Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (including Huangshizhai, Jinbianxi, Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, Tianmen Mountain) 
 
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the southwest part of Wulingyuan Scenic Spot, which is situated in the northwest part of Hunan Province. In 1992, Wulingyuan Scenic Spot with Zhangjiajie as its main part was inscribed by UNESCO on the "World Natural Heritage List".
 
It is renowned all around the world for its natural wonders of marvelous peaks and crisscrossing streams and valleys and abundant animal and plant species. This place is characterized by a mild temperature and adequate rainfall, devoid of extremely hot summer and cold winter. 
 
Zhangjiajie has a pleasant climate. Its 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. 
 
It is mysterious and profound when the Park is in misty rain. After a rain, the sky clears up, the clouds roll up, and the mist rushes down, the peaks seem like losing in the clouds. Yet when the sunshine comes out, the sky is high, and the clouds are pale. In distance, the mountain forest is spotlessly clean. It is like a water and color painting in front of the visitors.
 
The peaks of varied shapes are the main attractiveness of Zhangjiajie. In this area, three thousand peaks rise on the primitive field, and the valleys here are decorated with eight hundred winding streams. All over the mountains, there are thick woods, and the forest coverage here is as high as 97%. Zhangjiajie is the combination of woods, caves, lakes, waterfalls, and the integration of marvel, beauty, serenity, and danger. So it is a magnificent masterpiece of nature. 
 
The varied landforms help to turn Zhangjiajie into a treasure house of biological resources. There are a lot of woody plants and vertebrate species here, including 56 nationally protected plants such as ginkgo, yew, and oriental cherry; 40 species of animals under state protection, such as giant salamander, unicorn, South-China tiger, clouded leopard, civet, and so on. This area also produces precious herbs such as ganoderma and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. 
 
In the Zhangjiajie region, there are more than twenty ethnic groups living here, such as Han, Miao, Bai, and Tujia, to name just a few. So this place is also proud of varied national customs, in which, the most representative ones must be the Baishou Dance, Maogusi Dance of Tujia ethnic group, Zhanggu Dance of the Bai ethnic group, and Jielong Dance of the Miao ethnic group. The Tujia brocade and purple-clay pottery produced in this area are also very famous. In addition, the colorful folk houses such as Tujia stockaded villages and suspending wooden buildings of the Miao ethnics add glamour to the natural landscape.

Golden Whip Stream (Jinbianxi) is located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It extends 7.5 km from north to south, winding across mountains and valleys. The brook is limpid through the year, with stone peaks standing erect on both banks. In Golden Whip Stream, you can enjoy the dense forest and grotesque-shaped peaks on either of its bank. If you get tired, you can rest on a rock by the stream and watch fish swimming in the water. The park is a place for one to escape from the summer heat and is a natural oxygen bar.
 
Meandering between steep grotesque peaks and luxuriant trees, streams, waterfalls, plants and animals co-exist here, and constitute an extraordinarily beautiful, tranquil, and natural ecological environment.
The Yellow Lion Village, named after a hermit Huangshi, is the highest village in the Zhangjiajie area. It covers an area of about 16.7 hectares and is about 1,100m above sea level.
 
At its peak, the village is actually a 1,200 meter high plateau. Stone steps lead to the top, a quiet area relatively free of tourists from which you can witness the beautiful karst formations of the local crags.
 
It provides the largest sightseeing terrace in Wulingyuan and is characterized by overhanging cliffs, high staking platforms, jagged rocks, and elegant apexes. 
 
Standing on the terrace, one can have a panoramic view of all kinds of queer pinnacles and numerous grotesque peaks which resemble a clear, crystalline jadeite.
Located in the northwest part of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie is a naturally formed platform mountain surrounded by higher summits that are divided by deep valleys. 
 
Added to this scene is an array of amazing lesser peaks and grotesque rocks. 
 
Each one stands in the valley and possesses its own peculiar shape. 
 
The foremost attractions in this area include Back Garden, the breathtaking Mihun Stage, the First Bridge in the world, and the controversial Bailong Elevator, which is to be demolished after being complained by UNESCO.

Tianzi Mountain, with the highest peak at 1,260 meters, provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Waterfalls, bridges, stone forests, and caves are found throughout the mountains. 
 
Tianzi Mountain is known for four natural spectacles - the clouds of mist that circle the mountains, amazing views of the rising sun, moonlit nights, and snowcapped winter peaks.
 
Embraced by continuous mountains, the artificial Baofeng Lake (Treasure-Peak Lake) is located in the Suoxiyu Scenic Area in the south of Suoxiyu Town of Zhangjiajie. Originally known as Shijiayu Reservoir, Baofeng Lake was later named after Baofeng Mountain (Treasure-Peak Mountain) and opened to tourists.
 
Reputed as the abode of the fairy mother goddess on earth, the Baofeng Lake is a rare high gorges lake, and shaped by surrounding mountains into a narrow strip. It covers an area of 30 hectares and has a depth of 72 meters. Lying in the mountains, the Baofeng Lake is filled with streams without pollution. The lake has a fascinating landscape with surrounding mountains and a mid-lake island.
 
Some 20 sight spots spread around the Baofeng Lake, including Baofeng Waterfall, One Line Gorge, plank road built along cliffs in clouds, Hawk Nest Village, and Nanhai. Located at the mouth of the Baofeng Lake, the Baofeng Waterfall pours down from midair a hundred meters high with a thunderous sound. Walking along the plank road built in the precipitous cliffs, one will find the Hawk Nest Village, a mountain that is 1,000 meters above sea level. A Kwan-yin Temple with antique flavors is built on the mountain and attracts many pious men and women who hope to get rid of worries and pray for blessings. The 680-meter Hawk Beak Peak stands to the northwest of the lake with steep cliffs and towering ancient trees. Due to its strategic location and difficulty of access, it has been a perfect place for entrenched gangsters in tpast dynasties. Following the steps up to the top of the One Line Gorge and looking far into the distance, one will find the whole magnificent Wulingyuan landscape is right before one's eyes.
Tianmen Mountain, a famous mountain first recorded in the history of Zhangjiajie, is at an elevation of 1518.6 meters. It is only 8 kilometers far from downtown and is one of the most representative natural sceneries of Zhangjiajie.
 
For a long time, Tianmen Mountain not only attracts the attention of the people through its miraculous and unique geographic landform and unparalleled natural landscape, but it is also well known for its profound cultural connotations and famous colorful humanistic sites. It is revered as the soul of culture and spirit of Zhangjiajie and is reputed as the Number One Miraculous Mountain in Western Hunan. 
 
The main body of Tianmen Mountain is uniquely skyscraping and domineering. Tianmen Cave, the natural mountain-penetrating karst cave with the highest elevation in the world, hangs on a towering cliff. The cave becomes a unique sight under heaven and breeds the profound and grand Heaven Culture and Culture of Fairy Mountain in the local area.