On September 7, representatives from 18 Chinese-language media outlets across 11 countries as well as China's Hong Kong and Macao regions visited Mangshan Mountain Wuzhifeng Scenic Area in Yizhang County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. They experienced the barrier-free hiking routes and admired the beautiful scenery of this "climb-free mountain."

Chinese media representatives walk on a cliffside plank path. (Photo/Yang Huafeng)

Mangshan Mountain is situated at the northern foot of Nanling Mountains, at the border of Hunan and Guangdong provinces. In October 2020, the China Tourist Attractions Association and the China Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities recognized Mangshan Mountain Wuzhifeng Scenic Area as "China's First Barrier-Free Mountain Tourist Attraction" and "China's First Barrier-Free Mountain Scenic Area." After that, the scenic area also won the "Best Mountain Tourism Destination" award from the International Mountain Tourism Alliance, gradually elevating itself from a regional attraction to a broader international stage.

Leveraging the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, Yizhang County has introduced a series of measures, including "visa facilitation + 50% off tickets + departure tax rebates," effectively boosting inbound tourism. Since 2025, Mangshan Mountain has focused on the South Korean market, conducting multiple cultural and tourism promotions in South Korea, actively participating in the Seoul International Tourism Fair, and hosting several delegations and press trips. The "climb-free mountain" has since gone viral in South Korea.

Data shows that in 2025, Mangshan Mountain tourism area recorded 32,000 arrivals by South Korean travelers, up 320% year on year. In the first half of this year, it received 32,000 inbound visits, a year-on-year increase of 21%, with its inbound tourism growth rate ranking among the top across the province. The source market structure, which was previously dominated by South Korean travelers, has gradually expanded to a wider range from Japan and Singapore. At the same time, leveraging Chenzhou's friendship-city relationships with some African partners, the scenic area is tapping the potential of the African market.

Barrier-free facilities such as flat plank paths have been built on Mangshan Mountain to make mountain access easier for tourists. (Photo/Xiang Yipeng)

Why has Mangshan Mountain become a sought-after destination for overseas travelers? Its systematic accessibility infrastructure holds the key. Traditional mountainous scenic areas are usually inaccessible for the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with strollers. However, Mangshan Mountain Scenic Area Management Authority has invested over one billion CNY to upgrade both hardware and services, realizing a three-stage evolution—from the conventional "trek and climb" to a relaxed "walk and view," and ultimately to a fully accessible "enjoy and explore" experience.

Mangshan Mountain's barrier-free experience works on multiple levels, said Huang Chan, secretary of the CPC Leadership Group and director of the Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports Bureau of Yizhang County.  For physical access, the scenic area features cableways, boardwalks, elevators, wheelchair lifts, and escalators — making it easier for the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with infants. In terms of services, it provides multilingual signs and audio guides in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean, along with SOS emergency call points, medical stations, care stations, and volunteer service, to ensure a swift response to traveler emergencies. It also offers thoughtful touches like free raincoats and ginger tea. For payments, it accepts cash, WeChat Pay, Alipay, and POS cards, catering to diverse overseas visitor preferences.

Jin Hu, a tour guide who specializes in serving South Korean tour groups, has led nearly 30 such groups this year. "Most of my groups are made up of South Korean seniors. They love Mangshan Mountain's natural scenery, especially spots like the Standing Pillar and the Minor Top. The barrier-free facilities really stand out in the scenic area. Walking along the gentle plank paths with few stairs, travelers will not feel tired. And the Korean signage everywhere gives them a really friendly experience." Jin recalled that he once guided a tourist in a wheelchair on a fully accessible tour of the mountain.

Mangshan Mountain features overlapping peaks and beautiful scenery. (Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Yizhang County Committee)

Faced with the rising inbound tourist flow, Mangshan Mountain Scenic Area is clearly aware of its limitations. Despite relatively sufficient English-speaking staff, it lacks professional translators for Korean, Japanese, and other less common languages, limiting in-depth foreign-language communication, said Huang. Going forward, the scenic area plans to allocate translators in line with the number of inbound visitors, and offer diversified catering services to suit different tastes, continuing to upgrade facilities and services in response to visitor feedback.

Mangshan Mountain Wuzhifeng Scenic Area is working with several travel agencies in Zhangjiajie to develop cross-regional tour routes while actively expanding the markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas, said Deng Jing, deputy general manager of the scenic area.

Thanks to its barrier-free features, this "climb-free mountain" is gaining fresh momentum in the inbound tourism sector.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Chinanews