Zhangjiajie, situated in the northwestern part of Hunan Province in the juncture of Yunnan-
Guizhou Plateau uplift and Dongting Lake subsidence area, is a hinterland of Wuling
Mountains and one of the most important tourist cities in China. In 1992, Wulingyuan Natural
Scenic Area, which is composed of three major scenic areas, namely, Zhangjiajie National
Forest Park, Suoxiyu Scenic Spot, and Tianzishan Scenic Area, was incorporated in the
World Heritage List by the UNESCO. Visitors are invariably enchanted by its peculiar peak
forest landform and magnificent karst landscape, as if they set food on a fairy mountain
wonderland. Besides, it is also the scene for the movie Avatar.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Emerging like a primordial stone forest in China's Hunan province, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park astounds with over 3,000 towering quartz-sandstone pillars—some soaring 200+ meters skyward—cloaked in mist and lush subtropical greenery. These jagged pinnacles, sculpted over 300 million years by erosion, inspired the "floating Hallelujah Mountains" in James Cameron's Avatar. Visitors traverse vertiginous glass walkways above the clouds, hike through fern-filled ravines echoing with rare birdcalls, and ascend the world's highest outdoor elevator for panoramas of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zhangjiajie
Grand Canyon
Carved over millennia by tectonic shifts and water erosion, the canyon reveals sheer cliffs draped in emerald moss, hidden waterfalls, and ancient karst caves. Its crown jewel—the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge—stretches 430 meters across the abyss at 300 meters high, offering fearless walkers panoramic views of the forested ravines below. By blending raw geological grandeur with human ingenuity (including the world's highest bungee jump platform), this natural masterpiece invites explorers to witness Earth’s artistic power—where water carved stone into poetry.
Tianmen Mountain
Crowned as the "Soul of Zhangjiajie," Tianmen Mountain pierces the sky at 1,518 meters, where primordial forests cloak jagged quartzite cliffs and swirling clouds embrace China's most mythical gateway—the 131.5-meter-tall Tianmen Cave (Heaven's Gate). This natural arch, carved by a mountainside collapse in 263 AD, appears as a celestial portal floating above the abyss. Visitors ascend via the world's longest cable car (7.5 km), gliding over the vertigo-inducing 99-Bend Road snaking up the mountain's spine. At the summit, a glass skywalk clings to sheer cliffs at 1,430 meters, while ancient Taoist temples whisper tales of pilgrims seeking immortality.
Baofeng Lake
Nestled 85 meters above ground amidst the jagged quartz-sandstone peaks of Zhangjiajie's Wulingyuan, Baofeng Lake is a crystalline alpine gem formed by ancient karst fissures. Often called "Nature's High-Altitude Mirror," its jade-green waters reflect towering pinnacles draped in mist and dense primordial forests—a scene so ethereal it starred in Journey to the West as the mythical Kingdom of Water. Visitors glide silently on traditional wooden boats past sheer cliffs where waterfalls like Baofeng Falls cascade like silver ribbons into the lake, while local Tujia singers echo folk melodies across the gorge.
Zhangjiajie