Cloud Sea Wonderland | Zhangjiajie Xiangxi Landscape Folk Travel Guide

1、 Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot National Forest Park (core scenic spot, 4-day valid ticket)
Yuan Jiajie
The essence of the whole scenic area, the symbolic landscape Qiankun Column (the prototype of Hallelujah Mountain), and the Enchanting Platform overlook the continuous peak forest without blocking. The atmosphere is full of clouds and mist after rain. The Hundred Dragon Sky Ladder is 326 meters high and takes 66 seconds to reach the top of the mountain, providing a panoramic view of the mountains in one go. The natural stone bridge, the first bridge in the world, has a magnificent momentum.
Tianzi Mountain
The peak forest is an excellent vantage point for viewing, with three core landscapes: the Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Flower Offering, and the Xihai Stone Forest. The stone pillars are arranged in a staggered manner, and the effect of sunrise in the morning and cloud sea after rain is excellent. With limited physical strength, it is easy to travel up and down the mountain by cable car.
Golden Whip Stream
The 7.5-kilometer gentle tree lined canyon trail is cool and shaded throughout the journey. It is the filming location of Journey to the West, with clear streams and wild macaques visible along the way. No need to climb mountains throughout the journey, friendly to the elderly and parents, natural forest oxygen bar.
Yangjiajie&Shili Gallery
Yangjiajie has a unique natural Great Wall peak wall landform, majestic and steep, which is the first choice for photography enthusiasts; On both sides of the Ten Mile Gallery, there are continuous strange stones, and the iconic stone peak "Lao Cai Lao Ren" is lifelike, which can be visited on foot or by taking a sightseeing train.
Huanglong Cave Underground Cave
A natural karst cave that has been in existence for billions of years, with a constant temperature of 16 ℃ and various forms of stalactites. Paired with underground river boats, it is a summer resort, and the lighting reflects the atmosphere of the cave's secret realm.
2、 Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (urban high-altitude wonder)
Ultra long mountain cableway
The 7.5-kilometer-long high-altitude cableway takes 28 minutes to traverse 99 winding mountain roads, offering a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains. The misty sky feels like passing through a sea of clouds. We recommend the A-line cableway up the mountain and the bus down the mountain route.
Glass walkway&Ghost Valley plank road
Suspended on the 1400m cliff outside the transparent glass walkway, facing the Wanzhang Canyon at the foot, breathtaking and exciting; The Guigu boardwalk winds along the mountain, offering a panoramic view of the entire peak forest.
Tianmen Cave and 999 level ladder
The giant natural mountain cave Tianmen Cave has a 999 level ladder leading directly to the entrance, creating a unique scenery of "Tianmen spitting mist" when surrounded by clouds and mist. You can also take the mountain escalator directly to the entrance, avoiding climbing fatigue.
Tianmenshan Temple
The millennium old temple on the mountaintop, with towering ancient trees, is tranquil and peaceful. Climbing to the top, one can overlook the entire city of Zhangjiajie and the scenery of the mountains from a 360 ° angle.
3、 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon · Yuntiandu Glass Bridge
The world's longest and highest glass bridge spanning a canyon, with a bridge deck 300 meters from the valley floor and a 430 meter span spanning two mountains. The transparent bridge deck faces the canyon stream directly, pursuing excitement and experiencing high-altitude bungee jumping; The surrounding canyons are filled with gurgling blue water, and the gentle hiking trail is peaceful and healing.
4、 Xiangxi Tujia Cultural Night Tour Landmark
Seventy-Two Wonders Tower
The giant Tujia stilted house complex is lit up at night, creating a strong ancient atmosphere. Inside, there are folk shops, bonfire parties, and specialty snacks, making it a popular night time check-in spot in the city.
Xibu Street
Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot is an old street with Tujia customs. The Qingshiban Road is full of silver decorations, batiks and snack shops. In the evening, red lanterns light up to watch Tujia folk songs and dance intangible cultural heritage folk performances.
Yuanjiazhaizi
The ancient village of the Tujia ethnic group, located in the deep mountains, showcases the complete display of stilted houses, agricultural tools, and wedding customs. Visitors can experience the traditional culture of ethnic minorities in Xiangxi, such as drinking wine and weaving cloth, up close.
5、 Recommended authentic Tujia mountain and wild cuisine
Signature hard dishes: Tujia San Xia Guo, Blood Cake Duck, Rock Ear Stewed Chicken, Smoked Tujia Bacon, Sour Soup Fish
Shan Ye Xiao Chao: Roasted bamboo shoots with preserved meat, Xiangxi drumming skin, Yanghe belly rice, Xikou beef
Marketplace special snacks: Artemisia baba, pig brain cold noodles, rice tofu, sour radish, heart lung Rice noodles
Featured dessert drinks: wild kudzu root powder, osmanthus rice wine, bamboo tube sweet wine
6、 Practical travel tips
Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot is 30km away from Tianmen Mountain. It is suggested to travel in two days. Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot can enter the park repeatedly within 4 days after admission; Tianmen Mountain and Glass Bridge must make a real name reservation 3-5 days in advance during peak season, and tickets are easily unavailable during holidays.
The temperature on the mountain is 5-8 ℃ lower than that in the city, with a large temperature difference between day and night. It is recommended to keep thin jackets and non slip hiking shoes on hand; The mountainous area is rainy and foggy, so carry rain gear with you.
Please do not feed wild macaques in the mountains and forests, and do not hold plastic bags to avoid monkeys snatching personal belongings.
Local dishes in Xiangxi tend to be sour and spicy, so if you don't eat spicy food, please inform the restaurant in advance to reduce or avoid it; Restaurants at the entrance of the scenic spot enjoy a high premium, and authentic old stores are concentrated in the urban area and the old streets of Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot residential area.
Best travel season: From April to June, there are frequent clouds and few tourists; From September to October, the autumn sky is clear and the scenery is transparent; The cool mountains in summer are suitable for escaping the heat.
Reminder for avoiding pitfalls: Low price one-day tours at high-speed rail stations are mostly shopping groups, so be cautious when registering; Unqualified guides on the roadside are not recommended, priority should be given to official explanations from scenic spots.