Zhangjiajie: Famous mountain in Western Hunan, Magnificent Scenery of Wuling

Author: Shang Ailan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Zhangjiajie is home to over 20 ethnic groups, including the Han, Tujia, Miao, Bai, and Hui, each with unique cultural traditions. Representative folk arts include the Tujia's Shakes and Maogusi dances, the Bai's Zhanggu dances, the Miao's Dragon Link dances, the multi-ethnic Nine-Children Whip, Nuo Opera, Flower Lanterns, and Dayongyang Opera. The Tujia and Miao villages, (upright wooden houses), stone grinding mills, channel siphons, and small bridges with clear streams are all iconic. These vibrant ethnic cultures harmoniously blend with natural landscapes, forming an integral part of Zhangjiajie's tourism resources.
Zhangjiajie is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, at the source of the Lishui River and the heart of the Wuling Mountains. It lies between the uplifting Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the subsiding Dongting Lake Basin, influenced by both geological forces. Strong surface water erosion and highly developed karst topography have created the dramatic natural wonders of towering peaks, rugged cliffs, and intersecting streams.
After renowned painter Wu Guanzhong discovered this magical land in late 1979, Zhangjiajie gained widespread fame. Today, it has become a nationally rare, large-scale, comprehensive tourist destination that combines mountain climbing, cave exploration, leisurely walks, rafting, and ethnic cultural performances. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area, comprising Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, Tianzishan Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie, is a national-level scenic area.
Other notable attractions include "The Soul of Wuling" Tianmen Mountain, "The" Maoyan River (a hundred-li-long gallery), "Asia's Largest Cave" Jiutian Cave, the national-level Baogongshan Nature Reserve, "Famous Temple of Jiangnan" Puguang Zen Temple, and "Magnificent Scenery of Chu South" Wulei Mountain. Additionally, there are historical sites such as the Revolutionary Committee Site of Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Chongqing, the starting point of the Long March for the Red Army's Second Corps, and the former residence of He Nong.