilometers far from the downtown and is one of the most representative natural sceneries of Zhangjiajie. For a long time, Tianmen Mountain not only attracts the attention of the people by its miraculous and unique geographic landform and unparalleled natural landscape, but also well known for its profound cultural connotations and famous colorful humanistic sites. It is revered as the soul of culture and spirit of Zhangjiajie and reputed as Number One Miraculous Mountain in Western Hunan.

The main body of Tianmen Mountain is uniquely skyscraping and domineering. Tianmen Cave the natural mountain-penetrating karst cave with the highest elevation in the world, hangs on the towering cliff. The cave becomes the unique sight under heaven and breeds the profound and grand Heaven Culture and Culture of Fairy Mountain in the local area. Tianmen Mountain is the second national forest park in Zhangjiajie. On the mountaintop are intact sub-primitive forests with overflowing wild atmosphere in all the seasons. In addition, the densely populated karst hillocks and karrens plus the mating of strange rocks and graceful trees create a grand garden of bonsai as if blessed by the God. Tianmen Mountain Temple, with an area of over 10000 square meters, enjoys a booming pilgrimage ever since the Ming Dynasty. It is the Buddhist center of Western Hunan. The six unresolved mysteries in the past hundreds of years such as Opening of Tianmen Cave, Shadow of Guigu, and Auspicious Unicorn have added the mysterious and elusive atmosphere for Tianmen Mountain.

The tourist traffic design of Tianmen Mountain is worth the title of world-stunning masterpiece. It will bring stunning and unforgettable experiences for the tourists. Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Heaven-Linking Avenue, Tianmen Cave and Bonsai Garden in the Air are reputed as the four great wonders. Tianmen Mountain Cableway, the longest one-way recycling passenger cableway around the world, has a length of 7455 meters and a height gap of 1279 meters.

It takes the tourists from the atmosphere of modern city directly to the hug of the primitive garden in the air. During the running of cableway, the landscape transforms into a kaleidoscope, making the tourists experience a miraculous feeling of flying angels in the sky as well as of being blended into a long grand painting of landscape. The mountain-winding highway of Tianmen Mountain, nicknamed as Heaven-Linking Avenue, has a total length of less than 11 kilometers. Yet the elevation of it rises sharply from 200 meters to 1300 meters. The avenue rises steeply according to the form of mountain. The 99 blends link closely with each other and pile up in layers, making a pattern of a circling flying dragon reaching the skyline. Tourists marvel at it, which is worth the title of the Top Highway Wonder in the World.