Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
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Located
in the northwest of Wulingyuan, it is in the neighborhood of Suoxiyu
Valley and Tianzi Mountain. It has an area of 72,000 acres, an
average rainfall of 1200-1600mm, an average temperature of 16oC and
a frost-free period of 240-300 days. 97 percent of the park is
covered with plants which have 98 families, 517 species, over twice
the total in Europe. Its gymnosperm species take up half of the
total in the world. Zhangjiajie opens to the outside at the
beginning of the 1980s and is the earliest tourist zone exploited in
Zhangjiajie. It is noted for its queer peaks, tranquil water and
beautiful forests. It is the first National Forest Park approved by
the State Council in 1982. Its main scenic spots include Golden Whip
Stream, Huangshi Fort and so on. Numerous pinnacles rise abruptly
from the level ground in the shape of huge bamboo shoots pointing to
the sky. Both sides of Golden Whip Stream stand grotesque peaks and
are covered with old trees and vines. The stream, like colorful
ribbons, flows through valleys. Watching mountains on Huangshi Fort,
one can't help acclaiming as the acme of perfection.
Huangshi Fort
Huangshi Fort, named after a
hermit Huangshi, is 1080m above sea level. It is higher on the south
and elevated by stiff cliffs, covering an area of 16.5 hectors. It
provides the largest collection of marvelous spectacles and also
provides the larges sightseeing terrace above sea level in
Zhangjiajie. The chief scenic spots include Treasure Box of Heavenly
Books, the Magic Sea-suppressing Needle, the South Pillar of Heaven,
the Golden Tortoise Watching the Sea and so on. If you stand on the
terrace and watch as far as you can towards the south, you can see
all kinds of queer pinnacles. If you watch towards the east, you can
see numerous grotesque peaks by the Golden Whip Stream which
resemble a clear, crystalline jadeite. Hence, there is a saying: "
It can't be said that you have been to Zhangjiajie without reaching
Huangshi Fort. Golden Whip Stream
The Southern Heaven Gate The Imperial Brush Peak
Seeing West Sea on the Heavenly Terrace
More details about Zhangjiajie National Park, please visit the following website: http://www.zjjok.com/english/Park.htm http://www.math.vt.edu/people/gao/art/photos/zhangjiajie.htm |
Located
in the east of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, named after the
380-meter high Golden Whip Rock, Golden Whip stream meanders 15 Li.
Flowing from Laomo Gully first to Confluence of Four Rivers then to
Suoxi Stream, it finally joins Li river, one of the four rivers in
Hunan Province. It flows between steep grotesque peaks and luxuriant
trees. Here, the meandering streams, the crystal-clear waterfalls,
exotic plants and rare animals co-exist and constitute the
extraordinarily beautiful, tranquil and natural ecological
environment. No wonder it is called "the most beautiful valley in
the world" and "the most poetic stream". The major scenic spots
include Rock of Welcoming Guests, Golden Whip Rock, Reunion Rock and
the Purple Grass Pond.
Walking
a few steps from the scenic spot named the Fairy Maid Presenting
Flowers and then watching towards the southwest on the sightseeing
terrace, you can see a pinnacle resembling a huge imperial brush on
the right of some graceful peaks, and some short pinnacles on the
left in the shape of some brushes on the rack. It brings back the
memory of King Xiang who read over official papers and drew a circle
around his name on a document. How heroic he was. When you enjoy the
view at dusk with red evening clouds in the sky, you'll see that the
peak is glittering brightly on its tip as if there were red paint
remaining on the point of the brush. Therefore, it is not surprising
that more than30 domestic pictorials have its photos printed.
Heavenly
terrace, resembling a little platform in heaven, is high and
perilous, walled by stiff and crisscrossed precipices. The only way
to it is a straight flight of 186-step stone stairs. Seen on the
Heavenly Terrace with a bird-eye's view, the west sea is a great
sea, a sea of clouds and fogs, of peaks, of greenness, and of
mystery. The forest of pinnacles stand, strange stones cover the
ground. The clouds roll and rays shine. Old trees' branches and
roots curl up. How mysterious and unpredictable.