Friday, December 30, 2016

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

 
 
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the most famous part of one of China’s best national parks (or national level scenic areas) — Wulingyuan. China’s first national forest park contains the essence of Zhangjiajie scenery: the towering sandstone pillars, sometimes in seas of cloud, rich wildlife, and tranquil streams.
 
Yuanjiajie — the most popular and most crowded area
Tianzi Mountain — famous for its clouds and mists 
Yangjiajie — newly discovered, and most steep
Gold Whip Stream — easy and relaxing walking
Yellow Stone Village — similar to Yuanjiajie, but less spectacular  
Laowuchang — undeveloped, quiet and natural, a must for photographers
 
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
 
The First Bridge under Heaven (天下第一桥)
You can cross this bridge and walk around a circle path to get some fantastic views to the valley. This bridge and the views means there are always crowds in this section, but our guide will select a time of day when people are leaving or moved to other sections; but in summer it is still quite busy.

Avatar's "Hallelujah Mountain"
 Near to The First Bridge of the world you will soon come to a metal suspension bridge, giving you a view down to Heavenly Pillar, called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain since the movie, and the top section features in some posters.

Lost Souls Platform (迷魂台)
About 800 meters into Yuanjiajie there is a trail zigzagging its way southward up to the top of Wuyanding Platform, which provides panoramic views of 'Lost Souls Platform' (Mihun Tai迷魂台). You can see many mesas of various shapes and sizes that may be partly hidden in wispy clouds, especially after rain, just like you are standing in a celestial wonderland.
Visitors fascinated by the beautiful and mysterious scenery there are said to have forgotten the way back. That's why it got the name 'Lost Souls Platform'.

Hundred Dragon Elevator

Hundred Dragon Elevator (Bailong Elevator 白龙天梯) is a non-recommended way to the heights of Yuanjiajie, due to typical 2-hour lines for the 2-minute ride. 335 meters in height, it consists of the machinery inside the mountain and three glass elevator cars clinging to the mountainside. Running side-by-side, they give passengers a view of Spirit Soldiers’ Gathering.
 
Tianzi Mountain (天子山 'Heaven Son Mountain') is sometimes translated as “Emperor Mountain”. Emperors were thought to be descendants of heaven, and the peaks, like floating islands in swirling mists, are the traditional image of heavenly realms.
 
Gold Whip Stream (Jinbian Xi 金鞭溪) is a brook at the foot of the mountain. It is about 7½ km (4½ miles) long, about two hours’ walk. It is an easy and relaxing walk along the stream, even if there are noisy Chinese groups. There is not much to do. It your time is limited, we suggest you skip this.
 
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Seriously, I really don't know which place is which place.
Below taken using DSLR.
 Shilihualang (Ten Mile Gallery)
It is located at the foot of Tianzi mountain.Suoxi Valley Scenic Spot is named as "Ten-mile Gallery
Ride on the electric train to enjoy the view. Said that some of the mountain looked like something, it was hard to observe in the train ride.
 

















 
Avatar's "Hallelujah Mountain"












 
Hundred Dragon Elevator (Bailong Elevator 白龙天梯) 

 
Below using Sony RX100