This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
Aizhai is located 15 kilometers west of Jishou City. It is surrounded by steep and towering mountains. Its north slope has a vertical height of 440 meters and a gradient of 70–90 degrees. From the bottom of the slope to the top, a car winds upward and must make 13 large turns. Sitting in the car, one can take in countless views at a glance. Aizhai is the most dangerous checkpoint on the Xiangchuan Highway, built in the 1930s. In 1987, the local government erected a bronze statue of a "Pioneer of Road Opening" at the top of the mountain, 5.7 meters high and weighing nearly one ton, to commemorate the laborers who sacrificed their lives in building this highway. Below the Aizhai slope is a Miao village with unique Xiangxi characteristics. In the village, rows of gray-tiled stilted houses and bluish stone-paved paths are very harmonious and unified, tranquil and secluded.
