Wulingyuan Peak Forest [Zhangjiajie]

"One of Top Six Most Beautiful Peak Forests in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Wulingyuan Peak Forest in Zhangjiajie City of Hunan Province: A superb painting in the remote mountains
The name Wulingyuan comes from its geographical location north of the Wuling Mountains on the border between the provinces of Hunan and Guizhou. During the mid and late Devonian Period, quartz sandstones were deposited at Wulingyuan, where the sea and the land interfaced. Great changes took place with the passage of time. Due to the rise of the earth's crust, erosion and weathering, some mesas gradually became peak clusters and forests while others were leveled to the ground before finally being eroded into gullies and valleys. In every respect----scale, completeness, variety of forms, and biodiversity, Wulingyuan is a priceless legacy handed down by Nature to humankind.

Wulingyuan is known for its ''3,000 peaks and 800 waters''. Within its 360 square kilometers, Wulingyuan has over 3,000 sandstone pillars and peaks, most of them over 200 meters in height. When the thousands of erect-towering peaks that makes up the sandstone forests suddenly appear, one is lost for words to describe the imposing grandeur of the spectacle. These peaks seem to share similarities in shape and spirit with all things and creatures on earth. From the highest (Rabbit Watching the Moon Peak) to the lowest (Stream Winding around Four Gates Peak), the grotesque formations come in every size, height and shape; there is a dancing fairy, an old man culling medicinal herbs, a dragon rising from the sea, and a sword thrusting into the sky. Nature wielded its brush freely here, leaving behind countless sights to inspire the infinite imagination and pious worship of worldly beings----the South Column to Heaven, Golden Whip Cliff, Five Fingers Peak, and Sacred Needle for Calming the Sea Peak. When the rain passes and the skies clear, the peak are faintly discernible, wreathed in clouds and mists from the valleys. The peaks are surrounded by water, waterfalls cascading down from high cliffs, rivulets snaking through thick grass, boat-bearing forest lakes formed by long accumulation. The grotesque peaks and graceful waters each lend beauty to the other. Springs is bubbling up through the cracks between rocks, shy streams in deep secluded valleys, green-shaded lakes, and waterfalls tumbling down the cliffs, all in perfect and lovely contrast with the red sandstone. At Wulingyuan, every peak is a life.

Zhangjiajie is a treasure house for natural resources. There are woody plants of 106 families, 320 genera and 850 species, backboned animals of 146 species. Among them 56 species of plants and 40 species of animals are under national protection. Precious plants include gingko, Chinese dove trees, and Chinese yew, cherry and so on. Valuable medicinal herbs include glossy ganoderma, the tuber of elevated gastrodia, the tuber of multi-flower knotweed, the bark of eucommia and so on; while rare animals, the giant salamander, unicorn, Sumen antelope, south China tiger, leopard, macaque, zibet and so on.
At Zhangjiajie the clouds and mountains form a natural scroll painting. The sunrays slant across the peaks, white clouds drift around the mountainside, and lush primeval forest cloaks the peaks and valleys in shades of green.

Now Wulingyuan Scenic Area encompasses Zhangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Suoxiyu Valley and a few other newly developed spots.

The Shili Gallery at the foot of Tianzi Mountains stretches for about three miles, covered with narrow mountain paths. The sides of the valley are lined with peak after peak and from the bottom of the stream rocks pile up into the sky, forming some 200 weird statues of every shape----humans, birds, animals and objects.
The Jinbianxi Brook has sights to delight the eye at every step, but is more tranquil and elegant in appearance. Wandering in the lush forest beside the brook, glimpsing the jade stream and the glittering color stones in the water, it is this lovely dream that draws endless visitors to the stream. The Heaven Terrace on Taizi Mountain, surrounded by countless peaks, gives panoramic views of all of Wulingyuan.

Suoxiyu Valley It is the center of Wulingyuan scenic zone. It covers an area of more than 180 square kilometers and is the largest of the three zones. Landform here is the same as Zhangjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, mainly making up of sandstone peaks. However, in the east, there is a collection of caves, for example, Yellow Dragon Cave and Goddess Cave. These are caves made of limestone. In terms of rare animals, Suoxiyu Valley boasts more than 20 species, such as leopards, pangolins, and giant salamanders. There are more than 20 groups of rhesus monkeys with their total number reaching to 1000. According to scientific statistics, trees here have 93 families, 208 genus, and 679 species in all. Among them, those that are under national special protection reach to 19 species. Wild medicinal herbs are extraordinarily rich. There are 500 species in all.

Baofeng Lake Visiting Baofeng Lake, you will appreciate beautiful views like poems and paintings. Baofeng Lake, surrounded by peaks, is 2.5 km in length. It is a man-made multi-functioned reservoir which can be used for containing water, irrigation, fishing, producing electricity and sightseeing. Baofeng Lake is like a great mirror with green hills surrounding it. It will be a nice and comfortable thing for people to go boating here. Mirror its reflection in the lake, and wild stockades are precipitous, the hills are green and the water is clear.

Best time to go
Spring and Autumn
The annual average sunshine hours, temperature, the amount of rainfall is 1440 hours, 60.8F and 1400 mm respectively.

Ticket
Zhangjiajie RMB 248/person (including Zhangjiaje, Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie), Baofeng Lake RMB 62/person, Sightseeing lift of Shuiraosimen RMB 96/person (up RMB 53/person, down RMB 43/person), Ropeway to Huangshizhai RMB 86/person(up RMB 48/person, down RMB 38/person), Drift on Mengdong River RMB 124/person, Yellow Dragon Cave RMB 67/person, Rope to Tianzi Mountain RMB 94/person(up RMB 52/person, down RMB 42/person), Sightseeing bus to The Shili Gallery RMB 30/person.

Around Landscape
Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Cave, Badagong Mountain Nature Reserve Area, Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander Nature Reserve Area, Mengdong River, Tu Nationality Custom, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Zhangjiajie Yan'er, Xin Pomelo, Chinese Goosebeery, Giant Salamander, Mushroom, Chestnut, Bamboo Plait, Duzhong Chopsticks, Zhangjiajie Tea, Tu Nationality Brocade etc.

Travel Tips
Please take sunbonnet, sunglass, umbrella, and suntan oil in summer.
The rain is from June to August and September is drought month.
Wulingyuan Peak Forest includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suixiyu Valley, Tizishan Mountain and Yangjiajie Scenic Area.

Distance
Beijing (1587 km) Changsha City (390 km) Zhangjiajie City (32 km) Wulingyuan Peak Forest
Beijing (1653 km) Zhangjiajie City (32 km) Wulingyuan Peak Forest