Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the southwest of Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. It is the core scenic area of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Spot and holds a 5A-level scenic rating. As China's first national forest park, it covers a total area of 48.1 square kilometers. Famous for its "Zhangjiajie landform," the scenic area features landscapes dominated by tall stone pillar forests with straight edges and corners, formed by quartz sandstone (the parent rock for scenery formation) through the effects of fluvial erosion, gravitational collapse, weathering, and other geological processes. The park boasts a forest coverage rate of 98% and is rich in negative oxygen ions in the air, with some core scenic spots reaching 100,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter.
History and Culture
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was originally Zhangjiajie State-owned Forest Farm, founded in 1958. In 1979, after an inspection, the People's Government of Hunan Province recognized its unique tourism resources and high development value. In 1982, the State Council approved the establishment of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. In 1988, the State Council established Yongding District and Wulingyuan District, and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, together with Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Tianzishan Nature Reserve, began unified development and management, forming the present-day Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Additionally, from the 6th day of the 6th lunar month to Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day), Zhangjiajie hosts a one-month folk culture grand event, featuring various original ecological ethnic and folk cultural art performances such as the Thousand-Person Nuo Mask Ancestor Worship and the Thousand-Person Carnival Dabai Shou (a traditional Tujia dance).
Major Scenic Spots
Huangshizhai
Located in the western part of the scenic area, Huangshizhai has an altitude of 1,080 meters and a top area of 0.165 square kilometers. Its main attractions include Heavenly Book Treasure Box, South Sky Pillar, Natural Mural, Dinghai Shenzhen (Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea), and Mandarin Duck Spring. There is a popular saying: "He who does not visit Huangshizhai has never been to Zhangjiajie."
Golden Whip Stream
Also known as Golden Whip Grand Canyon, it stretches for 7.5 kilometers and is hailed as "the most beautiful grand canyon in the world." Along the stream, visitors can see attractions such as Golden Whip Rock, Drunken Arhat, Guanyin Sending a Child, Divine Eagle Protecting the Whip, and Purple Grass Pond. With an altitude of over 300 meters, Golden Whip Rock is one of the iconic attractions of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
Yuanjiajie
Located in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie covers an area of approximately 12 square kilometers with an average altitude of 1,074 meters. Its main attractions include the First Bridge Under Heaven, Confusion Platform, Back Garden, Sheep Village, Hallelujah Floating Mountain, and Bailong Elevator.
Yangjiajie
Located in the western part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yangjiajie covers a total area of 34 square kilometers with the highest point at an altitude of 1,130 meters. It consists of three sub-scenic areas: Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Gorge, and Hundred Monkey Valley, and mainly includes attractions such as Skywalk Corridor, Wulong Village, and Step to Heaven.
Tianzishan
Located in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzishan covers a total area of 67 square kilometers. Its highest point is Kunlun Peak, with an altitude of 1,262.5 meters, and the lowest point is Qiunan Valley, at 534 meters above sea level. It gets its name from Xiang Dakun, a Tujia leader who proclaimed himself "Tianzi" (Son of Heaven). The scenic area includes six sub-scenic areas such as Shijiayan, Huanglongquan, and Mandarin Duck Stream. Shijiayan features main attractions like He Long Park, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Scattering Flowers.
Ten-Mile Gallery
Located in the Suoxiyu Scenic Area, the Ten-Mile Gallery stretches for 3.5 kilometers and is home to 298 stone peaks of various shapes, known as the "Natural Sculpture Exhibition Gallery." Notable rock formations include the Herbalist Old Man and the Three Sisters Peak.
Travel Route
Below is a 4-day travel route:
Day 1: Enter through the North Gate, take an environmental protection vehicle to Tianzishan to admire the exotic peaks and magnificent sea of clouds, then head to Yuanjiajie to experience the magic of the floating mountains from the movie Avatar.
Day 2: Visit Yangjiajie to explore the mysterious natural landscapes, then go to Daguan Platform to watch the beautiful sunrise or sunset.
Day 3: Travel to Laowuchang, an underdeveloped area with primitive and charming scenery, then return to your accommodation to rest.
Day 4: Tour the Golden Whip Stream and Ten-Mile Gallery at the foot of the mountains to enjoy the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere.
Travel Tips
- Check the scenic area's weather in advance and prepare clothes and equipment accordingly.
- Arrange your time reasonably, make full use of the ticket validity period, and visit popular attractions during off-peak hours.
- There are environmental protection vehicles in the scenic area; you can choose to take them according to your itinerary to avoid retracing your steps.
- To save costs, try to avoid paid auxiliary transportation such as cable cars and elevators.
Notes
- Wild macaques inhabit the scenic area. Do not feed, touch, or provoke them arbitrarily to avoid injury.
- In accordance with the Hunan Provincial Forest Fire Prevention Regulations, activities such as open burning and smoking in non-smoking areas are prohibited in the scenic area.
- Pay attention to information about the closure and renovation of scenic spots and traffic closures, and make travel adjustments in advance.
- Abide by the scenic area's traffic regulations and public order, take good care of public facilities, and protect the ecological environment.
Transportation
- By Plane: After arriving at Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, take a taxi or Bus No. 4 to Zhangjiajie Urban Central Bus Station, then transfer to a city-scenic area bus to Wulingyuan District.
- By Train: After arriving at Zhangjiajie Railway Station, walk to Zhangjiajie Urban Central Bus Station (next to the railway station), then transfer to a city-scenic area bus to Wulingyuan District.
- By High-Speed Rail: After arriving at Zhangjiajie West High-Speed Railway Station, you can take a city-scenic area bus or a taxi to Wulingyuan District (journey time: about 30-40 minutes).
- By Self-Driving: Exit the highway at Wulingyuan Transportation Hub, Yangjiajie Transportation Hub, or Zhangjiajie West Transportation Hub to reach Wulingyuan District.
Opening Hours
Opening hours: 07:00 - 17:00. Admission and ticket sales stop at 17:00. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tickets
Ticket + Environmental Protection Vehicle + Insurance: 227 RMB per person. Other experience projects require separate payment.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "张家界国家森林公园" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.