Ticket prices, opening hours, and other details for this attraction may be adjusted according to season and policy. Before traveling, please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area.
On the evening of March 8, 2009, CCTV News Channel's special program for the "Two Sessions," "Xiao Cui Meets Guests," invited Hunan Governor Gan Lin as a guest. When Gan Lin spoke about tourism's role in driving the economy and employment, she specially mentioned Hunan's new tourist attraction, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
So what makes the Grand Canyon special in Zhangjiajie, which is full of beautiful scenery? Quartz sandstone formed Zhangjiajie's steep peak forests, and karst landforms created Zhangjiajie's karst caves. The combination of quartz sandstone and karst landforms formed Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area covers 60 square kilometers and integrates Zhangjiajie's mountains, waters, caves, and historical culture. The currently developed canyon is 3.5 kilometers long, with a vertical height difference of more than 400 meters. The canyon is steep, secluded, and deep, with cliffs like cut walls, ancient vines hanging upside down, and clear springs flowing year-round. In the canyon there is a rare domestic waterfall group, gathering flying waterfalls, spurting waterfalls, curtain waterfalls, line waterfalls, and mist waterfalls in one canyon, each with its own charm and endless variety. When there is sunlight, brilliant rainbows can be seen; there are precious wild giant salamanders and wild monkey groups; there is a rippling canyon lake; there is the longest canyon wooden sightseeing plank road in China and the only Zokli slide in Hunan; there is an ancient battlefield recording the fierce decisive battle between Li Zicheng and Wu Sangui; there is the bandit cave, a battle site reflecting the suppression of bandits in Xiangxi; and there is the Southern Red Flag Canal, a witness to the era of "go all out, aim high" and the foolish old man spirit of laboring people transforming heaven and earth. The karst cave in the scenic area that has been listed as a World Natural Heritage site, Xuansi Cave, is under development.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is located in Sanguansi Township, Cili County, Zhangjiajie City, adjacent to the World Natural Heritage and World Geopark Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It is a newly developed tourist attraction. Legend has it that Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon originally had two names. One was Luanchuan Gorge (Rotten Boat Gorge), because 1.5 kilometers upstream from where we are now is Shenquan Stream, and the water of the entire Grand Canyon and the Southern Red Flag Canal all originates from here. It is said that many rotten boat planks once gushed out from the spring, and the locals could not figure out where they came from, so this place was named 'Luanchuan Gorge.' The origin of this name carries a sense of eternity, of seas running dry and rocks crumbling. The other name was Luanquan Gorge (Chaotic Springs Gorge), referring to the stone walls on both sides of the canyon, with numerous streams and springs and flying water throughout the gorge. This name highlights the characteristic of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area — that flying waterfalls and divine springs can be found everywhere in the canyon, leaving visitors dazzled along the entire journey. Today's tour itinerary is to descend step by step along the One-Line Sky cliff face before us, then follow the direction of the stream all the way to Shenquan Lake Pier.
[One-Line Sky] Now that we are here, let us take a good look at the One-Line Sky canyon cliff that we are about to pass through. The One-Line Sky canyon, also called West Heaven Gate, is like a great door opened by Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to welcome everyone. However, although this door is very large and tall, it is very narrow, which gives us the opportunity to experience the canyon cliff at almost zero distance. Three thousand emerald peaks, eight hundred glassy waters. This is praise for Zhangjiajie's wondrous mountains and waters. Yet when we visit other scenic areas in Zhangjiajie, most of the time we only view or gaze at Zhangjiajie's wondrous mountains and waters from afar, and never have the chance to experience and touch them up close. Today, we can finally get close to Zhangjiajie's magical landscapes. This is a blessing for all of you from (guest's place of origin). From where we stand, going vertically down to the bottom of the canyon, the walking path is over 700 meters, with a vertical drop of over 300 meters.
[Heavenly Ladder Plank Road] The section of the walking path we are now on has a very steep gradient, and the wooden planks of the plank road are very narrow, extending downward one after another like a heavenly ladder sending us to a fascinating fairyland. We call it the Heavenly Ladder Plank Road. Dear guests, the ladder is steep and there are many people, so everyone must go slowly and be sure to pay attention to safety!
[Overlooking One-Line Sky] Alright! After we reach this spot, we can properly look down and take in the full panorama of One-Line Sky. Standing here, looking down into the distance, excitement, impulse, shock, awe — don't you feel all of these? 'If you feel pleasure, shout it out.' This is the title of a novel by the famous writer Chi Li, and it fits perfectly here. Everyone, at this moment, if you want to shout, if you want to release, then shout to your heart's content, cry out to your heart's content.
[Three-Tier Walkway Platform] Before us is a three-tiered, zigzagging walkway platform descending all the way down, thrilling and exciting. Any emotions you have not yet fully released can be released again and vented further during a brief stop on the platform. Whether from work, life, or matters of the heart, as long as you shout it out, as long as you cry it out, you are guaranteed to feel completely relaxed.
[Nokri Slide] On March 17, 2009, the first Nokri slide in Hunan Province was completed and officially put into operation in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area. This was another measure by Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area to add tourist sightseeing projects and continuously improve people-oriented services.
This Nokri slide, combining multiple functions of transportation, entertainment, sightseeing, and environmental protection, was built between three scenic spots in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: One-Line Sky, the Southern Red Flag Canal, and the valley-bottom plank road. It is divided into upper and lower sections, with a total length of about 600 meters, and was invested in and constructed by Zhangjiajie East Line Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
The slide is assembled entirely from granite slabs, then finely ground and polished. The inner groove is 45 centimeters deep and 50 centimeters wide. The ride takes three to five minutes, saving 20 minutes compared to the usual walking tour. It is a tourist participatory facility built in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area and one of the people-oriented service facilities designed to relieve tourists' physical exhaustion. It will become the best choice for domestic and international tourists visiting Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to save time and energy.
