Overview of Zhangjiajie City
Basic Overview. Zhangjiajie City, located between 28°52′–29°48′N and 109°40′–111°20′E, is an emerging prefecture-level city in northwestern Hunan Province, under development and construction, characterized by the growth of Zhangjiajie tourism (www.33519.com). The seat of Zhangjiajie City was originally named...
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 Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Basic Overview
Zhangjiajie City is located between 28°52′–29°48′ north latitude and 109°40′–111°20′ east longitude. It is an emerging prefecture-level city under Hunan Province in the northwest of the province, currently being developed and constructed, characterized by the development of Zhangjiajie tourism (www.33519.com).
The seat of Zhangjiajie City was originally named Dayong. On May 18, 1988, the state approved the establishment of prefecture-level Dayong City. Because the name 'Dayong' was far less well-known than Zhangjiajie, China's first national forest park within its jurisdiction, the State Council approved the renaming of Dayong City to Zhangjiajie City on April 4, 1994. The city administers two districts, Yongding and Wulingyuan, and two counties, Cili and Sangzhi. In 2008, the total population was 1,639,500, with a total area of 9,563 square kilometers. The city government is located in Yongding District, 390 kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha and 300 kilometers from the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.
Zhangjiajie, according to legend, was named after Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu of the Han Dynasty, who lived in seclusion here. In the 1950s, the local government established a state-owned forest farm at Zhangjiajie. In the late 1970s, Zhangjiajie's rare quartz sandstone peak forest wonders were discovered by the world and developed. On September 25, 1982, the State Planning Commission issued a document designating the forest farm's area as 'Zhangjiajie Forest Park.' Zhangjiajie became China's first national forest park.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, together with the two major nature reserves of Suoxiyu and Tianzi Mountain, which are connected as one, forms Wulingyuan, the core scenic area of Zhangjiajie. Wulingyuan is located in the middle section of the Wuling Mountains; the Wuling Mountains stretch across Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other provinces. The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei once wrote: 'Residents all live in Wulingyuan, and beyond worldly things they create fields and gardens.' In 1984, Hu Yaobang, then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, visited the area and named the three major scenic areas of Zhangjiajie, Suoxiyu, and Tianzi Mountain as 'Wulingyuan.' When prefecture-level Dayong City (now renamed Zhangjiajie) was established in 1988, a county-level administrative district of Wulingyuan was specially created, covering 369 square kilometers.
Wulingyuan has well-developed karst landforms, and its quartz sandstone peak forest and gorge landforms are even more rare in the world. In October 1988, the State Council designated Wulingyuan as a national key scenic and historic area. On December 7, 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee approved the inscription of Wulingyuan as a World Natural Heritage site on the World Heritage List. Domestic and international experts and scholars have praised Wulingyuan as a 'maze of nature' and an incredible 'monument of the Earth.' The 'Technical Evaluation Report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' stated: 'In terms of scenery, Wulingyuan can be compared with several national forest parks and monuments in the western United States. Wulingyuan possesses undeniable natural beauty. It has magnificent and jagged stone peaks, lush vegetation, and clear lakes and streams.'
In addition to the Wulingyuan core scenic area, Zhangjiajie City also has the Badagongshan Nature Reserve in Sangzhi County, the Jiutian Cave (Asia's largest cave), and Hongjiaguan, the hometown of Marshal He Long; the Taoist holy site of Wulei Mountain and Wanfu Hot Springs in Cili County; and Tianmen Mountain Forest Park in Yongding District where the city government is located, the Maoyan River which has developed rafting tourism projects, the 'Famous Jiangnan Temple' Puguang Zen Temple, Yuhuang Cave Grottoes, and more than 300 other natural and cultural scenic spots. Zhangjiajie City is also home to ethnic minorities including the Tujia, Bai, and Miao, who account for 69% of the city's total population. Various folk customs often fill domestic and international tourists with great interest and endless reverie. Surrounding Zhangjiajie City are also scenic spots such as Taohuayuan and Mengdong River, and it is also convenient to reach the Three Gorges and Guilin.
Since its development, Zhangjiajie City has basically formed a transportation network integrating water, land, and air, making entry and exit very convenient. Program-controlled and microwave communications allow direct dialing to anywhere in the world at any time. In the scenic area, supporting service projects such as the Huangshizhai cableway, Tianzi Mountain cableway, Tianzi Mountain elevated monorail tram, Suoxi Reservoir and its water recreation center, folk culture village, and shopping center are being vigorously planned and constructed.
In March 1995, Jiang Zemin, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China, visited Zhangjiajie and proposed 'building Zhangjiajie into a world-renowned tourist destination.'
The Municipal People's Government is located in Yongding District. Postal code: 427000. Code: 430800. Area code: 0744. Pinyin: zhangjiajie Shi.
Zhangjiajie City administers 2 municipal districts and 2 counties.
Zhangjiajie City covers an area of 9,518 square kilometers with a population of 1.58 million (2003).
Yongding District covers an area of 2,174 square kilometers with a population of 420,000. Postal code 427000.
Wulingyuan District covers an area of 398 square kilometers with a population of 50,000. Postal code 427400. The district people's government is located at Jundiping Subdistrict.
Cili County covers an area of 3,481 square kilometers with a population of 680,000. Postal code: 427200. The county people's government is seated in Lingyang Town.
Sangzhi County covers an area of 3,465 square kilometers with a population of 430,000. Postal code: 427100. The county people's government is seated in Liyuan Town.
In the early Ming Dynasty, Dayong Guard was established here, named so because it lay to the south (yang side) of the Yong River. In the Qing Dynasty, Yongding County was established, and in 1914, Dayong County was set up.
On May 24, 1985, the State Council approved (Guo Han [1985] No. 77) the abolition of Dayong County and the establishment of Dayong City (county-level), with the administrative area of the former Dayong County as the administrative area of Dayong City.
On May 18, 1988, the State Council approved the upgrading of Dayong City to prefecture level, the establishment of Yongding District and Wulingyuan District, and the transfer of Cili County from the former Changde City and Sangzhi County from the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture to Dayong City.
On April 4, 1994, the State Council approved (Guo Han [1994] No. 25) the renaming of Dayong City to Zhangjiajie City, named after the Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve within its territory.
In 2000, according to the data of the Fifth National Population Census: the total population of Zhangjiajie City was 1,493,115; Yongding District 405,968; Wulingyuan District 47,755; Cili County 636,659; Sangzhi County 442,733 (according to the administrative divisions of that year; unit: persons).
In 2002, the city administered 2 districts (Yongding District and Wulingyuan District) and 2 counties (Cili County and Sangzhi County), with 104 townships (towns) and offices, and 1,610 administrative villages. The total area was 9,563 square kilometers, and the year-end total population was 1,568,200, of which the ethnic minority population was 978,000.
As of December 31, 2005, Zhangjiajie City administered 2 municipal districts and 2 counties; the city had a total of 7 subdistricts, 32 towns, 47 townships, and 15 ethnic townships.
The Legend of Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie was not originally called Zhangjiajie, but Qingyan Mountain, and 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 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 flying birds are 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 Fan Li of the State of Yue in those years and hide himself in the rivers and lakes. But where should he go? Entering the Jianghuai region would be the heartland of the Liu clan; going to the fief of Liu County would not allow long-term safety; the Qinling and Ba Mountains were full of tigers and leopards, not a place for preserving life and prolonging years; to the northwest, the Xiongnu harassed the border... After thinking it over and over, there was only the south, where he could seek the immortal master Chi Songzi! In former days, Qu Yuan, the Sanlü Dafu, 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 the prince but dare not speak," and "Widely open, O Heaven's Gate! In confusion I ride the dark clouds"... He thought that there must be a fairyland on earth, and surely much joy in preserving life, so he followed in the footsteps of Chi Songzi and ascended Tianmen Mountain. Afterward, 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 propped up halfway up the mountain. Many years later, one day, a court official named Zhang Wanchong, wearing a long robe and mandarin jacket, riding in an eight-bearer sedan chair, brought his wife, children, and family up Qingyan Mountain for an outing. When he saw these seven ginkgo trees standing there like giants, he immediately conceived an evil intention and wanted to use these seven trees as the boundary to claim the whole magical land of Qingyan Mountain as his own. So he invited a carving craftsman and asked him to carve one large character on each tree. The carver carved and carved, and for seven times seven, forty-nine days, he finally carved seven large characters: "Boundary of Commandant Zhang Wanchong." After the characters were carved, Zhang Wanchong tilted his head and looked again and again. As he looked, he read, and as he read, he 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 Huangshi Zhai, and from Chaotian Guan 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 multiply and flourish on 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, wandering and homeless. One day, the hunter Zhang Jiaxiong went into the mountains to chase tigers, and happened to pass by under the seven ginkgo trees. He saw that each tree was flowing with yellow water, like a person weeping. At first Zhang Jiaxiong was astonished, not knowing why the ginkgo trees were shedding tears. Later he saw the seven large characters "Boundary of Commandant Zhang Wanchong," and only then did he suddenly understand. He immediately flew into a rage, suddenly drew his hunting knife, and with a few "chak chak" cuts changed the two characters "Wanchong" into "Jiaxiong." With a few more "chak chak" cuts, he hacked that notice board to pieces! This action of Zhang Jiaxiong was no small matter. People inside and outside the stronghold all cheered in unison, and only Zhang Wanchong was frantic with rage, stamping and roaring. 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 stronghold people. He drove the stronghold people under the ginkgo trees and declared
that he would use everyone's blood to dye those seven large characters red. Just at the critical moment, light flashed on the trees, clouds spurted from the tree openings, the branches hissed, and suddenly seven streams of yellow water, each as large as a bucket, burst from the trunks and shot straight at Zhang Wanchong's men and horses! In an instant, raging waves and giant billows, blotting out the sky and covering the earth, swept Zhang Wanchong's three hundred soldiers and horses all into the Golden Whip Stream! Seeing this scene, the stronghold people were so frightened that they hurriedly bowed and kowtowed to the ginkgo trees one by one, crying out to heaven and earth, begging heaven to protect them. At this moment, suddenly a voice came from above the clouds: "Listen, people of the stronghold: 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 White Fruit Immortal to bury him in the seabed. This place now belongs to the Zhang clan in common, to live and multiply forever and ever!" Having said this, he pointed his whisk at the seven ginkgo trees, and immediately on the seven ginkgo trees appeared seven golden shining large characters: "Fairyland on Earth Zhangjiajie." Everyone looked up and saw that the immortal had the appearance of a scholar, with a high bun on his head, wearing hemp clothing, crane-like beard and youthful face, altogether an air of immortal elegance and Daoist bearing. Among the crowd, several elders who understood learning were greatly startled at first sight and said: "Isn't that Lord Zifang, who roamed Tianmen Mountain and Qingyan Mountain together with the great immortal Chi Songzi?" Hearing this, the crowd all hurriedly 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 Huangshi Zhai. Because it was the immortal Zhang Liang who bestowed the name, afterward people called Qingyan Mountain "Zhangjiajie."
Physical Geography
Zhangjiajie City is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, at the junction of the uplifted Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the subsided Dongting Lake area, between longitude 109°40' to 111°20' east and latitude 28°52' to 29°48' north. It borders Shimen and Taoyuan Counties to the east, Yuanling County to the south, and Hefeng and Xuan'en Counties of Hubei Province to the north. The city boundary is 167 kilometers long from east to west at its longest and 96 kilometers wide from north to south at its widest. The total area of the city is 9,653 square kilometers, accounting for 4.5% of the province's area. The strata of Zhangjiajie City are complex and diverse, creating the local distinctive landscapes.
Within the urban area of Zhangjiajie, owing to the influence of many conditions such as geography, strata, structure, and climate, a colorful array of geomorphological wonders has been formed. In terms of terrain, Zhangjiajie City borders the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the west, faces Dongting Lake to the east, adjoins the mountainous area of western Hubei to the north, and connects with the Xuefeng Mountains to the south. Its general terrain is: low in the southeast and central parts, high around the periphery, and along both banks of the Li River there are also patches of alluvial soil plains. Within the city, throughout the four seasons, the climate is mild, rainfall is abundant, and streams are well developed. The waters of each stream all converge into the Li River, and then flow from west to east all the way into the eight-hundred-li Dongting Lake. In the lake, sediments tens to hundreds of meters thick have been deposited. Contrary to Dongting Lake, from east to west the terrain gradually rises again, and by the central section of the city, high mountains and steep ridges such as Tianmen Mountain and Qixing Mountain, with elevations of more than 1,500 meters, appear. There are high mountains and steep ridges, and there are also low valleys and plains; this is the unique fluvial erosion landform of this region.
The extremely thick quartz sandstone in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area has a gentle attitude, so that the rock layers cannot slide and collapse along weak planes of bedding, and it overlies the flexible shale of the Silurian system. Under the action of gravity, the rigid quartz sandstone developed vertical joints, and under the intense erosive action of water flow, the rock layers not only disintegrated and collapsed, with the water carrying away debris, but what remained in place formed the majestic, strange, perilous, beautiful, secluded, and expansive peaks of every bizarre shape, which are the main body of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The Wutai Mountain scenic spot in Cili County is likewise composed of quartz sandstone of the same horizon, and the attitude of the rock layers is also gentle. The top of Wutai Mountain is covered by yellow-green shale and marl, which is an aquiclude system that can protect the underlying sandstone from fluvial erosion.
Fluvial Erosion Landform
Another prominent manifestation in the city area is that due to crustal uplift, the downward cutting action of streams increased, and there was not enough time to widen the river channels, so the river valleys formed gorges and canyons. The valley floors of the rivers are extremely narrow and linear, with steep walls on both sides and many rapids and swift waters. The source of the Li River, the upper reaches of the Lou River, and the Maoyan River section in Zhangjiajie City are examples of this kind of river valley landform.
Karst Landform
In recent years, academia also calls it karst landform, and it is another prominent feature of Zhangjiajie's geomorphology. It accounts for about forty percent of the city's area, and its types, whether surface or underground, have fully developed deposits, making it a component part of the karst terrain development area in northwestern Hunan. Most of Sangzhi County and Cili County, and the southeastern parts of Wulingyuan District and Yongding District, are areas where this terrain has developed. Surface karst features such as karren, solution grooves, stone buds, dry valleys, stone hills, and stone ridges can be seen throughout the city, but stone forests are rarely seen in the urban area. In the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, some individual stone pillars can be seen, but they seldom form forests. In the northwestern Hunan region, only in Xiaopaiwu, Huayuan County of the Autonomous Prefecture, is there a patch of stone forest, commonly known as the "Stone Fence," which is quite eye-catching and also attracts many tourists and scholars for sightseeing and investigation.
Underground karst caves and karst deposit forms. In Zhangjiajie, these can truly be called unsurpassed. As for the scale of its caves, the Jiutian Cave in Sangzhi County can be listed as a member cave of the World Cave Society, and it truly deserves the resounding title of the Number One Cave in Asia, showing that it is no ordinary place. Jiutian Cave and Huanglong Cave in Wulingyuan District are representatives of Zhangjiajie's underground karst terrain. They integrate caves, cave rivers, underground rivers, sinkholes, and funnels into one. The karst deposits inside the caves, such as stalactites, stalagmites, and stone columns, are even more varied and ever-changing. It can be said that whatever you think of, they resemble it, greatly expanding the space for visitors' imagination, and often making it very difficult for people to find appropriate words and language to praise her.
Zhangjiajie City is located in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountains. The Wuling Mountains branch into Zhangjiajie City from Yunwu Mountain in Guizhou, and then divide into three branches. The northern branch enters Sangzhi County under the city's jurisdiction from Laifeng and Longshan in Hubei, including Lishan, Guiying Mountain, and Qinglong Mountain; the central branch along the north of the Li River includes Tianxing Mountain, Hongxi Mountain, Chaotian Mountain, Qingyan Mountain, and Maohua Jie. The southern branch runs between the Li River and the Yuan River, including Qixing Mountain, Chong Mountain, and Tianmen Mountain, and extends into Dalong Mountain and Tianhe Mountain in Cili County. All three branches disappear when they reach the alluvial plain of Dongting Lake in the east.
Within Zhangjiajie City, mountains overlap and the surface rises and falls greatly. The highest point is 1,890.4 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is 75 meters above sea level. Zhangjiajie has three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters. Most of Zhangjiajie's mountains rise straight from the ground. On the mountains, the peaks are steep and the rocks are strange, sometimes exquisite and beautiful, sometimes towering and terrifying, sometimes flat and spread out like a platform, sometimes lean and strong like a sword. Zhangjiajie has both the colorful wonders of karst landforms and the world-rare wonders of sandstone peak forests.
Wuling Mountains
Occupying the northwestern corner of Hunan, it is the eastern extension of Yunwu Mountain of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The mountain system extends in a northeast direction, with the arc top protruding to the northwest, an uplift of the Neocathaysian tectonic belt, with an elevation of about 1,000 meters. The peaks maintain a certain flat surface, and the mountain forms show the characteristics of flat tops, steep slopes, and deep valleys. The highest peak, Huping Mountain, is 2,098.7 meters above sea level. The Wuling Mountains' mountainland and plateau landforms developed from Guan southward and divide into 3 branches. Northern branch: distributed along the Hunan, Sichuan, and Hubei border, including Bamian Mountain, Badagong Mountain, Qinglong Mountain, Dongshan Peak, and Huping Mountain; central branch: along the north side of the main stream of the Li River, including Tianxing Mountain, Hongxing Mountain, Chaotian Mountain, Zhangjiajie, and Baiyun Mountain; southern branch: extending from Guizhou Province into Hunan Province, including La'er Mountain, Yangfeng Mountain, Tianmen Mountain, Dalong Mountain, and Liutai Mountain, which is the main range of the Wuling Mountains and the watershed between the Li River and the Yuan River. The above three branches all disappear in the Dongting Lake Plain. The Wuling Mountains run through western Hunan Province and form a barrier to east-west traffic, but in some local sections there are lower mountain passes, such as Dongkou and other places, which constitute corridors for east-west traffic.
Tianmen Mountain
Tianmen Mountain was called Yunmeng Mountain in ancient times, and was also known as Yuping Mountain. It is located 10 kilometers south of the urban area of Zhangjiajie. In 263 AD, because of the collapse of the mountain cliff, a gate-like opening formed in the upper part of the mountain body, connecting north and south. During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Xiu, King of Wu, considered it auspicious and bestowed the name "Tianmen Mountain." Tianmen Cave is located on a sheer cliff at an elevation of more than 1,260 meters. The cave opening is 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and more than 60 meters deep. According to geological experts' research, the center of the cave opening is the intersection of east-west rock strata in a syncline, and compression caused the rock to break and collapse, finally forming the cave opening in 263. Tianmen Mountain is 1,517.9 meters above sea level. Because its relative height difference with the urban area below the mountain reaches more than 1,300 meters, it appears especially tall and upright, and the beauty of its skyline can be regarded as typical of mountains.
Tianzi Mountain
Tianzi Mountain is located in the northern part of Wulingyuan. It starts from Shenzhen Pavilion in the east and ends at General Rock in the west, stretching nearly 40 kilometers. To the south is Zhangjiajie, and to the southeast it connects with Suoxiyu, and it is one of the three major scenic areas of Wulingyuan. Tianzi Mountain covers an area of 67 square kilometers. The highest point, Kun Peak, is 1,262 meters above sea level, and the lowest point, Sinan Yu, is 534 meters above sea level. Tianzi Mountain is located in the hinterland of Wulingyuan, with high terrain, and scenery can be viewed from all sides. It has such features as a long line of sight, broad picture, and rich layers of scenery. Some people evaluate it: "Who truly knows Wulingyuan?" It has many peaks, high peaks, and steep peaks; truly there are peaks beyond peaks and peaks within peaks. Tianzi Mountain has long been known for its four great wonders: clouds and mist, moon and sunset glow, white sun, and winter snow.
Badagong Mountain
The Badagong Mountain Nature Reserve is 85 kilometers from the county seat of Sangzhi. It dominates the northern end of the Wuling Mountains and the source of the Li River. Its main peak, Doupeng Mountain, is 1,890 meters above sea level, the summit of the Wuling Mountains. The scenic area consists of five major forest areas: Doupeng Mountain, Shanmu Jie, and Tianping Mountain, with a total area of 44,900 hectares. It is a national-level nature reserve and the largest and best-preserved primeval forest in the region south of the Yangtze River in China.
Yuanjiajie
Yuanjiajie is located at the northern foot of Shandao Gully, in the core of Zhangjiajie World Natural Heritage, at an elevation of more than 1,000 meters. It is surrounded by steep cliffs and stands amid the Wuling mountain area, just like a high platform suddenly rising from the ground. It is a huge and relatively gentle mountain mainly composed of quartzite.
Huangshizhai
Huangshi Zhai is also called Huangshi Stronghold, originally named Huangsi Zhai or Huangshi Zhai. It was named because in ancient times a Daoist named Huangshigong lived in seclusion here. It is the essence of the Zhangjiajie tourist area, and there has long been a saying: "If you do not climb Huangshi Zhai, your trip to Zhangjiajie is in vain." It is more than 1,200 meters above sea level and is 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, Southern Heaven 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 viewing platform suspended in the air.
River System
Within Zhangjiajie City, streams and rivers crisscross. The water system is mainly composed of the Li River and the Lou River. The main stream of the Li River above Nancha in Sangzhi County has three sources: north, central, and south. The northern source is the main trunk, originating in Shanmu Jie, Sangzhi County; the central source comes from the eastern foot of Badagong Mountain; the southern source comes from Longjiazhai, Yongshun County. The three sources converge at Longjiangkou and then flow south through Sangzhi County, Yongding District, Cili County... and finally into Dongting Lake. The length of the main stream flowing through the whole city is 313 kilometers, and the basin area is 8,135 square kilometers. Multiple reservoirs have been built within the territory, providing sufficient sources for local water use and electricity use.
The Loushui River is the largest tributary of the Lishui River. It originates in Hefeng, Hubei Province, and flows southeast through Sangzhi and Cili before emptying into the Lishui River. Its main stream has a total length of 250 kilometers, with a drainage area of 2,565 square kilometers within the city. The river winds through limestone high mountains and deep valleys, with exposed bedrock and steep, rapid currents; 80% of the entire river lies within gorge areas. With a total drop of over 400 meters, it is the river with the richest water flow resources in Hunan Province. In addition, some rivers within the territory flow toward the Yuanshui River, with a drainage area of 1,428 square kilometers. Within the city, there are 212 rivers larger than 5 square kilometers, including 48 first-level tributaries, 101 second-level tributaries, 54 third-level tributaries, and 8 fourth-level tributaries.
Lishui River System
The Lishui River is one of the four major rivers in Hunan Province, located in the northwestern part of Hunan, with its basin spanning both Hunan and Hubei provinces. The main stream of the Lishui River has three sources: north, middle, and south, with the north source being the primary one. The north source originates from Shanmu Jie in Sangzhi County, Hunan Province; the middle source originates from the eastern foot of Badagong Mountain in Sangzhi County; and the south source originates from Longjiazhai in Yongshun County, Hunan Province. The three sources converge at Nancha in Sangzhi County and then flow eastward. Along the way, it receives tributaries such as the Loushui, Xieshui, Daoshui, and Censhui rivers, and empties into Dongting Lake at Xiaodukou in Jinshi City. The main stream has a total length of 388 kilometers, with a drainage area of 18,496 square kilometers (15,505 square kilometers in Hunan), and an average annual runoff of 13.12 billion cubic meters.
Precipitation
The Verdant Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie City belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with concentrated rainfall and abundant precipitation. The average annual number of precipitation days is 150-180 days. In winter, it is often controlled by cold air masses moving south from Siberia and Mongolia, with frequent cold waves bringing rain, snow, ice, and frost. In summer, the warm, moist air masses blowing from the south are blocked and lifted by the mountain ranges, turning into updrafts that easily condense into clouds and produce rain. In summer and autumn, under the control of the subtropical high, high temperatures and extreme heat often occur, and some areas frequently experience heavy precipitation due to the influence of tropical depression and typhoon weather systems. At the turn of spring and summer, during the transitional period when cold and warm air masses meet, frequent frontal and cyclonic activity causes overcast, damp, and rainy weather.
(1) Annual Distribution of Precipitation
Precipitation is distributed very unevenly throughout the year and tends to be concentrated within a few months, which basically determine whether a year is wet or dry. The continuous maximum four-month precipitation occurs from May to August, accounting for 58% of the annual total. Precipitation during the flood season (April to September) accounts for 73% of the annual total. The maximum monthly precipitation accounts for 19% of the annual total. The minimum monthly precipitation occurs in December or January, and the maximum monthly average precipitation is about 10 times the minimum monthly average precipitation.
(2) Rainstorms
Influenced by the geographical environment and climate, rainstorms occur every year within the city. The area above Liangshuikou in Sangzhi County is a well-known rainstorm center, with a multi-year average 24-hour rainfall of 135.9 millimeters and a multi-year average 3-day precipitation of 194.2 millimeters. In recorded measurements, the Liangshuikou Station recorded a 24-hour precipitation of 414.7 millimeters (July 20, 1998) and a 3-day precipitation of 671.4 millimeters (July 20, 1998), which is currently the largest rainstorm record.
Zhangjiajie is located at the mid-northern latitude and belongs to the mid-subtropical mountain-type monsoon humid climate, with abundant light and heat, ample rainfall, a long frost-free period, a short severe cold period, and four distinct seasons. The average annual sunshine, temperature, and precipitation over the years are approximately 1,440 hours, 16 degrees, and 1,400 millimeters respectively, and the average annual frost-free period ranges from 216 to 269 days. Such a climate is conducive to the comprehensive development of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline production, and fisheries. However, influenced by factors such as topography and landforms, the climate within the territory is complex and changeable, and natural disasters such as droughts, floods, strong winds, and hail are also relatively frequent.
Spring (March-May) Temperatures: 5.8°C, 11.4°C, 16.1°C. Spring is enchanting and smiling—flower viewing, spring outings
Summer (May-August) Temperatures: 19.7°C, 23.3°C, 22.2°C. Summer is verdant and dripping—summer retreats, rafting
Autumn (September-December) Temperatures: 17.9°C, 13.9°C, 8.7°C. Autumn is clear and washed—fruit appreciation, mountain climbing
Winter (December-February) Temperatures: 3.4°C, 0.7°C, 1.3°C. Winter is pure and sleeping—snow viewing, plum blossom seeking
The urban area of Zhangjiajie is at an elevation of 183 meters, while the scenic area has an average elevation of 1,000 meters. Due to this difference, the temperature variation between day and night can reach 10°C.
Biological Resources
Zhangjiajie is a treasure trove of biological resources. Within the area, there are 850 species of woody plants in 320 genera and 106 families, and 146 species of vertebrates. Among them are 56 species of nationally protected plants and 40 species of nationally protected animals. Rare tree species include ginkgo, dove tree, Chinese yew, and cherry blossoms; precious medicinal herbs include lingzhi, gastrodia, fleeceflower root, and eucommia; rare animals include the giant salamander, unicorn, serow, South China tiger, clouded leopard, macaque, and civet.
Forest Resources
Zhangjiajie City is rich in forest resources, with a total of 1,012 mu of forestry land, accounting for 71%. The forest coverage rate reaches 64.61%, ranking first in the province. The city has implemented projects for "beautification, illumination, and purification," with 1.55 square meters of green space per capita, making it an ideal ecological tourism area and international resort.
Mineral Resources
Due to the special conditions of strata and structure, the minerals in Zhangjiajie are mainly sedimentary minerals, including coal, iron, nickel, and molybdenum, followed by lead, zinc, and copper formed by low-temperature hydrothermal processes. Non-metallic minerals include limestone, dolomite, marble, fluorite, barite, and silica (quartz), as well as mineral water. In short, from a scientific and industrial perspective, clay and stone minerals can be used to make bricks and tiles, and sand and gravel minerals can be used to build bridges and high-rise buildings. Anything that can be utilized and can serve the construction of the national economy is a useful mineral resource and should be cherished and protected, even though its value may vary. The quartz sandstone that formed the peculiar sandstone peak forest landform of Wulingyuan Scenic Area is itself a mineral resource. Its silicon dioxide content reaches 90% to 99.06%, making it a high-quality raw material for producing quartz glass. Whether to mine it as ore or preserve its peak forest landscape—I think people will undoubtedly choose the latter without hesitation, because the value of the latter is simply incalculable.
Tourism Resources
Zhangjiajie City is extremely rich in tourism resources, with numerous scenic areas and attractions. These include China's first national forest park, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; Suoxiyu Nature Reserve; Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve; Hunan Badagong Mountain National Nature Reserve, one of China's first batch of 20 national nature reserves and one of the first batch of 45 network members of China's Man and the Biosphere Reserve Network; Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park; the provincial-level scenic areas of Tianmen Mountain and Maoyan River; the "Underground Pearl" Yellow Dragon Cave; the "Earthly Jade Pool" Baofeng Lake; the Nine Heavens Cave, known as a wonder of the world's karst caves and the number one cave in Asia; the "Famous Jiangnan Temple" Puguang Zen Temple; the "Daoist Sacred Site" Wulei Mountain; and revolutionary memorial sites such as the He Long Memorial Hall, the departure point of the Red Second Front Army's Long March, and the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base Memorial Hall, among others.
Historical Evolution
Zhangjiajie was originally named Dayong and was the location of the ancient Yong State. As early as the late primitive society, ancestors had already begun to live and multiply along the banks of the Lishui River. By the time of Yao and Shun, "Shun exiled Huandou to Chongshan to transform the Southern Barbarians," and thus the term "Southern Barbarians" came into being in Chinese history. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang established commanderies and counties, and the Zhangjiajie area belonged to Cigu County of Qianzhong Commandery, with the county seat at Guanta Ping in Cili County (now Taiping Village, Jiangjiaping Township). In the sixth year of Yong'an of Emperor Jing of Wu in the Three Kingdoms period (264 AD), Songliang County was named Tianmen Mountain, and Tianmen Commandery was established. Through the Western and Eastern Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it belonged to Louzhong and Linli counties of Tianmen Commandery. In 1369, the Ming Dynasty established Dayong County, and in the thirteenth year of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1735 AD), Yongding County was established.
In May 1988, with the approval of the State Council, the prefecture-level city of Dayong was established under provincial jurisdiction. In April 1994, the prefecture-level Dayong City was renamed Zhangjiajie City. Zhangjiajie City is named after Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is renowned both at home and abroad.
Zhangjiajie City has a long history. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the area belonged to Jingchu. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was part of the Qianzhong region of Chu. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang established commanderies and counties, and in the Lishui and Yuanshui basins, he established Qianzhong Commandery, the first administrative region within present-day Hunan, which was one of the thirty-six commanderies of the country at that time. The two districts and two counties of present-day Zhangjiajie City were all under its jurisdiction.
During the Western Han period, in addition to establishing commanderies and counties at the local level, kingdoms were also enfeoffed, implementing a system of interlocking commanderies and kingdoms. In the fifth year of Gaozu of the Western Han (202 BC, the year of Jihai in the lunar calendar), when Liu Bang was on the throne, he ordered the division of Qianzhong Commandery into Wuling Commandery, and the splitting of Cigu County into Chanling and Chong County (including the present Yongding and Wulingyuan districts and Sangzhi County).
During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Xiu, Emperor Jing of Wu, in the sixth year of Yong'an (263 AD, the year of Guiwei in the lunar calendar), saw the cave gate of Songliang Mountain open wide and bright like a gate, and considered it auspicious. He then changed Songliang Mountain to Tianmen Mountain and simultaneously changed Wuling Commandery to Tianmen Commandery.
During the Tang Dynasty, the country was divided into ten circuits. Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, in the fourth year of Wude (621 AD, the year of Xinsi in the lunar calendar), ordered the establishment of Lizhou and Liyang Commandery, under Shannan Circuit, governing six counties. Cili and Chongyi County (the present Yongding and Wulingyuan districts and Sangzhi County) were under its jurisdiction.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960 AD), the entire territory of present-day Zhangjiajie was under the jurisdiction of the Chu State.
During the Song Dynasty, in order to strengthen centralization of power, the Song Dynasty reorganized the country into twenty-three circuits, with prefectures, states, and military garrisons under the circuits. Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, in the first year of Qiande (963 AD, the year of Guihai in the lunar calendar), ordered the entire territory of present-day Zhangjiajie City to be placed under Liyang Commandery, called Cili County, and established Anfu Fort in present-day Sangzhi County, Wukou Fort in present-day Dayongsuo of Yongding District, and Suokou Fort in Wulingyuan District.
During the Yuan Dynasty, eleven provinces were established throughout the country. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, ordered in the fourteenth year of Zhiyuan (1277 AD, the year of Dingchou in the lunar calendar) the establishment of the Lizhou Route General Administration, governing four counties (Cili being one of them, namely the entire territory of present-day Zhangjiajie City), and established the Maogang Marshal's Office in present-day Maogang of Yongding District.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Ming court abolished the Yuan Dynasty's branch secretariats and established thirteen provincial administration commissions throughout the country, implementing provincial-level civil and financial administration. In the second year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1369 AD, the year of Jiyou in the lunar calendar), Cili Prefecture was downgraded and changed to Dayong County, under the jurisdiction of Lizhou.
During the Qing Dynasty, twenty-three provinces were established throughout the country, with prefectures, states, and counties below. In the eighth year of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1730 AD, the year of Gengxu in the lunar calendar), the Sangzhi and Maogang native chieftains successively underwent the replacement of native officials with appointed ones, and Lizhou was elevated to a directly administered prefecture, governing four counties including Anxiang, Shimen, and Cili. At the same time, Yongding and Jiuxi garrisons were abolished, and Anfu County was newly established (the present Yongding and Wulingyuan districts and Cili and Sangzhi counties all belonged to Anfu County at that time). During the Republic of China period, three circuits and sixty counties were initially established under the province, and later the circuits were abolished and "Administrative Inspector Commissioner Offices" were established.
During the Qing Dynasty, twenty-three provinces were established throughout the country, with prefectures, states, and counties below. In the eighth year of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1730 AD, the year of Gengxu in the lunar calendar), the Sangzhi and Maogang native chieftains successively underwent the replacement of native officials with appointed ones, and Lizhou was elevated to a directly administered prefecture, governing four counties including Anxiang, Shimen, and Cili. At the same time, Yongding and Jiuxi garrisons were abolished, and Anfu County was newly established (the present Yongding and Wulingyuan districts and Cili and Sangzhi counties all belonged to Anfu County at that time). During the Republic of China period, three circuits and sixty counties were initially established under the province, and later the circuits were abolished and "Administrative Inspector Commissioner Offices" were established.
In the fifth year of the Republic of China (1916 AD, the year of Bingchen in the lunar calendar), Hunan Province abolished Wuling Circuit and placed Dayong, Sangzhi, and Cili counties under Chenyuan Circuit. The entire province of Hunan was reorganized into 10 administrative inspector districts. Dayong and Sangzhi belonged to the Fourth Inspector District, with the commissioner's office located in Changde.
In 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded, and the entire territory of Zhangjiajie City was liberated. From that year to 1988, Cili County was under the jurisdiction of Changde Prefecture.
From October 16, 1949 to August 1952, Dayong and Sangzhi counties were under the jurisdiction of Yongshun Prefecture, and after that month were placed under the jurisdiction of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region and the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
In May 1985, the State Council approved the abolition of Dayong County and the establishment of Dayong City (county-level).
From 1988 to 1990, with the approval of the State Council, the prefecture-level city of Dayong was established.
On April 4, 1994, with the approval of the State Council, Dayong City was renamed Zhangjiajie City, governing the two districts of Yongding and Wulingyuan and the two counties of Cili and Sangzhi.
Having passed through history, through yesterday, through the primitive and the ancient, bidding farewell to stone-paved roads, to stilted houses, to isolation and backwardness. A thousand-year-old city, with countless changes. The former Tianmen Commandery has become today's new tourism city, a frontier stronghold for building Hunan into a major tourism province, a "China Tourism Reserve Base," and the political, economic, and cultural center of the entire city. Looking to the future, Zhangjiajie combines ancient civilization with modern atmosphere, forging its own national soul.
Local Customs and Traditions
Ku Jia (Crying Marriage)
For Tujia girls, the joyous day of marriage is welcomed with the sound of weeping. The bride begins crying more than half a month before the wedding; some cry for over a month, and at the very least, three to five days. The Tujia people also regard the ability to sing the Ku Jia songs as a mark of a woman's wisdom and virtue. The Ku Jia songs include 'Crying for Parents,' 'Crying for Brothers and Sisters-in-law,' 'Crying for Uncles,' 'Crying for Sisters,' 'Crying for the Matchmaker,' 'Crying While Combing Hair,' 'Crying While Putting on Flowers,' 'Crying to Take Leave of Father and Mother,' 'Crying to Take Leave of Ancestors,' 'Crying on the Sedan Chair,' and so on. Ku Jia originated from the lack of freedom in women's marriage; through the songs of Ku Jia, they protested against the oppressive marriage system. Today, marriage is free. Tujia girls still perform Ku Jia at their weddings, but now it is merely a ritual.
Ku Jia Songs
The 'Ku Jia Songs' are customary folk songs of the Tujia people. In the month before her marriage, a girl must sing the 'Ku Jia Songs,' using her voice to recount the unfortunate fate of Tujia women under the feudal comprador marriage system and her deep attachment to her loved ones. According to custom, the girl must cry and sing for seven days to half a month, and at most for a full month, until her voice becomes hoarse from crying.
The crying and singing format of the 'Ku Jia Songs' is structured according to the progression of the wedding, divided into two types: 'solo crying and singing' and 'duet crying and singing.' In 'solo crying and singing,' the girl weeps as she recounts her own fate, cries and sings of her ancestors, her parents' nurturing grace, the affection of brothers, sisters-in-law, and sisters, as well as lamenting the evils of feudal marriage and the deceitful, hateful deeds of the matchmaker. For example, 'Crying for Father':
In the sky many stars but the moon is dim, Father has taken great pains for me. Father's grace is beyond words, When I bring it up, words fail me. First, you feared we would go hungry; Second, you feared we would fall ill; Third, you feared our clothes would look worse than others', Toiling under the stars and moon with tireless care. Fourth, you feared we would lack education, So you sent us to school to study, Raising your daughter to adulthood, Spending money and rice with deep grace.
From one foot five inches you raised your daughter, Almost holding her in your mouth; Through hard years and long days, Enduring cold and hunger with tireless heart! Your daughter was mistakenly born with the fate of a rapeseed, Wasting all your pain and care; Now I leave my parents behind, My heart aches and tears stream down! As a daughter I cannot fulfill filial duty to both parents, Cannot care for them throughout their lives; A lamp lit in water gives no light, I have lived in this world in vain!
Huan Gu Zhong (Returning the Bone Seed)
The Tujia people practice monogamy. Before Liberation, there were customs of cross-cousin marriage and levirate marriage. Cross-cousin marriage, also called 'Huan Gu Zhong' (Returning the Bone Seed), was quite common among the Tujia, with the saying: 'A girl from the aunt's family can be taken by reaching out a hand; one from the uncle's family requires calling across the river.'
Tian Fang Hun (Levirate Marriage)
Tian Fang Hun refers to the custom whereby a deceased elder brother's wife is taken by the younger brother, or a deceased younger brother's wife is taken by the elder brother. This was a form of forced marriage, strictly prohibited after the founding of the People's Republic.
Rules on Same-Surname Marriage
The Tujia people are very cautious about same-surname marriage, permitting it only between those of the same surname but different clans or beyond the five degrees of mourning. Marriage within the five degrees of mourning is considered a grave transgression. In fact, to this day, even same-surname marriages that conform to Tujia marriage rules are still not accepted by most Tujia people.
In Tujia history, marriage was relatively free. After free courtship, a man and woman could become husband and wife with the consent of both sets of parents. In places such as Shiyao and Dashanding in Enshi, there was the custom of the 'Daughter's Fair,' held on the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month each year, where young men and women could freely court and choose lifelong partners. After the policy of 'Gai Tu Gui Liu' (replacing native rule with central governance), the Tujia were forced to practice arranged marriages by parental command and matchmaker's word. The Qing Dynasty Qianlong-era 'Hefeng County Gazetteer' records: 'As for choosing a son-in-law, it is decided by the grandparents and parents, without asking whether the girl consents. If the girl is shameless enough to say she does not consent, she may be punished according to law; once betrothed, she may never change.'
Gan Nian (Rushing the New Year)
The Tujia people have a unique custom for their reunion New Year celebration: if the twelfth lunar month has thirty days, they celebrate on the twenty-ninth; if it has twenty-nine days, they celebrate on the twenty-eighth. The Tujia call celebrating one day early 'Gan Nian' (Rushing the New Year).
Ming Zi (Bestowing the Courtesy Name)
Ming Zi, commonly known as taking a courtesy name: the man often uses a red-lacquered wooden plaque with golden characters to welcome the bride. On the day before the wedding, relatives and friends beat drums and play music as they deliver the wooden plaque to the groom's home. The father leads the groom to bow and receive it, called 'bowing to the name plaque.' After bowing, the plaque is hung on the hall wall, called 'raising the name plaque.' Raising the name plaque requires three rounds of blowing and three rounds of drumming, with firecrackers and music. After the firecrackers, a banquet is set in the hall, with nine young boys plus the groom making ten, called the 'Ten Brothers Escort,' and among the ten, the groom is called the 'Zhuangyuan Lang' (Top Scholar).
Jiu Zi Bian (Nine-Son Whip)
The Jiu Zi Bian, also called the 'Heavenly God Whip,' is popular among the Han, Bai, and Tujia peoples, and is especially beloved by the Bai people. They place their hopes for happiness and good fortune in the gods, and to please the gods and seek their blessing, they cut purple bamboo from deep mountains, bore holes at the top, and insert nine copper coins inside. The whip is about 1 to 1.5 meters long, sized to fit the holder's grip, decorated with tassels and red silk, purple with a touch of red, very eye-catching. The Jiu Zi Bian can be danced solo or in groups, from as few as one person to as many as a hundred. Performers hold the whip rod and dance continuously to the accompaniment of suona horns. Techniques include one-handed tapping, two-handed flower dancing, and twirling. At times they tap the outer or inner side of the foot, and at other times lightly strike the shoulder or arm, with movements both graceful and bold. As the whip rod dances, the ancient coins clink against each other, producing a rhythmic and melodious sound. Movements include 'Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers,' 'Sisters Meeting,' 'Snowflakes Covering the Roof,' 'Blocking the Door Left and Right,' 'Crab Clamping Grass,' and others.
Tujia Sacrificial Rites
The Tujia people worship the Earth God to pray that the Earth God, as the lord of the land, will bless them with abundant harvests and thriving livestock, as well as protect the village's peace and ward off evil. The Tujia hold the Earth God in great reverence; every village and settlement in Tujia areas has one or more Earth God temples, which can be seen everywhere. Earth God temples come in many forms, from those carefully built of marble to simple ones made of four rough boards or built against mountain caves and rock shelters.
Gao Hua Deng (Tall Flower Lantern)
The Gao Hua Deng is a dance with rich ethnic characteristics popular in the Yongding and Yuanguping areas. It is performed by twelve to fourteen people, accompanied by gongs, cymbals, suona horns, drums, and other instruments. Each performer holds a paper lantern containing two lit candles, with a wooden idol figure mounted on top, and colored paper cutouts depicting opera stories such as 'The Eight Immortals,' 'Wagang Fortress,' and 'Heroes of Liangshan.' The Gao Hua Deng performance follows a set program, requiring entry from the east and exit from the west, forming a 'Half Moon' on entry, a 'Full Moon' on exit, and dancing a 'Taiji Diagram.' It can also be performed inside people's homes, called 'Votive Lanterns,' mostly for blessings, fulfilling vows, or adding festivity to a family celebration. Shouting and whistling can only be done in outdoor performances, called 'Crowd Lanterns,' meant for everyone to watch.
Baishou Dance (Hand-Waving Dance)
The Baishou Dance is the most influential large-scale dance of the Tujia people, with strong sacrificial overtones. Songs arise with the dance, and the dance takes its name from the songs. The Baishou Dance is also called 'Sheba.' The entire activity takes the form of ceremonial dances and singing, with content recounting human origins, ethnic migrations, and heroic deeds. After the sacrificial ceremony, the 'Tima' or master ritualist leads everyone into the Baishou Hall or Baishou Ground to dance the Baishou Dance and sing Baishou songs. The Tujia performed this dance before battle to boost morale. The Baishou Dance has several types: single wave, double wave, grand hand-waving, and small hand-waving. The dance is performed with large drums and gongs, creating a magnificent and stirring momentum. Dancers swing both hands to the same side, kicking feet and waving hands, advancing and retreating gracefully in pairs, with vivid imagery. The Baishou Dance is not only a folk recreational and fitness activity but also a unique artistic treasure on stage, truly: 'In front of the Baishou Hall many a lively gathering, Hand in hand and sleeve to sleeve, singing slowly. Gong and drum sounds mingle with murmuring voices, Lingering echoes of ho-yi-ho.'
San Bang Gu (Three-Stick Drum)
Sanbanggu, called Sanzhanggu in the Tang Dynasty, was introduced to this region around the Ming Dynasty and gradually became a popular folk art form. Every Spring Festival, performers travel together from village to village to pay New Year calls, visiting every household regardless of wealth. If they encounter a poor family, the performers give them gifts received from other families, meaning everyone should enjoy the festival. This fully reflects the Tujia people's warm hospitality and kind-hearted national character, and plays a certain role in strengthening unity among ethnic groups. Sanbanggu usually consists of three to five people: one beats the drum and sings lyrics, one plays gongs and drums for accompaniment, and one juggles flower sticks. There are three flower sticks, each one chi long; the dancer holds one in each hand and throws the third into the air, striking the airborne flower stick from left and right to keep it from falling. There are also skills using knives instead of sticks, or five knives instead of three sticks. Steel knives dance in the air, gleaming silver, shuttling left and right. Highly skilled performers suddenly throw the knife extremely high, then perform a leaping kick, turn and swing outward, and continue catching and tossing the knife, dazzling the audience and making them marvel. Playing the Three-Stick Drum usually has four sets: 'Celebrating Spring Plowing', 'Harvesting and Threshing', 'Celebrating a Bountiful Harvest', and 'New Year Greetings', divided into items such as 'Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate', 'Jade Maiden Shuttling', and 'Slate Drifting Over Rapids'. Playing the Three-Stick Drum is highly technical; during the performance, one must be highly focused, apply appropriate force, and maintain a continuous flow, while also coordinating tacitly with the singer.
Other Customs
Before the 'Gai Tu Gui Liu' policy, the Tujia had the custom of 'carrying the bride on the back,' where the bride was carried to the groom's home by her relatives. After 'Gai Tu Gui Liu,' the bride was carried on her relatives' backs to the main gate, then either rode a sedan chair or walked. Whether riding or walking, she had to wear 'dew clothes.' The Tujia's gate-blocking ritual at weddings is unique. When a Tujia young man and woman marry, each side appoints an eloquent person as chief steward. The groom's chief steward (also called the road supervisor) leads the wedding party to the bride's home to fetch the bride. The bride's side places a table outside the main gate, and the two chief stewards sing or speak in competition. If the groom's steward wins by singing or speaking, the table is moved aside and he is allowed through the gate; if he loses, he must crawl under the table.
After the Tujia bride and groom bow in the hall, they both rush to the bridal chamber to grab a seat on the new bed, commonly called 'Seizing the Bed.' The custom is usually for the man to sit on the left and the woman on the right, with the bed's center line as the boundary. A clever bride often rushes to sit on the center line to symbolize her future status in the family. The groom is equally unwilling to yield, trying to squeeze the bride off the line, and neither gives way until the groom lifts the bride's veil; the bride then smiles sweetly, and the bed-seizing ends, after which the couple drinks the cross-cupped wine together. Three days after the wedding, the Tujia couple returns to the bride's family, commonly called 'Hui Men' (Returning to the Door), usually returning the same day.
Economic Overview
In 2008, the city achieved a GDP of 18.398 billion yuan, an increase of 13.2% over the previous year, achieving double-digit growth for six consecutive years. The growth rate was 4.2 and 0.4 percentage points faster than the national and provincial rates respectively, ranking 7th in the province and first in the Xiangxi region, and 1.6 percentage points faster than the average growth rate of the Xiangxi region. By industry, the added values of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were 3.144 billion yuan, 4.287 billion yuan, and 10.966 billion yuan respectively, growing by 5.8%, 8.4%, and 16.8%, with contribution rates to economic growth of 6.7%, 15.1%, and 78.2%. The industrial structure adjusted from 16.8:23.8:59.4 the previous year to 17.1:23.3:59.6. By quarter, the economic growth rates for the first quarter, first half, and first three quarters were 4%, 11.1%, and 12.6% respectively, showing an accelerating trend quarter by quarter. Calculated by permanent resident population, the city's per capita GDP was 12,337 yuan (equivalent to 1,776 US dollars), an increase of 12.6% over the previous year.
Yongding District achieved a GDP of 7.565 billion yuan, an increase of 14% over the previous year; Wulingyuan District achieved a GDP of 1.653 billion yuan, a decrease of 4%; Cili County achieved a GDP of 5.558 billion yuan, an increase of 13.3%; Sangzhi County achieved a GDP of 2.868 billion yuan, an increase of 13.1%.
The city achieved an industrial added value of 3.242 billion yuan, an increase of 13.3% over the previous year. At the end of the year, the city had 104 large-scale industrial enterprises, 6 more than the previous year, with a total added value of 2.532 billion yuan for the year, an increase of 15.8%.
The city completed fixed asset investment of 7.398 billion yuan, an increase of 16.8% over the previous year, of which non-state-owned economic investment accounted for 57.1%.
The city achieved total retail sales of consumer goods of 5.89 billion yuan, an increase of 19.8% over the previous year.
The city signed 10 foreign investment contracts, with contracted foreign investment of 56 million US dollars, a decrease of 61.9% over the previous year; actual utilized foreign investment was 23.07 million US dollars, an increase of 20.9%.
The city's scenic spots received a total of 16.7913 million domestic and international tourists, achieving tourism revenue of 8.349 billion yuan, of which ticket revenue was 862 million yuan, decreasing by 10.6%, 8.5%, and 22.5% respectively over the previous year. Overseas tourist arrivals were 1.0585 million, with foreign exchange earnings from tourism of 200 million US dollars, decreasing by 15.9% and 16.2% respectively. During the Spring Festival Golden Week, scenic spots received 76,700 tourists, with total tourism revenue of 67 million yuan, decreasing by 72.6% and 44.9% year-on-year respectively; during the 'National Day' Golden Week, scenic spots received 658,000 tourists, with total tourism revenue of 340 million yuan, increasing by 14.8% and 14.84% year-on-year respectively, setting a new high for tourist arrivals during any Golden Week.
The city's urban (county town) total population was 422,100, with a total area of 182.76 square kilometers, of which the built-up area was 39.07 square kilometers.
The city achieved total fiscal revenue (excluding funds) of 1.33 billion yuan, an increase of 19.6% over the previous year, of which general budget revenue was 952 million yuan.
The annual per capita disposable income of urban residents in the city exceeded 10,000 yuan, reaching 10,561 yuan, an increase of 11.4% over the previous year; the annual per capita disposable income of rural residents in the city was 2,843 yuan, an increase of 12.9%; the per capita net income was 2,944 yuan, an increase of 12.9%.
At the end of the year, the city had a total of 552,900 households and a total population of 1,639,500, an increase of 0.96% over the previous year, of which women accounted for 48.51%, ethnic minorities accounted for 72.45%, and urban residents accounted for 37.1%; the permanent resident population was 1,496,500, an increase of 0.71%. The annual birth rate was 16.4‰, the death rate was 6.8‰, and the natural growth rate was 9.6‰.
Tourism Resources
Tourism Features
The Four Wonders of Zhangjiajie: Sound, Moon, Shadow, and Light
Wondrous Sound: When traveling in Shentang Bay in Zhangjiajie, you will find that the bay is bottomless and mysterious. Even more astonishing is that as soon as a person approaches the edge of the bay, the faint sounds of gongs and drums being struck and of people shouting and horses neighing seem to ring in their ears, as if thousands of troops and horses were locked in fierce battle.
Wondrous Moon: Every year in the middle of the lunar month during spring and summer, at eight or nine o'clock in the evening after a long spell of rain has just cleared, the full moon seen at Moon Ridge on Tianzi Mountain is red, just like the sun rising in the early morning, blood-red, emitting a red halo that illuminates the areas of He Long Park, Shijiayan, and Shentang Bay in a bright red. This phenomenon can last for more than an hour.
Wondrous Shadow: If you travel upstream along the source of the Golden Whip Stream, on a crisp autumn day with a clear sky, you will be surprised to find that your shadow changes from one to two, and from two to three. As you move, the shadows follow. Whether you advance or retreat, run left or dart right, you are always followed by three shadows.
Wondrous Light: The vast West Sea is a peculiar world of stone forest, with thousands of stone peaks. Between Shentang Bay and He Long Park, there is a stone pillar as high as 200 meters, and between the two stone peaks at the top of the pillar is embedded a small stone. This magical stone and stone peak emit light once a year, shining like electric welding, with sparks flying in all directions, and the radiance can illuminate the Shentang Bay area.
Best Time to Visit
The best times to visit Zhangjiajie are spring and autumn: in spring, Zhangjiajie has fresh fragrant grass and falling petals in profusion. Travel upstream along the Golden Whip Stream, tour the Ten-Mile Gallery, explore Yellow Dragon Cave, and experience the surprise of the Wuling fisherman entering the Peach Blossom Spring; in autumn, Zhangjiajie has high skies and light clouds, with forests dyed in layer upon layer of color. This is also the season when delicious fruits such as kiwis and mandarin oranges ripen. Relatively speaking, summer is hot and rainy, while winter is cold, so comfort is slightly lower than in spring and autumn.
Spring recommendations: Golden Whip Stream, Ten-Mile Gallery, Yellow Dragon Cave, Baofeng Lake
The Golden Whip Stream winds through peaks, secluded valleys, and clouds. The stream water is clear and bright, with varied and graceful turns, small fish swimming within it, and fresh flowers and plants along its banks, with birds singing and orioles calling. Walking along the clear stream is more like traveling through a painting. Within the Suoxiyu Scenic Area are the Yellow Dragon Cave, carved as if from jade and beautiful as a fairyland, and Baofeng Lake, calm as a precious mirror and known as the 'Jade Pool in Heaven,' both excellent places for sightseeing.
Autumn recommendations: Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, West Sea, Fengqi Mountain
Tianzi Mountain is most spectacular just after rain has cleared, when surging clouds and mist form all kinds of vast, continuous vistas that are truly beautiful. The white clouds of the West Sea have long been called a peerless scene, especially suitable for viewing from the Heavenly Terrace. This area also has thousands of stone peaks. Stepping into the West Sea is like being placed in an ocean of stone forest. A poem says, 'Nothing in the West Sea is more wondrous than its clouds, sometimes heard as sound, sometimes smelled as if intoxicating, clumped like cotton, billowing like the sea, curling like smoke.'
Zhangjiajie has the reputation of "three thousand exotic peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters." The scenic area is large (covering 500 square kilometers), vast, and complex—these are its typical characteristics. The entire scenic area is divided into four major regions, namely:
I. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which includes the following well-known scenic spots:
Golden Whip Stream, Golden Whip Rock, Couple Rock, Huangshizhai (Huangshi Village), Star-Picking Platform, Heavenly Book Box, Heavenly Bridge Remaining Piers, Fir Forest Path, Meeting of a Thousand Miles, Purple Grass Pool, and more;
II. Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, which includes the following well-known scenic spots:
The champion of Asian karst caves—Huanglong Cave, the earthly jade pool—Baofeng Lake, Baizhang Gorge, South Heavenly Gate, West Sea, Ten-Mile Gallery, Water Surrounding Four Gates, and more;
III. Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, which includes the following well-known scenic spots:
Imperial Brush Peak, Helong Park, Shentang Bay, Point-General Platform, Fairy Presenting Flowers, and more;
IV. Yangjiajie Nature Reserve, which includes the following well-known scenic spots:
General Rock, Wulong Village, One Step to Heaven, Tianbo Mansion, Number One Bridge Under Heaven, Soul-Enchanting Platform, Heavenly Suspended White Silk, and more.
Geographical Location and Climate
Zhangjiajie City is located in northwestern Hunan, 398 kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha (calculated from Yongding District, where the municipal government is located). Its geographical coordinates are: 28°52′ to 29°48′ north latitude, and 109°40′ to 111°20′ east longitude. To the east it borders Shimen County and Taoyuan County of Changde City, to the south it adjoins Yuanling County, to the west it borders Yongshun County and Longshan County, and to the north it neighbors Hefeng County and Xuan'en County of Hubei Province. Its total area is 9,563 square kilometers, with a maximum east-west length of 167 kilometers and a maximum north-south width of 96 kilometers. Its total population reaches 1.5 million (including nearly 600,000 people of ethnic minorities such as Miao, Tujia, and Bai).
Zhangjiajie City is located in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountains. The nationally famous nature reserve and world-renowned Buddhist holy site Fanjing Mountain is its main peak. The Wuling Mountains branch from Fanjing Mountain into western Hunan and western Hubei, and then divide into three branches: the northern branch enters Lishan, Guiying Mountain, and Qinglong Mountain from Laifeng County in Hubei Province and Longshan County in Hunan Province; the central branch enters Tianxing Mountain, Chaotian Mountain, Jinlong Mountain, and Baiyun Mountain north of the Lishui River; the southern branch enters Shizhu Mountain, Yangfeng Mountain, Tianmen Mountain, Dalong Mountain, and Tiantai Mountain. After these three mountain branches pass through the city's two districts and two counties, their direction runs from west to east, sinking toward Dongting Lake from Cili and Shimen and naturally disappearing. Therefore, the northeastern part of Zhangjiajie City is actually at the junction (or convergence zone) between mountain peaks and the lake region.
Zhangjiajie has a moderate climate. Located at the middle northern latitude, it belongs to a mid-subtropical mountainous monsoon humid climate. Therefore, rainfall is abundant (the average annual precipitation over the years is 1,400 millimeters), sunshine is plentiful, the frost-free period is long, and the severe cold period is short. The average annual temperature is about 16°C. The hottest summer month has a temperature of 27°C, and the coldest winter month has an average temperature of 4.3°C (January is the coldest, with extreme temperatures around zero to 4°C). Such a climate is not only suitable for the reproduction of animals and the growth of plants, but even more suitable for sightseeing and tourism.
Zhangjiajie Entertainment
Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater
Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater was founded in 2001. After seven years of development, it has become a nationally famous tourism and cultural performance entity, with distinctive Xiangxi ethnic characteristics, and enjoys relatively high visibility and reputation in Chinese regions such as the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as in South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other places. The performance venue with a capacity of 1,080 people—Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater—is located within the beautiful Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, where fantastic peaks rise steeply. It is simple and elegant, with a strong ethnic flavor, and complements the surrounding natural landscape.