Harmony Between Heaven and Humanity, Myriad Scenes (Part 1)
Section 1: City Parks and the People's Pleasure Grounds. China's First National Forest Park — Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in Zhangjiajie City in northwestern Hunan Province. It was approved for establishment in 1982 by the State Planning Commission under the authorization of the State Council as China's first national forest park. In December 1992, due to its unique quartz sandstone peak forest...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Section One
City Park, Citizens' Paradise
China's First National Forest Park — Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located within Zhangjiajie City in northwestern Hunan Province. It is China's first national forest park, approved for establishment in 1982 by the State Planning Commission under the authorization of the State Council. In December 1992, because of its peculiar quartz sandstone peak forest, it was inscribed by the United Nations on the World Natural Heritage List, and in February 2004 it was listed as a World Geopark. The park's natural scenery is known for the wonder of its peaks, the seclusion of its valleys, and the elegance of its forests, and it has the reputation of "three thousand wondrous peaks, eight hundred beautiful waters." The park not only has magnificent and peerless natural scenery, but is also extremely rich in forest plant and wildlife resources, with a forest coverage rate of 98%. It is a huge biological treasure house and natural oxygen bar, known as a "natural museum and natural botanical garden."
The Green Pearl of Eastern Hunan — Daweishan National Forest Park
Daweishan is located in the northeastern part of Liuyang City, Hunan Province, 148 kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha. The area has dense forests, abundant resources, beautiful scenery, and a pleasant climate, and is called the "Green Pearl of Eastern Hunan." In 1992, it was approved by the Ministry of Forestry as a national forest park. Daweishan National Forest Park is known for its "elegance," with the highest peak at 1,607.9 meters above sea level. The area is surrounded by mountains, steep and upright, with fertile land, abundant rainfall, rich vegetation, and many species. Primary secondary forest and planted forest blend into one, forming a green ocean. Seventeen species of trees under national first- and second-class protection are listed, and more than 60 species of wild animals have been discovered, making it worthy of the title "natural museum of animals and plants." In August 2006, with the approval of the State Forestry Administration, Daweishan Forest Park became one of the first national forest parks authorized to use the special logo of China National Forest Parks.
The Park of "The Finest Azalea Red under Heaven" — Yangmingshan National Forest Park
Yangmingshan National Forest Park is located in Shuangpai County, Hunan. It is a natural "hundred-medicine garden," praised by people as the "Hundred Herb Hall." In the park there are about 79 families, 236 genera, and more than 1,000 species of naturally growing medicinal materials, among which three medicinal materials including gynostemma fill gaps in Hunan Province. In 1992 it was approved as a national forest park, and it has successively been approved as a national AAA-level scenic area and a national water conservancy scenic area, and was selected among the "Hundred Scenes of Hunan" and the "New Xiaoxiang Eight Scenes." The park has the reputation of "natural oxygen bar" and "cool island of Hunan and Guangdong," and is praised as a "spiritual mountain and blessed land" on earth. The largest wild azalea base in the park was selected into the Great World Guinness Records and is praised as "The Finest Azalea Red under Heaven." In August 2006, with the approval of the State Forestry Administration, Yangmingshan Forest Park became one of the first national forest parks authorized to use the special logo of China National Forest Parks.
Hunan's Largest Forest Park — Mangshan National Forest Park
Mangshan is located in Yizhang County, Hunan Province, China. Within its area there are more than 150 peaks over 1,000 meters, and the highest peak, Mengkengshi, is 1,902 meters above sea level and is called "the First Peak of Southern Heaven." Mangshan has a mild climate, abundant rainfall, rich resources, and beautiful scenery. It is "the largest and best-preserved primary forest in the same latitude zone on Earth." The beautiful and intact forest museum — Mangshan — is named for its vast forest sea and the presence of pythons. It still preserves 6,000 hectares of primary forest and is the largest forest park in Hunan Province. This is a place where northern and southern species gather, and subtropical and a few tropical and cold-zone forest plants coexist and flourish here. According to survey statistics, the park has 219 families, 929 genera, and 2,659 species of vascular plants, accounting for 88.3% of Hunan's families and 74.1% of its genera. The forest park has 21 species of key national protected wild plants, among which four are first-class, including southern yew, and 17 are second-class, including fragrant fruit tree and South China five-needle pine.
The Only Surviving Forest in Central South China That Escaped the Quaternary Glaciation — Xiaoxi Primary Secondary Forest
Xiaoxi Primary Secondary Forest is located in Xiaoxi Township, Yongshun County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. In 1984 it was designated by the Hunan Provincial Government as a provincial-level nature reserve, and in December 2000 it was approved as a national-level nature reserve. After investigation and demonstration by experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other institutions, Xiaoxi is considered the only surviving natural resource treasure house of subtropical low-altitude evergreen broad-leaved primary secondary forest in the thirteen provinces of central south China that escaped the Quaternary glaciation. Xiaoxi National Nature Reserve integrates forest scenery, primary river valleys, rare animals and plants, folk customs, and scientific exploration, and is praised by people as a kingdom of plants, a green treasure house, a paradise of birds and beasts, and a labyrinth of nature. The highest altitude of the Xiaoxi nature area is 1,327 meters, and the lowest is 162.3 meters. The average annual temperature is 12°C-14°C, and it belongs to the subtropical low-altitude evergreen broad-leaved forest zone.
Hunan's Most Complete "Natural Specimen" Animal and Plant Garden — Yuanling Jiemuxi Valley Primary Secondary Forest
Yuanling Jiemuxi Valley Primary Secondary Forest is located in Mingxikou Town and Tongcheping Township of Yuanling County, at the junction of Yuanling, Zhangjiajie, and Yongshun counties. It is a rare and well-preserved valley primary secondary forest belt in China, a gathering place for animals and plants of East China, South China, and Southwest China, and also Hunan Province's most concentrated and complete "animal and plant garden" of "natural specimens." In the forest area, layered peaks are emerald green, valleys crisscross, the climate is pleasant, and the scenery is quiet and beautiful. Thousand-year-old ancient vines and old trees and magical valley streams are just like scenes from "primary forest scenery pictures." Jiemuxi has formed a plant community dominated by valley forest, rich in species. The valleys also support a large number of rare animals, with 108 species of terrestrial vertebrates.
The Largest Existing Primary Forest in South China — Shennong Valley Primary Forest
National Nature Reserve and National Forest Park — Shennong Valley (Taoyuandong) is located in Yanling County in the Luoxiao Mountain area, with beautiful ecology. The forest coverage rate reaches 82.6%, and the area perfectly preserves the largest primary forest in East China, Central China, and South China, with an existing area of more than 100,000 mu. The forest park contains 29 species of key national protected wild animals and 74 species of key national protected wild plants, and is praised as a "natural botanical garden" and a "gene bank of biological species." Its mysterious, extraordinary, primitive, and tranquil unique scenery makes people relaxed and happy and reluctant to leave.
The World's Largest Artificial Breeding Base for Cabot's Tragopan — Hunan Provincial Botanical Garden
Hunan Provincial Botanical Garden has introduced and collected more than 2,100 species of plants in 156 families and 470 genera, mainly from the Central China flora. It has established a plant herbarium and a cryptogam herbarium, collecting and preserving more than 10,000 plant specimens, and preserving 118 species of rare and endangered plants in 54 families and 95 genera. Cabot's tragopan is a national first-class rare and endangered wild protected animal endemic to China, and is listed as a world endangered bird in the international endangered species Red Book. On May 16, 2000, the provincial wildlife rescue center in the garden successfully bred the first young Cabot's tragopan. Since then, the garden has bred a batch of Cabot's tragopans every year. At present, there are more than 300 Cabot's tragopans, large and small, making it the world's largest artificial breeding base for Cabot's tragopan.
The First World Natural Heritage Geopark — Zhangjiajie Geopark
Zhangjiajie World Geopark is located in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan. It covers a total area of 3,600 square kilometers, and its main types of geological relics are sandstone peak forest landforms and karst caves. Within the park there are more than 3,000 stone cliffs rising from the ground, among which more than 1,000 are over 200 meters high. Golden Whip Rock is as high as 350 meters. The stone peaks have different shapes and are beautiful and spectacular. It is an extremely rare sandstone peak forest landform in the world and has great scientific value. The park has dense forests and rare plants such as ginkgo, dove tree, yew, and Chinese tulip tree, providing physical evidence for the study of biological evolution. In December 1992, Zhangjiajie Geopark was listed by UNESCO as China's first World Natural Heritage site; in March 2001 it was awarded the title of National Geopark by the Ministry of Land and Resources; and on February 13, 2004, it was approved by UNESCO as one of the first batch of World Geoparks.
A World-Rare Karst Cave Park — Fenghuang National Geopark
Fenghuang National Geopark has a total area of 157 square kilometers and more than 30 karst canyons. Its development density is truly rare in the world, and there are more than 30 relatively large karst caves. After inspecting Qiliang Cave, the world-famous geologist B. D. Erdman said: "This is the rarest and most beautiful karst cave in the world, and it should be well protected." The Jianduoduo Waterfall in the park is the waterfall with the greatest drop in Hunan Province and one of the largest-drop waterfalls in the country. There are also clearly identifiable structural features and typical carbonate rocks of lithology and lithofacies, which provide important geological evidence for regional geological evolution. With geological relic landscapes as the main feature and natural ecology and cultural landscapes as supplements, it is a large comprehensive national geopark combining scientific value and aesthetic value.
Hunan's Largest Karst Cave Group Park — Jiubujiang National Geopark
Jiubujiang National Geopark is located in the eastern part of You County, Hunan Province, with an area of 193 square kilometers. The terrain ranges from 150 to 1,217 meters above sea level. The park is a large comprehensive geopark mainly featuring geological relic landscapes such as karst caves, underground rivers, sinkholes, canyons, natural bridges, waterfalls, lakes, and paleontological fossils, supplemented by rich ecological landscapes and cultural landscapes, and integrating scientific value and aesthetic value. The park contains typical, unique, and complete karst peak-cluster valley landforms and cave and underground river systems, and is one of the places with the most complete karst landform systems in a small region of China. The caves in the park are densely grouped and constitute the easternmost and largest cave group in Hunan and even in China. Whether measured by cave density, cave scale, or comparison of cave landscapes, it can be called China's "karst cave world" and "cave museum."
Hunan's Only Sports-Themed Park — Yiyang Olympic Park
Located in the central urban area of Yiyang City, Olympic Park was completed in August 2002. It is one of Hunan's "Hundred Scenes" and a national 4A-level scenic area. It is currently the only sports-themed park in the central and southern regions of China. With concentrated cultural landscapes, prominent sports functions, beautiful ecological environment, and convenient regional supporting facilities, the park's main facilities are "one stadium and three halls," namely the comprehensive stadium, comprehensive gymnasium, badminton training hall, and swimming and diving hall. It is a sports-themed park blending nature and artificial elements and organically coordinating modern architecture with hilly landscapes, and is praised as the "Light of Silver City."
Hunan's Themed Park of Stone-Carved Comic Strip Corridors — Yiyang Xiufeng Park
The Yiyang Stone-Carved Comic Strip Corridor is located at the east gate of Xiufeng Park in Yiyang City, Hunan. The corridor is carved with the comic strips "Great Changes in a Mountain Village," "Harvest," and "The Long River." The original novel of "Great Changes in a Mountain Village" is by the famous Yiyang writer Zhou Libo, and the original novel of "Harvest" is by the famous Yiyang writer Ye Zi. The original novel of "The Long River" is by the famous Hunan writer Shen Congwen, and the paintings were created by the well-known Yiyang comic strip artist Liao Zhenghua, and have not yet been publicly published. Both "Great Changes in a Mountain Village" and "Harvest" depict rural life in Yiyang, with rich local customs and flavor. Much of "The Long River" is also about Yiyang, and Yiyang is located in the lower reaches of the Zi River. This corridor is carved with selected pages from the comic strips of "Great Changes in a Mountain Village," "Harvest," and "The Long River," totaling more than 100 images. It is currently the world's largest stone-carved comic strip corridor.
China's Largest Statue of Young Mao Zedong — The Young Mao Zedong Sculpture on Orange Isle, Changsha
On December 26, 2009, the Young Mao Zedong Art Sculpture, which took more than two years to carve and build, was completed on Orange Isle in Changsha. Based on the image of Mao Zedong in his youth in 1925, the sculpture has a total height of 32 meters, a length of 83 meters, and a width of 41 meters, symbolizing that Mao Zedong wrote "Changsha," a poem in the tune of Qin Yuan Chun, at the age of 32 in 1925. The sculpture is a reinforced concrete frame structure, with a base of 3,500 square meters, assembled from more than 8,000 huge Yongding red granite boulders quarried from the high mountains of Fujian. It is designed as Mao Zedong's shoulder, implying that people today stand on the shoulders of giants, remember history, and look to the future. The sculpture breaks with the conventional standing-image design common in China and is made as a bust. It is currently China's only sculpture of the young Mao Zedong and also the largest among China's existing Mao Zedong statues. On the back of the sculpture, the poem "Changsha" in the tune of Qin Yuan Chun is carved in cliff inscriptions, integrating the poetic mood with the sculpture; inside the hill, a themed exhibition room related to Mao Zedong and Orange Isle is designed, using high-tech sound, light, and electrical methods to display the elegance of this great man to later generations.
Hunan's Largest Bronze Statue — The Bronze Statue of He Long
He Long Park is located on the left side of the 1,200-meter Qianceng Rock in Zhangjiajie and was built to commemorate Marshal He Long's campaigns in Tianzi Mountain. The main scenic spots in the park include the bronze statue of Marshal He Long, the Weapons Hall, the Marshal He Long Exhibition Hall, and the Generals' Stele Forest. The bronze statue of He Long standing on "Yunqing Rock" is integrated with nature, forming a unique artistic style. Built and cast in 1986, it is 6.5 meters high and weighs 9 tons, making it the largest bronze statue created in China in the past hundred years. With green mountains behind it and facing the wall of Shentang Bay, the statue is solemn, majestic, and harmoniously unified in the picture of green mountains and waters, vividly reproducing Marshal He Long's distinctive image. Beside him, a fine warhorse raises its head, as if waiting for its master to raise the whip and set out on the journey. On March 28, 1995, Jiang Zemin inscribed the park's name.
Hunan's Largest City Park — Hunan Martyrs' Park
Hunan Martyrs' Park is located in the city center of Changsha, covering an area of 138.93 hectares. It is now the largest comprehensive park in the province combining commemorative and recreational functions, and is a provincial and municipal patriotism education base. The park is divided into six specialized areas: the "Martyrs' Memorial Garden," "People's Leisure Garden," "Water Scenery Garden," "Folk Customs Garden," "Children's Amusement Park," and "Landscape Leisure Garden." The park's Martyrs' Memorial Tower was completed in 1959. The upper part is the memorial tower, 58.6 meters high, and the lower part is the memorial hall, with tower and hall integrated into one. On the due south side of the tower body is embedded a 20-meter-high white marble monument, on the front of which is engraved Chairman Mao Zedong's inscription "Hunan Martyrs' Park Monument." In the hall are displayed the portraits and deeds of 141 martyrs including Yang Kaihui, Xia Minghan, and Guo Liang, as well as a name list of more than 200,000 Hunan revolutionary martyrs. The park has more than 50 large amusement projects and more than 10 water projects, making it the amusement venue in central-south China with the newest and most complete amusement equipment.
Hunan's First Provincial-Level Geopark — Youxian Jiubujiang Park
Jiubujiang Park is currently the earliest provincial-level geopark opened in Hunan. It is about 170 kilometers from Changsha, with a total area of 232 square kilometers and more than 120 medium-sized karst caves and sinkholes. The greatest feature of this scenic area is the diversity of its tourism functions: it has dozens of square kilometers of Jiuxian Lake, as well as several huge karst caves, natural Xianren Bridge karst landforms, forest oxygen bar tours, and more. The Yuwang Cave currently being developed will become the world's longest underground river drifting project. The opening of Jiubujiang has formed a golden tourism route from Changsha to the Jiubujiang Scenic Area to Jinggangshan, and the Jiubujiang Scenic Area has also become the back garden of surrounding cities such as Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan.
Hunan's First Eco-Tourism Resort Scenic Area — Shiyan Lake Park
Shiyan Lake Eco-Tourism Park is located at the junction of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, covering an area of 5 square kilometers. The forest coverage rate in the scenic area is over 98%, and the negative ion content in the air reaches more than 80,000 per cubic centimeter, earning it the reputation of a "natural large oxygen bar" and "the green-blue dream of city dwellers." Shiyan Lake has beautiful natural scenery and profound historical and cultural deposits, with historical and cultural landscapes such as Tiaomajian, Guandi Ancient Spring, the Tomb of Prince Ji Jian of the Ming Dynasty, and the tomb of Liu Shaoqi's ancestors. It is China's first eco-tourism resort scenic area and among the first batch of AAA tourist attractions assessed by the National Tourism Administration. The scenic area has dozens of leisure vacation projects with distinctive eco-tourism features, and it has become the first choice for people from the three cities to enjoy greenery and return to nature, receiving 300,000 visitors annually.
Central-South China's Largest Cultural Theme Park — Changsha Window of the World
Changsha Window of the World is located on the banks of the Liuyang River in the northeastern suburbs of Changsha, covering 400,000 square meters. It is the largest and most beautiful cultural theme park in central-south China and one of the first batch of national 4A-level tourist attractions. With the promotional slogan "Central-South China's No. 1 Theme Park Brand," Changsha Window of the World is a comprehensive large-scale theme park integrating world architectural wonders, performances of the customs of the five continents, large amusement facilities, fashionable themed activities, and a film and television shooting base. It reproduces a wonderful world and embodies the spirit of placing equal emphasis on nature and humanity, with history, reality, and fantasy coexisting.
Central-South China's Largest Ocean Theme Park — Changsha Underwater World
Changsha Underwater World is located on the world-famous banks of the Liuyang River, within the emerging Changsha Golden Eagle Cultural City. It covers an area of 100 mu and represents an investment of 200 million RMB. It is the only and largest ocean theme park in central-south China integrating viewing, leisure, and science popularization. The aquarium contains more than a thousand species of rare marine organisms and freshwater fish from around the world. The cute and lovely seals, the mighty and fierce great white sharks, the colorful coral reefs, the seaweeds in all kinds of postures, and the mysterious underwater wonders allow visitors to fully enjoy the charming undersea scenery. There are also scheduled performances of seals and divers feeding fish, which make people even more delighted and reluctant to leave.