Flying mountains in China. Zhangjiajie National Park. Zhangjiajie National Park or “Avatar” in reality Avatar Mountains in China how to get there

Zhangjiajie Park in China is now famous not only as a beautiful national forest park, but also as a place where the acclaimed "Avatar" was filmed. It seems to me that being here is a great success. The park makes you fall in love at first sight of its extraordinary rocks floating in the morning haze and from the first breath of its fresh forest air.

A little about the history of the park

Chinese National Park Zhangjiajie was founded in 1982, and soon after that it was deservedly accepted into the list World Heritage UNESCO. In general, these beautiful places have long been known to mankind; many legends and tales are associated with them. One of them says that a long time ago, during times of brutal wars, one of the warlords of the Yang clan set up his camp at the foot of the city of Tianzi. As the war lasted for many years and decades, the sons and grandsons of the commander and his army settled these lands. After this, the area acquired its name, which translated from Chinese means “land of Yang.”

Zhangjiajie has always been popular with tourists, but after the fantastic “Avatar” was released and viewers heard that this park was the prototype for the landscapes depicted in the film, the influx of visitors became even greater.

Important! There are especially many tourists in the park from May 1 to May 3 and from October 1 to October 7 (Chinese national holidays), as well as in July-August during summer holidays. If you want to calmly and leisurely explore the park, without standing half the time in queues and without crowding to take pictures of some beautiful place, I highly recommend choosing a different time for your trip.

Zhangjiajie - main attractions

First of all, the park fascinates with its natural beauty. Extending over a huge area, the park combines picturesque mountain landscapes, the peaks of which are lost in the clouds, dense green slopes covered with forests and thin sparkling streams of streams and waterfalls.

Did you know? A characteristic feature of the park is frequent fogs, which, softly enveloping the ground, give the landscapes an even more mysterious look.

The park has a rich flora and fauna, many rare animals and plants are found, including salamanders, civets, rhesus monkeys, ginkgo trees, mahogany and many others.
Thanks to the mild climate and the absence of sudden temperature changes, walks in the park will be a real pleasure.

Important! You will really have to walk a lot in Zhangjiajie - I advise you to think about comfortable shoes and clothes in advance. If you are not in the best physical shape, or just to save time, to climb Mountain peaks I recommend using the cable cars. Although this will require additional financial costs, it will save your energy for sightseeing.

So, what are the main attractions of the park?

Avatar Mountains. First of all, most tourists strive to see this particular attraction, thanks to which the park has gained new life.

There are quite a lot of high lonely mountains, as if floating in the fog, in the park. Their formation is associated with the gradual weathering of rocks.

Did you know? One of these rocks was even renamed “Avatar Hallelujah” after the film was released.

The area of the park, in which there are especially many “floating” mountains, is called Yuanjiajie. Here, by the way, there are many sculptures depicting those very avatars - rarely can anyone resist the opportunity to take a photo with these fairy-tale characters.

Yangjiajie Park. Some consider it a separate park, others consider it just a zone of Zhangjiajie. Be that as it may, this attraction attracts crowds of tourists.

Mount Tianzi. This attraction is popular not only because natural beauty, but also one more interesting architectural object- The Imperial Palace.
In my opinion, this is too loud a name for a building of this size, but the building is really beautiful, made in a traditional style.

Golden Whip Brook. This is a very picturesque stream, with walking trails along which stretch for 8 km. There are not as many tourists here as in other places, so if you want to enjoy the murmur of a stream and the singing of birds in relative solitude, this is the place for you.

By the way, a big advantage of this place is the ease of overcoming the route - the stream is located in a valley at the foot of the mountains, so your walk here will not require steep and long climbs.
There are many more valuable and unusual places, but these are perhaps the most important.
You will encounter wild monkeys on many of the park's routes and trails. These cute creatures make visitors fall in love with them, especially their children.

Important! But don’t let your guard down—one of the monkeys’ favorite pastimes is stealing. They often snatch packages and bags from the hands of tourists and run away with them high into the trees.

What to see in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie?

Mount Tianmenshan. The most popular among tourists is Tianmen Mountain. It reaches 1518 m in height and is one of the main attractions of the area.

Did you know? There is a legend associated with the mountain that it warns local residents about upcoming changes. They say that before important historical events, a waterfall begins to flow from the mountain peak.

Another popular attraction is located on Tianmen Shan - the picturesque Heaven's Gate Cave. The best way to get to the top of the mountain is by using the cable car. By the way, this cable car is the longest in the world. It also takes place here interesting route – "Path of Faith" in Zhangjiajie, which is an interesting design: it is a narrow path with a glass bottom, laid along a cliff. Not everyone decides to walk along it, although in fact it is absolutely safe.
Yellow Dragon Cave. An equally popular attraction is the huge Yellow Dragon Cave, whose height reaches 140 m. It is one of the largest karst caves on the planet. Thanks to the beautiful interior “decoration”, consisting of bizarre and unusual shapes and shades, the cave is considered magical. Inside you can also see numerous underground rivers and pools, as well as waterfalls.
Fenghuang. This, although small, is very ancient and beautiful city, attracting tourists primarily with its architecture. Its small wooden houses They really look “Chinese” and very picturesque. The atmosphere in the city is indescribable.
Lake Baofeng. This picturesque body of water fits so harmoniously into the surrounding landscape that it is hard to believe that it is not of natural origin.
Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon. Not far from the National Park there is another popular attraction - Grand Canyon Zhangjiajie, where in addition to beautiful walking trails and a magnificent lake, there is another iconic place: hanging glass bridge- the longest and narrowest in the world.

Yellow Dragon Cave

Entertainment and attractions of the park

Undoubtedly, the main entertainment of Zhangjiajie is the walk through the park itself.
In addition, climbing to its sights with the help cable cars or Bialong elevator can also be an exciting adventure.
It also has its own small Railway . You can explore some of the sights in comfort and fun while traveling on a mini-train.
Many come to large glass bridge or on the path of faith to “tickle” your nerves.
The park has many cafes and restaurants, where you can have a good time and have a tasty snack.
In the city of Zhangjiajie, located near the National forest park, there are many restaurants and entertainment venues where you can have fun and spend your leisure time.

Elevator Bialong

Zhangjiajie National Park – how to get there?

Getting to the park is quite easy.

First you need to get to Zhangjiajie city. Since it has its own airport, it is easiest to fly here by plane. There are regular flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and many others.
From the airport you can go either to the city or directly to the park using taxi or bus. If you are thinking about how to get to Zhangjiajie from Beijing or Shanghai as quickly as possible, perhaps air travel will be the best option.
Also you can go to Zhangjiajie by train. It will take much longer, but the cost of such a trip is lower.
If you are already close to Zhangjiajie, you can use bus services. However, buses also travel here regularly from cities such as Shanghai, Changsha, Wuhan, etc., but this is far from the most convenient way of transportation - traveling by train or plane is much more comfortable. I advise you to choose them to save energy and nerves for exploring the park.
From the city you can get to the National Park by bus or order a taxi.

Important! Taxi drivers like to greatly inflate the cost of a trip, insist that they use the meter or negotiate.

I immediately advise you to choose the attractions that you want to see first - there are three entrances to the park, and you need to get to the entrance that will be closest to the objects you have selected.

Zhangjiajie Park or Avatar Mountains (video)

Beautiful video about Zhangjiajie Park. Enjoy watching!

Prices, promotions and opening hours of Zhangjiajie Park

The park's opening hours differ in summer and winter.

In summer the park is open from 6:30 to 19:00, in winter from 7:30 to 17:00.
Prices for visiting the park also differ depending on different time of the year. Visiting in winter is much cheaper.
You can buy two types of tickets: a 4-day ticket will cost you approximately $38, and a 7-day ticket will cost approximately $46.
For an additional fee, you can also order a porter service.

Important! The ticket price also includes travel by bus within the park. You will have to pay extra for using cable cars, elevators and local trains.

There are always a lot of promotions going on in the park.

Students under 24 years of age pay half the cost of visiting.
The same applies to pensioners from 60 to 69 years old. People over 69 years old pay even less.
Children up to 120 cm tall can visit the park completely free of charge, and children from 120 to 150 cm also pay half the price of tickets.

I sincerely invite you to visit the Avatar Mountains in China - my favorite Zhangjiajie National Park.
I hope that I have provided all the necessary information needed to plan your trip. If you still have questions or you have already been to Zhangjiajie Park and you have something to add to what has been said, I will be very glad to hear your comments.

The unusually beautiful flying mountains located on the planet Pandora in the film Avatar are not an invention of the directors. Are located floating mountains in china, being part national park Zhangjiajie, and are called Wulingyuan. The rocks bewitch and amaze at first sight, so when going to the Celestial Empire, it’s worth going to Hunan Province for a few days, where the park is located. Excellent conditions for accommodation, food and leisure are created here for visitors. In addition to the mountains, there is the opportunity to see many other natural attractions.

National treasure of China

Zhangjiajie Park is a unique business card countries where he visits every year great amount tourists, the number of which increased after the release of the film "Avatar". Touch the unique nature, fauna, listen to many mysterious, mystical stories and legends - that’s what I offer flying mountains in china to all visitors. Some objects on the territory of this protected area are protected by UNESCO, and the park itself is recognized as a national treasure of the Celestial Empire. Its inhabitants are proud of the unusual beauties that will take your breath away, and they say that numerous secrets and riddles are associated with the mountains and rocks. Their emergence and spread are facilitated by incredible landscapes, lush greenery, picturesque rocks, which cause a soaring effect. This unique phenomenon is due to the fact that mountain peaks rise into the sky, getting lost there between the clouds. The rocks are covered with greenery, which complements the feeling of weightlessness.

A little history

The area where the park is located is also known under another name - Yangjiajie, i.e. lands of Yang. According to ancient legends, there was once a war between clans near the mountains. The representative of the Yang Dynasty set up his military camp right at the base of Mount Tianzi. The confrontation lasted for several decades and never ended. Therefore, the descendants of the clan began to gradually develop this territory, moving further and further from the location of the military camp. Archaeologists and scientists have confirmed this legend by constantly finding graves and burial places of members of the Yang clan.

Creation of the park

There is a park where the film “Avatar” was filmed in the northwestern part of the country, not far from the city of the same name. The area is full of wonders and natural attractions. Neighboring Zhangjiajie Park are the equally famous geological parks of Yangjiajie, Tanzishan and Xiuxiyu.

Zhangjiajie is the oldest park in China, created in 1982. Its territory is huge and is almost 13 thousand square kilometers, on which there are mountains, forests, other vegetation, and a huge number of animals. In 1992, it was taken under UNESCO protection as part of Wulingyuan. Nine years later, the park received the status of the Sandstone Peaks National Forest Geopark (by decision of the relevant Chinese ministry). It is also part of the Global Network of Geological Parks protected by UNESCO.

Natural and animal world

Decoration Zhangjiajie Park, China, the place where the films were filmed Avatar" and "Monster Hunt" are Mt. In fact, these are rocky pillar peaks, created from quartz and sandstone, and turned into a real miracle of nature under the influence of erosion and weathering. The total number of unusual rocks is more than 3 thousand, and about one thousand are 200 meters high. The highest peak is Mount Dupeng, which reaches 1,890 meters into the sky.

The peaks of the rocks are lost high in the clouds, and then abruptly give way to very dense forests. This is the habitat of a huge number of animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. You can also see quite rare relict plants, which include mahogany and gingko.

The climate in the park is humid and warm, although this does not create suffocating heat. People who cannot stand cold or very hot weather can feel comfortable here. In the warm season average temperature air temperature is +27 degrees Celsius, and in winter it drops to +4-5.

The entire territory of the park is divided into 6 natural zones, the largest of which are Tianji Mountains, attracting tourists to China. This area is famous for very thick clouds, constant fog and a mysterious atmosphere.

Attractions

You can walk around the park without getting tired, because you never know what awaits around every turn. It’s not only the mountains that take your breath away, but also the richness of the animal world, as well as a large number of monuments.

The Yellow Dragon Cave is created from karst formations, has a height of 140 meters, and is therefore considered one of the largest in the world. It is distinguished by a beautiful interior design of a natural character. The cave contains many unique natural attractions - waterfalls, rivers, pools. All this creates the feeling that you are in the palace of a fairy-tale Dragon.

The Buddhist Temple of Heaven's Gate has been known since the Ming Dynasty, which contributed to the transformation of this place into a center of pilgrimage. The temple occupies a huge area, which is equal to 10 thousand square meters. The temple is located in a cave that dates back to 263 AD. as a result of the breaking off of a huge stone from the Tianmen rock. The length of the cave-temple is 60 meters, the width reaches 57 meters, and the height is 131.5 m. The Chinese call the temple Magic Cave Western Hunan, as the place is imbued with a mysterious and mysterious atmosphere. This is due to the fact that the cave, located at a great height above the ground, seems to be shrouded in clouds, which are very thick above the mountain. Therefore, tourists, entering the cave, feel that they are in heaven, or are somewhere nearby.

It was not by chance that the temple appeared in this place. According to ancient chronicles, the mountain is connected with the sky, therefore it has enormous strength and energy. In addition, it influences people, their destinies, lives, and is capable of doing miracles. In historical documents you can find many facts that various mysterious events and phenomena took place in the cave.

The height of Tianmen Mountain is 1518 m, and is considered the central attraction of the park. All tourists who are not afraid to travel the longest cable car in the world strive to climb to the top. Its length is almost 7.5 kilometers, and it passes through such picturesque panoramas of mountains, mountains, and forests that it will take your breath away. And the closer the cabin gets to the top, the more it seems that you are falling into the arms of the clouds. The mountain is always shrouded in fog and mist, which very rarely clears. From generation to generation, local residents pass on legends that before very important events, water begins to pour from the top.

Next door to Zhajiajie Park is an equally stunning park called Yanqiajie. There are a huge number of amazing and scenic spots, including the Baihur, Longquan valleys, and the Xiangzhi Mountains.

History of the Tianji Mountains

These rocks are worth talking about separately. According to historical records in chronicles and other documents, at the foot of Tianji Mountains, China, in the Middle Ages, farmers rebelled. They were led by a leader named Xiang Dakun, who styled himself the son of heaven. Such an unusual nickname was associated with the ambitions of the peasant, as well as the characteristics of the area where the mountains are located. There are more than two thousand stone pillars here, which, like rods, connect heaven and earth. Average height The rock ranges from 1 thousand meters to 1250 meters. They were formed more than three thousand years ago. One part of the mountains is represented by quartz rocks, and the second by limestone. Despite ancient history, the area has not been studied and is practically unexplored. Once upon a time there were tropical forests, about which remained small areas and trees. Between the mountains there are very ancient caves, rock arches, impenetrable forests where no one has ever been.

Tourist services

You can walk around the park for several days, especially since the entrance ticket is valid for two days. You can buy it for 245 yuan, right at the main entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park in China. To save a little money, you can purchase a weekly pass, and such a ticket is not very expensive - about 300 Chinese yuan. There are significant discounts available for students who present their student ID. The most Better conditions for visitors. In particular, they have a wonderful opportunity to see the mountains from a bird's eye view and then walk around them on the ground. There is an elevator leading to one of the peaks, so you can climb the mountain directly on it.

The park has several tourist routes allowing you to see all the sights. But it’s difficult to do this in 2 days, so guides recommend using the cable car to see all the flying mountains. It is definitely worth walking along the natural bridges that go across the mountains, as well as going down into the valleys of rivers, waterfalls, and visiting caves. Tourists do not have to worry about their own safety: fences are installed everywhere, there are safe stairs for movement, special paths and signs to help you navigate the park.

The price of the entrance ticket includes bus transportation along the routes. Separately, you need to pay for the elevator ride, use of the escalator, elevator, and travel on the tourist train. Travel between attractions free buses, which reach a certain stop. Here you can change to another bus and continue your trip. You can also travel by other means of transport - cable cars (two closed and one open), funicular.

For those who want to see pristine nature, they will have to go deeper into the remote areas of the park. The main attractions are nearby. It won’t take long to get to them - everything is within reach, you just need to buy a ticket and enter the park. In other cases, you need to cover considerable distances, so you need to choose comfortable shoes, clothes for the trip, and put things in backpacks. In addition, you need to go to the deep areas of the park either with a guide or along a pre-designed route so as not to get lost.

It’s worth considering separately organizational issues trips to the floating rocks:

Book accommodation in advance, given the many national holidays that exist in China;
Prepare for the fact that a huge number of Chinese come to the Wulingyuan rocks, so it is always crowded, and in some places there is a significant crowd of people;
Buy or download a map of the park and surrounding area, purchase a compass, raincoats and raincoats;
It is better to start your walks in the morning to see more interesting things. And in the morning there are fewer people than in the afternoon and evening hours. It is dangerous to wander around after seven in the evening, because... The park area is not illuminated.
Think about how you can get to Zhangjiajie from the Chinese capital.

You can get to the park from the city of the same name by taxi or bus, which come here regularly. You can enter the protected area through two entrances - the northeastern one, where the Wulingyuan Mountains are located, and through the southern one - Zhangjiajie. You need to start your journey from the first entrance, since there is a glass elevator that takes you up to the tops of the rocks and observation platforms.

Housing and food

Experienced tourists advise staying in two villages – Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan (the names here are all very original, so it’s worth considering that the park, city and village have the same name). Renting comfortable accommodation here is not a problem; the only negative, and quite significant, is that in the morning there is a queue at the entrance. And you will have to stand in it before entering the park.

You can also live in Zhangjiajie, where there are several types of housing:

Guesthouse;
Hostel;
Hotel.

The quality of the rooms is somewhat lower than in the villages, and walking is only allowed when the buses start running.

A budget accommodation option is to stay with local residents who are willing to provide a bed in a room for several people for 40 yuan per day. You can choose the option for single occupancy, but the cost will increase accordingly.

You can eat in restaurants, local cafes, McDonald's. It is worth considering that the cuisine of this province is quite unique - it is based on mushrooms that have medicinal properties, And large quantities spicy seasonings. In addition to traditional Hunan cuisine, you can try dishes from other regions of the country.

There are no restaurants or cafes in the park, but flat cakes, fried potatoes, fish, and chestnuts are sold everywhere. Everything is fresh and prepared in the presence of tourists.

It is better to buy water in the city or in villages, since it is much cheaper here than in the park.

Zhangjiajie is one of the most famous national parks China, has recently become especially famous for serving as the inspiration for the creators of the film Avatar. You can also visit the planet Pandora, it’s not that difficult. First you need to get to Zhangjiajie city. There is an airport there, but the land connections are not so hot; you can get there from Yichang and Changsha, but from Chongqing there is only a long detour with a transfer. From the city to the park it is 20-30 kilometers. The park can be entered from several directions, but the two most accessible are Wulingyuan Village and Zhangjiajie Village (same name as the city). These villages have all the necessary infrastructure: many hotels where foreigners can easily be accommodated from 80 yuan, shops, restaurants. Prices are a little higher than usual Chinese cities, but quite acceptable.

The entrance ticket costs 248 yuan ($50), a student ticket costs 148 (they also check your passport, which is no more than 25 years old). On a regular ticket it was written that it was valid for four days, on a student ticket - three. Such high prices, apparently, are designed to somewhat regulate demand - than more popular place, the more expensive it becomes. You won't be able to cheat and use someone else's ticket, because the entrance is based on fingerprints. But the price divided into three days no longer seems so high, and it’s worth coming here for just three days. In principle, you can see the park in one day, but if you go further by train, it might work out. But if you want to fly, setting aside one day is very risky, because if it rains, you will see something like this “beautiful” landscape from all the observation platforms:

So I was incredibly lucky on the first day.

It rains frequently in this region and the climate here is very humid.

In the morning the probability of rain is lower, so it makes sense to set out early.

Now, actually, about what to see if the weather is good. There are several viewing platforms in Zhangjiajie from where you can look at the narrow and high cliffs sticking out of the ground. Firstly, Huangshi (yellow village), secondly, Yuanjiajie, thirdly, Tianzi Mountain (imperial mountain). The remaining places are, as they say, outside the main path, and there are mostly long walking tracks. There is a cable car leading to Huangshi, but you can only go there in a circle around the top of the mountain, and then back. Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain are connected by a road along the tops of the mountains, and free buses run there. There is also a cable car to Tianzi Mountain, and an elevator to Yuanjiajie (Bailong elevator). The entrance to Zhangjiajie village is very close to Huangshi, the Wulingyuan entrance is far from everything, but there are free buses from there to both the elevator and the cable car. There is no transport through the park between Huangshi and Yuanjiajie; you need to walk along the valley along the river.

The catch is that going up and down the elevator and any of the cable cars costs under 100 yuan ($15). So if you want to see everything in one day, you will have to spend another $60 for the ascent and descent in addition to the $50 entry fee. If you have two days, you can radically save on this by walking the entire route.

The climb to Huangshi or Yuanjiajie takes about an hour, walking along the stairs. Much easier than . They say that during peak times you can stand in line for an hour for the elevator, so it’s not even that slow.

You can also hire porters, but it’s not clear what the point is. It will be cheaper by elevator.

Ladder.

Path. Everything in the park is civilized and well-equipped.

The stairs are often lined with shops and eateries. One of them stores empty bottles.

And there are also many impudent, snickering monkeys living here.

DO WANT!

I've read a lot of horror stories about having to stand in line to push to the railing to take a photo, but the reality was something like this:

Don't travel during the "high season"!

The only big group. Everyone was wearing raincoats, but it really didn’t rain that day.

Here they take selfies with caviar.

But the main thing is that they are watching this!

The photos I want to show are from Zhangjiajie City in Hunan Province, namely the so-called Avatar Mountains. I heard about the highest elevator in the world, which takes you up the mountain and offers a very beautiful view from there. So I went without any preparation - what, where, and how? As always, I don’t know where I’m going, and I like it, then the impressions of the trip seem stronger, more impressive and more emotional to me. So this time I went to look at the elevator and the beautiful view from the mountain, and ended up in a fantastic place - the Avatar Mountains. On the day I climbed the mountains, the weather was beautiful and sunny.

Entrance to the park costs 158 yuan and allows you to visit the park for two days.

First on foot, then the cable car and again on foot, on foot and on foot, on cable car the queue is five kilometers long, and here I am in the cabin, riding up with the Chinese, 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 of them.

The place is not in great demand among European tourists; during the entire time I met at most two or three Europeans, and not Russians.

That’s why I think the Chinese looked at me with interest and surprise, probably the same way I look 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. The most high peaks Wulingyuan reaches an altitude of more than 3 km above sea level.

Throughout the journey, 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 photo with them for 10 yuan.

It was convenient to walk, there were smooth and neat paths along the rock with exits to observation platforms.

The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars over the tropical forest.

I met them at one of the observation platforms.

The baby was scared, but the mother was very pleased when I photographed them.

My wife called this photo “Dad, don’t leave.” -)

Mountain flower.

Tall, horizontally flat rocks. There are observation platforms located above a cliff with a glass bottom.

Almost the entire route is along these steps, and you can also rest on them.

For those who are tired, they could relax while enjoying the views from " minibus".-) But it's not cheap.

Taxi park -).

At transshipment points, selling souvenirs and beautiful pictures from picturesque views Pandora.

There you can have something to eat or drink tea, coffee and continue on your way, there is little time, but there are so many interesting things ahead.

Leaving the reserve in the evening, a flock of wild monkeys swooped in and one of them took away my banana, 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, its entire flock runs away, and in the distance I saw a man running, he ran up, shot at them with a slingshot into the jungle and ran on. The monkeys instantly appeared and continued their go-stop mayhem.

Well, how can you not give the banana to such people, although they don’t ask or ask, but take it away.

Fruits are more expensive for tourists than for the Chinese, I asked a passerby on the fingers to buy me apples and bananas, it turned out to be four times cheaper.

Market, the seller fell asleep.

Like in a fairy tale, Masha and the Bear.

All along the way, pumps were sold on trays, I couldn’t understand what they were for, then I realized...

In the evening, returning to the hotel, I couldn’t help but have dinner at a cafe that served very unusual dishes, and I made an original order - frogs.

Looking ahead, I’ll say that the next day I ordered 20 frogs, only a different species, which they killed in front of me, throwing them on the ground, not a very pleasant sight, but they tasted no worse than chicken, and I ate them all.

The next day the weather was a little let down and it started to rain. It was windy and cloudy, but that didn't stop me from taking a bus to the world's tallest elevator. The elevator is transparent made of glass, the floor is ordinary, not transparent, when you go up, you can see all the beauty, if you want to see something, if possible, you should go in first and stand near the glass wall, the latter will only see the backs of their heads and listen to enthusiastic gasps. Part of the climb follows a shaft inside the rock, then suddenly opens up beautiful view. Elevator ride to the top, height 326m, ascent time 1m.58s. It was not possible to take a photo of the elevator from the outside, since it was raining heavily, and all attempts were unsuccessful, I just had to wipe the water off my camera and lens.

We were even lucky with the fog, it felt like the Hanging Mountains of Pandora.

Fog vapors slowly float, sometimes covering, sometimes briefly revealing the peaks of the peaks.

On this day, the rain did not interfere; its drops fell far down and disappeared from my sight, only emphasizing the height and splendor of the mountains.

The mountains are covered with moss - they are actually trees.

The dragon flies off the cliff onto the rock, the Chinese did their best, everything reminds of the film.

When I got to famous mountain Hallelujah, I was already soaked through (my camera was saved by the umbrella I took from the hotel), and I didn’t expect that I might not be so lucky. The mountain was completely 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 before me in all its glory, probably so that I could take a picture of it, and quickly hid in the fog as it appeared.

The fences along the path were covered with locks so that I got the impression that there are not 1.5 billion Chinese, but 6 billion - the inhabitants of planet Earth.

The locks are in the shape of a heart; lovers especially come here to fasten their lock.

Passing from one rock to another, this huge stone arch is a natural bridge.

On the right side of the rock, they 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. I was lucky, I stood in a three-kilometer queue, which was still shorter than when I went up.

The cabins fell into the fog, as if into an abyss.

To be continued in - Planet Pandora from Avatar is real!

Cliffs of Zhangjiajie Park

Basic moments

Appreciate the beauty of this part mountain system Wulingyuan and European tourists. They are advised to plan their travel for autumn and spring, with the exception of early May and October, when China celebrates National holidays and the park is filled with crowds of vacationers. In the summer, during the peak season, it is also very crowded here: while finding deserted corners while walking in the park is still possible, squeezing into a crowded bus or being left without a place to spend the night due to reservation problems is a below-average pleasure. In winter, the rocky peaks look unusually impressive, but walking along snow-covered mountain paths is simply dangerous.

Zhangjiajie National Park became particularly popular due to James Cameron's film Avatar, where it served as the setting for the planet Pandora. It was from the unusual rocks of the park that, thanks to special effects, fantastic mountains floating in the air were created. To attract tourists and as a sign of gratitude to Cameron for advertising, the Chinese officially renamed the 1080 m high Southern Sky Pillar Mount Avatar Hallelujah in 2010.

Stills from James Cameron's film "Avatar"

History of the name Zhangjiajie

Chinese scientists offer several options for the etymology of the name of the park, but most serious historians are inclined to believe that the name of Zhang Liang is hidden in it. This disgraced aristocrat played a prominent role in the formation of the Han dynasty, but was forced to hide in the vicinity of the future reserve along with his family back in the 2nd century BC. Here he died and was buried - this information is reliable, it is confirmed by numerous written sources. Then legends begin for gullible tourists: guests of the region are still shown several of Zhang Liang’s graves in different parts of Hunan. The “main” of them is located near the village of Zhangjiajie near the borders of the park.

National Park in numbers

Initially, in 1982, the park occupied a modest area of only 4810 hectares. Ten years later, the Wulingyuan Mountains, and with them Zhangjiajie, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. After receiving international recognition, its size increased to 130 sq km. It contains 243 mountains. The average height of the rocks is 800 m, but there are also almost three-kilometer-high giants. The most popular observation deck, Huangshi, rises 1300 m above sea level, with exactly 3800 steps leading to it. 19.4 m is the height of the largest stalagmite in Huanglong Cave.

Zhangjiajie Cliffs - a unique natural monument

At first glance, the rocks resemble easily crumbling limestone, but their nature is completely different. The mountains, reminiscent of giant figured candles, appeared as a result of the weathering of quartz sandstones and the blasting of plant roots, of which there are countless numbers due to the high humidity in Zhangjiajie. They use the slightest opportunity to seize new territories: the slightest ledge is enough for it to be immediately occupied by green shoots. The tops of the rocks are covered with thick caps of coniferous trees. When fog comes to the mountains, and in Zhangjiajie this happens with enviable regularity, a complete illusion of giant stone fragments floating in the air is created.

999 steps on Tianmen Mountain

Main tourist routes

There are many trails in Zhangjiajie National Park hiking trails for every taste, but there are objects that must be visited. First of all, this is the Huangshi observation deck and the Golden Whip source, stretching 7.5 km in length - real paradise for plants. Attractions are connected by cable car, but there are no nearby bus routes, and the entire load during the three-hour walk will fall on the travelers’ feet. At the end of the Golden Whip there is a sightseeing elevator called Baylong - roads approach it.

Roads with glass floors

On Mount Tianmen, to the top of which there are 999 steps, the Heavenly Gate was built. For the strong-willed, there are roads with glass floors: the nerve-tickling sensation of crossing over an abyss is difficult to convey in words.

As an alternative, those who are not ready to move a lot are offered the Yuanzhazhe zone with a spectacular Charming Terrace. A little more transitions await park guests in the central zone. Crowds of tourists enter the area during the day; mornings and evenings are relatively sparsely populated. Unaccompanied night walks are not recommended for safety reasons as the park is not lit.

Yellow Dragon Gorge

Observation deck not for the faint of heart

Flora and fauna of the reserve

Zhangjiajie is first and foremost a zoological, botanical and geological reserve and only then a natural attraction for tourists. Scientists have discovered more than 500 species of animals here, including monkeys and predatory civets, trying to stay away from humans. Travelers will remember the fan-shaped leaves of gingko, a valuable species that came to us from the Permian period. There are no animals, insects or reptiles dangerous for tourists.

Population of the natural park

On Mount Tianmen

Despite the complex terrain, the first human settlements appeared in Zhangjiajie 100 thousand years ago. In the historical era, neighbors treated the tribes inhabiting this area with some prejudice, calling them “rude people,” however, the Tujia, Bai and Miao did not seek to imitate the Han and retained many elements of national costumes and some ancient customs to this day. Modern representatives of these peoples successfully make money by serving tourists: they sell food and souvenirs, work as rickshaw pullers, and rent out corners of village houses.

Zhangjiajie Park

Tourist information

Get to natural park quite difficult even for Chinese from other regions, but the result is worth it. Anyone who endures the hours-long drive to Zhangjiajie County can consider themselves almost there. Buses and trains with transfers run from all over China; travelers from Beijing and Shanghai prefer to take a plane. Upon arrival in the city, the tourist has two options: take a taxi and independently negotiate the route with the driver, not forgetting that English is not spoken here.

Spectacular views

The second option is to trust public transport. A city bus runs from the bus station and will take guests to one of the three entrances to the park in about an hour. The cost is 5-10 times cheaper than a taxi - 11-12 yuan. The easiest way to navigate the train stations and entrances and exits to the reserve is with a map, which is sold in tourist office on railway station. For Russian-speaking tourists, a map with English names is suitable. Most of the signs in the park and on the approaches to it are written in Chinese and English, in other cases: in restaurants and hotels, travelers are asked to communicate using gestures.

Where to stay

Lake Baofeng

Exploring the park in a day is an impossible task, so tourists are advised to stay in a village under the typical name for this area, Zhangjiajie, so as not to travel from the city. Most of the residents of this settlement busy in tourism business, so you can find good compact hotels and decent food here. Accommodation is also provided in the park itself, however, it is intended for unassuming guests who do not require special comfort, although showers with hot water are available in the rooms and the Internet is available. But those who spend the night in the reserve will not have to stand in the morning in a long line of people wanting to get inside Zhangjiajie.

National Park Hotels

Experienced tourists warn that even on weekdays, when there are not too many people, you need to wait at least 2 hours for all the early risers to pass.

"On the ground"

The cost of housing in the park is quite affordable: one place in a common room will cost 40 yuan, in a room for two – 120 yuan, but guests who know how to bargain reduce the price by a third. You can eat in quite expensive restaurants at hotels or buy food in markets near bus stations. There, guests will be offered simple fried potatoes, flatbreads, and fish.

Cost of a walk in the park

Zhangjiajie at night

Entrance to the territory of Zhangjiajie National Park is paid, there are two types of tickets. The first is designed for a two-day stay and costs 245 yuan, sometimes conditions change, and 3 days are offered for the same amount. A weekly ticket costs a little more - 298 yuan. Visitors over 70 years of age, teenagers and young people under 24 years of age with a valid student card are admitted at reduced rates of 160 and 193 yuan, respectively. Children under 120 cm tall will enter the park completely free of charge. The ticket entitles you to bus trips within the park. This advantage is worth taking advantage of, since it is difficult to overcome steep ascents and descents on foot.

Some services are paid extra: travel on a miniature train, as if transported here from an average amusement park, ascents and descents on the Bailong elevator, built right into the rock. Their cost is up to 80 yuan per action. There are no buses along the Golden Whip, but efficient rickshaws scurry along the paths trodden by numerous visitors. Their services are not cheap: one “race” costs at least 300 yuan.

Winter in Zhangjiajie

Baylong Elevator

How to save money while traveling through the park

Inside Zhangjiajie, tickets are not checked particularly actively, so you can live there with a two-day pass longer than the paid period, if you do not leave the territory of the reserve. There are always alternatives to bypass the lifts. hiking trails. In order to climb and descend them without stress, you need good physical fitness, since the plateau on which the reserve lies rises 300 meters above the surrounding landscape. In addition, hiking will take about the same time as standing in line at the elevator. You can also save on accommodation: local residents They rent out rooms cheaper than in a hostel, but you will also have to negotiate with them using gestures.

How to dress and what to take with you

When purchasing an entrance ticket, you can request that your luggage be delivered to your chosen hostel if the place is booked in advance. Carrying bags around the territory is physically difficult; there are no flat areas in the reserve. Choose comfortable shoes with non-slip soles, since it often rains in Hunan. It won't hurt to take a jacket or raincoat with you. By the way, the constant cloudiness of Zhangjiajie Park does not interfere with photography; on the contrary, it creates a unique visual effect of traveling in the clouds. Drinking water They are sold in different parts of the park, but outside it it is somewhat cheaper.

Thick fog is common in Zhangjiajie