'''Wulingyuan''' is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hunan, China.

Understand

Often called Zhangjiajie, this 243 square mile park is full of stunning karst pillars of sandstone, covered with sub-tropical rainforest. The park is often covered in fog, adding to the mystery but obscuring views.

History

The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992

Landscape

Flora and fauna

The park covers 3 natural reserves, and contains over 500 tree species, including dawn redwood, believed extinct until it was re-identified in 1948. There are also giant salamanders, rhesus monkeys, and many bird types

Climate

There is much fog in the park at times, and summers are very humid. Temperatures greatly between early morning and late afternoon. For example in May, mornings can be a temperate 18 degrees Celsius but rapidly reaching 30 by noon.

Get in

Wulingyuan is 155 miles northwest of Changsha. The best way to get in is to take transit from Zhangjiajie City, which has a domestic airport. Buses and trains run to there as well. A 1 hour minibus goes from Zhangjiajie City to the village of Zhangjiajie Cun, in the park

Fees/Permits

There is a 248 yuan fee to enter the park, which is then valid for two days.

Get around

There are two cable cars in the park, one near Zhangjiajie Cun that runs for half a mile up to the top of Huang Shi Zhai, and one a few miles to the east that goes near Suoxiyu Cun another half mile to a road to the north. Many other roads go across the park, and many hiking trails go in between those.

There are two main ticketing gates, one at Zhangjiajie (West side) and one at Wulingyuan (East side). From each of those gates there are buses that take you up to the actual park entrance for free.

See

Do

  • '''Hiking''' The main highlight is following the many paths through the stunning sandstone landscape. It can be quite daunting at times, so the above mentioned cable cars help. Some highlights of hiking include the following natural landmarks:
  • '''Huang Shi Zhai''' The highest area in the park at 3,450 feet, which can be climbed up a 3,878 step stairway, but you can take a cable car instead
  • '''Kongzhong Tianyuan''' This garden sits on an outcropping surrouned by slender peaks
  • '''Xianren Qiao''' (Bridge of the Immortals) This spectacular, narrow rock bridge is over a deep chasm, with no railings
  • '''Yupi Feng''' These thin, spiky columns hundreds of feet high are featured on stamps and resemble calligraphy letters
  • Other attractions in the area, about a 10 yuan taxi-ride away (Negotiate with the driver) include:

  • '''Baofeng Hu''' This pristine artificial lake has boat trips, additional hiking trails, and occasionally traditional performances of the Tujia minority which is native to the area.
  • '''Huanglong Dong''' This large cave has boat trips cruise on its subterranean river.
  • Buy

    Eat

    In Zhangjiajie Cun lots of little restaurants have exotic wildlife on display in cages outside - which turn out to constitute the menu. You can have turtle, snake, toad and a huge variety of interesting and obscure fish and shellfish. Definitely interesting. It has been suggested some of these are endangered species, however.

    Breakfast and dinner can be had at your hotel to be on the safe side, and there are restaurants inside Wulingyuan.

    Note that Wulingyuan is in the Hunan province, a region known for its spicy cuisine.

    Drink

    Sleep

    There are hotels in both the main villages, Zhangjiajie Cun and Suoxiyu Cun, and there are simple inns throughout the reserve

    Lodging

    Camping

    Backcountry

    Stay safe

    Hiking is not good here for those with fear of heights, or dropoffs, or generally being near really steep cliffs, but you can always stick to the roads or take a boat cruise

    Get out