Hallelujah Mountain, Zhangjiajie

("South Heaven Pillar" is also known as "Qiankun Pillar")

    On January 25, 2009,ZhangjiajieSouth Heaven Pillar was officially renamed as theAvatarHallelujah Mountain. It is understood that a large number of prototypes of "Pandora" in the filmAvatarwere derived fromZhangjiajiemountains, among which "South Heaven Pillar"Imagebecame the prototype of "Hallelujah Mountain," namely the floating mountain.

（Avatar——Hallelujah Mountain)

    In the filmAvatar, these giant rocks suspended in the air are called "Hallelujah Mountains" by Earthlings (also called MontasVolans), and are a major wonder of Pandora. These giant rocks contain a precious mineral: Unobtnium. Unobtnium is a rare room-temperature superconductor with a peculiar magnetic field. Under the action of Pandora's magnetic field, this spectacular scene of giant rocks floating in the air is produced. The tops of these giant rock islands are relatively flat, while the surroundings are extremely steep. Rivers pour down from the cliffs to form waterfalls suspended in the air. They float in the magnetic field, just like icebergs drifting in the ocean, and they also collide with each other. The indigenous "Na'vi" people of Pandora call these island groups "Thundering Rocks" in the filmAvatar"Hallelujah Mountain" (Thundering Rocks) is regarded as an inviolable sacred realm. However, Earthlings came to Pandora precisely to mine the Unobtnium in these giant rocks in order to solve Earth's energy crisis.

    "South Heaven Pillar" is one ofZhangjiajiethe "Three Thousand Bizarre Peaks," located in the World Natural Heritage site Wulingyuanscenicand historic area, at the southern end of Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, with an altitude of 1,074 meters and a vertical height of about 150 meters. Its top is lush with vegetation, and its peak shape is peculiar, with obvious vertical jointing cuts, standing majestically like being split by a knife and chopped by an axe inZhangjiajie, with a momentum of holding up the sky and standing on the earth, hence it is also called Qiankun Pillar.

    In December 2008, HollywoodcinematographerHanson conducted a four-day location shoot inZhangjiajie, and a large number ofscenic imageslater became the prototypes of various elements of "Pandora" in the American sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar," among which "South Heaven Pillar"Imagebecame the prototype of "Hallelujah Mountain," namely the floating mountain. After "Avatar" became a global hit, hundreds of millions of viewers at home and abroad were even more drawn in heart and soul to the prototype location of "Hallelujah Mountain,"ZhangjiajieZhangjiajie.

    Towering mountains float in the sky, surrounded by clouds and mist, beautiful and spectacular... This is a classic scene in the film "Avatar." The global popularity of Avatar filled people with amazement and curiosity about the film, and the question of where exactly this fantastical film was shot also sparked widespread speculation among fans. Director Cameron's remark that "Chinese elements greatly added color to Avatar" not only stirred the longing oftourismenthusiasts, but also triggered no small controversy. The magnificent "Hallelujah Mountain" in the film makes people marvel and yearn. Is the real-life version of "Hallelujah Mountain" based on Huangshan orZhangjiajieZhangjiajie'sWulingyuanas the backdrop, it became a hot topic of discussion among netizens andtourismthe world. "At the 42nd second appearsZhangjiajiethe South Heaven Pillar, at the 33rd minute and 21st second appears the Yuping Peak of Huangshizhai, at the 55th minute and 53rd second appearsBaofeng Lakewaterfall..." Online, a poster listed one by one these Zhangjiajie scenes that appeared in the film Avatar. Through slow playback, it was discovered that roughly 25 minutes of the film are entirely Zhangjiajie landscapescenery. The one that appears multiple times is the South Heaven Pillar at the front mountain of Huangshizhai; the 'Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother' at Jinbian Stream appears no fewer than 5 times, yet the ones that appear most are still theBaofeng Lakewaterfall and the Heaven-Supporting Pillar inside the Mihun Terrace of Yuanjiajie. And the biggest difference between Zhangjiajie and Huangshan is that Huangshan is granite landform, very smooth on top, with almost no vegetation, while Zhangjiajie is quartz sandstone landform, with extremely lush vegetation cover on top.

    tourismknows no borders, and films have no barriers. Regarding this renaming, opinions vary. Some netizens believe there is no need for Zhangjiajie to change its name because of a film, while others feel this move further proves that the prototype of the floating mountains in Avatar is in Zhangjiajie. The Yuanjiajie Scenic Area Management Committee expressed its view that day: renaming the 'South Heaven Pillar' to Avatar's 'Hallelujah Mountain' is absolutely not 'worshipping foreign things,' but simply follows the heartfelt wishes of the scenic area's indigenous residents and the vast number of tourists. At the same time, the scenic area management committee also stated that Zhangjiajie is a World Natural Heritage site, and the wondrousscenicbelongs not only to China, but to the whole world. Now renaming the 'South Heaven Pillar' to Avatar's 'Hallelujah Mountain' is to convey an important message to the outside world: Zhangjiajie not only belongs to the world, it has also already stepped onto the world stage.