Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

» Zhangjiajie, Hu Nan

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, set up in 1982, is located 32 kilometers (19 miles) from urban Zhangjiajie. With an area of 130 square km, this lustrous scenic pearl consists of several main tourist routes: Huangshi Village, Jinbian Stream, Yaozi Village, Pipa Stream, Shadao Valley, Yuanjiajie and so on.

What about the weather

It belongs to the sub-tropical climate of Central Asia. Splendid mountains and luxuriant trees help form a favorable climate: warm in winter and cool in summer. The charm of the park varies with the alternation of seasons; therefore, it attracts visitors all year round.

The fresh air

Besides its pleasant climate, the environment and air quality also provide visitors a chance to breathe healthy air which is believed to be rich in negative oxygen. It is also believed that hypertension patient may have their blood pressure lowered if they stay in the park for a period of time. This is due to the fact that dust particles in the park are 88% lower and the air 10% mistier than outside.

The crags

Zhangjiajie is peculiar with its crags. 3000 crags rise in various shapes. They are like whips or pillars propping up the sky; or immense eggs piled on an unsteady board; or miniature rockery or curios... Fantastic but actual, dreamy but real! They are not artistic works, but more exquisite than artistic works. One can not help marveling at the acme of perfection of Nature's creation.

The waters

Zhangjiajie is tranquil with its waters. Springs gush out of crevices and brooks flow through the valleys to converge into five streams, four white sand pools, and two tumbling falls. The streams meandering down eastward between reddish rocks and green trees form long scrolls of landscape painting.

The forests

Zhangjiajie is beautiful with its forests. 97.7% of the area is covered with trees. There are tracts of primeval secondary forests, where are reserved a number of rare and valuable trees, flowers, and herbs. The xylophyta alone amounts to 517 species in 93 families, twice as many as that in the whole Europe. Ancient and rare trees are mostly found in the primeval secondary forests, such as ginkgoes, dove trees, Chinese yews, and tulip trees.

The animals

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park also boasts a variety of animals. Exuberant forests offer them ideal habitats to live in and procreate their own species. There are more than 149 kinds of chordate animals inhabitants in this park. Among them, 28 kinds are under national protection, amongst which, are the Golden Pheasant, Rhesus Monkey, Giant Salamander and Musk Deer. Visitors will be able to hear birds singing and see monkeys playing in the tree.

Beauty in rain

It is mysterious and profound when the Park is in misty rain. After rain, the skies clear up and the cloud rolls up and mist rushes down, the peaks seem like losing in the cloud. Yet when the sunshine comes out the sky is high and the clouds are pale. In distance the mountain forest is spotlessly clean. It likes a water and color painting in front of the visitors.

Highlights

The park is known for its unique quartzite formation of hills and its forests, which bring together all the natural wonders of grandeur, strangeness, quiet, wildness and elegance. It really deserves the laudatory title of "Three Thousand Hills and Eight Hundred Ethereal Waters" and "Shrunken Fairyland and Overgrown Bonsai." It consists of the following parts.

Huangshi Village

There's a saying: You'll spoil your trip to Zhangjiajie if you fail to visit Huangshi Village. It is situated in the center part of the park and gets its name from a story that Huang Shi, the master of Zhang Liang, a marquis of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.), once made tablets of immortality here.

It is a great platform of hills, with an altitude of 1,080 meters (3,543 feet) and an area of 0.2 square kilometers (41 acres). It is a good choice of viewpoint to survey the surrounding scenery of the park. The morning sunrise, the hanging clouds and mists and groups of strange hills with evocative names make it seem quite mysterious and bewitching. There are two footpaths in the front and rear as well as a ropeway leading to the top. Huangshi Village is seen as one of the two international golden tourist routes. The other is Jinbian Stream.

Jinbian Stream

Jinbian Stream, situated in the east of the park, gets its name from the eponymous rock. It is a very deep and quiet winding stream where can be seen many green hills and colorful flora and the song of birds can be heard. The 5.7 kilometer (3.5 miles) long stream is one of the most charming features of the scenery of Zhangjiajie. It has been called "the Most Beautiful Valley in the World."

Yaozi Village (Yaozizhai)

Covering around 12 square kilometers (2,965 acres), Yaozizhai is a viewing platform among the central scenic spots of the park that has the greatest area, the longest routes and most attractions. The steep cliffs in the west, east and north of the hills are deep over 300 meters (984 feet). There are also many odd-shaped rocks, trees and valleys, resembling lovers, weapons, snakes, pagodas and others, each having an imaginative striking name. Yaozizhai is always highlighted for its hazards and strangeness and is considered the best choice for exploration, health exercise and relaxation.

Yuanjiajie

Another central viewing platform, Yuanjiajie boasts grand rock hills, deep valleys and verdant forests. The "First Bridge under Heaven," one of the best scenic spots here, is a marvelous place well worth a visit. The bridge, crossing between two hills, is 25 meters (27 yards) long, 2 meters (2.2 yards) wide and 5 meters (5.5 yards) thick. At a height of 357 meters(1,171 feet), it is actually the highest naturally-formed rock bridge in the world.

"Bailong Tianti"

Yuanjiajie is now equipped with an elevator named "Bailong Tianti," which takes less than 2 minutes to climb to the summit. It is 335 meters (1,099 feet) high and is said to be the highest and, quickest sightseeing elevator in the world, with the greatest capacity.

Attractions around » Zhangjiajie, Hu Nan

Natural Scene

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Suoxi Valley
• Mengdonghe River
• Mt. Tianzishan
• Huangshi Village
• Jinbian Stream

Historical Site

• Phoenix Town
• Huanglongdong Cave
• Furong Town

Nightlife

• Charming Xiangxi

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Highlights

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area in Great China

• Yellow Mountains
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
• Stone Forest
• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area
• Yalong Bay
• Huanglong Scenic Area
• Mt. Emeishan
• Qutang Gorge
• Wu Gorge
• Xiling Gorge
• Wolong Nature Reserve
• Mt. Taishan
• Mt. Wuyishan
• Mt. Qingchengshan
• Echoing-Sand Mountain
• Mt. Putuoshan
• Mt. Wutaishan
• Gulangyu Island
• Reed Flute Cave
• Jimei School Village
• Victoria Peak
• Dadonghai
• Wuzhizhou Island
• Shennongjia Nature Reserve
• Mt. Jiuhuashan
• Mt. Wudangshan
• Shennong Stream
• Lake Taihu
• Lake Shahu
• Dragon Palace Scenic Area
• Suoxi Valley
• Mt. Tianzishan
• Huangshi Village
• Jinbian Stream
• Stone Bell Hill
• Mt. Changbaishan
• Shangri-la
• Feilaifeng Peak
• The First Bend of the Yangtze
• Mt. Cangshan
• Meili Snow Mountain
• Tianshan Mountains
• Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Eling Park
• Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
• Mounigou Valley
• Small Three Gorges
• Mt. Huashan
• Penglai Pavilion Scenic Area
• Crown Cave
• Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden
• Port Wusongkou
• Mt. Qianshan
• Shapotou
• Yellow River Scenic Area
• Mt. Yuelushan
• Mt. Hengshan
• Silver Cave
• Solitary Hill
• Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds
• Nanxi River Scenic Area
• Dongba Valley
• Flaming Mountain
• Tianshan Grand Canyon
• Wangjiang Park
• Mt. Gonggashan
• Mt. Hengshan
• Half-Side Ferry
• International Beer Town
• Beidaihe Scenic Spot
• Laohutan Ocean Park
• Xiaoqikong
• Mt. Laoshan
• Huaxi Scenic Area
• Grape Valley
• Seven-Star Crag Scenic Area
• Mt. Qomolangma
• Yellow Cloth Shoal
• Forest of Odd-Shaped Peaks
• Wangfu Rock
• Badaguan Scenic Area
• Ruili
• Wudalianchi Scenic Area
• Port Lushun
• Port Lvshun
• Tianya Haijiao
• Xiao Dongtian
• Xian Qi Cave
• Merryland World
• Green Lotus Peak
• Sanya Bay
• Dongshanling Ridge
• Mt. Qingyuanshan
• Qilian Mountains
• Xiangzhi Valley
• Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve
• Baishui Tableland
• Dishuidong Cave
• Port Chaotianmen
• Mt. Geleshan
• No.1 Bathing Beach
• Cangyan Mountain Scenic Area
• Fujiazhuang Beach
• Xingcheng Beach
• Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve
• Maolan Karst Forest Natural Conservation
• Baizhangji and Feiyun Lake Scenic Area
• Thousand Buddha Mountain
• Mt. Panshan
• Shanghai Wild Animal Park
• Red Hill

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. How are the four seasons in Zhangjiajie?
2. When is the best time to go there?

  Food

1. What can I buy there, is there any local specialty?
2. How does Zhangjiajie cuisine taste? Is it spicy?

  Travel

1. What to pack for a trip to Zhangjiajie?

  Customs

1. Are there any ethnic minority groups?

• How are the four seasons in Zhangjiajie?

  It's necessary for you to know something about your destination such as weather, the good time to travel there.

  Zhangjiajie is subtropical moist mountain climate, so the temperature is mild, rainfall is abundant, and frost period is short, the annual average temperature is 16C. Zhangjiajie is attractive all year round.

  In spring, all the flowers on mountains blossom, it is really a good time to do some hiking. In summer the forests flourish and are strongly fragrant, Zhangjiajie becomes a perfect place to spend summer. Autumn is a romantic season with the painting-like scenery, tourists have a lot to do here, like tasting fruit, hiking mountain. Winter provides tourists amazing scenery with snowy landscape, very suitable to admire plum blossoms in the snow.

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• When is the best time to go there?

  Generally speaking, Spring & Autumn is more suitable for traveling here, so, April, May, September, and October is the best time. However, please avoid coming here during golden week time as much as possible, then tourists are crowded and you have to pay much more for your food and accommodation.

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• What can I buy there, is there any local specialty?

  Zhangjiajie is also famous for local specialties, especially Chinese gooseberry fruit, Qingyan (green rock); Mingcui (tea green) Tea and Longxia (lobster) Tea. Don't worry; they don't cost you a lot.

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• How does Zhangjiajie cuisine taste? Is it spicy?

  Cuisine of Zhangjiajie is a little bit strong and spicy, but don't worry about it; we will try to provide proper food according to tourists' taste. Please tell us in advance if you have other requirements, we will try to make it for you!

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• What to pack for a trip to Zhangjiajie?

  • It rains a lot here, so bring umbrella or buy disposable raincoat, and wear comfortable clothes, light sports shoes if you plan to do hiking.

  • Also, don't forget to bring more clothes to keep warm in case of cold weather.

  • You'd better bring less carry-on baggage, but the things like sunscreen, medicine for insects' biting, cooling ointment should be included.

  • And bring more film to take photos, or you get to pay more for it here.

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• Are there any ethnic minority groups?

  There are mainly Tujia, Bai, Miao, Hui and other minority groups living in Zhangjiajie. No less than 7,000,000 minority peoples make up 50 of the total people there. Among them, Tujia ethnic minority people top first, next are Bai, Miao, and Hui. Other minority peoples include Man, Dong, and Yao. So, you definitely have a chance to enjoy distinctive ethnic folklore.
  

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