Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Home to more than 3,000 spectacular sandstone pillars, a third of which rise to a height of at least 200 meters, the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area has been praised as one of the most beautiful places in China.

Located in northwestern Hunan, Wulingyuan is comprised of the main parts of Zhangjiajie National Park, the Tianzishan Mountain Reserve and the Suoxi Valley. All in all, the site covers an area of over 23,000 square kilometers, of which 350 square kilometers are taken up by the above mentioned three sections.

Ninety percent of Wulingyuan is covered by dense forests inhabited by over 100 different species of birds and other animals. Zhangjiajie, China's first national park, lies at the center of the area and is about thirteen square kilometers in size. The wildlife found here includes civets, giant salamanders, monkeys and game birds. The Yellow Lion Village is located in this part of Wulingyuan and sits 1,200 meters above sea level on a plateau, at the top of several cliffs.

At the northern end of Zhangjiajie National Park stands Heicongnao Stone Peak, which is covered by huge, ancient pine trees. Some of them are dozens of meters high, with trunks so thick that two people standing on their opposite sides could not meet hands.

Wulingyuan is home to a number of rare animal species. (Image: WHS)The luscious forests, picturesque valleys, waterfalls and caves add to the dreamlike quality of Wulingyuan's surroundings. Numerous rivers, springs and lakes with clear waters snake along on the ground and deep ravines tear at the landscape. Nature conservation efforts have been effective in the area, as sixty percent of the area still has its original vegetation.

The Tianzi Mountain Range rises above the other two areas and offers breathtaking panoramic views of them. The highest peak in this part of Wulingyuan rises to a height of over 1,250 meters, and the area boasts over 80 sightseeing spots, as well as a natural bridge, three ancient temples, five waterfalls and a magical stone forest.

In Suoxi Valley the alteration of the natural terrain is more subdued than in Zhangjiajie, where the sandstone pillars seem to pierce holes in the sky. Here, one kilometer after another, the landscape unfolds before an onlooker's eyes like a Chinese scroll painting, revealing its miraculous natural art comprised of endlessly changing shapes and colors. One of the most precious species of fauna in this area include the protected rhesus monkey.

Technology, and tourists, invade the ancient forests

According to Chinese legend, Zhang Liang, the prime minister and masterful general of the first Han Emperor Liu Bang, retreated to this wondrous place that today is the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. As story goes, Zhang helped Liu to establish the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) but soon understood that before long, the emperor would turn against him. So Zhang resigned and dedicated the rest of his living days to seeking answers to life's big questions.

Despite the legend, Wulingyuan was largely left in peace, until the 1970s when the famous artist Wu Guanzhong discovered the place and made it known to the large public.

Eroding earth shapes the stone pillars slowly over time. (Image: WHS)Although trekking is by far the most popular way of getting about in Wulingyuan, a two-kilometer-long cable car system has been built to cater to those not so keen to spend hours on their feet. Wulingyuan is also the site of possibly the world's highest outside elevator. The recently erected 326-meter Heavenly Elevator operates next to the side of a mountain in Zhangjiajie. Needless to say, the World Heritage Committee was probably not overjoyed by the park's decision to build it, but it does offer those too lazy to climb the steep mountain sides a chance to also enjoy the magnificent view from the top. In addition to trekking, visitors can also enjoy the natural marvels from a boat on the photogenic Baofeng Lake.

The Wulingyuan area is inhabited by several Chinese ethnic minority groups such as the Tujia, Bai and Mao people. In Zhangjiajie, over 70 percent of the population belongs to twenty ethnic minority groups. A trip to Wulingyuan is not then only a chance to enjoy the diversity of China's nature, but also to learn about the nation's ethnic diversity through traditional celebrations and museums exhibiting the local lifestyle.

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is currently one of China's most popular tourist and filming sites, attracting about 350,000 people a year. The weekends are the busiest time of the week to visit. Currently the site is being developed into a comprehensive tourist area for sightseeing, exploration, scientific research and vacations. It was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.

Other interesting sites located near Wulingyuan include Wulei Mountain, a Taoist place of pilgrimage, Jiutiandong, the largest cave in Asia, and the Maoyan river.