This one-of-a-kind national forest was China’s first established national forest park. Hike through the lush greenery and crane your neck upwards when you try to see the top of one park’s 3,000 pillar-like formations. The pillars are a result of erosion over centuries. Explore
the dense foliage in the humid climate and look for the “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain,” coined after its appearance in the January 2010 film, Avatar.
The Natural Great Wall: 杨家界天然长城
Visit the Natural Great Wall, one of the highlights of the Yangjiajie
Scenic Area. Towering walls of rock snake through the landscape like the Great Wall of China,
quite different from the pillars in the rest of the national park.
Tianbo House天波府: At the top of the mountain, above Oolong Village, see the ten high parallel stone walls of General Yang’s family house.
Laowuchang/Old House Area老屋场:
Visit the Old House Area, an undeveloped part of Zhangjiajie
National Forest Park between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. Well off the ordinary travel
route, the area offers beautiful scenery and open landscapes.
Paddies in the Sky: 空中田园
Visit the Paddies in the sky, an area of paddy fields seemingly suspended in thin air on an outcrop surrounded by Zhangjiajie’s typical peaks. The paddies are farmed by local ethnic people.
Spirit Soldiers’ Gathering:神兵聚会
Visit the Spirit Soldiers Gathering, a collection of 48 rocky towers standing like soldiers in formation.
Transfer to visit Tianzi Mountain.
Tianzi Mountain天子山:
Tianzi means “son of heaven” and was named for a local farmer who led a
successful farmer’s revolt. The area is known as the “Monarch of the Peak Forest” for its elevated position and stunning views. Take a cable car to the top of the mountain for an unchallenged view of the lush nature below.
Nod-to-the-General Platform:点将台
Visit the Nod-to-the-General Platform, a gorge full of curling clouds with standing rock pillars of different shapes. The tallest pillar in the middle is called the “emporer.“ In front of it is the “herald“ who is reading an imperial edict to the “soldiers.” The two “prime ministers“ are bending down and situated on the left and right.
The Emperor’s Pens:御笔峰
Visit the Emporer’s Pens view, a collection of cliffs resembling calligraphy pens that have been featured on some of China’s stamps.
Ten Mile Gallery:十里画廊
Explore the Ten Mile Gallery, a gorgeous natural stretch of scenery set
around the base of the Tianzi Mountain. Off in the distance, a range of varied landscapes and
rock formations fill the eye with wonder. The most notable is the “Herb Collecting Old Man,” a distinct formation that is said to resemble the Ming Dynasty’s renowned scientist Li Shih-Chen. There is also Monkey Slope, a verdant forest bustling with families of monkeys, and the Xiangwang Reading a Book, a peculiar rock formation associated with the Emperor Xiang.
Hundred Dragons Elevator:百龙天梯
Visit the Bailing Sky Lift, a.k.a. the Hundred Dragons Elevator.
Proclaimed as the world’s highest and heaviest elevator, the sky lift stands over one thousand feet high, and scales the side of a massive cliff in the Wulingyuan region. This will take you to a viewpoint, providing panoramic vistas of the stunning Zhangjiajie National Park. Those with a fear of heights, be wary, this lift is infamous for causing bouts of vertigo.
Avatar World: 电影“阿凡达原型山”
Enter Avatar World – virginal Yuanjiajie, named because the mountains in director James Cameron’s movie, Avatar, which were inspired by the scenery here. Park officials have even renamed one of the peaks “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”. You will arrive at a metal suspension bridge, giving you a view
down to Heavenly Pillar, or “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”.
First Bridge of the World: 天下第一桥
Visit the First Bridge of the World, a natural rock bridge with
guard rails that make it safe to walk across. Enjoy the scenic panoramic views of the surrounding rock formations and valley below.
Lost Souls Platform:迷魂台
Ascend a trail zigzagging its way southward up to the top of Wuyanding Platform, which provides panoramic views of ‘Lost Souls Platform.’ Visitors fascinated by the beautiful and mysterious scenery there are said to have forgotten the way back. Hence the name ‘Lost Souls Platform’.
Yaozi Village:鹞子寨
Spend a total of 5-6 hours hiking up and down to Yaozi Village. Yaozi or “Sparrow Hawk” Village is famous for its dangerous precipices and cliffs, and even the Yaozi (Sparrow Hawks) cannot fly beyond it, hence the name Yaozi Village. Situated in the northeast quadrant of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and rising 1098 meters above sea level,
the trail to Yaozi Village contains numerous lookout points for scenic
views.
Yellow Stone Village:黄石寨
Ascend by cable car to Yellow Stone Village.
Located north of Gold Whip Stream,Yellow Stone Village is a large mountain village that offers numerous lookout points for natural views.
This is where we will have lunch.
The area surrounding Yellow Stone Village contains several scenic sites including theTrail in Fir
Woods, a large area of virgin forest with fir trees; Imperial Edict and the Precious Box, Needle
Peak,Southern Gate to Heaven, and Five Finger Peak.
Golden Whip Stream: 金鞭溪
Experience the Golden Whip Stream. Although just a minor tributary,this region, with its immaculate water and abundance of life, is hailed as one of the more beautiful locales in all of China. A three hour exploration will allow you to see the range of this area’s beauty, the wild flowers, the majestic peaks, and the varied flora and fauna, which include birds,fish, and land animals. Take this serene escape as an opportunity to relax and get back in touch with nature.
Golden Whip Cliff:金鞭岩
Visit the Golden Whip Cliff, a 1300-foot (400-meter) high cliff located near the Golden Whip Stream.