Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area is located in Jishou City, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. With a total area of 8.1 square kilometers, it is the core tourist area of Dehang National Scenic Area, 19 kilometers away from the urban area. The tourist area is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, integrating natural wonders, ethnic culture and engineering miracles. Here, the mountain terrain is ups and downs, the cliffs are tall and straight, the peaks stand tall, and the rivers are crisscrossed, with many cliffs, stone walls, waterfalls and primeval forests. The Aizhai Extra-large Suspension Bridge in the scenic area was the steel truss girder suspension bridge with the largest span across the canyon in the world at that time, with a main span of 1,176 meters, setting four world records.
History and Culture
The Aizhai area has been an important transportation hub in western Hunan since ancient times and was historically the "Throat of Sichuan and Hunan". During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the famous "Aizhai Highway" (Xiangchuan Highway) was built here, known as the "Wonder of Chinese Highways". It is also related to Qu Yuan, a poet of the State of Chu. It is said that after Qu Yuan was exiled to western Hunan, he once faced thousands of mountains and valleys on Tianwen Terrace, asked questions about all things and phenomena in heaven and earth, nature and the human world, and wrote the eternal long poem "Tianwen" (Questions to Heaven). In addition, a large number of Miao compatriots live around the scenic area, preserving complete traditional Miao customs, such as the Ganqiu Festival on the Start of Autumn in the lunar calendar every year.
Main Attractions
Aizhai Bridge
Aizhai Bridge is the core landscape of the scenic area. It was the steel truss girder suspension bridge with the largest span across the canyon in the world at that time, with a main span of 1,176 meters, setting four world records. The bridge is equipped with a transparent glass viewing platform, from which you can overlook the Dehang Grand Canyon more than 300 meters deep. The Aizhai Bridge is brightly lit at night, like a rainbow over the canyon. In addition, there are exciting high-altitude projects such as bungee jumping from a height of 355 meters, cloud walking, high-altitude matrix, high-altitude swing and via ferrata.
Jidou Miao Village
Jidou Miao Village is a Miao village on the back of an eagle, where you can explore the primitive Miao village and see the purest way of life of the Miao people. The Tianwen Terrace Viewing Platform is a place for the Miao people to pray for blessings. It is also the origin of Qu Yuan's "Tianwen" and the filming location of "Wonder Woman". Here, you can take grand canyon photos and see the internationally certified "Golden Nail" section.
Dehang Canyon
Dehang Canyon, which means "Beautiful Canyon" in the Miao language, is surrounded by ups and downs mountains, towering cliffs, overlapping waterfalls and deep canyons. The most spectacular one is the Liusha Waterfall in the depth of Jiulongxi Canyon, which is 216 meters high and more than 80 meters wide. It is one of the waterfalls with the largest drop in the country and one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in China. Visitors can also walk along Jiulongxi, enjoy the new green of mountain flowers along the way, or walk in the Farming Culture Park to feel the style by the stilted buildings and the ingenuity in the sound of waterwheels.
Delicacies
Miao Fish Hot Pot
It is made of fresh local fish, matched with Miao characteristic seasonings and side dishes, with a delicious taste, spicy but not dry.
Blood Cake Duck
Blood cake is made by mixing duck blood and glutinous rice, and cooked with duck meat. The duck meat is tender, and the blood cake is soft and glutinous, with a strong Xiangxi flavor.
Sour Soup Fish
With sour soup as the soup base, fresh fish is put in and cooked, and matched with various vegetables and seasonings. The sour taste is strong, the fish meat is tender, and it can appetize and relieve greasiness.
Wild Vegetable Cakes
They are made of fresh wild vegetables and glutinous rice flour, with a soft and glutinous taste and the fragrance of wild vegetables.
Rice Tofu
It is made of rice as raw material, similar in shape to tofu, with a delicate taste. It can be eaten with seasonings such as chili, soy sauce and vinegar, and tastes delicious.
Tickets
The through ticket of the scenic area is 280 yuan per person.
You can search the official WeChat public account "矮寨奇观旅游区" in WeChat to get the latest news or purchase tickets online. There are many types of tickets, please choose to buy according to your needs.
Opening Hours
It is open from 08:30 to 17:30 from Monday to Sunday throughout the year. The specific opening hours may be adjusted due to special circumstances, subject to the actual announcement of the scenic area on the day.
Tour Route
In the morning, you can drive or take a special bus to Jidou Miao Village Scenic Area, visit Jidou Miao Village and Tianwen Terrace, explore the primitive Miao village and enjoy the canyon scenery; then walk along the cliff plank road, check in at Aizhai Bridge, and feel the charm of this world-class suspension bridge. At noon, you can dine at the Miao King Banquet Building in Dehang Miao Village Scenic Area and taste the characteristic food of Xiangxi. In the afternoon, walk along Jiulongxi Canyon, enjoy natural landscapes such as Liusha Waterfall, and visit the Farming Culture Park to experience Miao culture.
Transportation
- Self-driving: You can navigate to "Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area Tourist Service Center" through Baomao Expressway, etc.
- Public transportation: You can take the special line 18 bus at Qianzhou Ancient City, State Hospital, Jishou City Finance Bureau and other places in Jishou City, and arrive at the "Jidou Village Tourist Service Center" station in about 1.5 hours.
Must-visit Attractions
- Aizhai Bridge: A world-famous bridge engineering miracle, where you can experience high-altitude projects and enjoy the canyon scenery and night view light show.
- Dehang Canyon: It has the spectacular Liusha Waterfall and beautiful canyon scenery, suitable for hiking and sightseeing.
- Jidou Miao Village: You can feel the primitive Miao lifestyle and cultural customs, and the scenery of Tianwen Terrace is extremely beautiful.
Tour Tips
- Understand the opening hours and ticket information of the scenic area in advance and plan the itinerary reasonably.
- Wear comfortable shoes to facilitate hiking in the scenic area.
- If you want to experience high-altitude projects, please choose carefully according to your physical condition and courage.
- You can watch the Miao song and dance performances in the scenic area to have a deeper understanding of Miao culture.
Notes
- Abide by the regulations and order of the scenic area, and do not arbitrarily damage the environment and facilities of the scenic area.
- When playing on the cliff plank road and the bridge, pay attention to safety and do not lean against or climb over the railing.
- If you bring children, take good care of them to prevent them from running and playing in the scenic area.
- Pay attention to sun protection and mosquito prevention measures when playing in summer, and keep warm in winter.