top of page

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain — Picturesque Landscape and Exceptional Geoparks

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province of China

Relationship

What Is the Relationship Between Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and Tianmen Mountain?

 

Zhangjiajie is a city in Hunan Province with two famous mountains: the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, famous for its narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, and the Tianmen Mountain, which has Karst landscapes.

 

Zhangjiajie city was originally a small town named after Zhang Liang (? — 189 BC), a successful statesman who assisted Emperor Liu Bang in building the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD). 

After the Han empire was stable, Zhang Liang resigned and gave up all power and noble titles.

 

He came to a beautiful place and practiced Taoism, later named Zhangjiajie, meaning Zhang's homeland. 

Autumn View of Shentang Gulf in Zhangjiajie

Autumn View of Shentang Gulf in Zhangjiajie, Photo by Liu Ying. 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Brief Introduction to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

 

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the most important part of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a UNESCO World Heritage;

 

It is a World Geopark with large numbers of plant and animal species;

 

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has over 3000 quartzite sandstone pillars, some of which are believed to be the inspiration for the Floating Mountains in the movie Avatar.

Pillar of Southern Heaven the Prototype of Avatar Floating Mountain in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Prototype of Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — The Pillar of Southern Heaven

View

What Are the Impressive Attractions of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Area?

Grand Stone Bridge, or Tianxia Diyi Qiao

A famous natural stone bridge (50 meters long, 350 meters high) connected two peaks near where some people see deities in local legends. 

Highest Natural Stone Bridge Connects Two Peaks in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

The Highest Natural Stone Bridge that Connects Two Peaks, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Stunning Peaks of Tianzi Mountain in Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie

Stunning Peaks of Tianzi Mountain in Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, Photo by Dongfang IC. 

Suspending Terrace, or Kongzhong Tianyuan, in Laowuchang Area of Zhangjiajie

Suspending Terrace, or Kongzhong Tianyuan, in Laowuchang Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, Photo from HPA. 

Shentang Gulf, A Restricted Area in Zhangjiajie

Shentang Gulf, A Restricted Area in Zhangjiajie with Mysterious Sounds and Dangerous Legends, Photo by Zhao Xin. 

Golden Whip Brook or Jinbianxi in Zhangjiajie, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Golden Whip Brook or Jinbianxi, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Ten Mile Gallery, or Shili Hualang, A Picturesque Valley in Zhangjiajie.

Ten Mile Gallery, or Shili Hualang, A Picturesque Valley Consists of Stunning Peaks, Rivers, and Plants, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Bailong Elevator or Bailong Tianti in Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie

326 Meters' Bailong Elevator or Bailong Tianti in Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, the World's Tallest Outdoor Lift, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Beautiful Baofeng Lake or Baofeng Hu in Zhangjiajie

Beautiful Baofeng Lake or Baofeng Hu in Zhangjiajie, Photo by Ma Li. 

Tianmen Mountain

Important Info of Tianmen Mountain.

 

Tianmen Mountain was initially named Mountain of Dream, whose main peak is the tallest (1518.6 meters) in the Zhangjiajie area. 

It was named after a natural cave that appeared during the Three Kingdoms Era (220 — 280) out of a sudden, which looks like a gate to the holy heaven. 

Therefore, this mountain is named Tianmen (Gate to Heaven).

Natural Stone Gate in Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie of Hunan

Natural Stone Gate in Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Sites

Impressive Attractions of Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain Cableway in Zhangjiajie.

Tianmen Mountain Cableway, 7455 Meters Long with A Climbing Angle of 38 Degrees, Photo by Fengkuang Dongge.

Twisted Winding Road, or Tongtian Dadao, Along the Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie.

Twisted Winding Road, or Tongtian Dadao, Along the Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie.

Plank Path, or Guigu Zhandao, Along Steep Cliffs of Tianmen Mountain

1600 Meters' Long Plank Path, or Guigu Zhandao, Along Steep Cliffs of Tianmen Mountain, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie.

Tianmenshan Temple in Zhangjiajie.

Tianmenshan Temple, Firstly Built in the Tang Dynasty (618 —907) and Rebuilt Several Times, Photo from the Official Site of Zhangjiajie.

Zhangjiajie

What Are Other Impressive Attractions of Zhangjiajie City?

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in Grand Canyon

Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, the 430 Meters Long and 300 Meters Tall Glass Skywalk, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie.

Yellow Dragon Cave or Huanglong Dong in Zhangjiajie

Yellow Dragon Cave or Huanglong Dong, An Over 100, 000 Square Meters Large Karst Cave, Photo from Official Site of Zhangjiajie.

Beautiful Hibiscus Town, or Furong Ancient Town, Near Zhangjiajie and Its Tujia Culture.

Beautiful Hibiscus Town, or Furong Ancient Town, Near Zhangjiajie and Its Tujia Culture.

Zushidian Palace complex in Laosicheng Site near Zhangjiajie

Zushidian Palace complex in Laosicheng Site, A Political, Cultural, and Economical Center of Pengshi Tusi that was Built in the Year 1135, Photo by Lu Ruisheng.

bottom of page