Hunan Province travel guide

Zhangjiajie · 1–4 days

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, also known as Qingyan Mountain, is as famous as Jiuzhaigou and was China's first national forest park. Its forests are home to precious tree species such as dove trees, ginkgoes and tulip trees, and rare animals including macaques and giant salamanders. Together, its unusual peaks and rock formations, mountain springs and waterfalls, deep forests and rare trees, and its rare birds and beasts form a natural landscape rarely seen anywhere in the world. The national forest park includes scenic areas such as Huangshi Stockade, Golden Whip Stream, Yaozi Stockade, Shadao Gully and Pipa Stream, with more than 100 attractions in total. Zhangjiajie uses fingerprint IC card electronic tickets. The national forest park operates a single-ticket system. The four-day pass allows entry to Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream, Huangshi Stockade and Yuanjiajie. Golden Whip Stream: The stream runs 7.5 km from Laomowan to Shuirao Simen. It takes about 2.5 hours and must be explored on foot. Stone pillars and towering peaks line both banks, and pools and waterfalls are everywhere. Ancient trees, rare flowers and wildlife thrive side by side. Main sights include Welcome Rock, Golden Whip Rock, Purple Grass Pool, Thousand-Mile Reunion and Shuirao Simen. Huangshi Stockade: Huangshi Stockade is the largest viewing platform in the park, with panoramic views over the entire forest park. Highlights include Heavenly Book Casket, Sea-Stabilising Needle, Single Pillar to the Heavens, Front Garden and Golden Turtle Searching the Sea. To climb Huangshi Stockade, you can hike up from the park's front gate or take the Huangshi Stockade cable car directly to the summit. Yuanjiajie: Yuanjiajie lies in the northwest corner of the forest park. Main sights include the World's First Bridge, Lost Soul Terrace, Heavenly White Silk Waterfall, Hallelujah Mountain, Back Garden and Sky Farmland. You can reach Yuanjiajie by sightseeing lift from Shuirao Simen, or on foot from Tianzi Mountain or Golden Whip Stream. Yaozi Stockade: This route comes second only to Huangshi Stockade. The terrain is steep, with cliffs and deep valleys on all sides, making it a favourite with thrill-seekers. The summit is an open platform said to have been where villagers hid from bandits during the Republican era. Today it is an excellent viewing point. Bailong Elevator: The Bailong Elevator has been entered in the Guinness World Records for being the world's tallest, fastest and highest-capacity elevator. While riding, you can look through the glass at one of Zhangjiajie's great sights: the Divine Soldiers Gathering, a cluster of dozens of relatively independent stone peaks directly opposite the elevator.

Zhangjiajie · 3–4 hours

Tianzi Mountain is known as the 'King of Peak Forests'. Its landscape is extraordinary and thrilling, distinguished by its tall, large and numerous peaks. The mountain takes its name from Xiang Dakun, a Tujia leader who once proclaimed himself 'Son of Heaven' here.