Zhangjiajie Yuanjiajie Tourist Guide Commentary Featured
Hello, friends! I am a tour guide from Zhangjiajie Kangtai International Travel Service, and I will be explaining the scenic spots and folk customs of Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Changsha, Shaoshan, and other places;
Yuanjiajie is located in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is a pearl embedded in the core scenic area of Wulingyuan. It is said that the name Yuanjiajie comes from the Later Tang period. After the Huang Chao Uprising failed, the imperial court posted notices everywhere to arrest the rebels in order to completely eliminate them. At that time, one of Huang Chao's soldiers, surnamed Yuan, came to this remote deep mountain and wild ridge—Qingyan Mountain—to live in seclusion in order to avoid capture. He built a hut here, reclaimed wasteland and planted grain, and named the place after his own surname, calling it "Yuanjiajie."
Yuanjiajie covers an area of about 1,200 hectares, with an average elevation of 1,074 meters. To its east is Golden Whip Stream and in the distance Yaozizhai; to its south is Huangshizhai, connected to Tianbo Mansion; to its west is Tianzi Mountain; and to its north is Suoxiyu.
There are two routes from the foot of the mountain to Yuanjiajie. One is to walk from the middle section of "Golden Whip Stream" up "Luanchuan Slope" to "Rear Garden"; the other is to take the "World's Number One Elevator"—Bailong Elevator—to Xiapang. Taking the elevator up the mountain takes only 3 minutes, making it both easy and safe. Not only is this spectacular elevator engineering marvel amazing, but what is even more stunning is that the moment the elevator shoots out of the shaft, a magical picture scroll comes directly into view. The solemnly arrayed, tall and mighty "Gathering of Heavenly Soldiers" is like a neat and majestic guard of honor, waiting for your "inspection"; when the elevator reaches the top of the mountain and you walk out of the station building, looking far into the distance, a fresh and natural pastoral landscape painting stands out in the air, quietly arriving like a mirage. This is the long-awaited "Airborne Pastoral" that everyone has been yearning for.
The scenery of Yuanjiajie is famous for its magnificence, wonder, danger, and steepness. Along the more than ten-li mountain-ring touring route, there are countless beautiful sights along the way. There is a village on the mountain, where dozens of Tujia families have lived for generations amid these green mountains and clear waters. They are hardworking and kind, and keep aloof from worldly strife. On the outer walls of the houses hang strings of fiery red peppers, strings of sweet potatoes and potatoes; on the heated kang inside the houses, a dazzling array of cured meat, cured fish, sausages, cured tofu, and more are hung everywhere. If you are fortunate enough to be a guest in their home, you will enjoy a kind of honor and privilege you have never experienced before. The mouth-watering Ten Bowls and the Tujia rice wine with an alluring mellow fragrance will make you dream of returning to your hometown and never forget it!
From Bailong Elevator, taking the eco-friendly bus to the "Rear Garden" takes about ten minutes. Along the way, peaks stretch in succession and green trees form shade. Midway, you will pass through an undeveloped scenic area. The mountain is called "Songzigang." Only local farmers and a small number of sketch artists have ever set foot here, but its scenery is by no means inferior to other attractions. The entire "Songzigang" is lush with shrubs and covered with mountain ferns. Following a secluded little path to a mountain hollow at the back, the view suddenly opens up: thousands of peaks rise in layered screens, and countless rocks thrust into the sky, just like a fairyland, yet seeming unreal; looking closely before you, one rock stands gracefully, with red eyes, moth-like eyebrows, a delicate nose, a small mouth, and coiled hair. With a beautiful face and clear features, is this not the "dream lover" in everyone's heart? Local people all call her "Beauty Peak." Under the stone cliff on the left, several cylindrical beehives are placed year-round, because there is no pollution here at all. The bees collect only pristine pollen and natural moisture. This kind of honey is rich in nutrition and extremely high in calcium, and also contains a large number of trace elements beneficial to the human body. It has excellent effects on beautifying the face, prolonging life, and improving intelligence, and in particular also has the effect of preventing and treating cancer. One taste of this special honey will make sweetness reach your spleen and leave an endless aftertaste...
After getting off the bus and walking a few steps, you reach the uphill touring path. Then follow the steps on the left downward for 50 meters, and you will see an oval stone gate. Please hold your breath and do not make a sound: please look at the upper left corner in front of the gate. There is a protruding rock, like a fierce animal, but at this moment it is especially quiet. Look at it lying with all four limbs on the ground, pursing its mouth and lifting its nose, closing its eyes and resting. It even seems to be accompanied by a soft "snoring" sound. Would you have thought it? This is the mighty lion guarding the Rear Garden. Everyone, do not wake it. Looking through the stone gate, this place really is a hidden world of its own. Look at that vibrant "bonsai," that seemingly real yet unreal "rockery"; those row upon row of "screens," "murals," and "carvings"; those vividly shaped stone tables and stone chairs; and that endlessly flowing "small bridge over streaming water"... Whose "grand mansion" is this? No, this is the Rear Garden, so exquisitely beautiful, created by nature's uncanny workmanship. Entering the "Rear Garden" and walking to the right, under a stone cliff there is a plank road. You must bend down and lower your head to get through. Standing in the middle and shouting to the opposite side, "I love you—", there will be a long-lasting echo coming back from within: love—you—, love—you—, love—you... This release will give you a sense of relaxation and pleasure you have never had before.
Opposite the "Rear Garden" is a towering mountain range, with ancient trees reaching the sky and blotting out the sun. Wild goats often appear in the forest. In the dead of night, the bleating calls of wild goat kids can often be heard, so it is called "Goat Village." During the Republic of China period, this place was once occupied by bandits. Even now, remnants such as checkpoint gates, hidden bunkers, broken trenches, house sites, wells, stone mortars, and mills still remain on the mountain. On the thick pine trees, "V"-shaped marks left by the bandits in those years can still be seen. Standing on the "mountain stronghold" and looking into the distance, you can see the panorama of Golden Whip Stream. A beautiful stream slowly passes through hundreds of stone forest peaks, appearing so tranquil and harmonious. Walking forward about 100 meters from the "Rear Garden," you reach another peerless wonder of Yuanjiajie—Mihun Terrace. Stepping onto Mihun Terrace, you see hundreds of mountain ridges rising from the ground and peaks surging toward you. They have countless postures and extraordinary momentum; some resemble "a heavenly dog gazing at the moon," some look like "a conch emerging from water"; some are like "generals lined up," and some like "a single pillar holding up the sky." Several mountain cols and barriers separate these ridges in an orderly way, making these stone peaks appear even more clearly layered and orderly. Under the embellishment of ten thousand rays of sunset glow, they appear magnificent and extraordinary. This is even more like an ink wash painting from a painter's brush. Enjoying the scenery at "Mihun Terrace" is truly like wandering in a fairyland.
From the "Rear Garden" to the World's First Bridge, there is a touring path with a total length of more than 2,000 meters. The road surface is mostly paved with white strip stones. Viewed from afar, it looks very much like a white silk ribbon tied with two knots, one end fastened at "Mihun Terrace" and the other at the "World's First Bridge." Strolling along, you can enjoy along the way such charming scenic spots as "Worship-the-Immortal Terrace," "Hundred-Zhang Precipice," "Small Cave Heaven," and "Lovers' Valley." The elevation here is not high and it is generally unaffected by climate, so savoring it slowly will surely delight both your eyes and your heart. The "World's First Bridge" is one of Zhangjiajie's "Ten Great Wonders." It is also the landmark scenic spot of Yuanjiajie. It is a natural stone bridge formed between two mountains. The two mountains were originally one body, and the bridge body is the key part connecting the two mountains, but because the stone in the middle is relatively weak, due to weathering and collapse, and after years of sun and rain, water erosion, and mountain flood impact, over time it finally formed today's unique wonder...
The "World's First Bridge" has a bridge surface two meters wide, four meters thick, a span of more than twenty meters, and a height of more than three hundred meters. It is the natural stone bridge with the greatest height difference discovered anywhere in the world so far. Looking down from the bridge, you see white clouds flying past and fantastic peaks protruding; just one raise of the eyes is enough to make the heart joyful. Looking across, you see the largest suspended viewing platform—Huangshizhai. The towering "Liuqi Pavilion" shines even more brilliantly in the sunlight. Between Huangshizhai and Yuanjiajie, a long canyon separates the two mountains. In the canyon there is a small stream, and by the stream ten thousand trees vie for spring in a riot of color. The stream gurgles past beneath the "World's First Bridge." This is the famous "Shadao Gully."
Speaking of the origin of "Shadao Gully," I should tell everyone a legendary story. It is said that long ago, in Yuanjiajie lived three people: grandfather, grandmother, and a little granddaughter seven or eight years old. The little girl's parents had died early, and she had never enjoyed happiness or joy. From childhood she helped her grandfather and grandmother bear heavy housework and physical labor. Her grandparents were very strict with her. Every day she had to sweep the floor, wipe the dust, wash clothes, pull pigweed, and also go cut firewood. One day, when the little girl came back from cutting firewood, her grandparents, not having seen their little granddaughter bring the knife home, sternly questioned her: "You little wretch, where did you lose the sand knife? If you cannot find it, do not come home today!" The poor little girl, with tears in her eyes, went up the mountain alone to look for the knife. The sun went down, it grew darker and darker, and the calls of wild beasts and strange birds came from the woods. The little girl looked around in terror. She was very afraid, but she did not dare go home. She stumbled along in the darkness, and suddenly missed her footing. The little girl fell from the "World's First Bridge" into the abyss. With shock and fear, the little girl forever left this world that should have belonged to her. Only the valley mourned for her; only the wind wept for her. At some unknown time, a small bird flew out from the valley, crying mournfully as it flew: "Gong daodao, po daodao, dropped a curved knife." People later called this bird the "Daodao Bird." It is said to have been transformed from the soul of that little girl. Even now, local people often hear her mournful cries late at night. In memory of the little girl who fell from the cliff, some people named this canyon "Shadao Gully," and some also call it "Shedao Gully."
Leaving the "World's First Bridge" and continuing by eco-friendly bus, after 10 minutes you reach another best scenic spot—Heaven-Hung White Silk. After getting off the bus, go straight down along the highway, walk several hundred steps, and look to the right: a rushing stream pours straight down from a precipice more than 200 meters high, its trickling flow like white silk. In midsummer when there is much rain, the waterfall strikes directly against the stone ridge below the cliff, and droplets splash into midair before falling again to the bottom of the valley, scattering more than 10 meters away, with a sound like muffled thunder. Often under the sunlight it flashes with rainbow after rainbow. If a burst of clear wind passes by, you see ten thousand points of golden light drifting and scattering freely; it is also like flying snow in June, dancing in the wind; it truly gives one a mood of clarity and freedom, as calm as still water. All right, friends, that is all for the introduction to the beautiful scenery of Yuanjiajie. May the trip to Yuanjiajie leave you with forever beautiful memories.
What are the relatively famous scenic spots in Yuanjiajie? Zhangjiajie Travel Network has summarized them and recommends them to everyone.
Heaven-Hung White Silk: At the end of Shadao Gully, a thread of spring water drifts down from the top of a cliff more than 200 meters high. Standing on the viewing platform opposite and looking over, visitors see a long white silk falling from the ninth heaven, splashing jade and flying flowers, raising mist and generating fog, surging and washing through the valley stream. If encountered in heavy rain, it is even more magnificent and varied, surpassing Mount Huangshan's Nine Dragons Waterfall after rain.
World's First Bridge: A quintessential scenic spot of Wulingyuan. Nature's uncanny workmanship has placed a natural stone slab about 5 meters thick horizontally across the top of two peaks, connecting the east and west peaks. Its height, span, and thrill are rare in the world, hence it is called the "World's First Bridge."
Mihun Terrace: Located 400 meters east of the World's First Bridge, the terrace is divided into two levels. The first level slopes gently from east to west and is about 100 square meters. The second level is about 2 meters lower than the first and is a stone slab closely connected to the first level and extending out over the void. Sitting on the terrace, one can see Golden Whip Stream and Shadao Gully vying in wonder and beauty, with clouds and mist rolling, and the mountains appearing and disappearing unpredictably, making it hard to tell heaven from the human world.
Rear Garden: Known as a "natural bonsai." In the garden, stone peaks take on countless forms, and a stream flows around the peaks; on the mountain, ancient trees reach the sky and clouds and mist fill the air, just like the rear garden of an ancient imperial palace.
Vine King: Located in Liucui Stream in the Yangjiazhai Scenic Area. A stone cliff is about 100 meters high, and at the foot of the cliff grows an ancient vine with a diameter of 31 centimeters. The ancient vine grows on the stone cliff, clinging to and covering it, with a coverage area of 300 square meters. Hence it is called the King of Vines under heaven.
Five-Color Flower: In Liucui Stream grow hundreds of strange flowering trees. Every April, the trees bloom, with flowers shaped like trumpets. Each flower is composed of 12 small flowers and changes among five colors—red, yellow, purple, black, and blue—within a single day according to weather changes, hence the name Five-Color Flower.
White Crane Roost: In Baiheping, Zhonghu Township, from March to July each year, more than 2,000 white cranes roost here. This peculiar phenomenon has a history of several hundred years.
Sky Corridor: Near Heilong Village, a stone plank road more than 300 meters long and 1 meter wide winds around a cliff, with a 400-meter-deep canyon below. The touring path seems to hang in midair, hence it is called the Sky Corridor.
Qinglong Village: Formerly called a bandit den. It is surrounded by sheer precipices on all sides, with only a small path leading to the village gate. At the top of the village there are three peaks, covering an area of 30,000 square meters, and remnants of the bandit den still remain.