Yuanjiajie Scenic Area is located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area lies in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. As the core area of Zhangjiajie World Natural Heritage, it covers an area of approximately 1,200 hectares with an average altitude of 1,074 meters. Famous for its bizarre peaks, exotic rocks, and sea of clouds like a fairyland, it boasts the reputation of "an enlarged bonsai and a miniaturized fairyland." This lush mountain platform often presents magnificent scenes of mist-shrouded peaks and overlapping mountains. It is also a filming location for the movie Avatar.
History and Culture
The origin of the name "Yuanjiajie" is rooted in a historical story. Legend has it that after the failure of Huang Chao's Uprising during the Later Tang Dynasty, the imperial court hunted down the rebels everywhere. A general surnamed Yuan under Huang Chao fled to the remote Qingyan Mountain (now the location of Yuanjiajie) to avoid arrest. He built a thatched cottage here, reclaimed wasteland for farming, and named the place after his own surname, thus giving birth to "Yuanjiajie."
Major Attractions
First Bridge Under Heaven
As one of Zhangjiajie's "Top Ten Wonders" and a landmark attraction of Yuanjiajie, it is a natural stone bridge spanning between two mountains. Originally, the two mountains were connected as one, and the bridge body was a key part linking them. Due to the relatively weak rock quality in the middle, after years of weathering, collapse, sunshine, rain, water erosion, and flash flood impacts, it eventually formed this extraordinary spectacle. With a width of 2 meters, a thickness of 5 meters, a span of 25 meters, and a vertical drop of 357 meters, it is the natural stone slab bridge with the largest vertical drop ever discovered in the world. Standing on the bridge, you can look down to see white clouds drifting and strange peaks standing; looking around, layers of independent stone peaks come into full view.
Mihun Platform (Soul-Lost Platform)
This is an excellent natural viewing platform in Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. Standing on the platform, one's soul seems to be enchanted by the stunning scenery, hence the name. Here, hundreds of stone peaks stand quietly in the canyon, piercing the blue sky with various postures and extraordinary momentum. Scenic spots such as "Heavenly Dog Watching the Moon," "Conch Emerging from Water," "Generals Forming a Formation," and "Single Pillar Supporting the Sky" are neatly arranged by mountain coles and barriers, making the stone peaks row upon row and magnificent. Looking down at the peaks from Mihun Platform, one can be deeply intoxicated.
Qiankun Pillar (Hallelujah Mountain)
It is the filming location of the floating "Hallelujah Mountain" in the movie Avatar. With an altitude of 1,074 meters and a vertical height of about 150 meters, its top is covered with lush vegetation. The peak has a unique shape with obvious vertical joints, standing tall as if cut by knives and axes, giving a sense of holding up the sky and supporting the earth, hence the name "Qiankun Pillar" (Heaven and Earth Pillar).
Back Garden
Located in the southern part of Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, it is a hidden scenic spot. When walking down through the green bamboo forests between the cliffs, you will be blocked by a stone wall. Just as you wonder if there is no way forward, you will see a full-moon-shaped white stone cave at the turn of the cliff. Passing through the cave, you will be greeted by the sight of dozens of strange peaks standing unevenly in the dark green mountain stream. The stone peaks cluster together, the mountain stream winds around, and ancient trees tower into the sky. Looking down from a high place, it is like a natural bonsai, with stone peaks of varying heights shining against each other.
Bailong Elevator
Invested and constructed by Zhangjiajie Bailong Elevator Tourism Development Co., Ltd., it started construction in September 1999 and was completed and put into operation in April 2002, with a total investment of 180 million RMB. With a vertical drop of 335 meters and an operating height of 326 meters, it consists of a 154-meter vertical shaft inside the mountain and a 172-meter steel structure shaft frame attached to the mountain. It adopts three double-deck fully exposed sightseeing elevators operating in parallel and separately. Each elevator can carry 50 passengers per trip with an operating speed of 3 meters per second. When all three elevators are in operation, the round-trip capacity can reach 4,000 passengers per hour. Taking the Bailong Elevator, you can reach the top of the mountain in less than 2 minutes. Not only can you experience the excitement of ascending into the sky and descending into the earth, but you can also overlook the magnificent scenery of Yuanjiajie during the elevator's ascent.
Tour Route
Enter the scenic area through the Wulingyuan Symbol Gate, take the scenic shuttle bus to the lower station of Bailong Elevator, and then take the elevator up to Yuanjiajie. After arriving at Yuanjiajie, first go to Mihun Platform to enjoy the spectacular scenery of countless peaks; then walk along the tourist trail to First Bridge Under Heaven to feel the grandeur of this natural stone bridge; then you can go to Qiankun Pillar to check in at the movie filming location; finally, visit Back Garden to appreciate the hidden fairyland scenery. It is recommended to arrange 4-6 hours for the entire tour. If time permits, you can stay in Yuanjiajie for one night to experience the charm of the scenic area at different times, and then visit other scenic areas such as Tianzi Mountain the next day.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit in spring or autumn, when the weather is comfortable and the scenery is very charming. In spring, everything comes back to life, and the scenic area is full of greenery; in autumn, the forests are dyed in layers of red and yellow, with peaks and red leaves contrasting with each other, which is extremely beautiful.
- Pay attention to the weather forecast in advance and try to choose a sunny day for the tour to facilitate viewing the scenery. If it rains, the scenic area may be shrouded in clouds and mist, which has a unique charm, but the visibility of some attractions may be affected.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes, as you need to walk a long distance in the scenic area, and comfortable shoes can make the tour more relaxed.
- Carry an appropriate amount of drinking water and snacks. Although there are sales points in the scenic area, the prices may be relatively high, and it is important to replenish water and energy in a timely manner during the tour.
- Pay attention to protecting the environment during the tour, do not litter, and jointly maintain the beauty of the scenic area.
Notes
- There are many tourists taking the Bailong Elevator, especially during holidays, and the queuing time may be long. It is recommended to arrange your time in advance and take the elevator during off-peak hours.
- Some sections of the scenic area are relatively steep, so please pay attention to safety when walking, especially when taking photos. Do not ignore your own safety for the sake of unique angles.
- The altitude of Yuanjiajie Scenic Area is relatively high, and the temperature is relatively low. You can carry a jacket to prevent catching cold.
- There are wild monkeys in the scenic area. Do not feed the monkeys randomly to avoid being scratched by them.
- Abide by the scenic area regulations, do not climb or carve randomly, and cherish every tree and grass in the scenic area.
Transportation
- By Plane: You can first arrive at Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. The airport is close to the urban area. You can take the special line bus to Wulingyuan at the airport, and then transfer to the scenic shuttle bus to Yuanjiajie after arriving in Wulingyuan.
- By Train/High-Speed Rail: You can take the train or high-speed rail to Zhangjiajie West Station. There are shuttle buses to Wulingyuan outside the station. After arriving in Wulingyuan, transfer to the scenic shuttle bus to enter Yuanjiajie Scenic Area.
- By Self-Driving: Self-driving tourists can navigate to Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which has parking lots. After arriving at the scenic area, you need to transfer to the shuttle bus inside the scenic area to Yuanjiajie.
- Internal Transportation in the Scenic Area: After entering the scenic area, you can take the Bailong Elevator directly to Yuanjiajie; you can also choose to hike to Yuanjiajie from Zicao Tan in Jinbianxi, entering Shandao Gou and ascending "Luancuan Slope" (Random Climb Slope), but the hike takes a long time, about 2 hours. Within Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, there are free environmental protection battery cars for tourists to travel to various attractions.
Opening Hours
Open all year round. The opening hours are 07:00-17:30 (last entry at 17:00). However, the opening hours of the scenic area may be adjusted due to seasons, maintenance needs and other factors. It is recommended that tourists pay attention to the official notice of the scenic area before traveling.
Tickets
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area is included in the ticket of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, with a ticket price of 227 RMB per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "张家界国家森林公园" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
