Entertainment and attractions of Zhangjiajie National Park. Avatar mountains in zhangjiajie park zhangjiajie yellow rocks park in china

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 national holidays are celebrated in China and crowds of vacationers fill the park. 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 scholars 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. Average height rocks - 800 m, but there are also almost three-kilometer-long 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

The observation deck is 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 were somewhat prejudiced towards the tribes inhabiting this area, calling them “rude people,” however, the Tujia, Bai and Miao did not seek to imitate the Han and retained many elements national costumes and some ancient customs to our time. 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.

Hotels national park

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 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

Or Tianmenshan Park, you need to fly to the Zhangjiajie airport of the same name and from there get to the parks themselves. In this article I will tell you in detail how best to get there, where to stop to visit the appropriate park and what to look for when planning a route.

A detailed description of Zhangjiajie National Park can be found in.

To avoid confusion, let’s first break it down into sections. geographical names. There are 5 namesake objects named Zhangjiajie:

1. Zhangjiajie County (Chinese: 张家界区). A region that includes the northwestern part of Hunan Province.
2. Zhangjiajie Airport (Chinese: 张家界荷花机场).
3. The city of Zhangjiajie (Chinese: 张家界市), which is located 3 kilometers from airport and where the cable car to Tianmenshan Park originates.
4. , located 35 kilometers north of cities.
5. Zhangjiajie Village (Chinese: 张家界). Located at the southern entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park.

And there are 2 objects of the same name called Wulingyuan:

1. Wulingyuan Mountains (Chinese: 武陵源), which are part of the Wulingshan mountain system. They are the ones included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.
2. Wulingyuan Village (Chinese: 武陵源, 东南门), located at the southeastern entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

The most convenient way to get from Russia is through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan or Beijing. China Southern and Air China fly. There are also trains, but they take much longer.

We had the route Beijing - Zhangjiajie (8268 rubles per person), Zhangjiajie - Guangzhou (4137 rubles per person). When purchasing an air ticket, it is important not to confuse the name. I almost bought a ticket to another city when I booked my flight. Still, the names are somehow the same for a Russian-speaking person, so if you are looking for how to get to Zhangjiajie and which airport you need to fly to, then please note that you need Dayong Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (Chinese: 张家界荷花机场), and the code airport should be - DYG.

By the way, the landing at Zhangjiajie airport was the toughest in my entire flight history. It felt like the captain of the plane was trying to figure out where it was best for him to land at a height of 3-4 meters, and at some point he got tired and just collapsed as is. The airport itself is very small, located 3 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie.

Where to stay if you need to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

If you are going to visit, you can stay in 3 places:

• In the park itself. There are many mini hotels and hostels on the territory of the park itself. The amenities are minimal.
• In the village of Zhangjiajie of the same name, near the southern entrance to the park. But if you are going to enter the park through this entrance, then it will take longer to get to the main attractions.
• In the small town of Wulinyuan near the southeast entrance. This option is the most optimal. From here it is closer to the main attractions and you can choose a good hotel.

There are only 2 good quality hotels in Wulingyuan: Zhangjiajie Pullman (Chinese: 张家界京武铂尔曼酒店) and Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel(Chinese: 张家界青和锦江国际酒店). Before the trip I spent a long time deciding between them. The declared free transfer from the airport when booking a deluxe room category played a decisive role in choosing the latter. I wrote to the hotel about my flight 3 times. As a result, no one met. We agreed with a taxi driver from Zhangjiajie airport to the hotel in Wulinyuan for 150 yuan without a meter. Upon arrival at the hotel, I had a little row about the transfer, but everyone was very apologetic and said that when we checked out, they would take us for free wherever we said. They kept their word.

Regarding accommodation. On the booking, a deluxe room with a beautiful view is stated on the 7th-8th floors, but the hotel has only 7 of them. Dali is on the 6th. The view from the window is so-so, especially if it is foggy. Cost of two days with breakfast: 1738 yuan. Deposit: 761 yuan.

Breakfast is good, but European and American cuisine is not enough. At the restaurant great service, smile, show you to the table, and ask about your preferences. All the Chinese make spicy noodle soup early in the morning, mixing various spices, sauces and herbs in a “do-it-yourself” manner, so I decided not to be different - I went up to the Chinese, gave my plate and motioned for him to make me their “mega soup” too. . A couple of minutes of shenanigans with spoons and “noodles” and now I’m sitting at the table, eating breakfast in China and freaking out at how spicy it is!!!

What else can you say about the hotel. The staff is very courteous, especially the bespectacled general manager: every time he asked if everything was okay, what plans we had for visiting the parks, and tried to give advice on planning a route. You know, in some places the staff was even very intrusive. It seemed to me that even when I was in the toilet, this guy with glasses was about to appear and ask me: “Mister, Arthur, are you all right? Toilet paper enough?".

The location of the hotel is a 20-minute walk from the eastern entrance to the park, but the hotel is the farthest. There are hotels closer to the entrance.

Wulingyuan is a small tourist town consisting of several streets lined with various shops, boutiques and cafes. Our souls demanded something savory, so after visiting the park we decided to try street food. We're in China, why not? Chicken feet, local crayfish, octopus and some other incomprehensible garbage. Everything is tasty, spicy, everyone is alive and healthy.

Where to stay if you need to visit Tianmenshan Park

If you are going to visit Tianmen Park and Tiananmen Mountain, then the best option will stay in the city of Zhangjiajie itself, because the longest high-altitude cable car in the world starts right from the city center, which will take you straight to the park.

Hotel prices here are quite affordable, but not at a high level. We booked the first hotel we came across a few days in advance (Shang Ke You Hotel) with a decent rating and a round bed in the room for 189 yuan.

The city of Zhangjiajie is small. It is pierced like an arrow by a 4-lane road.

In some places in the alleys you can see a typical picture of Chinatowns, a lot of signs, street stalls.

The Lishui River runs through the city, and there is an embankment for walking. Many people do exercises. In general, Chinese pensioners are great. Where can you find grandmothers who will so deftly throw their legs on the railing and stretch?

If you move from the cable car along Yingbin Road, then after crossing the bridge and turning left you can find the central street with squares. The density of people here is off the charts! A bunch of shopping centers, shops, pharmacies, banks. Here on the shelves they sell fruits, vegetables, and some dried things.

There are sales in stores everywhere.

We managed to have dinner somewhere here. We ordered something unclear, we just pointed at the pictures, since there was no menu in English. As a result, they brought pig ears, Chinese rice vodka, a bucket of strange food and a bowl of chicken soup. The soup came with a surprise in the form of a chicken head and legs with claws. Rice vodka is not for everyone. The establishment has round tables with a revolving tray in the middle. Convenient for companies when they order a lot of dishes.

The city of Zhangjiajie turned out to be a tourist city, although most of the tourists were Chinese themselves. There's not much to do here in the evening. Well, if you just watch TV.

Leaving the restaurant, we walked slowly towards our mini hotel. The tourists have dispersed, the sellers are gradually curtailing their trade, and the city is empty. Zhangjiajie slowly gets ready for bed.

National Park Zhangjiajie in China is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Middle Kingdom. The well-known film Avatar originates from here, and the landscapes of Zhangjiajie Park became the prototype of the floating mountains in the film. I would like to add that this is not just a promoted place. Zhangjiajie Park is truly beautiful and worth going here for inspiration and photos.

Today in the article we will analyze in detail the routes around the park, understand how to get to it and how much the total cost will be. Since I already visited Zhangjiajie Park several years ago in winter time year, today there will be a mix of “summer” and winter photos. This is due to the fact that while in Zhangjiajie in October 2017, I was caught in a typhoon and visibility was almost zero. Accordingly, we managed to take only a few photographs. Therefore, do not be surprised by snow-covered photographs and their almost complete absence. More practical information today

How to get to Zhangjiajie

There are several ways to get to Zhangjiajie Park. You can fly by plane, take a bus or train. We will consider the option of a train; I see it as the most affordable and convenient. In a while I will write a separate article on how to book trains online in China, it’s quite simple. In a nutshell, you simply install the ctrip application on your phone, which has, among other things, a Russian interface. Select the name of the city from which you are leaving (the names of cities can be written in Russian) and the city of arrival - the city of Zhangjiajie. You book, pay, receive a ticket in your hand from the railway ticket office using your passport and calmly settle into the train. Just in case, here is the name of the city of Zhangjiajie in Chinese (in pinyin brackets) - 张家界（Zhāngjiājiè）

So, we need to get to Zhangjiajie National Park in China. To do this, we first get to city ​​of the same name Zhangjiajie. Next we have two options. Stay for a few days in the city of Zhangjiajie or get a little closer to the park by taking a bus to the town of Wulinyuan. I highly recommend the second option since Wulingyuan is located very close to the entrance to Zhangjiajie Park.

In order to get to Wulinyuan you need to take a mini bus that departs from the Zhangjiajie bus station. The bus station is located a five-minute walk from the railway station. Enter the bus station building, bypassing the ticket office, and go straight to the waiting room. On your left will be exit number 1. Feel free to take this exit, go out to the parking lot and then you need to take a bus to Wulingyuan. All foreigners travel in this direction and the Chinese know very well where you need to go, so you are unlikely to get on the wrong bus. Just in case, here is the name of the bus station in the town of Wulingyuan - 武陵源(Wǔlíngyuán).

From Zhangjiajie to Wulingyuan, the bus journey takes about one and a half hours, the ticket costs 20 yuan per person.

Where to stay in Zhangjiajie

I can recommend the hostel where I spent several days. The hostel is called Wulingyuantuniu Youth Hostel, is located just five minutes from the entrance to Zhangjiajie National Park. The journey on foot from Wulingyuan Bus Station will take about 15 minutes, no more.

Entrance gate to the park from Wulingyuan

We figured out how to get to the park and where to stay for the night. Let's talk about how much the entrance fee to Zhangjiajie Park and travel inside the park cost, and then we'll move on to route options.

Prices in Zhangjiajie Park

Below you can see a photo with prices for entrance to the park (photo from October 2017). It would also be a good idea to indicate the prices for cable cars and elevators inside the park. Prices are in RMB. The ticket is valid for 4 days. You can also buy a ticket that will be valid for a year (whether it is valid for 12 months after purchase or only until the end of the current year, I don’t know).

Entrance fee to Zhangjiajie National Park high season 245 per adult, 160 with a discount (most likely, a discount is provided to children, students and pensioners).

Admission in low season is 136 per adult and 82 with discount.

Cable cars in the park from 65 to 72 yuan

Bailong elevator 71 yuan

Below are two parts of the same map. The first image is the eastern part of the park, from where we enter Zhangjiajie Park. Second image, western part where most are located interesting places. I have numbered the areas and points of the park on the map to make it easier for you to navigate. Detailed description routes follows immediately after the maps of Zhangjiajie Park.

A place with good hostels in Wulinyuan

Entrance to the park. Here you can buy a ticket and board the buses

Lower cable car station

Upper cable car station

Observation deck

The beginning of the walking path along the lower part of the park. From the entrance to the park you can get to this point by bus in about 20 minutes. Walking to the beginning of the climb to Avatar (point 12) will take 30 minutes. It will take about 1 hour to reach the other entrance to the park (point 10).

Baylong Elevator

Walking ascent to the site with the Avatar (takes about an hour).

Turn onto a deserted path. It will take about one hour to walk the trail and return (the end of the trail is marked on the map as number 11).

The start of the climb up the mountain. The ascent and descent takes about 3 hours. Alternatively, you can go down by cable car.

The end of the trail. The map shows that there is no passage. In fact, the road splits into two more. One leads to the cable car (about 10 kilometers), the second to the climb up the mountain with access to the road with buses (you can climb it in 1 hour).

Observation deck with Avatar.

The lower cable station leading to the Yangjiajie area.

The beginning of the route along Yangjiajie. Passing the selected area takes about 3 hours.

Paved road with no buses. The journey in both directions will take about 3 hours at a brisk pace.

*Please note the map. There are numbers next to the bus icons. They indicate how many minutes it takes a bus to travel from one station to another.

Zhangjiajie route for 1 day

No matter how many days you have to visit the park, my advice is to always arrive when it opens. The park opens at 7 am. You can create a dozen routes around the park, and all of them have the right to life. It depends on how much you want to rush to see everything or whether you need a leisurely pace, whether you will use the cable cars and the elevator or prefer walking. I will offer one of the options, and you can edit it yourself to your taste.

For the first day, the route around Zhangjiajie can be constructed as follows. We arrive at seven in the morning, when the park is just opening. There will already be a lot of tourists, but still not crowds. We pass the turnstile, take the bus and get to the Baylong elevator (marked as number 7 on the map). We take the elevator and go to the observation deck with the Avatar (12). An option with morning arrival and an elevator, the only one when you can really be alone on this observation deck. It is very crowded and noisy here throughout the day. If crowds of people don’t bother you, you can take a bus from the entrance to the beginning of the walking route (6), walk alone half an hour before the start of the climb to Avatar (8) and go directly up to the observation deck (12). It will take you about two hours to travel from the entrance to the Avatar at an average pace.

Bridge near the observation deck with Avatar

One way or another, we are at the observation deck, marked on the map at number 12. Then you can take a bus and get to the beginning of the western part of Zhangjiajie Park called Yuanjiajie. A tour of this area of ​​the park takes between 3 and 5 hours. Depends on your physical fitness and availability of free time. It's better to explore the right side first (on the map the end point of the right side of Yuanjiajie is marked as Tianbo Mansion), as there is a chance that it will not be as crowded as after lunch. Then the left part, which will take you more time. On the map of Zhangjiajie Park, the left side of this area ends in a place called Corridor the Cliffs.

One of the typical views in Yuanjiajie area

I highly recommend Yuanjiajie. Especially, on the left side of Yuanjiajie you will hardly meet people, the views are sometimes very beautiful, and at the end of the road you will find a fenced cliff where you can fully enjoy what we came here for - the views of the Zhangjiajie National Park with its hills and fogs.

After visiting Yuanjiajie, we take the bus and go to point 5, the next observation deck. The views are beautiful, but be prepared that there will be a lot of tourists. You can return to the entrance to the park either by going down the cable car or walking down the stairs. Alternatively, you can spend 3 hours exploring a completely deserted area (15). If in general Zhangjiajie is a lot of steps, then this area is an ordinary asphalt road with practically no cars. It’s hard for me to judge how beautiful the views are. When I was there, everything was foggy, like milk. But if you have time, why not take a walk.

This completes the route for 1 day in Zhangjiajie Park. We return to the hostel, relax and gain strength for tomorrow.

Zhangjiajie route for 2 days

If you want to build a route for 2 days in Zhangjiajie Park, on the second day you can also arrive at the opening, take a bus and get to the beginning of the hiking route along the lower trail of the park (6). In this case, you have a great chance to walk under the quaint hills almost alone, enjoying the nature of Zhangjiajie. The journey from the start of the hiking route (6) to the turn to the right onto a completely deserted path (9) will take about 30 minutes. I highly recommend walking along the path marked on the map as number 9. The journey there and back will take about an hour. Along the way, you will be able to contemplate the nature of Zhangjiajie alone and most likely meet the local inhabitants - monkeys. The monkeys in this park are not at all aggressive and you should not be afraid of them. Photos of our little brothers below in the article.

After passing the secondary trail and returning to the main one, you can continue along the lower part of the park, reaching another Zhangjiajie gate (10). Here you will have the opportunity to climb to one of the observation platforms. A nice temple will await you at the top. The journey up and down on foot at a relaxed pace will take about three hours. Alternatively, you can go down by cable car.

Temple on top of the mountain

Panorama from the temple

If you only have two full days to explore Zhangjiajie Park, after lunch on the second day you can go to a cave located near Wulingyuan. Or spend more time in the park itself. There are many options, all the information is before your eyes.

If planning Zhangjiajie Park seems like a difficult task to you, you don’t want to waste your time on it, and you also want to combine Zhangjiajie National Park with other equally beautiful places in China, my first program in China will be organized in May 2018. All details are in a separate article. In a nutshell, for 11 full days we will travel from Shanghai to Guilin and see a lot.

Photos of monkeys in Zhangjiajie Park

Since I was able to take as many photographs of the park as I would have liked, below you can see photographs of monkeys, of which there are a lot in the park. After the photos, the article will tell you what you can see in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie.

Places around Zhangjiajie Park

In addition to the park, there are several places that you can visit. But you need to think a hundred times before going to them. Any entrance to the natural attractions of China is not a cheap pleasure. Below I will tell you about three popular places, located in the vicinity of Zhangjiajie National Park.

Glass Bridge

A very advertised place, located just under an hour by bus from Wulingyuan. In my opinion, a waste of time and money. It will take you about four hours to get to the bridge, check tickets, inspect the bridge and return. Moreover, it will take about an hour to stand in queues with hordes of Chinese. When you get to the bridge, accordingly, those Chinese with whom you stood in line will be on the bridge with you. The pleasure is doubtful.

On top of that, the bridge is not completely glass. In the pictures below you can see that they simply made rectangular transparent areas on the bridge into which you can see the canyon below. The views from the bridge are the most ordinary, especially, they are not impressive after visiting the park itself. You will cross the bridge through a hundred Chinese tourists jumping in place or lying down with selfie sticks. I understand that everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but this place did not impress me at all.

If you do decide to go to the glass bridge, the entrance price is about 260 yuan. You need to book your ticket at least one day before arrival. This can be done at the hostel. By the way, in the hostel where I stayed ( Wulingyuantuniu Youth Hostel), they can help you buy a ticket with a discount of about 80 yuan. Name glass bridge in Chinese - 玻璃桥(Bōlí zhàndào/Bōlí qiáo). You can get there from Wulingyuan Bus Station in 40-50 minutes. You cannot take cameras with you; you will have to leave them in a storage room next to the first checkpoint upon arrival at the bridge. Your ticket will indicate that you must arrive before 10am. If you are late, you will have to pay an extra 20 yuan on top. The bridge is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Unlike the glass bridge, I would recommend going to the cave. You can get there from Wulinyuan in about 20 minutes by taxi or bus, the entrance ticket costs 100 yuan. Plus 15 yuan you can pay for entering a separate small area while already in the cave. Yes, you will not be alone in the cave; you will also have to make your way through crowds of Chinese tourists, who will be led by guides with loudspeakers. However, the main feature of the cave is its river. To be more precise, the opportunity to ride a small boat along the water channel of the cave. It's truly worth your time.

In Chinese, the name of the cave will be 黄龙洞(Huánglóng dòng). The opening hours of the cave are from 7 to 15.30. It is better to allow about two hours for the inspection.

boat tour through the cave

Mount Tianmen

To be honest, I don’t know whether to recommend this mountain or not. When I happened to be there, it was raining all day, a stormy wind was blowing and everything was in fog. Judging by the photos from the Internet, the place is quite interesting. If you've seen pictures of a huge hole in the mountain and a staircase leading there, this is the place. The main thing to remember is that when you buy a ticket you have two options. Or first go up the cable car and then, after doing walking route, having gone downstairs, go back by bus. Or take the bus and return by cable car. This is a must. It is not possible to go there and back only by bus or by cable car. I heard many recommendations that the best option is to take the cable car and then return by bus.

(6 voted. Vote too!!!)

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, walking and walking, the queue for the cable car is five kilometers long, and here I am in the cabin, 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 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; along the rock there were smooth and neat paths with exits to observation platforms.

The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge pillars of stone above the rainforest.

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 whole 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 next to 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!

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 of Zhangjiajie National Park, 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 go 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. Total There are more than 3 thousand unusual rocks, and about one thousand have a height of 200 meters. 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 stifling 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. She is distinguished by the most beautiful interior design 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 here stone pillars, which are like rods connecting heaven and earth. The average height of 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. You should definitely walk along the natural bridges that go across the mountains, as well as go down into the valleys of rivers, waterfalls, and visit 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 watch pristine nature, you 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 is worth considering separately organizational issues trips to the floating rocks:

• Book accommodation in advance, given the many national holidays, which 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, ready 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 hot 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.