Famous Attractions in Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie was not originally called Zhangjiajie; it was called Qingyan Mountain. At that time, there was no Zhang family on Qingyan Mountain either. Why was it later called Zhangjiajie? This story has to begin with Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu of the Han Dynasty! Legend has it that after Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, pacified the realm, he killed meritorious officials indiscriminately. Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, thought of what Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, said before his death: "When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked; when the soaring bird is gone, the good bow is put away; when the enemy state is destroyed, the strategist perishes." He could not help shivering a few times, and wanted to follow the example of...
Zhangjiajie was not originally called Zhangjiajie; it was called Qingyan Mountain. At that time, there were no families surnamed Zhang on Qingyan Mountain. Why was it later called Zhangjiajie?
This story has to start with Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu of the Han Dynasty!
Legend has it that after Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, pacified the realm, he wantonly killed his meritorious officials. Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, thought of the words spoken by Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, before his death: “When the cunning hare is dead, the running dog is
cooked; when the soaring birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the enemy state is destroyed, the strategist perishes.” He could not help shivering several times and wanted to imitate Fan Li of Yue in those years and hide away from the world. But where
should he go? To the Jianghuai region was the Liu family’s heartland; to his fief in Liu County, he could not remain secure for long; the Qinling and Bashan mountains were full of tigers and leopards, not a place for preserving health and prolonging life
; to the northwest, the Xiongnu harassed——after thinking it over and over, there was only the south, where he could seek Master Chisongzi! In former days, the Three Lü Grand Master Qu Yuan, after being exiled, once traveled through Jing
zhou and Wuling, and also left many verses for the famous mountains along the Yuan and Li rivers: “On the Yuan there are angelicas, on the Li there are orchids; I think of my lord, yet dare not speak.”
Legend has it that after Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, pacified the realm, he wantonly killed his meritorious officials. Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, thought of the words spoken by Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, before his death: “When the cunning hare dies, the running dog is
cooked; when the soaring birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the enemy state is destroyed, the strategist perishes.” He could not help shivering several times and wanted to imitate Fan Li of Yue in those years and hide away from the world. But where
should he go? To the Jianghuai region was the Liu family’s heartland; to his fief in Liu County, he could not remain secure for long; the Qinling and Bashan mountains were full of tigers and leopards, not a place for preserving health and prolonging life
; to the northwest, the Xiongnu harassed…… After thinking it over and over, there was only the south, where he could seek the immortal master Chisongzi! In former days, the Three Lü Grand Master Qu Yuan, after being exiled, once traveled through Jingzhou
and Wuling, and also left many verses for the famous mountains along the Yuan and Li rivers: “On the Yuan there are angelicas, on the Li there are orchids; I think of my lord, yet dare not speak,” and “Widely open, O Heaven’s Gate! In confusion
I ride the dark clouds”…… He thought there must be a fairyland on earth, and surely much joy for nourishing life. So he followed in Chisongzi’s footsteps and went up Tianmen Mountain. Later
, he made his way to Qingyan Mountain. Here was a different world, exactly what Zhang Liang sought: a “fairyland beyond the world”! From then on, he lived in seclusion here,
cultivating himself and studying the Dao, and left behind a line of Zhang descendants. It is said that in order to make the scenery of Qingyan Mountain even more beautiful, Zhang Liang once planted seven ginkgo trees on the south side of Qingyan Mountain.
These seven ginkgo trees grew tall and large, like seven giant umbrellas propping up the mountainside.
Many years later, one day, a court official named Zhang Wanchong, wearing a long gown and mandarin jacket, riding an eight-bearer sedan chair, brought his wife, children, and family up Qingyan Mountain
to sightsee. When he saw these seven ginkgo trees standing there like giants, evil thoughts suddenly arose, and he wanted to use these seven trees as a boundary to make this magical land of Qingyan Mountain
entirely his own. So he invited a carving craftsman and asked him to carve one large character on each tree. This craftsman carved and carved, for seven times seven forty-nine days, before completing seven large characters: “Boundary of Commandant Zhang Wanchong.” After the characters were carved, Zhang Wanchong tilted his head and looked again and again. He
looked, recited, and laughed: “Heh heh, now it’s good. For ten thousand ages and a thousand autumns, it belongs to me!” At once, he posted a notice as large as a door plank, stipulating
that with the seven ginkgo trees as the boundary, within a radius of fifty li, from Luogu Ta to Huangshizhai, and from Chaotian Temple to Zhima Ta, all passage was forbidden, and violators would be beheaded. He also
drove away all the Zhang clan families on the mountain stronghold, for his own Zhang Wanchong lineage was to flourish and multiply in this blessed immortal mountain! This prohibition of his caused the surrounding common people
to have to take detours even to gather firewood and graze livestock, and caused the Zhang clan people to flee with their children, displaced and homeless.
One day, the hunter Zhang Jiaxiong went into the mountains to chase a tiger and happened to pass by the seven ginkgo trees. He saw that each tree was flowing with yellow water, like a person weeping. Zhang
Jiaxiong was at first astonished, not knowing why the ginkgo trees were shedding tears. Later he saw the seven large characters “Boundary of Commandant Zhang Wanchong” and suddenly understood.
He immediately flew into a rage, drew his hunting knife with a swish, and with several “cha cha” cuts changed the two characters “Wanchong” into “Jiaxiong.” With several more “cha cha” cuts, he hacked that notice board
to pieces!
This action by Zhang Jiaxiong was no small matter. People inside and outside the stronghold all cheered. Only Zhang Wanchong was frantic with rage and stamping with fury. He mobilized three hundred
personal soldiers and surrounded the Qingyan Mountain area so tightly that not even water could leak through. He arrested people everywhere and searched the mountains in all directions. Unable to catch Zhang Jiaxiong, he took out his anger on the villagers. He drove the villagers
under the ginkgo trees and declared that he would use everyone’s blood to dye those seven large characters red. Just when the crisis was greatest, the trees flashed light, the leaves breathed clouds, the branches hissed,
and from the trunks suddenly spurted seven streams of yellow water as large as buckets, shooting straight at Zhang Wanchong’s troops and horses! In an instant, wild waves and giant billows, covering the sky and earth, swept Zhang Wanchong’s
three hundred soldiers and horses all into Golden Whip Stream! Seeing this scene, the villagers were so frightened that they hurriedly bowed and kowtowed to the ginkgo trees, calling to heaven and earth, begging heaven to
protect them. At this moment, suddenly a voice came from above the clouds:
“Villagers, listen: This place was originally created by heaven and earth, a fairyland on earth. How could it allow Zhang Wanchong, this unworthy descendant, to run amok! I, the deity, have already ordered the Ginkgo Immortal
to bury him in the seabed. This place now belongs jointly to the Zhang clan, to live and multiply forever and ever!” Having spoken, he pointed his whisk at the seven ginkgo trees, and immediately on the seven
ginkgo trees appeared seven golden characters: “Fairyland on Earth Zhangjiajie.”
Everyone looked up and saw that the immortal had the appearance of a scholar, with a high topknot, wearing hemp clothing, crane-like beard and youthful face, full of immortal style and Daoist bearing. Among the crowd
were several elders who understood learning. At first sight they were greatly startled and said: “Isn’t that Lord Zifang, who roamed Tianmen Mountain and Qingyan Mountain with the great immortal Chisongzi?” Hearing this, the crowd
hurriedly all prostrated themselves in worship. The immortal lightly flicked his water sleeves, smiled, and vanished into the vast sea of clouds, drifting away in the direction of Huangshizhai.
Because it was named by the immortal Zhang Liang, afterward people called Qingyan Mountain “Zhangjiajie.”
Famous scenic spots in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park:
Huangshizhai:
Huangshizhai is named because in ancient times a Daoist named Huang Shigong lived in seclusion here. It is 1080 meters above sea level, a platform supported by many cliffs and precipices, high in the south and low in the north,
with an area of 16.5 hectares. Its main scenic spots include: Heavenly Book Treasure Box, Sea-Calming Divine Needle, South Heaven Single Pillar, Golden Sea Probing Turtle, and others. It is
the place where Zhangjiajie’s beautiful scenery is most concentrated, and it is also Zhangjiajie’s largest sky-high viewing platform. Standing on the platform and gazing south, strange peaks and rocks fill the eyes.
Looking east and bird’s-eye viewing, one can see the forest of strange peaks on both sides of Golden Whip Stream, like a tray of exquisite translucent jade—truly too beautiful to take in. Therefore there is a saying: “If you don’t go up Huangshizhai, you’ve come to Zhangjiajie in vain.”
Liuqi Pavilion:
The “Liuqi Pavilion,” named for its strange mountains and extraordinary peaks, is located at the highest point of Huangshizhai in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It is the only cultural landscape among the primitive natural scenery group, so it is especially eye-catching, with a strong sense of
“standing out like a crane among chickens.” This pavilion is named “Liuqi Pavilion,” namely for the wonders of mountains, water, rocks, clouds, plants, and animals. Climbing onto “Liuqi Pavilion,” a thousand mountains are taken in at one glance. Standing in the pavilion, looking around and gazing into the distance, apart from streams
and karst caves, the whole panorama of the forest park is fully visible. To the east one can see Water Surrounding Four Gates, Golden Whip Stream, and a large area of Tianzi Mountain; to the south one can see China’s peerless scenery Tianmen Mountain and Zhangjiajie city area; to the west one can see Chaotian Temple, Longfeng Nunnery, Jade Emperor Palace, and Qipan Tower; to the north one can see the Tianqiao Remaining Piers, the primitive forest of Heicong Nao, and the large area of Yuanjiajie.
Star-Picking Platform:
The Star-Picking Platform is located southeast of Huangshizhai, 1082 meters above sea level. A stone pillar rises abruptly, its top hanging southward and suspended in midair, with a small part connected to the cliff base, much like
a high diving board in a swimming pool. When the bright moon is in the sky, standing on the platform, the stars all over the sky seem within reach. State Councilor Zhang Jinfu, after personally visiting the spot, named it
“Star-Picking Platform.”
Five-Finger Peak:
Two hundred meters southwest of the lookout platform is the No. 1 viewing platform atop Huangshizhai. Standing here, one can see groups of stone peaks like piles of potted landscapes arrayed in the deep valley, both majestic and towering, and full of wild, unrestrained spirit. The top of one stone peak is divided into five parallel standing stone columns, with the middle one taller,
like five outstretched fingers. Each stone column has small grass and miscellaneous trees growing on it, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the fingers.
Couple Rock:
Climbing up the steps from the south end of Ningbi Bridge, after several turns, one enters a lush artificial fir forest. Looking east from a small path across the mountain, the charming image of Couple Rock
comes into view. This is a heaven-made stone sculpture: a middle-aged couple standing shoulder to shoulder, facing southeast, with all facial features complete. The wife lowers her brows in shyness; the husband cannot restrain himself,
his eyebrows flying and face beaming. It is said that newlywed young people who visit here will afterward be harmonious and united, and grow old together; viewing Couple Rock will make their feelings even more sincere and firm. Elderly couples who visit Couple Rock will enjoy long life, and couples who have fallen out,
after seeing Couple Rock, will also reconcile.
Heavenly Book Treasure Box:
On the mountain diagonally opposite the entertainment platform, there is a stone box resembling a book case, rectangular, with a lid on top, half open and half closed. Legend says it is
a treasure box secretly storing heavenly books, but the heavenly books were stolen. Because the thief was in a hurry when taking them, he left without even closing the lid tightly, so the lid of the treasure box
still remains half unclosed. This scenic sight is vividly lifelike.
Sea-Calming Divine Needle:
It stands tall, round as if cast by human hands; from bottom to top it gradually becomes smaller and sharper, finally fully revealing its point; it is iron-gray, glistening
in the sunlight; it is often immersed in a sea of fog, creating the illusion that it sways from time to time. This is the marvelous scenic spot “Sea-Calming Divine Needle” located north of Monkey Head Peak.
Number One Bridge Under Heaven:
After tourists climb from Shadao Valley up to Yuanjiajie, they walk east for 300 meters, then wind south for about 200 meters, and arrive at the “Bridge Viewing Platform.” Standing on the Bridge Viewing Platform,
one can see a peculiar natural stone bridge opposite. This stone bridge, like a natural corridor, links two high mountains together. The absolute height of the stone bridge reaches 350 meters,
with an unusually majestic momentum.
Back Garden:
Three hundred twenty meters south of Yuanjiajie, there is an open valley, with lush fragrant grass and trees. In spring it spreads colors and paints green, with gorgeous scenery. Here are dozens of small
and exquisite stone peaks, dotted among the jungle. Here hundreds of birds sing, and the mountain stream gurgles, very serene and elegant. Even more peculiar: the two diagonal garden gates of the “garden”
were formed by the collapse of huge rock walls, appearing as round double arches, like the full-moon-shaped round gates of ancient parks. To view the “Back Garden,” one must pass through the “garden gate,” but from outside the gate
one can also see the scenery inside.
Golden Whip Stream:
Golden Whip Stream is named after “Golden Whip Rock” and originates at Tudi Pass. From the Zhangjiajie Forestry Farm headquarters to “Water Surrounding Four Gates,” ten li of stream water winds and turns, moving with the mountains,
winding through peaks and secluded valleys, stretching along amid birdsong and flowers.
Golden Whip Rock:
In Zhangjiajie, the only natural landscape that can stand alongside Golden Whip Stream is Golden Whip Rock. They complement each other, one stream and one rock, adding much splendor to Zhangjiajie.
Passing through Guimen Rock and following the stream down, after walking about 0.5 kilometers, on the east bank of the stream suddenly rises a stone peak, over 350 meters high. The peak body is slender above and thick below,
with a sharp top, flashing with peak radiance. Its four sides are clearly edged and angular, its shape exactly like a warrior holding a golden whip standing here, receiving the spiritual light of the sun, moon, and stars, forging the sharp spirit of
“piercing the blue sky without blunting its blade,” with a fierce aura and flashing cold light, making one feel awe.
Divine Eagle Guarding the Whip:
On the northeast side of Golden Whip Rock closely leans a stone peak more than 30 meters shorter. The top of this stone peak juts sharply toward the northwest, shaped like an eagle’s beak. The peak top and
the middle of the peak are both covered densely with shrubs and small pine trees slanting and hanging upside down. The whole stone peak looks like a male eagle with wings slightly spread, guarding Golden Whip Rock.
In hazy moonlight, the eagle appears very lifelike.
Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother:
From “Drunken Arhat,” going down along Golden Whip Stream for about 100 meters and looking far to the northwest, one sees a group of rock peaks interlaced, some like the “Howling Celestial Dog,” some like the “Lotus Lamp.”
There is also a pagoda-style rock peak, whose upper part is split into two, and the cracked surfaces’ textures can fit together. If sunlight passes through the crack and mist spreads, it appears even more mysterious and unfathomable,
exactly like a still from the myth “Cleaving the Mountain to Save the Mother.”
Purple Grass Pool:
Located in the middle reaches of Golden Whip Stream. The pool is not large, yet charming and graceful. Together with Jumping Fish Pool, it is a pair of moving eyes of Zhangjiajie, this “peerless beauty.” It is charming,
beautiful and gorgeous. It is not as vast as Taihu Lake, nor as openly seductive as West Lake; but the delicate shyness of Purple Grass Pool is beautiful in its reserve, beautiful with distinction. It is no more than 2.5 meters wide and no more than 3 meters deep, yet so winding, quiet, small, and exquisite. The smooth bank edge is also purplish-red
quartz sandstone. Its blue mountains, green water, white waves, red stones, blue pool, purple grass, leisurely swimming fish, and joyful human figures—how colorful, how harmonious! It gives one the feeling of “people traveling in mountain gorges, truly within a painting.”
Meeting After a Thousand Li:
When tourists come to Purple Grass Pool, just like watching a movie, a wonderfully incomparable and touching “close-up shot” suddenly appears before them——lovers’ secret rendezvous.
The man is tall and sturdy, draped in python armor, wearing a warrior’s scarf, with a precious sword at his waist, appearing heroic and fierce; before his lover, his face also shows a bit of tenderness
and affection; the woman binds her hair and wears hairpins, dressed in a beautiful trailing skirt, with clear brows and elegant eyes, gracefully standing, with a gentle and affectionate manner. The two seem to be gazing at each other with deep feeling, and also seem to be whispering their emotions. It looks especially tender and lingering.....
Jumping Fish Pool:
Jumping Fish Pool is located one kilometer downstream from Purple Grass Pool. On the red sandstone stream bed, the stream water has scoured year-round, forming a narrow trough about two meters by 0.3 meters wide,
called the “Fish Leaping Gate.” Below the trough is an oval deep pool with an area of 20 square meters, named “Jumping Fish Pool.” The pool has many white fish. Whenever the peach blossom flood season comes, the pool’s waves glitter, and the swimming fish leap to compete in spring, one after another,
leaping two or three meters high, presenting a wonder like “carp leaping over the dragon gate.” At such times, people hold scoop nets and wait quietly by the pool. As soon as a fish jumps, they scoop it along the momentum and intercept it in the air. At most, one can catch five or six kilograms of fish in a day. The fish here
have no muddy smell, are fresh, tender, and fragrant, and make an incomparably delicious soup.
Golden Turtle in the Sea of Fog:
Milky white clouds and mist gently drift around it, making it seem to have a leisurely dynamic. When the morning glow and evening sunset shine on its purplish-red oval back shell,
it becomes even more gorgeous and lovely. “Come swimming over, lovely golden turtle!” tourists tease, really wanting to touch it! This is the most famous wonder on Huangshizhai, “Golden Turtle in the Sea of Fog.” It is located at the southwestern edge of Huangshizhai, forever lying on a stone platform that can be seen but not reached, molding wonder and beauty into the sky. It is one of the main scenic spots on Huangshizhai for people to photograph the sunset.
Vase Peak:
Leaving South Heaven Gate and passing through the old checkpoint, 400 meters down the deep valley on the east side of the mountain road, there is a stone peak over 100 meters high. Its lower half resembles
a prismatic pedestal, and the part above the pedestal subtly forms the shape of a vase with a round belly, slender neck, and mouth curling upward, known as “Vase Peak.” Around
Vase Peak the trees are lush and fragrant grass and mixed flowers grow thickly. If it is the season when flowers vie in fragrance and beauty, here red and green reflect each other, colors are brilliant, and Vase Peak seems placed in a world of profuse flowers.
Copper Wall and Iron Bastion:
Four hundred meters from Huangshizhai, due south of the mountain path, there is a knife-cut stone wall over 30 meters high and over 60 meters long, standing against the sky, with imposing momentum, towering and spectacular.
The wall surface is smooth, with no grass or trees in the middle. Even monkeys wanting to cross would worry about climbing, and flying birds resting have nothing to rely on. It is called Copper Wall and Iron Bastion. From here, going forward about 300 meters,
standing on the mountain path and looking back, one can see a mural full of Tujia customs formed by water stain marks on the cliff at the western edge of Yaozi Village. In the painting are four levels of stilted wooden
buildings. Beside the buildings there seems to be a Tujia farmer leading a cow. In front of the house is a grain-drying ground, and there is also a ladder. The mural is lifelike and rich in the flavor of life.
Heicong Nao:
At the northern end of the platform atop Huangshizhai, there is a 300-meter-high stone peak facing it, called “Heicong Nao.” Around Heicong Nao it is precipitous, visible but unreachable. Apart from flying birds coming and going, no one has yet set foot there. The top platform is about 5 hectares,
covered with dense primitive secondary forest. In the forest are mostly Huangshan pine, spiny pine, masson pine,
and fir, as well as camphor, nanmu, catalpa, and many other trees. Many trees have a diameter at breast height of more than two meters and require several people to encircle. Between them fallen leaves and humus are a foot deep. In this
green maze, macaques, flying squirrels, and other rare birds and animals often look proudly at tourists from the edges of the dense forest and the cliffs.
Tianqiao Remaining Piers:
On the left side of Heicong Nao, there are six stone peaks arranged in a row, rising from the valley, tall and towering, with extraordinary momentum. In the sea of clouds they look like six bridge piers spanning a vast river, with about 300 meters between each pair of piers. From the No. 1 pier closest to Yuanjiajie, they gradually rise in turn. From the No. 4 pier they gradually descend again. The whole set of piers exactly forms an arc, known as Tianqiao Remaining Piers. From Yuanjiajie to Huangshizhai, climbing slopes and crossing ridges is a distance of 15 kilometers. If a bridge were built here, it would be close at hand.
The many fun and beautiful scenic spots in Zhangjiajie Forest Park are only part of Zhangjiajie’s many scenic spots. Other equally famous ones include Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie Yellow Dragon Cave, Zhangjiajie Jiutian Cave, Dayong Prefecture City, Junsheng Painting Academy, Longquan Waterfall, Soviet Memorial Hall, Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi, Zhangjiajie Junsheng Painting Academy, Zhangjiajie Tima Divine Song, Dream Zhangjiajie, Dayong Prefecture City, Junsheng Painting Academy, Longquan Waterfall,
Soviet Memorial Hall.
Epilogue: If you want to visit all the scenic spots in Zhangjiajie, it really cannot be done overnight. I suggest everyone find a local tour guide and enjoy the scenery while listening to the guide’s explanations.