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 Area, a 5A-level tourist attraction. As China's first national forest park, it covers a total area of 48.1 square kilometers. The park is famous for the "Zhangjiajie Landform," a landscape dominated by straight-edged, tall stone pillars formed by quartz sandstone through erosion, gravitational collapse, weathering, and other geological processes. With a forest coverage rate of 98%, the park is rich in negative oxygen ions, with some core attractions reaching up to 100,000 ions per cubic centimeter.
History and Culture
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park originated from Zhangjiajie State-owned Forest Farm, founded in 1958. In 1979, the Hunan Provincial Government recognized its unique tourism resources and high development value after an inspection. In 1982, the State Council approved the establishment of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. In 1988, the State Council established Yongding District and Wuling District, and the park began unified development and management with Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, forming today's Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Additionally, from the sixth day of the sixth lunar month to the Qixi Festival, Zhangjiajie hosts a month-long folk culture festival with various original ethnic performances, such as the Thousand-Person Nuo Mask Ceremony to worship ancestors and the Thousand-Person Carnival with traditional banshou dances.
Main Attractions
Huangshi Village
Located in the western part of the park, Huangshi Village stands at an altitude of 1,080 meters with a summit area of 0.165 square kilometers. Key attractions include the Heavenly Book Treasure Box, Southern Sky Pillar, Natural Mural, Dinghai Shenzhen (Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea), and Yuanyang Spring. There is a saying: "One who hasn't been to Huangshi Village has never truly visited Zhangjiajie."
Golden Whip Stream
Also known as the Golden Whip Grand Canyon, this 7.5-kilometer stream is hailed as the "Most Beautiful Grand Canyon in the World." Along the stream, visitors can see the Golden Whip Rock, Drunken Arhat, Guanyin Sending a Child, Divine Eagle Protecting the Whip, and Purple Grass Pool. The Golden Whip Rock, over 300 meters in altitude, is one of the iconic attractions of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
Yuanjiajie
Located in the northern part of the park, Yuanjiajie covers about 12 square kilometers with an average altitude of 1,074 meters. Major attractions include the First Bridge Under Heaven, Confusion Platform, Back Garden, Yangzhai, Hallelujah Mountain (Avatar Hovering Mountain), and Bailong Elevator.
Yangjiajie
Situated on the western side of the park, Yangjiajie spans 34 square kilometers with a maximum altitude of 1,130 meters. It consists of three sub-areas: Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Gorge, and Baihou Valley, featuring attractions like the Sky Corridor, Wulong Fortress, and One-Step-to-Heaven.
Tianzi Mountain
Located in the northern part of the park, Tianzi Mountain covers 67 square kilometers, with the highest point, Kunlun Peak, at 1,262.5 meters and the lowest point, Qi Nan Yu, at 534 meters. Named after Xiang Dakun, a Tujia leader who proclaimed himself the "Son of Heaven," the area includes six sub-areas such as Shijiayan, Huanglongquan, and Yuanyangxi. Shijiayan features main attractions like He Long Park, Yubi Peak, and Fairy Scattering Flowers.
Ten-Mile Gallery
Located in the Suoxiyu Scenic Area, this 3.5-kilometer gallery is known as the "Natural Sculpture Exhibition Corridor" with 298 unique stone peaks. Notable rock formations include the Herbalist Old Man and the Three Sisters Peak.
Delicacies
Kudzu Powder
A characteristic food of Zhangjiajie, kudzu powder is a pure natural wild plant starch with effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and quenching thirst. It can be made into kudzu paste or kudzu cake.
Blood Tofu
Mixed with tofu and pig blood, seasoned with salt, Chinese prickly ash, etc., blood tofu is steamed or stir-fried to achieve a tender texture and delicious taste.
Sour Radish
Made from fresh local radishes through pickling, sour radish is a tangy appetizer with a refreshing taste.
Homemade Stir-Fried Pork
Stir-fried with local free-range pork and fresh chili peppers over high heat, this dish features rich meat aroma and intense spiciness.
Tujia Sanxiaguo (Three Ingredients Hot Pot)
A traditional famous dish of Zhangjiajie, typically stewed with cured meat, tofu, radish, and other ingredients, offering a rich flavor and balanced nutrition.
Tickets
Ticket + eco-car + insurance: 227 RMB per person. Additional fees apply for other experience projects.
For the latest updates or online booking, search for the official WeChat public account "张家界国家森林公园".
Opening Hours
Open from 07:00 to 17:00; admission and ticketing close at 17:00. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Here is a four-day tour route:
Day 1: Enter from the North Gate, take an eco-car to Tianzi Mountain to admire unique peaks and magnificent sea of clouds, then visit Yuanjiajie to experience the magic of Hallelujah Mountain from Avatar.
Day 2: Head to Yangjiajie to explore mysterious natural landscapes, then go to Daguan Platform to watch beautiful sunrises or sunsets.
Day 3: Visit Laowuchang, an undeveloped area with primitive and charming scenery, then return to accommodation for rest.
Day 4: Tour the Golden Whip Stream and Ten-Mile Gallery at the foot of the mountains, enjoying fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere.
Transportation
- By Air: After arriving at Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, take a taxi or Bus No. 4 to the downtown Central Bus Station, then transfer to a city-view bus to Wulingyuan District.
- By Train: After arriving at Zhangjiajie Railway Station, walk to the downtown Central Bus Station (next to the railway station), then transfer to a city-view bus to Wulingyuan District.
- By High-Speed Rail: After arriving at Zhangjiajie West High-Speed Rail Station, take a city-view bus or taxi to Wulingyuan District (about 30-40 minutes' drive).
- By Car: Exit the highway at Wulingyuan Transport Hub, Yangjiajie Transport Hub, or Zhangjiajie West Transport Hub to reach Wulingyuan District.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Golden Whip Stream: A 7.5-kilometer stream known as the "Most Beautiful Grand Canyon in the World," with clear water and dense forests on both banks, featuring iconic attractions like the Golden Whip Rock.
- Yuanjiajie: The filming location of Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain, offering attractions such as the First Bridge Under Heaven and Confusion Platform, showcasing unique quartz sandstone peak forest landforms.
- Tianzi Mountain: With numerous unique peaks and attractions like Fairy Scattering Flowers and He Long Park, it offers spectacular sea of clouds and sunset views.
Tour Tips
- Check the local weather in advance and prepare appropriate clothing and equipment accordingly.
- Plan your time reasonably to make full use of the ticket validity and avoid peak hours for popular attractions.
- Eco-cars are available in the scenic area; choose routes wisely to avoid backtracking.
- To save costs, consider avoiding paid auxiliary transportation such as cable cars and elevators.
Notes
- Wild macaques inhabit the area; do not feed, touch, or provoke them to avoid injury.
- According to the Hunan Province Forest Fire Prevention Regulations, wildfires and smoking in non-smoking areas are prohibited.
- Stay updated on temporary closures or renovations of attractions and transportation disruptions to adjust your itinerary in advance.
- Abide by traffic rules and public order, protect public facilities, and preserve the ecological environment.