Wulingyuan Scenic Area spreads out among the Wulingyuan Mountains in the Zhangjiajie region of northwest of Hunan province.

It is about 400 kilometers (248.56miles) away from Changsha, the provincial capital. The whole area includes four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yangjiajie Scenic Spot, and the Suoxiyu and Tianzishan Natural Resources Reserves with a combined area of 500 square kilometers (193 square miles). Bordering a plateau to the southwest and the second largest fresh water lake in China, Dongting Lake, to the east, the Wulingyuan Scenic Area was formed by great geological forces and the erosion of abundant flowing water. It presents a unique landscape of high mountains, incredible rock formations, beautiful waters, deep gorges, marvelous caves, and lush forests.

For centuries Wulingyuan remained unknown and hidden in hinterland of the Hunan province until 1979 when Mr. Wu Guanzhong, a famous Chinese painter, discovered this magic land. In 1992, UNESCO added Wulingyuan to the World Heritage List.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Established in 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first of its kind in China. It lies in the southwest part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is home to thousands of plant varieties that cover an estimated 98% of the total area. Among them are rare species of gingko, sequoia and Yunnan catalpa. The park also provides a rich homeland for hundreds of animal species, such as clouded leopard, tarpon, macaque, giant salamander, pangolin, and more. The park is best known for its amazing rock formations. Some three thousand craggy sandstone monoliths, in all shapes and sizes, create a forest of stone that shapes the land into a natural labyrinth. Eight hundred streams lace through the valley and all around there are springs and waterfalls.

Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve

Suoxiyu marks the geological transition from sandstone to limestone and the mountains here are not as cragged as those in Zhangjiajie Park.

Unlike the solitary stone monoliths of Zhangjiajie, the mountains of Suoxiyu stretch out one after another, like an unfolding scroll of a Chinese painting. Besides the rock formations and beautiful rivers and streams, a distinct feature of Suoxiyu is its bridges and caves. Constructed on cliffs, the bridges are noted for their risky location. Most of them were built by hand of blocks of rocks chiseled to dovetail perfectly together. The limestone caves create fascinating underground palaces. Altogether there are 59 of them, many full of odd and unique shaped stalactites and stalagmites.

Tianzishan Natural Resource Reserve

Tianzishan is located in the north of the Wulingyuan area, bordering Zhangjiajie to the south and Suoxiyu to the east. Higher elevation in elevation than its neighbors offers many panoramic views with its major peak rising 1250 meters (4101feet).

Ethnic Groups

The northwest of Hunan province boasts a rich and varied ethnic mix. In Zhangjiajie city there are more than 20 ethnic groups, such as the Tujia, Bai, Hui, Miao. Each group retains their cultural heritage, with unique funeral and marriage customs, religions, traditions and arts. For example, there is the Hand-Shaking Dance of Tujia, the Drum Dance of Bai, and Dragon Dance of Miao. Villages of Miao or Tu ethnic group people can be seen with groups of houses built on stilts. This kind of house is usually built of wood or bamboo and is typical of the subtropical area in China, like Zhangjiajie, where the climate is subject to monsoon with annual average rainfall of 1.382 millimeters.