Wuzhifeng Peak Scenic Area, Mangshan, is located in Rongjiadong, Yizhang County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. It lies at the northern foot of the Nanling Mountains, at the border of Hunan and Guangdong provinces, 40 kilometers from Yizhang County seat and 70 kilometers from downtown Chenzhou. The scenic area covers a total area of 80 square kilometers and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a national-level geological park. It is known for its "peculiar peaks, precipitous cliffs, sheer precipices, and gorges." Its average elevation is over 1,000 meters, with the highest peak reaching 1,902 meters (Mengkeng Stone). The scenic area boasts the world's longest cliffside skywalk (about 8 kilometers long), Hunan's first panoramic sightseeing cable car (one-way length of 1.7 kilometers), as well as a visitor service center, cliff hotel, and other facilities. It can accommodate 3,000 visitors at a time and 500 overnight guests.
History and Culture
In ancient times, the Mangshan area belonged to the Chu region and served as a convergence zone between Central Plains culture and Lingnan culture. Within the scenic area, the ruins of the Rongjiadong ancient battlefield remain. According to research, it was a garrison site used to resist Jin troops during the Southern Song Dynasty, with surviving stone city wall remnants about 500 meters long and 2-3 meters high. In addition, this is also a settlement of the Yao ethnic group, which still preserves folk cultures such as the Yao "Panwang Festival" and "Long Drum Dance." A grand sacrificial ceremony is held every year on the 16th day of the tenth lunar month. Because Mangshan has the best-preserved primeval forest at the same latitude on Earth, it is called the "Second Xishuangbanna" by Chinese and foreign experts. It was approved as a national forest park in 1992, and the Wuzhifeng Peak Scenic Area officially opened to the public in 2012.
Main Attractions
Wuzhifeng Peak
It is named after five peaks that resemble fingers. The main peak is 1,752 meters above sea level and is the landmark landscape of the scenic area. The peaks are steep and precipitous, and when shrouded in clouds and mist, they look like a fairyland. The best viewing point is the Wuzhifeng Peak Observation Deck.
Cliffside Skywalk
About 8 kilometers long, it hangs on cliffs at an elevation of 1,400-1,600 meters, is 1.5-2 meters wide, and is up to 400 meters above the deepest part of the valley. The skywalk passes through multiple attractions, such as "Golden Whip Divine Pillar" and "Great Man Meeting Guanyin," and is an excellent route for hiking and sightseeing.
Motianling Sightseeing Cable Car
The one-way length is 1.7 kilometers, with a drop of more than 800 meters, and the ride takes about 20 minutes. The cable car uses fully transparent cabins and offers 360-degree views of the entire Mangshan area. Along the way, it passes over attractions such as "Tiantai Temple" and "Longevity Pagoda."
Guizizhai Waterfall
It has a drop of 120 meters and falls in three tiers. During the rainy season, the water volume is abundant and the sound shakes the valley. The negative oxygen ion concentration around the waterfall is as high as 100,000/cm3, making it a natural oxygen bar.
Monkey King Village
It is famous for its wild macaque community. There are more than 200 macaques distributed in a canyon about 1.2 kilometers long. Visitors can feed them in designated areas and experience harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.
Tiantai Mountain
It is composed of huge granite, with the main peak at 1,559 meters above sea level. At the summit is a platform of about 2,000 square meters, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. The "Golden Whip Divine Pillar" attraction on the mountain is a columnar rock formation about 100 meters high with a peculiar shape.
Tour Routes：
One-day tour: In the morning, take the sightseeing cable car to Wuzhifeng Peak Station and walk along the cliffside skywalk (recommended route: Wuzhifeng Peak Observation Deck → Golden Whip Divine Pillar → Great Man Meeting Guanyin), about 3 hours; have lunch at the cliff restaurant along the skywalk; in the afternoon, go to the Tiantai Mountain scenic area, hike to visit the "Golden Whip Divine Pillar" and "Tiantai Temple," and then take the cable car back. Two-day tour: The first day's itinerary is the same as above. On the second day, go to Monkey King Village and Guizizhai Waterfall, hike for about 4 hours, bring picnic ingredients to rest by the waterfall, and return in the afternoon.
Travel Tips：
The best tourist seasons are April-May (bitter bamboo shoot picking season, azaleas in bloom) and October-November (clear autumn weather, red leaves all over the mountains). In summer, pay attention to heat prevention; in winter, bring anti-slip shoes.
The entire cliffside skywalk is a stone-paved path. It is recommended to wear anti-slip hiking shoes and carry trekking poles; the elderly and children can choose to take the scenic area shuttle bus to the core attractions.
Dining spots in the scenic area are mainly concentrated at Wuzhifeng Peak Station and Tiantai Mountain Station. Recommended dishes include "stir-fried bitter bamboo shoots with cured meat" and "Yao-style Eighteen Stuffed Dishes," with an average per capita consumption of 50-80 yuan.
The macaques in Monkey King Village are quite wild. When feeding, place food in designated areas and do not reach out to touch them or make loud noises.
Follow the official WeChat public account "Mangshan Wuzhifeng Peak Scenic Area" in advance to obtain real-time weather, skywalk opening status, and other information.
Precautions：
Some sections of the cliffside skywalk have no guardrails. Walk on the inner side and do not climb cliffs or throw objects into the valley.
The sightseeing cable car may temporarily stop operation in strong winds or thunderstorms. It is recommended to allow sufficient time and avoid rushing for the last cable car.
Smoking and open-air cooking are prohibited in the scenic area. Do not carry ignition sources while hiking. There are designated smoking areas along the route.
There are many mosquitoes in the Monkey King Village area, so bring mosquito repellent; the ground near Guizizhai Waterfall is slippery, so waterproof shoes are recommended.
Mobile phone signal is weak above 1,500 meters above sea level. It is recommended to travel in groups and inform family members of your itinerary in advance.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From downtown Chenzhou, drive along the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway → Yilian Expressway, exit at Huangsha, and turn onto S324 Provincial Road to the scenic area. The total distance is about 70 kilometers, and the drive takes about 1.5 hours. From Guangzhou, drive along the Le-Guang Expressway → Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway. The total distance is about 300 kilometers, and the drive takes about 3.5 hours.
High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Chenzhou West Station, transfer to the Chenzhou-Yizhang intercity bus (fare 20 yuan, travel time 1 hour), and then take the tourist shuttle from Yizhang County seat to the scenic area (fare 15 yuan, travel time 50 minutes).
Tourist bus: Every day at 08:00 and 09:30, tourist buses depart from downtown Chenzhou directly to the scenic area. The fare is 35 yuan, and the travel time is 1.5 hours; return times are 16:00 and 17:30.
Opening Hours：
Open year-round, daily opening hours are 08:00-17:30 (last entry at 16:30). In winter (December-February of the following year), if there is ice and snow, the cliffside skywalk may be temporarily closed, subject to scenic area announcements.
Tickets：
The ticket price is 280 yuan per person.