Zhangjiajie National Forest Park China: grotesque peaks, cave, unique hill

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park,is Special place that will attract everyone to visit, you can fully appreciate its magnificent natural scenery and experience appealing folk custom as well as other thrilling tourist activities, and you will be deeply impressed by the hospitality of local people. It’s surely that your visit to Zhangjiajie is really exciting, joyful and unforgettable. Zhangjiajie is a prefecture-level city consisting of Yongding and Wulingyuan Districts, Cili and Sangzhi Counties. Wulingyuan District, also called Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, is endowed with striking natural beauty. This site is dominated by more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 200m high. Between the peaks lie ravines and gorges with streams, pools and waterfalls, 40 caves, and two large natural bridges. It is also home to a number of endangered plant and animal species. Therefore, it was listed into the World Natural Heritage Catalogue by the UNESCO in 1992. What’s more, Zhangjiajie was awarded the title of “World Geological Park” in 2004. In ancient times, Zhangjiajie was regarded as remote and inaccessible. The earliest human activities can be traced to 100, 000 years ago and the legendary god of Agriculture was said to live a reclusive life here. Local story also indicates that Zhang liang, a lord in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), lived here in seclusion and was buried below Qingyan (now Zhangjiajie) Mountain. Zhangjiajie was formerly named Dayong city, founded in 1988. As Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is increasingly becoming known to world, Dayong city was renamed as Zhangjiajie city under the permission of the State Council in 1994. Now, Zhangjiajie has basically developed a large-scale, high-rank tourist resort where strange mountains, green lakes, deep caves, serene valleys and historical culture and special folk customs are well blended into a beautiful painting.

Zhangjiajie is home to major three ethnic groups:

• Tujia, 
• Bai 
• and Miao people, which together make up approximately 70％ of the local population. 

Up to now, these people still remain much of their traditional culture, including the language, festivals, clothing, and architectural styles as well. The long history of many minorities and their folk customs such as marriage custom, singing and dancing together with modern culture all contribute to the charm of Zhangjiajie. One thing is certain: All of these will give you a lasting memory.

Unique Karst Landform

Quartz Sandstone Peak Forest and Karst Caves constitute the outstanding landscape features of Zhangjiajie, which are rare in the world. Here you'll find yourself with hundreds of grotesque peaks, beautiful waters, towering trees, deep valleys, marvelous caves and exuberant forest that have formed a complete primitive ecological environment. In fact, Zhangjiajie, honored as "the most fantastic mountain under heaven" and" a living Chinese landscape painting", is a perfect combination of the beauty of Guilin, the grotesqueness of Mount Huang, the peril of Mt Hua and the magnificence of Mt Tai . It is also widely acclaimed as “an enlarged potted landscaping”, “a miniature fairyland” and “a maze of nature", attracting a growing number of tourists from home and abroad.

Amazing Natural Sceneries There are over 300 marvelous scenic spots in Zhangjiajie, such as 

• Tianzi Mountain, 
• Yangjiajie 
• and Baofeng Lake. 

As the core of Zhangjiajie attractions, Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is composed of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, two major Nature Reserves -Tianzi Mountain and Suoxi Valley and the new Yangjiajie Scenic Area, stretched over a total area of 397 square kilometers. 

 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, set up in 1982, is the first authorized national forest park in China, featured by its unique hills, queer ridges and peaks, tranquil valleys, clear streams, abundant fauna and flora and hospitable climate. There are six main scenic spots and over 90 smaller ones in the park，which will bring you a lot of excitement and fun.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area Near the downtown area of Zhangjiajie stands grand Tianmen Mountain called “the Soul of Wuling", and there is a beautiful Maoyan River that enjoys the reputation of "one-hundred-li long gallery", a Jiutian Cave named “the number-one cave in Asia” and other charming scenic spots in Wulingyuan. All these natural wonders are worth exploring. In addition, you can take great delight in touring the Puguang Buddhist Temple, Hongjiaguan- Former Residence of Marshal Helong, Tujia Folk Custom Park, the Old House and other historical and cultural sites in Zhangjiajie.