Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area is located in Jishou City, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, covering a total area of 8.1 square kilometers. As the core scenic area of Dehang National Scenic Area, it is 19 kilometers away from the urban area. This 5A-level national tourist attraction integrates natural wonders, ethnic culture and engineering marvels. With rugged mountains, steep cliffs, standing peak forests and crisscrossing rivers, it boasts numerous cliffs, stone walls, waterfalls and primeval forests. The Aizhai Extra Large Suspension Bridge in the scenic area was the world's largest steel truss girder suspension bridge spanning a canyon at that time, with a main span of 1,176 meters, setting four world records.
History and Culture
Aizhai has been an important transportation hub in Xiangxi since ancient times, known as the "throat of Sichuan and Hunan" in history. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the famous "Aizhai Highway" (Xiangchuan Highway) was built here, hailed as the "Wonder of Chinese Highways". It is also associated with Qu Yuan, the poet of the State of Chu. Legend has it that after Qu Yuan was exiled to Xiangxi, he stood on Tianwen Platform facing thousands of mountains and valleys, questioning all phenomena of heaven, earth, nature and human life, and wrote the eternal long poem "Tianwen" (Heavenly Questions). In addition, a large number of Miao people live around the scenic area, preserving intact traditional Miao customs such as the Ganqiu Festival (Autumn Catching Festival) held on the Start of Autumn in the lunar calendar every year.
Major Attractions
Aizhai Bridge
As the core landscape of the scenic area, Aizhai Bridge was the world's largest steel truss girder suspension bridge spanning a canyon at that time, with a main span of 1,176 meters, setting four world records. There is a transparent glass observation platform on the bridge, offering a bird's-eye view of the 300-meter-deep Dehang Grand Canyon. At night, the bridge is brightly lit, like a rainbow over the canyon. In addition, there are exciting high-altitude projects here, including 355-meter-high bungee jumping, sky walking, high-altitude matrix, high-altitude swing and via ferrata.
Jidou Miao Village
Jidou Miao Village is known as the "Miao Village on the Eagle's Back". Here you can explore the primitive Miao village and witness the purest lifestyle of the Miao people. Tianwen Platform Observation Deck is a place for the Miao people to pray for blessings, as well as the birthplace of Qu Yuan's "Tianwen" and a filming location for "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 rugged mountains, towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and deep gorges. Among them, the most spectacular is the Liusha Waterfall deep in the Jiulongxi Canyon, which is 216 meters high and more than 80 meters wide, ranking among the waterfalls with the largest drop in China and one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in China. Tourists can also walk along Jiulongxi, enjoying mountain flowers and fresh greenery along the way, or stroll through the Agricultural Culture Park to experience the customs by the stilted buildings and the craftsmanship in the sound of waterwheels.
Travel Route
In the morning, you can drive by yourself or take a special bus to Jidou Miao Village Scenic Area. Visit Jidou Miao Village and Tianwen Platform, explore the primitive Miao village and enjoy the canyon scenery. Then walk along the cliff plank road and check in at Aizhai Bridge to feel the charm of this world-class suspension bridge. At noon, you can dine at Miaowang Banquet Building in Dehang Miao Village Scenic Area and taste Xiangxi's characteristic cuisine. In the afternoon, wander through Jiulongxi Canyon to admire natural landscapes such as Liusha Waterfall, and visit the Agricultural Culture Park to experience Miao culture.
Travel Tips
- Learn about the scenic area's opening hours and ticket information in advance to plan your trip reasonably.
- Wear comfortable shoes for hiking in the scenic area.
- If you want to experience high-altitude projects, choose cautiously according to your physical condition and courage.
- You can watch Miao song and dance performances in the scenic area to gain a deeper understanding of Miao culture.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area's regulations and order, and do not arbitrarily damage the scenic environment and facilities.
- Pay attention to safety when visiting the cliff plank road and the bridge; do not lean against or climb over the railings.
- If traveling with children, take good care of them to prevent them from running and playing around in the scenic area.
- Take sun protection and mosquito repellent measures when traveling in summer, and keep warm in winter.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area Visitor Service Center" via Baomao Expressway, etc.
- Public Transportation: Take the special Line 18 bus at locations such as Qianzhou Ancient City, Prefectural Hospital, and Jishou Municipal Finance Bureau in Jishou City, and it takes about 1.5 hours to reach "Jidou Village Visitor Service Center" Station.
Opening Hours
Open daily from 08:30 to 17:30 all year round. The specific opening hours may be adjusted due to special circumstances; please refer to the scenic area's official announcement on the day.
Tickets
Scenic Area All-in-One Ticket: 280 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "矮寨奇观旅游区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online. There are various types of tickets; please choose according to your needs.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
