In central China, there is a fascinating scenic area called Zhangjiajie. In today's 'On the Road', our guide Ning Yan will take us there for a visit in China's first national forest park.
Zhangjiajie is located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, about 265 kilometers to the northwest of Changsha, the provincial capital. Most scenic spots in the area are situated in the northern part of Zhangjiajie city. Spots such as Wulingyuan (武陵源)Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzishan (天子山) mountain range, Baofeng Lake (宝峰湖), Suoxi Valley (索溪峪), and the newly opened Yangjiajie Scenic Area. The Tianmen Mountain range, which is just to the south of the city, is also a must-see.
Zhangjiajie is known for its beautiful forests, odd-shaped rock formations, exquisite canyons, limestone caves, and jaw-dropping panoramic views. The entire area is covered with towering cliffs of sandstone and quartz with dense unspoiled forests over limestone caves lying underneath. The hills present different views to visitors with the changes of seasons and the weather.
Tour guide Xiang Zhijun explains.
"Now follow my finger. There are two high Cliffs with a low one in between. It looks like a mother holding her child before her chest. This is the Mother and Child Cliff." Mother and Child Cliff is a scenic spot in the Golden Wipe Stream area. Stretching some 8 kilometers, the Golden Wipe stream is surrounded by abrupt rare peaks and odd rocks on both sides. Views change as you go along the stream. One of the typical sandstone landscapes is the Golden Wipe Rock by the stream.
Tour guide Xiang Zhijun talks about the history of the Golden Wipe Rock, the highest stone column in the park.
"350 meter above ground, the Golden Wipe Rock is one of the ten best scenic spots in the park. It looks like the ancient weapon, the wipe, thus it got its name.
Because it contains silicon dioxide, it glitters in the sunlight."
Zhang Baiping is from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He explains how the landscape in the park formed in ancient times.
"The landscape began to form and take shape 380 million years ago when this area was under shallow sea water. Quartz settled here in large quantities and gradually become 520 meters thick."
This is a song called My Zhangjiajie. It describes the beautiful scenery of the national park which has been a great attraction for tourists in the last two decades. In 1992, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.
Jorg Dittmar (约格迪特玛)is a tourist from Germany. He says he has long admired Zhangjiajie and he and his wife came to China especially to visit the park.
"This place is so beautiful. I've heard about it and seen pictures of it. But when I came, I found it to be a lot more beautiful than on the pictures."
Zhangjiajie has a sub-tropical mountain monsoon climate, featuring comfortable temperatures with abundant rainfall and sunshine. The cold winter period is very short, and the annual average temperature is 16 degree Celsius. It's best to come in spring and autumn, especially in April, May, September or October.
This is another popular song praising the scenery of the national park. It is called 'Beautiful Zhangjiajie'.
At present, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is working to perfect its service facilities and to develop more tourism programs. Zhang Xiqin is vice director of the National Tourism Administration.
"We hope that Zhangjiajie can become a paradise on earth for tourists from home and abroad."
Another thing worth mentioning is the diverse local ethnic makeup. Ethnic minorities of Tujia, Bai and Miao people make up about 70 percent of the local population in Zhangjiajie. Visitors can experience their traditional culture and traditions through language, clothing, and architecture. You can also enjoy their folk customs, such as weddings, song and dance, during their local festivals. And when you visit, get a qualified local guide. The guide can not only walk you through the main spots but can also explain the stories about each attraction.
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