Zhangjiajie National Forest
Park
Located in the northwest of Wulingyuan, it is in the
neighborhood of Suoxiyu Valley and Tianzi Mountain. It has an area
of 72,000 acres, an average rainfall of 1200-1600mm, an average
temperature of 16oC and a frost-free period of 240-300 days. 97
percent of the park is covered with plants which have 98 families,
517 species, over twice the total in Europe. Its gymnosperm species
take up half of the total in the world. Zhangjiajie opens to the
outside at the beginning of the 1980s and is the earliest tourist zone exploited in
Zhangjiajie. It is noted for its queer peaks, tranquil water and
beautiful forests. It is the first National Forest Park approved by
the State Council in 1982. Its main scenic spots include Golden Whip
Stream, Huangshi Fort and so on. Numerous pinnacles rise abruptly
from the level ground in the shape of huge bamboo shoots pointing to
the sky. Both sides of Golden Whip Stream stand grotesque peaks and
are covered with old trees and vines. The stream, like colorful
ribbons, flows through valleys. Watching mountains on Huangshi Fort,
one can't help acclaiming as the acme of perfection.
Huangshi Fort
Huangshi Fort, named after a hermit Huangshi, is 1080m
above sea level. It is higher on the south and elevated by stiff
cliffs, covering an area of 16.5 hectors. It provides the largest collection of marvelous
spectacles and also provides the larges sightseeing terrace above
sea level in Zhangjiajie. The chief scenic spots include Treasure
Box of Heavenly Books, the Magic Sea-suppressing Needle, the South
Pillar of Heaven, the Golden Tortoise Watching the Sea and so on. If
you stand on the terrace and watch as far as you can towards the
south, you can see all kinds of queer pinnacles. If you watch
towards the east, you can see numerous grotesque peaks by the Golden
Whip Stream which resemble a clear, crystalline jadeite. Hence,
there is a saying: " It can't be said that you have been to
Zhangjiajie without reaching Huangshi Fort.
Golden Whip Stream
Located in the east of Zhangjiajie National Forest
Park, named after the 380-meter high Golden Whip Rock, Golden Whip stream
meanders 15 Li. Flowing from Laomo Gully first to Confluence of Four
Rivers then to Suoxi Stream, it finally joins Li river, one of the
four rivers in Hunan Province. It flows between steep grotesque
peaks and luxuriant trees. Here, the meandering streams, the
crystal-clear waterfalls, exotic plants and rare animals co-exist
and constitute the extraordinarily beautiful, tranquil and natural
ecological environment. No wonder it is called "the most beautiful
valley in the world" and "the most poetic stream". The major scenic
spots include Rock of Welcoming Guests, Golden Whip Rock, Reunion
Rock and the Purple Grass Pond.
The Southern Heaven Gate
If you want to go to Tianzi Mountain through Suoxiyu
Valley, you'll have to pass by a huge stone peak with a natural
passage through it. The mouth of the passage is shaped like a gate.
Thus, it is named the Southern Heaven Gate.
The Imperial Brush Peak
Walking a few steps from the scenic spot named the
Fairy Maid Presenting Flowers and then watching towards the southwest on the
sightseeing terrace, you can see a pinnacle resembling a huge
imperial brush on the right of some graceful peaks, and some short
pinnacles on the left in the shape of some brushes on the rack. It
brings back the memory of King Xiang who read over official papers
and drew a circle around his name on a document. How heroic he was.
When you enjoy the view at dusk with red evening clouds in the sky,
you'll see that the peak is glittering brightly on its tip as if
there were red paint remaining on the point of the brush. Therefore,
it is not surprising that more than30 domestic pictorials have its
photos printed.
Seeing West Sea on the Heavenly
Terrace
Heavenly terrace, resembling a little platform in
heaven, is high and perilous, walled by stiff and crisscrossed precipices. The only
way to it is a straight flight of 186-step stone stairs. Seen on the
Heavenly Terrace with a bird-eye's view, the west sea is a great
sea, a sea of clouds and fogs, of peaks, of greenness, and of
mystery. The forest of pinnacles stand, strange stones cover the
ground. The clouds roll and rays shine. Old trees' branches and
roots curl up. How mysterious and unpredictable.
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