Taking advantage of the National Day holiday, I took a trip to Zhangjiajie. Writing a blog about Zhangjiajie is really quite difficult. I originally visited Tianmen Mountain as well, but the weather was truly terrible—rain plus heavy fog meant everything was a blanket of white the entire time, and I couldn’t see a thing. Aside from constantly riding cable cars and escalators, I have no lasting impressions… So when traveling, especially to nature-oriented scenic spots, weather conditions are extremely important.
Wulingyuan can be considered the most important tourist area in Zhangjiajie. It encompasses the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Zhangjiajie National Geopark, and three nature reserves: Suoxiyu, Tianzi Mountain, and Yangjiajie. The total area is approximately 391 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering over 250 square kilometers. In December 1992, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO as a natural heritage site.
The Wulingyuan admission ticket is valid for four days, and there are free shuttle buses that take you between the various attractions. The only thing to note is that the bus routes are very complex, and the routes on the mountain are not connected to those at the base. Traveling up and down the mountain requires taking the Bailong Elevator or one of several cable cars, all of which charge separate fees.
There are five entrances/exits to the scenic area in total. We chose the Wujiayu Ticket Station because it was closest to our hotel and within walking distance. Another famous entrance is the Forest Park Ticket Station, which is arguably the closest entry point to the core scenic area and serves as the main entrance for tour groups. The Zimugang, Tianzi Mountain, and Yangjiajie ticket stations are much less crowded. When leaving, be sure not to choose the wrong exit; if you exit via Tianzi Mountain, taking a taxi back to the hotel will cost around 200 yuan…
Day 1
First, we went to the Ten-Mile Gallery. There is a narrow path alongside a paid mini-train track. We chose to take the train there and walk back. At the end of the trail, there are some snack shops and a path leading to Monkey Hill. Because of the National Day crowds and the rain, the road was packed with people. The scenery was actually decent, but the weather was just too poor.
Afterward, we headed to Jinbian Stream. There are many monkeys here, so be sure to keep your distance and watch out to avoid getting bitten, otherwise it could cause a lot of trouble.
This is also one of the few relatively large commercial areas in the scenic spot, featuring a KFC for lunch.
In the afternoon, we took the Bailong Elevator up the mountain. The fog was even thicker up top; whether in the elevator or on the mountain, we could barely see anything… We had no choice but to head back down. We took a cable car and almost went out the wrong exit. After a long ride, we wrapped up the day’s itinerary…
Day 2
It didn’t rain on the second day, so we switched routes and took a cable car up the mountain, heading straight for Yuanjiajie. This area features major attractions such as the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven and the Enchanting Terrace, and it is also a filming location for Avatar.
This is the No. 1 Bridge Under Heaven, where two mountain peaks are connected by a corridor, forming a natural bridge arch.
This is another major commercial area with a KFC for lunch. However, it started pouring while we were eating… and the rain got heavier and heavier. Since we had already seen the main attractions, we decided to call it a day….
To sum up, Wulingyuan is a very well-developed scenic spot where you generally don’t need to do much strenuous climbing. The only things to keep in mind are to try to avoid long holidays and to travel during good weather whenever possible—though good weather here really comes down to luck…
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