The photos I want to show are from Zhangjiajie City District in Hunan Province, namely the so-called Avatar Mountains. Heard for the highest elevator in the world, which rises up the mountain and a very beautiful view opens up from there. So I drove without any preparation - what, where, and how? As, however, and always, I do not know where I am going, and I like it, then the impressions of the trip seem to me stronger, more impressive and more emotional. So this time I went to look at the elevator and a beautiful view from the mountain, and ended up in a fantastic place - Avatar Mountain. The day I climbed the mountains, the weather was beautiful and sunny.
Entrance to the park costs 158 yuan and entitles you to visit the park for two days.
First on foot, then the cable car and again on foot, on foot and on foot, there is a five-kilometer queue for the cable car, and here I am in a booth, together with the Chinese going up, we swim between the rocks, the view is simply amazing.
The cabins are designed for 6 people, if the "people" are small, then it is possible for eight.
The place is not very much in demand among European tourists, for all the time it has met at most two or three Europeans and then not Russians.
That is why I think the Chinese looked at me with interest and wonder, probably the same way I looked at the mountains.
With every turn, more and more breathtaking panoramas opened up.
The mountainous region is famous for its quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high. Most high peaks Wulingyuan reach an altitude of more than 3 km above sea level.
Along the way, my attention was attracted not only by the beautiful views of the mountains, but also by the girls dressed in bright national costumes.
You could take a picture with them for 10 yuan.
It was convenient to walk, along the cliff paths were laid out evenly and neatly with exits to observation platforms.
The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars above the rainforest.
Met them at one of the viewing platforms.
The kid was scared, but my mother was very happy when I photographed them.
My wife called this photo “Daddy, don't leave”. -)
Mountain flower.
High, horizontally flat rocks. There are observation platforms with an extension above the precipice with a glass bottom.
Almost the entire route is on such steps, you can also relax on them.
For those who are tired, it was possible to relax, enjoying the views from " route taxi".-) But it's not cheap.
Taxi depot -).
At the transfer points, sale of souvenirs and beautiful pictures with picturesque views of Pandora.
There you can also have something to eat or drink tea, coffee and further on the way, there is little time, and there are so many interesting things ahead.
Leaving the reserve in the evening, a flock of wild monkeys flew in and one of them took the banana from me, which I wanted to eat, and this happened to everyone who had something edible in their hands. And then one of the monkeys starts screaming, her whole flock is running away, and in the distance I saw a running man, he ran up, shot them with a slingshot into the jungle and ran on. The monkeys instantly appeared and continued their gop-stop chaos.
Well, how not to give a banana to such people, although they do not ask, and do not ask, but take away.
Fruit for tourists is more expensive than for the Chinese, I asked on the fingers of a passerby to buy me apples and bananas, it turned out four times cheaper.
Market, the seller fell asleep.
As in a fairy tale, Masha and the Bear.
Throughout the entire journey, pumps were sold on trays, I could not understand why, then I understood ...
In the evening, returning to the hotel, I could not help but have dinner at a cafe serving very unusual dishes, and made an original order - frogs.
Looking ahead, I will say that the next day I ordered 20 frogs, only of another individual, which were jammed in front of me, thrown to the ground, a sight not very pleasant, but tasted, no worse than chicken, I ate all of them.
The next day the weather let down a little, it started raining. It was windy and cloudy, but that didn't stop me from taking the bus to the world's highest elevator. The elevator is transparent glass, the floor is ordinary, not transparent, when you rise, you can contemplate all the beauties, if you want to see something, you must, if possible, go first and stand at the glass wall, the latter will see only the back of their heads and listen to enthusiastic ahs. Part of the ascent goes through the shaft inside the rock, then opens abruptly beautiful view... The rise of the elevator to the top, height 326m., Ascent time 1m 58s. It was not possible to take a picture of the elevator from the outside, as it was raining well, and all attempts were unsuccessful, only the camera and the lens had to be wiped off the water.
With fog even lucky, the feeling of Pandora's Hanging Mountains.
Fumes of fog slowly float, now closing, then not for a long time opening the peaks of the peaks.
On this day, the rain did not interfere, its drops fell far down and disappeared from my gaze, only emphasizing the height and splendor of the mountains.
The mountains are covered with moss - in fact, they are trees.
The dragon flies off the cliff onto the rock, the Chinese have tried, everything reminds of the film.
When I got to the famous Mount Hallelujah, I was already soaked through (the camera was saved by an umbrella, which I took from the hotel), and did not expect that I might be so unlucky. The mountain was covered in fog, and nothing was visible at all.
After about 10 minutes, my joy knew no bounds, the fog began to dissipate and Hallelujah appeared in front of me in all its glory, probably so that I could take a picture of her, and as quickly hid in the fog as it appeared.
The fences along the trail were covered with locks so that I got the impression that the Chinese are not 1.5 billion, but 6 billion are the inhabitants of planet Earth.
Locks are shaped like a heart, lovers come here to fasten their lock.
Crossing from one rock to another, this huge stone arch is a natural bridge.
On the right on the rock, we attached a banner with the inscription.
After looking at the mountains that were in the filming of Avatar, I went to the funicular to go down and move to another part of the reserve by bus. Lucky, I defended a three-kilometer line, still less than when I was climbing.
The cabins fell into the fog, as if into an abyss.
To be continued in - Planet Pandora from "Avatar" is real!
It turns out that the Avatar mountains really exist and this is not a fiction of James Cameron, for his film of the same name. Prototype Pandora Mountains mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park- part of the reserve Wulingyuan... After the release of the film, the tourist flow increased so much that in gratitude it was renamed in honor of the film.
Mountains in the Yunjiajie area
Bizarre rocks that rise high into the sky with lonely pillars will not leave you indifferent. The mountains are simply incredible, and if the fog or clouds are still low, they become "soaring".
Zhangjiajie Park and Wulingyuan Scenic Area is the first park in China to receive UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage status. And according to the Chinese system of assessing attractions, it received the highest rating - AAAAA.
Dragon's back
The mountains were formed back in the Mesozoic era, and over millions of years, in the process of weathering and washing out of sandstones and limestones, more than 3000 pointed rocks were formed, the height of many reaching 800-1000 meters. Today, cliffs and mountain crevices are overgrown with abundant vegetation and pine trees. Rivers and lakes, sometimes beautiful waterfalls, flow through deep gorges.
I'm a lover high mountains, and passed not one mountain range, but these are completely different and completely different from all the others. Even on the Chinese mountains: or. But it is worth noting that here they are more touristy, and you will not have to conquer them, but this makes them no less interesting, and walking along them, you will feel like “on another planet”.
Avatar mountain route in 1 day
We spent 3 days in Zhangjiaze, but the program of the route around the surroundings was very busy, so there was only 1 full day left for Avatar Park itself.
Pagoda at the main entrance
In order not to waste time on long journeys from Chandzyadze to the reserve, it is most convenient to settle near the central entrance to National park in Wulingyuan village and just 5 minutes walk, you will be there.
How are the attractions located in the park
Wulingyuan is very popular with travelers and even at 8 am is full of sightseeing groups, so come even earlier, because the park is open from 6:30 am.
The queue to enter the park at 8 am
This is what the queue looks like at 8 am.
The town works for travelers, so at 7 am near the park, you will find many open cafes offering breakfast. Of course, it will be a Chinese breakfast, maybe not everyone loves rice konji, but boiled eggs, noodles and steamed rice buns can also be found.
Early morning cafes for breakfast are open
How to see Zhangjiajie Park
To avoid long lines, start exploring in the opposite direction from the excursion crowd. Choosing a bus to the lower cable car station to the area TianZiShan, with the title Lower station of Tanzishan cableway... Tourist groups go straight to the open elevator. Baylon "Bailong", so the queue there is 10 times longer and longer. In the morning we stood for only 15 minutes. on our bus.
Mountains in the Tianzishan region
Taking the cable car up the mountain Tianzishan, also called it Mount Emperor, and there is a reason, because the height is 1182 m, and the peaks drowning in the clouds form a real Stone Peak Forest.
Stone Peak Forest
The views here are amazing, and there are many Chinese people on the central viewing platforms, but they are surprisingly culturally standing and waiting for their turn to take a fantastic photo. If you go down a little further from the tourist routes, there are noticeably fewer people, and there are many places where you can stay alone.
It is on this site that there is a beautiful Emperor's Palace pagoda from which the most charming views open. And also here McDonald's, if someone still needs European food.
At the main stops there are many different eateries, water or some kind of snacks you can easily find. If you're not afraid, you can also try Chinese street food, all kinds of rice steamed cakes, sausages or fish balls on skewers, etc. Water, cola, corn - 10 yuan each. Sausages, eggs, steamed bun - 5 yuan each. Large flatbread or sandwich - 15 yuan each.
Rice steamed buns with different fillings
And also outlandish fruits, we didn't even know all the names.
Outlandish berries
A walk in this part of the park is enough for 1.5 hours.
Then take the bus to Yangjiajie (YangJiaJe)... The nature here is also breathtaking, but there are practically no people. Several paths where you already need to climb the mountain, with interesting names- The man praying to the Buddha, The man praying to the Buddha, One step to the Heaven, The Tiger and The Dragon, The Fishing Kitten.
Mountain region with few tourists
There is also an ethnic village here Wu long, in which local residents still live and, according to ancient traditions, farm. Even the evidence for bees is specific here. Although mountain honey is very fragrant, we bought a jar.
In such hives, honey is collected in the mountains
If you are tired of climbing the mountains, you can use the services of local Chinese who, for a fee, will take you to the mountains in a special bamboo chair. Prices, as for a good attraction, 300-400 yuan.
In such a chair you will be carried to the mountains
If you have time, you can get off the paved path to an abandoned Chinese house. But then you will have to climb the Yang Jia Je cable Way again, ticket 76 yuan.
Abandoned house in the mountains
All tourist routes and paths are neatly laid and marked with signs, of course you need comfortable shoes, but getting around is quite easy.
If you go down far from the main attractions, be careful, the paths are already overgrown with moss and are very slippery from constant humidity, rain or dew. And the slopes, according to the height of the rocks, are very steep.
You can spend 2-3 hours here.
Hallelujah Avatar
From the upper cable car station in the area YangJiaJe by bus we will get to the tourist center in the park - Yunjiajie (YuanJiaJie)... It is here that the same mountain Avatar Hallelujah Mountain or Stone Pillar - Support of the Sky, the highest Natural Bridge in the world connecting 2 rocks The First Bridge under Heaven.
You will immediately recognize the bridge, because it is all hung with red satin ribbons with wishes and locks of couples in love.
Lucky Clasp or Wish Ribbon
Enterprising Chinese even opened a kiosk here, where you can immediately buy a ribbon and a lock 😉
The first bridge under the sky
Despite the fact that there are always crowds of Chinese people here, from spectacular views, you do not always pay attention to them and consider them already part of the landscape.
Observation deck in Yundzadze
There are already monkeys here, of course, many want to feed these cute creatures, but some of them are impudent and snatch food themselves, and not only, from their hands. Be careful, mobile or lightweight bags can snag.
Wild monkey
In these parts, 1.5-2 hours is enough.
From YuanJiaJie you can walk down to Golden Whip Stream, the path is not very difficult, about 1-1.5 hours. Or take the bus to the popular elevator Bailong.
Baylong elevator
The elevator is, of course, an "attraction for visitors", but you will spend much more time in the queue than inside the elevator. They will descend you from a height of 330 m in just 1 minute. The mountains, of course, will be beautiful, but no more.
And most importantly, the queue at the exit from the elevator is always huge. We arrived at 5 pm on a weekday, stood for more than an hour on the bus. Judging by the reviews, many people were waiting in line at the elevator for 2-4 hours.
2-hour queue to the elevator
This is the main route for 1 day.
If you plan to spend 2-3 days in the reserve Wulingyuan, you can break everything into parts and walk more on footpaths. In the area of the mountain TianZiShan visit Ten mile gallery Natural ecological line going down from the Pagoda Tianzi Pagoda. Takes about 3 hours. Here, you can also travel by tourist train, the cost is 38 yuan. From here, take a bus to the Baylong elevator.
Visit part HuangShiZhai or Yellow stone village, which is a little distant.
Little explored mountainous regions
There is still an unexplored part of the park, the area Laowuchang Area... There are practically no tourists here, so there is complete freedom for photographers.
When is the best time to go to Avatar Park
Reserve Wulingyuan open all year round, but in February, often after the Chinese New Year, the park is closed for renovation. Yes, and in winter, after all, it is not so pleasant to walk in the cold mountains, without the opportunity to ski. Due to heavy snowfalls, many slopes and observation decks may be closed for safety reasons.
But at this time there are practically no tourists, so there is no need to waste time in queues, and no one will obstruct the snow-covered views at the observation decks. And tickets are cheaper in winter
UNESCO natural heritage
WITH April to June, here begins the season of doges and fogs. But this is its charm, when a thick fog covers the base of the rocks, Mountain peaks they seem to hang in the air and create the effect of "soaring peaks". Although, when a thick fog is not visible at all, even after a couple of meters, in September we got into such a fog on the Tianmenshan Mountain, there it is a frequent occurrence.
In summer it is good in the mountains, although it is hot +35, but the breeze will blow you in the shade of the trees. Even at this time, high humidity and the largest influx of tourists (although on Chinese holidays May 1-3 and the beginning of October are even greater).
Zhangjiajie Park
Optimal season in September and October... We were in mid-September, the weather was perfect, no longer hot or cold. But there are many tourists. With the weather, as luck would have it, a couple of days before our arrival, it rained, and the tourists could not see anything at all. In the same way, we, the next day, got into the fog on the mountain in Chandzyadze.
How many days does it take to visit Avatar mountains
For the Wulinyuan reserve itself, 1-3 days are enough, it all depends on how detailed you want to consider all the sites.
Due to unpredictable weather and frequent fogs, it is better to have a couple of days more in stock, and there is still a lot to see in these parts. Grand Canyon and the highest, Lake Baofeng Lake), Mount Tanmen or (Tianmen mountain National Forest Park) with the longest cable car in the world, National Park Red Stone Geopark, ancient city Fenhuan.
If it rains heavily, you can safely go to "" (Yellow Dragon Cave) a huge cave, we were completely delighted with what we saw.
For how many days to come to, of course, you decide based on your schedule. In ours, we stayed here for 3 full days, but not all had time to see, we did not get to the Red Stone Forest and the authentic town of Fenhuan. And judging by the photos on the Internet, they are also very colorful places. So, when planning a route across China today, I would have laid 5 days for the Zhandzyadze area and its surroundings.
Where are the Avatar mountains
The soaring Avatar mountains are located in China, in the Hunan province, in the Zhangjiaze urban district, in the Wulingyuan village in the reserve of the same name. First you need to get to the nearest transport center, the city of Zhangziajie.
In the Yundzadze area
How to get to Zhangjiajie
1. By plane
Zhangqiajie can be reached from many Chinese cities. The fastest way is of course by plane, only 2-3 hours on the way from major cities in China and you will arrive in Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport... Airport accepts domestic flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Nanjing, Haikou, Henyang, Yinchuan, Chongqing, Wenzhou, Jinan, Shantou.
International flights are still only a few countries: to South Korea- Busan airport, and Thailand - Bangkok airport, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan.
Average ticket prices range from 70 to 130 USD, depending on distance and season.
It takes only 15-20 minutes to get from the airport to the city and a taxi costs 40 yuan. But here, as in many other airports, taxi drivers call an exorbitant price. Therefore, you need to either bargain, or agree in advance with the hotel (provided that they speak English) about the transfer, or book the transfer yourself in advance.
If you decide to go straight to Wulingyuan, where the soaring mountains are, then the taxi will be 200 yuan, because the distance is a little more than 60 km and about 1.5 hours on the road.
You can also get from the airport to the bus station by bus number 4.
View from the observation deck
2. By train
There is a fairly good railway station in Zhangqiadze, but they do not run yet high-speed trains.
It is not very convenient to get from Beijing, Shanghai by train, since you will spend 20-26 hours on the way. And the ticket will cost 60-110 dollars, depending on which carriage you choose.
From the southern cities of China, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guilin, it is quite convenient to go by night train, the journey takes about 11-16 hours and the ticket costs from $ 30 to $ 50, depending on the type of carriage.
The fastest train journey is from Changsha, only 4-6 hours.
We traveled by night train from Guilin in 11 hours, the ticket cost only 263 yuan in a 1st class compartment car.
Rather, from Guilin we took a fast train to Liuzhou, only 30 minutes on the way and got on the night train to Zhangjiaze. In Liuzhou, you need to be very careful, as you need to get to another train station Liujiang where non-high-speed trains depart. Book tickets with a margin of time, as there is 14 km between stations.
It is very easy to find a taxi, there is a whole queue if a normal taxi driver comes across, only 30 minutes on the way and the price is 20-30 yuan. If you see that the taxi driver is swinging and the price is completely different, go straight to the policeman at the station and the price immediately changes in the normal direction.
You can communicate with taxi drivers using an electronic translator, in China they were used everywhere, and there were absolutely no problems. Or, if you need to go to the station, immediately show the ticket, all the names of the station and the required terminal are written there, in all languages.
In the region of the Tianzishan mountains
We booked tickets for all trains in advance on the Internet, and upon arrival in China, we received everything at once. boarding passes by going to the nearest ticket window at the railway ticket office of the first station. You just need to show your reservations and passports.
Zhangjiajie Railway Station is ideally located for tourists and is a wonderful landmark. Directly in the city center, there is a bus station right away and the airport is 15 minutes away.
And here is also the beginning of the cable car to Mount Tanmen or Heavenly Gate, which is also a "must see" in China and in particular in these parts.
3. By bus
You can also get there by bus. There is communication with almost all major cities. But if to go to Beijing and Shanghai for a very long time, a valuable day of vacation is lost, then the bus travels to the nearest cities like Changsha in only 5 hours. And to the glorious ethnic town of Fenghuan - 50 minutes.
Bridge in a mountain village
How to get to Wulingyuan
To see the coveted Avatar Mountains, you need to drive to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan Conservation Area.
Today the reserve has 5 entrances, each near the village of the same name.
The main entrances to the park
1. Wujiayu (Wulingyuan Gate) - The main entrance closest to Wulinguan Village, where the main hotels and restaurants are located.
2. Zimugang is the most underdeveloped part of the park, but photographers love it
3. Luoguta (Zhanggiajie National Forest Park Gate) - The closest entrance is from Zhangqiatse and from here it is convenient to walk to the Golden Whip Stream.
4. Yangjiajie - Not a busy part of the park, with very steep slopes and an abandoned old house
5. Tianzishan (Tianzi Mountain Gate) - If you want to get to Tianzishan Mountain before everyone else, without using the lift.
Distance to different entrances is about 30-60 km.
The most common or main entrance number 1 is Wujiayu (Wulingyuan Gate), the map shows only 42 km, but we drove twice from the station to almost the entrance to the reserve, it was 58 km. They did not drive us in circles, there is nowhere, only 1 high-speed track. A taxi costs 150 yuan in the afternoon, 180-200 yuan in the evening, 50 minutes on the way.
The bus can also be reached from the central bus station, they operate from 6:30 am to 7:00 pm in the summer. You need bus # 1 or # 21, the journey takes a little over an hour and you will pay immediately on the bus, about 20 yuan. In China, you can pay with WeChat or AliPay everywhere, so you can install the application on your mobile in advance and learn how to use it. It was a novelty for us, so we paid in cash.
Where to stay for a better view of the Avatar mountains
Since the Wulingyuan nature reserve, in which the mountains of interest to us, are located at a fairly large distance from the city of Zhangjiajie, it is best to settle right in the village, near any entrance to the park. Thus, you will save time for the morning transfer to the park (a little over an hour by bus), and in the evening you will also have money for a taxi (about 200 yuan), because the buses stop running at 19:00, and there is a high probability of being late for the last one.
The largest selection of hotels and hostels in Wulingyuan Village, near the main entrance. Also in the village there are enough cafes, shops, ATMs, there is a central bus station.
Streets in Wulingyuan
Almost all hotels and hostels do not offer breakfast, but this is not a problem. Still, the area is tourist, and in the early morning cafes offering breakfasts are already open everywhere. There are especially many of them when approaching the main entrance to the park.
Of course, you can stop at any other entrance to the park, but the infrastructure there is more modest, basically only hostels and there is no such choice of dishes in cafes, basically only all kinds of "nudels" - noodles, in our opinion.
It's very sad with cultural program in the evening in distant villages, there is nothing to do except stay in a hotel or a nearby cafe.
There is even a theater in Wulinyuan, show "Charming Xiangxi" grand show, starting at 19:00, ticket price - 228-308 yuan. The show is quite spectacular, a lot of dances and acrobatics, based on folk legends and traditions.
Ancient Chinese raincoat
Be sure to go to local restaurants in the evening, there are so many unusual dishes, it's good at least there are pictures on the menu. Unfortunately, dishes from rare animals were also on the menu.
The most popular hostel right next to the entrance to the reserve was this hostel. According to reviews, clean, great service and most importantly, English speaking staff. On average, a room costs from $ 15.
We stayed at this hotel, also very close to Wulingyuan main entrance, clean and excellent staff. We were given a map and, having learned our preferences, they painted a route, how best to walk in Zhanzyadze Park. We were also prompted to deliver luggage to the hotel in the city of Chandzyadze the next day. It costs only 20 yuan per suitcase. Also, the administrator filled in all the addresses in Chinese. A full room for two, with a view of the mountains, cost $ 26. Zhandzyadze, then I recommend this hotel, the price is $ 26, or this hotel, the price is $ 19. Both hotels are located in the center, close to the Tianmenshan ski lift and next to the train station. Also in both hotels the staff speaks English.
2019 ticket prices for Wulingyuan Wildlife Sanctuary
The park is huge and in order to see a larger or better part of it in 1-2-3 days, it is better to come as early as possible.
In summer, the park is open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm
V winter time from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
4-day ticket- 245 yuan, annual subscription- 298 yuan. The ticket is personalized, when you buy you show your passport and at the entrance they take a fingerprint, so do not confuse the ticket when you enter the next day.
The buses running through the park are included in the ticket price, and you can change to any of them as many times as you like.
But here is additional transport or entertainment, you need to pay separately.
Cable car
Huangshi Fort Cable Car(Yellow Stone Village area) - one way 65 yuan, both 118 yuan.
Tianzishan Mountain Cable Car(TianZi Mountain) - 72 yuan
Yangjiadze cable car(YangJi Je) - 76 yuan
Tourist train along the 10-mile gallery(Ten-mile gallery Sightseeing tram) - one way 38 yuan, round trip - 52 yuan
Bailong elevator- 72 yuan
Show "Charming Xiangxi"- from 228 to 308 yuan
Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave)- 100 yuan
Baofeng Lake- 96 yuan
Museum of Technology and Science (Dani Science and Technology Museum of Zhangjiajie)- 98 yuan
1. You need comfortable shoes for long walks, preferably non-slip shoes. Of course, almost all of the paths are paved with steps. But sometimes, if you go down further from hiking trails, the steps are covered with moss and are very slippery.
2. Remember that all buses and cable cars stop moving one hour before the park closes. So if you climbed high, you have to go down on your own.
3. Of course, on the territory of the reserve there are cafes and stalls with all kinds of food. But this is only near major stops. It is advisable to take water and some snacks with you, suddenly you will go far from civilization.
4. In some parts of the park there are many monkeys, they are aggressive and take all the food, as well as cameras and bags.
5. In summer, it is hot enough, so apply sunscreen, mosquito spray to open skin areas. Also take a panama hat and glasses. In winter, keep yourself warm. After all, climbing the mountains, the temperature is even cooler. Even in the mountains, the weather often changes, from sunny very quickly it turns into rainy. It will be good if you bring waterproof clothing.
6. Avoid queues for morning transport to the main viewpoints. This also applies to buses to the park from the city. Especially avoid the Bailong elevator in the morning and in the evening, there are always queues for several hours, and at rush hour and 4 hours you can stand for the pleasure of a ride in 1 minute. Better to take a different route and go down.
7. Take a card at the hotel, they will be distributed free of charge. Ask to plot the most interesting places for you. It is very easy to get around on buses in the park, either look for the name in English where the bus is heading, or show the driver where you need to go on the map.
8. In China, few people speak English, but now there were no problems with the help of an electronic translator, all Chinese use it. Download in advance a Chinese dictionary from Google Translate that works even without the Internet. Maps.me - download a map of the area in advance, also works offline. If you need the Internet, use it better, since the Chinese SIM card bans many of our popular sites and programs
9. When you print your hotel reservation, also print the Chinese version to facilitate understanding with the drivers. At the same time, the names of the sights are, if possible, in Chinese translation, and even better, just a picture.
10. In China, Visa and Master Card are not accepted everywhere, they have their own Union Pay system. So it is more convenient to always have cash or use the WeChat or AliPay payment system. With these systems, you can immediately pay from your smartphone everywhere, even in a minibus, bus and at the souvenir market.
11. When buying tickets, they almost always ask for a passport. Therefore, you need to carry it with you, a photocopy does not save you.
Enjoy your trip and be sure to leave comments if you liked the mountains 😉
Zhangjiajie, (zhangjiajie national forest park), is a huge park area in the southwest of China (Hunan province). The breathtaking 479-square-kilometer geo-park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A unique corner of the PRC nature, the pearl of the Wulingshan mountain system, is called Zhangjiajie Avatar Park (China) in tourist guides and avenues. Some of the episodes of the famous film were filmed here.
The main attraction of the national reserve is rock massifs (weathered sandy and quartz pillars) soaring towards the sun and soaring in the clouds.
Zhangjiajie National Chinese Park is open to the public all year round. Experts recommend getting acquainted with the protected area from September to November.
Interesting! The mountainous autumn presents tourists with a comfortable temperature, the absence of low clouds and annoying rainy drizzle.
In winter, some of the routes in the park are closed, snowfalls and fogs obviously spoil the panoramic views, it is cold to walk through the "beauty". The only good reason for a winter visit is the reduced entrance ticket prices.
Spring and early summer flood the region with rain. Thick clouds and fogs envelop the valley, creating the effect of rocky spurs "soaring in the sky".
In order to "fluently" get acquainted with the beauties recognized by UNESCO, a traveler will need at least a week to visit all the places of worship and significant observation points of the geo-reserve and the surrounding area.
Zhangjiajie National Park how to get there?
To get in touch with the beauties of a natural location, you need to be in Zhangjiajie (this is the most convenient way to get to the natural massif).
By plane
- from Beijing: $ 130;
- from Shanghai: $ 115;
- from Guangzhou: $ 80.
From the air harbor to the center of the settlement there is shuttle bus, the taxi is working.
Train
For sedate and leisurely tourists the best choice will Railway... There are a lot of train routes to the destination. The trip from Beijing lasts 26 hours, the price of a reserved seat train ticket is $ 60.
Zhangjiajie station is located at a strategically verified point: the center, nearby (within walking distance):
- an airport;
- launch pad cable car to Tianmen rock;
- bus station.
By bus
To get to Zhangjiajie, you can also use the bus. It is long and uncomfortable. Travel guides recommend this type of message when traveling from nearby cities (Changsha, Fenghuang).
Where is the park?
The starting zones of the national reserve are small villages with hostels, hotels, restaurants at the entrance to the park. There travelers "take a breath", have a snack, solve the problems of accommodation and lodging. There are three official entrances on the territory:
- the "start" closest to the city is located thirty kilometers away (the village of Zhangjiajie);
- intrans in Wulingyuan area;
- the most distant entrance to the observation area at the Tianzi mountain.
Accommodation options
Zhangjiajie offers travelers an excellent choice of hotels, but having settled in the city, you will have to spend time on the road to the walking and observation areas every day. Cost per night in a deluxe room in a central city hotel: RMB 869 (breakfast included).
Choosing a guesthouse in a starting village or a hostel inside a park can save a lot of money and personal time. Living conditions and the service provided are Spartan (real interruptions in water, electricity, Wi-Fi).
Work schedule and issue price
Park areas are hospitably open:
- in summer from 6:30 (7:00) to 19:00;
- in winter from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm;
Entrance ticket price
There are two variations:
- for four days: 245 yuan;
- for the week: 298.
A separate price list includes:
- Baylong: 72 yuan;
- Funicular to Tianzi: 67;
- funicular to Huangshichzhai: 70;
- Funicular to Yangjiajie: 76;
- walking narrow-gauge railway: 38.
The basic ticket price includes the use of buses within the park.
Local travel tips
The main tourist slogan of the forest park is: "He who gets up early, God gives to that (tourist)!" Early wake-ups and visits to the base locations will protect the "lark travelers" from the tedious waiting and hustle and bustle of queues. The languor before loading into the coveted Baylong elevator (in the "high" season) can take up to four hours!
Long hiking trails strongly require appropriate footwear and sports equipment. Experts recommend the guides: to the top by funicular / down on foot.
Interesting! Absolutely all guides and reference books on the protected area warn tourists about the aggressiveness of the local monkeys.
Do not tease monkeys / watch the safety of valuables.
In walking equipment, the following will be appropriate: a map, a guidebook, a Chinese phrasebook, cash, water for drinking, dry rations. The prices "for food" in the park are mercilessly raised.
Object top of the national park
Zhangjiajie National Park (China) is conditionally divided into four platform-zones. In addition to funiculars and lifts, there are several bus routes in the "UNESCO heritage": purple cars run in the valleys, funny beige cars transport travelers along the tops of mountain ranges.
Each observation area is individual, exotic beautiful and stunningly picturesque.
Chinese Pandora: Yuanjiajie
The northwestern part of the park, the Yuanjiajie space, is the most visited territory of the geo-reserve. It is these landscapes that are compared to the peaks of the movie "Avatar".
The sightseeing trail "3500 steps", in addition to long stepped ascents and breathtaking descents, includes a lot of well-equipped viewing platforms and points for photography.
You can get to the top of Yuanjiajie with the famous "transparent lift" Bailong.
This area is famous for the "Sky Bridge" and the majestic rock mass, which has recently been called "Hallelujah".
Creator - designer of the "transparent transition": engineer Dotan. Cloud Transition budget is US $ 3.5 million. Length of the crossing: 430 meters. The transparent viaduct can hold 800 people at a time.
The most beautiful place in the park is the unforgettable Avatar Hallelujah. Initially, the rock was called Jiankunzhu, which meant the Southern Heavenly Pillar.
Yangjiajie
The Yangjiajie Zone is the youngest tourist area of the nature reserve. This is the northeast of Zhangjiajie. The observation platform connects the Xiangzhi watercourse, Longquan and Baihou valleys.
The real pearl of Yangjiajie is the breathtaking Dragon's Waterfall.
Tianzi
The mountain range adjoins the Suoxi tract, the central park zone of Zhangjiajie and the Sanzhi district. Tianji is the pearl of Wulingyuan. The peak of the rock formation hovers at around 1262.5 meters (Kunlun), and the lowest point is 534 meters above sea level (Shilan).
Tianji Park Reserve is a virgin natural area with protected forests and reservoirs of crystal clear water.
Interesting! The population of the province adores the saying: "He who did not climb Tianji, did not know the beautiful."
In the west of the platform, the so-called "Western Sea" is freely spread. It is a valley dotted with rocky formations covered in green jungle. This part of the park is also called the "forest ocean" or "picket fence".
The vale of the "Heavenly Abode" is a gorge with sheer cliffs around.
The lower part of the mystical place is shrouded in clouds. The descent is difficult and time consuming, there is a narrow staircase-trail.
An absolute decoration of the tourist route of the Tianzi zone is the Emperor's Shelter pagoda.
Knuth canyon
The Canyon of the Golden Knut stream is the easiest walking area. No stairs, no precipices, no cable cars: a tourist route runs along a flat valley, along a quiet, shady stream of water.
A real community with nature: bird noise, murmur of water, fantastic mountains and emerald greenery.
Huangshizhai
Huangshichzhai means "yellow stone village" or "yellow village". The Huangshichzhai cliffs are spread over seventeen park hectares. "Stone village" is a horizontal "patch" at an altitude of 1100 meters.
The three kilometers long mountain trail takes two hours to overcome and requires good physical fitness. On the way, tourists are delighted with equipped observation decks with romantic Chinese names:
You can get to the top by funicular, to which a bus takes you from Laomuvan.
The Yellow Stone Village (on the top of the mountain) has a restaurant where you can have a good meal.
Noteworthy surroundings
In addition to Zhangjiajie Park, Hunan Province offers tourists a lot of beauty, attractions and exotic natural areas.
Tianmen summit
Tianmen skyscraper and the same name nature Park spread out on the far outskirts of Zhangjiajie. Within walking distance, the launch pad of the world's longest funicular, delivering thirsty people to the top of the mountain. Extreme tourists get to the reserve on foot, along the famous serpentine trail "99 bends".
A real hit of the mountain reserve is the Buddhist pantheon of the Ming dynasty. The Heavenly Gate Temple is hidden in a rocky cave.
The temple is ten thousand square meters. To get to the arch, you need to overcome a difficult climb of 999 steps.
An alternative answer to the famous glass bridge and the center of attraction for extreme lovers, adrenaline addicts from all over the world is the "cloud trail" along the edge of the cliff.
The cost of the park excursion (including the funicular or the shuttle bus service) is 258 RMB. For a defile along a transparent section of the track, you will have to pay 5-10 yuan.
Fenghuang Museum Settlement
Fenghuang is located on the water (city on stilts) and attracts tourists with the atmosphere of the Celestial Empire. Fragile structures, delicate bridges, winding, shady nooks and fishing nets drying in the sun.
At night, everything is illuminated by the lights of paper lanterns, which makes the city stylish and solid.
From Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang, travel 240 km (five hours of shaking on the bus). A visit to the city-museum is paid: 148 yuan.
Baofeng
Baofeng water body is a man-made object formed during the construction of the dam. Vault high in the gorge the purest water surrounded by emerald wooded slopes.
From Wulingyuan Village, you can get to the World Heritage Site by taxi (10-15 RMB) or walk (leisurely forty minutes walk).
The entrance ticket will cost an adult traveler 96 yuan (includes a swim on the lake with songs and national costumes of rowers). Locals call the surface of the lake “ paradise of a hectic world. "
Huanglong
Near the village of Wulingyuan is the "Burrow of the Golden Dragon". A river flows through the entire cave with meanders framed by illuminated stalactites.
It is easy to get there by bus or taxi for 20 RMB. Price: 100 yuan (with boat, underground walk).
What else is famous for the national natural park
Zhangjiajie invites tourists with unearthly beauty, surreal reliefs and landscapes.
The real "diamonds" of the national reserve are:
- flying quartzite rocks over 800 meters high;
- wooded peaks, overcoming the mark of 3000 meters above sea level;
- caves, reservoirs, flora and fauna;
- well-functioning tourist infrastructure (elevators, funiculars, walking and car routes).
China generously endows travelers with the wealth and delightful beauty of nature.
Conclusion
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (zhāngjiājiè) is the pride and natural attraction of the country. The sensations from the trip, walks, excursions, contact with virgin nature will be remembered for a long time and will be called on the road more than once.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (湖南 张家界 国家 森林 公园) - unique place, finding yourself in which you will not believe that this is all happening in reality. And if you watched the movie "Avatar", then you will recognize the satellite Pandora with its towering rock pillars. The park is located in southwestern China, on the territory of the Wulingyuan nature reserve, in the Hunan province and belongs to the Wulingshan mountain system. Zhangjiajie became the first park in China to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The formation of such an unusual landscape is due to prolonged weathering and washing out of rocks. The pillar rocks are composed of quartzite and sandstone. The most beautiful rock has a height of 1080 m, the Chinese called it "Mount Avatar-Hallelujah" and put several avatar figures here, where tourists like to take pictures.
In total, there are more than 3 thousand similar rocks in the Zhangjiajie Forest Park, the third part of which rises by more than 200 m. high point terrain - Mount Doupeng, its height is 1890 m.
Must see: the most beautiful areas of Zhangjiajie Park
"Bridge over the sky"
"Bridge over the sky", also known as Natural Bridge No. 1, is a unique creation of nature, which is located at an altitude of 357 m. The bridge connects the tops of 2 rocks. The width is 4 m, the length is 50 m, and the thickness is 5 m.
Tianzishan - Mountain of the Son of Heaven
The terrain of this area is located at an altitude of 1182 m. From here it is possible to contemplate the peaks piercing the clouds. The spectacle is truly incredible!
"Elevator 100 Dragons"
The 100 Dragons Elevator (Bailong Glass Elevator) is an open lift, which is also the tallest in the world. The elevator takes you to the top of the 330 m high steep slope. The ascent in a transparent cabin will give you an unforgettable experience. The elevator can accommodate up to 50 people, so not everyone is able to observe the beauty. It is better to come here in the morning, otherwise later you can get into the 4-hour queue.
Laowuchang
The wildest area of Zhangjiajie National Park, where tourists walk on muddy paths. Here are the rice fields Spirit Soldiers Gathering and Paddies in the Sky. This place is especially loved by photographers.
Stream "Golden whip"
One of the most popular routes in the park, which stretches for 7 km. The path lies along a lovely stream surrounded by beautiful rocks. Of the minuses - too many people, and always.
Yellow Rocks Region
This area is located slightly north of the Golden Whip. The famous Five-Fingers Peak is located here. Tourists prefer to stay at the observation deck, because from here an incredible view opens up - and it is not at all necessary to pay for the lift.
It should also be noted that in the Wulingyuan Nature Reserve, on the territory of which Zhangjiajie Park is located, there are several natural attractions, where tickets must be bought separately:
- Dragon King's Cave Longwandong - 81 ¥ ($ 12.5);
- Yellow Dragon Cave Huanglong - 100 ¥ (16 $);
- Baofeng artificial lake - 98 ¥ (15 $).
Fauna and flora
About 3 thousand species of rare plants grow on the territory. Among the rarest representatives here you can find red and pigeon trees, as well as gingko. And more than 500 representatives of the animal world live in the reserve - various monkeys, civets, salamanders, etc.
Information for visitors
Address: Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China, 427400
Schedule: 07:00-18:00
Best months to visit: April, September, October
How much is needed for inspection: 3-5 days
Ticket prices:
- 4 days for 245 ¥ (38 $);
- 7 days for ¥ 298 ($ 46).
Where to stay
The nearest railway station and airport are in Zhangjiajie city. From here to the park as much as 50 km, so it makes no sense to stop in the city. Near the park there is small town called (Wulingyuan). There are cafes, hotels and all the infrastructure necessary for a tourist.
There are also accommodation options on the territory of the national park itself.As a rule, these are hotels with a minimum of amenities.
How to get there
By plane Zhangjiajie can be reached from any big city China:
- from Beijing - $ 110-130;
- from Guangzhou - $ 70-80;
- from Shanghai - $ 115;
- from Xi'an - $ 70-80.
It is better to get from the airport to the national park by taxi, the approximate cost is $ 15.
If you prefer trains, then you can consider the options:
- from Beijing (60-100 $ *);
- from Guangzhou (50-80 $ *);
- from Shanghai (60-80 $ *);
- from Changsha ($ 30-40 *);
*more low price indicated for the reserved seat, the higher one - for the compartment.
From railway stations there are buses to the city of Wulingyuan, from where you can take a taxi or walk to the park.
All calculations are in RMB, prices are for better understanding.
To visit Zhangjiajie Park in China, don't forget:
- water;
- snack (everything on the territory is quite expensive);
- raincoat;
- comfortable shoes;
- camera;
- a map of the park;
- cash.
The text of the article was updated: 05/29/2018
We continue the story about an independent excursion to the Zhangjiajie Natural Park in China. In the previous part, we watched a video taken while walking through the streets in the village of Wulinyuan and photographs from this place, learned how to get to the ticket office for the reserve and walked to the first observation point in our route - the rocks of the Emperor's Brush (Imperial Emperor's Writing Brush Peak). Hopefully it is now clear how to get to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Well, we finished our report on a walk along the paths between the Zhangjiajie rocks on how my wife Catherine and I approached observation deck Shentang Gulf, marked with a star on the park route map. In our plan for traveling in China, a savage excursion to the Zhangjiajie reserve was given one day and half. And Victor, an employee of the Wulingyuan Zhongtian International Youth Hostel, said that during this time only the most beautiful places can be seen, which he marked with stars.
Despite the fact that I took all my lenses with me on my own trip to China (a wide-angle Samyang 14mm f / 2.8, a Nikon 70-300mm f / 4.5-5.6 telephoto lens and a Nikon 17-55mm f / 2.8 camera), the beauty of the Avatar mountains in photographs is impossible. I have seen the photos taken in Zhangjiajie Park by professional photographers during working hours, in clear weather and fog, in summer and winter - nevertheless, even their pictures do not convey all the greatness of these places ... Planet Pandora, invented by the American director James Cameron, I say: even professionals cannot get such photos that will convey to you the delight that you feel when breathing in the fresh air of the Zhangjiajie mountains ...
A little bit, the video helps to cope with this task. If you want to know if you should go to Zhangjiajie Natural Forest Park, be sure to watch the following video. I shot it with a Nikon D5100 DSLR and a Nikon 17-55mm f / 2.8 lens at one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
It's a clear and warm spring day outside. We walked 100 meters from the free bus stop along the path to the Shentang Bay observation deck (Shentang Bay). Through the dense branches of the trees it was not yet visible what awaits us in 1 minute ...
Photo 2. Sights of China. Excursion to Zhangjiajie National Park. The height is such that the head is spinning ...
The smell of pine needles. Somewhere below, blue birds chirp. And silence…
Photo 4. A story about a vacation in China. Self-drive to Zhangjiajie National Park. Excursion report. The flying mountains of the planet Pandora - Avatar mountains
Guys, the Zhangjiajie Mountains are fantastic happiness! This is where I felt it. Katya and I traveled to many countries, we saw a large number of wonderful tourist attractions. Honestly, they can't be compared to Zhangjiajie Nature Park! If now you are thinking about where to go on vacation, what you can see in China, then I recommend that you drop all doubts! Write down in big letters in terms of your vacation this year: "ZHANGJIAZE is one of the best places on planet Earth!"
Photo 5. Independent vacation in China. Visit to Zhangjiajie Park. And behind the back - the abyss ...
Such a strange posture for an independent traveler in China, because he turned awkwardly and tore his jeans at the seam ... And I am terribly afraid of heights. Do you think it is easy to sit on the fence when there is an abyss of several hundred meters behind you? Have you watched the previous video?
From the Shentang Gulf observation deck, there are such views of the rocks that look like they came from cartoons about China from childhood.
Photo 8. One of the most beautiful places in the mountains Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Shentang Bay observation deck. If you think what to see in Zhangjiajie, then you definitely need to get here
Photo 9. Zhangjiajie Mountains - you are forever in my heart. Reviews about independent rest in China
I changed the Nikon 17-55mm f / 2.8 reportage lens to a Nikon 70-300 telephoto lens so that I could better convey the space ...
Can you imagine how high this rock is if this rock was taken with a focal length of FR = 70 mm from the top of our pillar (Shentang Bay observation deck)? After all, a telephoto lens gives a good approximation ...
Since no one was around, and we were in no hurry, it became possible to safely change lenses on my Nikon D5100 DSLR. Here are the pictures taken in national park Zhangjiajie National Forest Park at Samyang 14 / 2.8 wide angle.
If you watched the previous video, then you already know why, in my opinion, the Chinese called this place"Shentang Bay". Just like these two, Catherine and I stood on the edge of the abyss and turned our faces to the spring sun, listened to the light sound of the breeze ... I so wanted to believe that this was not a dream in my life! ..
After spending a couple of hours in the first "star" of our excursion route through the Zhangjiajie nature reserve, we decided that it was time to go to the next point: Wulong Village and One Step to the Heaven observation deck. We went back to the bus stop and waited for our free bus.
Five minutes later, a minivan appeared. He stopped and the driver signaled:
- Sit down, laovai!
“We need the Wolong Village stop.
- No problem! One hundred yuan - and you are there!
- Ha, ha, ha !!! Uncle, even the Mexicans couldn't deceive me! Fear God! This is not the first time I have traveled as a savage in China ...
Ten minutes later a free shuttle bus arrives and takes us to ... WuLong Village Administration Center. This is not a stop from where you can get to Step to the Heaven.
The administrative center of Woolon is a large, final stop. Here are public toilets with amenities, a large hotel and a bunch of souvenir shops, cafes ... And there is a China Post booth. You could send a postcard to Russia, as we did while driving a rented car in Sri Lanka.
But, for some reason, we didn’t want to send the news home. We had a snack, rested, got on another minibus and returned back to the “Wulong Village” stop. Here, along a perpendicular path, they followed Chinese tourists(now I already know that this path leads to the upper station of the new Yangjiajie cable car). We walked 300 meters and ended up at a small recreation area. Here, past a vertical pillar, you descend into the valley, and then climb a steep cliff to heaven ...
This is where One Step to the Heaven awaits us ... And I will tell you about the ascent to this second delightful place in the next part of the report on the trip to China by a savage in the spring of 2014.
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