Hongshilin National Geopark is located in Hongshilin Town, Guzhang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. It is situated in the southwest of Furong Town in western Hunan, adjacent to the Furong Town Scenic Area. Currently a national 4A-level tourist attraction, it is the only red carbonate rock forest landscape in China and a rare Ordovician red stone forest in the world.
The total area of the scenic area is approximately 20 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering 5 square kilometers. It is characterized by its unique red stone forest landform, ancient fossil relics, and rich Tujia ethnic culture. The red stone forest rock formations in the park were formed during the Ordovician Period about 450 million years ago. The rocks exhibit varying shades of red and purplish-red due to the oxidation of iron elements they contain, and show diverse color changes under different lighting conditions, earning it the reputation of "Red Stone Forest, a World Wonder". The supporting facilities in the scenic area are well-equipped: the tourist service center covers an area of about 1,200 square meters, and the parking lot can accommodate approximately 500 motor vehicles, providing convenient visiting services for tourists.
History and Culture
The geological history of Hongshilin National Geopark dates back to the Ordovician Period 450 million years ago, when this area was a vast ocean where a large amount of carbonate rocks were deposited. After long-term geological processes such as crustal movement, water erosion, and weathering dissolution, the current stone forest landform was formed. The park preserves abundant ancient fossils, such as trilobites and crinoid stems. These fossils are important physical evidence for studying the ancient marine ecological environment and biological evolution, and have extremely high scientific research value.
Guzhang County, where the scenic area is located, is a settlement of the Tujia people and has nurtured profound Tujia folk culture over a long period. The local Tujia people have lived and multiplied around Hongshilin, forming folk activities represented by "Sheba Festival", "Wedding Crying" and "Hand-waving Dance", as well as a food culture featuring bacon, glutinous rice cakes and sour fish. During the development of the scenic area, great attention is paid to the protection and inheritance of folk culture. By setting up folk culture exhibition areas and holding folk activities, tourists can appreciate the geological wonders while experiencing the unique cultural charm of the Tujia people.
Major Attractions
Core Scenic Area of Hongshilin
The Core Scenic Area of Hongshilin is the main visiting area of the park, covering 5 square kilometers. It concentrates the typical landform of the red stone forest. The stone forest in the area has various shapes: some look like pillars, bamboo shoots or swords, while others resemble animals, humans or objects, with vivid and lifelike appearances. Among them, the "World's First Wonder" stone peak is about 30 meters high and has a base diameter of about 15 meters, making it one of the most representative landscapes in the core scenic area. There are also multiple natural karst caves in the scenic area, such as "Guanyin Cave" and "Tongtian Cave". The stalactites and stalagmites in the caves are well-developed, complementing the red stone forest landscape. In addition, a large number of Ordovician ancient fossils are preserved in the core scenic area. Tourists can observe fossil relics such as trilobites and crinoid stems in designated areas, and intuitively feel the traces of life in the ancient ocean.
Youshui Gallery
Youshui Gallery is located on the west side of Hongshilin National Geopark. It is a natural landscape belt formed by the Youshui River in the scenic area, with a total length of about 10 kilometers. The Youshui River has clear water, and the mountains on both banks are stacked. The red stone forest and green vegetation complement each other, forming a beautiful landscape painting. Tourists can take a cruise along the Youshui River to enjoy the stone forests, canyons, villages and other landscapes on both banks, and experience the comfortable feeling of "the boat sails in the water, and people sit in the painting". The one-way cruise route is about 5 kilometers, with a sailing time of about 40 minutes. There are multiple viewing platforms along the way, facilitating tourists to stop for viewing and taking photos.
Furong Town
Located about 10 kilometers away from Hongshilin National Geopark, Furong Town is an ancient town with a history of more than 2,000 years. It is also the royal mansion where the Tujia Chieftain Dynasty of Xizhou started, carrying the source of the 818-year glorious history of the Tujia Chieftain Dynasty. Furong Town is a settlement of the Tujia people, with a high proportion of Tujia population. It has distinct Tujia cultural characteristics. For example, the Xizhou Bronze Pillar, which is regarded as a sacred object, is an important document for studying the ancient history of the Tujia people.
Tour Route
The recommended tour route for Hongshilin National Geopark is mainly a "one-day tour", with the specific itinerary as follows: Arrive at the tourist service center of the scenic area at 9:00 a.m., and after purchasing tickets, take a sightseeing bus to the Core Scenic Area of Hongshilin (the ride takes about 10 minutes). After entering the core scenic area, tour along the "Geological Science Popularization Route", visiting attractions such as the "World's First Wonder" stone peak, the ancient fossil area and Guanyin Cave in sequence, which takes about 2 hours in total; Go to the Tujia-style restaurant in the scenic area for lunch at 12:00 p.m. to taste local delicacies such as bacon, sour fish and glutinous rice cakes; Take a cruise to visit Youshui Gallery at 1:30 p.m. to enjoy the landscape on both banks of the river, with a sailing time of about 40 minutes; Go to Furong Town Scenic Area at 3:00 p.m. to visit attractions such as stilted buildings and waterfalls in Furong Town; End the trip at 5:00 p.m. and return from Furong Town or Hongshilin Scenic Area. This route combines geological landscapes, natural scenery and folk culture, with a compact but not rushed schedule, suitable for most tourists.
Tour Suggestions
- The best time to visit is spring and autumn (March-May, September-November). During this period, the temperature is pleasant (15-25℃), there is less precipitation and sufficient sunlight, which is conducive to viewing the color changes of the red stone forest.
- Most of the tourist trails in the scenic area are stone steps, and some sections are relatively steep. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes and avoid wearing high heels or slippers.
- When visiting the core scenic area, it is recommended to bring drinking water and a small amount of snacks. There are 3 rest areas and 2 small shops in the scenic area where you can replenish supplies.
- For the cruise tour of Youshui Gallery, you need to queue up 15 minutes in advance at the pier to buy tickets. There are many tourists during peak seasons (holidays and weekends), so it is recommended to take the cruise at off-peak times.
- If you want to experience Tujia culture in depth, you can choose to stay in a Tujia village near the scenic area for one night, participate in local folk activities such as "Sheba Festival" and "Hand-waving Dance", and experience the quiet atmosphere of the stone forest at night.
- There are geological science popularization explanation boards in the scenic area. It is recommended to tour with a guide to gain an in-depth understanding of the formation history and geological knowledge of the stone forest.
Notes
- The red stone forest in the scenic area is a precious geological relic. Climbing, carving or knocking on the rocks is strictly prohibited. Violators will be fined 200-2,000 yuan, and those who cause serious circumstances will bear legal responsibilities.
- Some areas in the core scenic area are not fully developed and have "No Entry" signs. Tourists must abide by the regulations of the scenic area and must not enter the unopened areas without permission to avoid safety accidents such as getting lost or falling.
- There are many showers in western Hunan. It is recommended to bring an umbrella or raincoat when visiting, and avoid walking in the mountains on rainy days to prevent slipping; The temperature in summer (June-August) is relatively high (up to more than 35℃), so you need to take sun protection measures and bring sunscreen, sun hats and other items.
- Bringing kindling into the scenic area is prohibited, and smoking and outdoor cooking are strictly forbidden. There are 8 fire emergency points in the scenic area.
- Respect the folk customs of the local Tujia people. When entering the village, you must follow the guidance of the villagers, do not touch sacrificial items at will, and abide by the rules when participating in folk activities.
- The mobile phone signal is weak in some sections of the scenic area. It is recommended to keep in touch with your companions and avoid acting alone; The tourist service center provides luggage storage services, and you can store valuables before touring with light packs.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Depart from Zhangjiajie urban area, drive along Zhanghua Expressway and Guyang Expressway. The whole journey is about 150 kilometers, taking about 2.5 hours. The parking fee standard of the scenic area is 10 yuan/day for small vehicles and 20 yuan/day for large vehicles.
- Public transportation: Take a bus from Zhangjiajie North Bus Station to Guzhang County. After arriving at Guzhang County General Bus Station, transfer to a rural bus to Hongshilin Town. After getting off the bus, walk for 5 minutes to reach the tourist service center of the scenic area.
- Tourist special line: There are tourist special line buses to Hongshilin National Geopark in Zhangjiajie urban area and Furong Town Scenic Area. There are 2 special line buses from Zhangjiajie to Hongshilin every day, and one special line bus from Furong Town to Hongshilin every hour.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open all year round. The daily opening hours are 08:00-17:30 (admission stops at 16:30). From April to October (peak tourist season), the scenic area extends its opening hours to 18:00; In winter, some trails may be temporarily closed in case of ice and snow weather, subject to the announcement of the scenic area.
Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan per person in the off-season and 120 yuan per person in the peak season.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "湘西芙蓉镇旅游" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
