We took a long weekend to Zhangjiajie, China. Zhangjiajie is in Hunan province. We spent two days at the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. In 1982 it was recognized as China's first national forest park with an area of 4,810 ha (11,900 acres). The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. The pillars are the result of many years of physical, rather than chemical, erosion.
Much of the weathering which forms these pillars are the result of
expanding ice in the winter and the plants which grow on them. The
weather is moist year round, and as a result, the foliage is very dense.
The weathered material is carried away primarily by streams. The pillars inspired the scenery in the movie Avatar.
Here is the Google Map image of where we were in China. It was 1 hour in car to Shenzhen, then 2 hour flight to Zhangjiajie and then another 1 hour in car to the park from the airport.
We stayed at a local hotel/hostel. Nothing special but a bed and bathroom. My room was on the 6th floor and there was no elevators.
The National Park was within walking distance of our hotel which was very nice. Here is one of the park entrances.
We hired a tour company and guide for our arrangements. They booked transportation, hotel, and we had a tour guide. This is Grace, our tour guide. She was great - one of the few English speaking tour guides in the area.
The National Park covers an area which is 48.1 km². That doesn't seem like much but when I convert it says it's over 11,000 acres. We took a bus about 40 minutes through the park and were only about halfway across. The roads are well built but they are windy through all the hills.
DAY ONE
Day one we took a bus to the cable car. We took the cable car ride is up to the top of one pillar. About 1000 meters up!
I guess I should tell you who is on this trip. There are 6 of us. In below picture from the left. Ty, Natascha, Me!, Ola, Donna and Andy.
Andy, Natascha and I work at Hasbro. Ola's husband works at Hasbro. Ty is a teacher in HK from Canada.
There are some market stalls and pagodas at the top of the pillar. There is actually a McDonald's as well...
There is tradition for visitors to place sticks in the rocks. It is supposed to help heal your back and leg pain which helping support the rocks. We put in branches just to be safe.
Such an adorable little girl all dress up!
This is a pathway down the pillar. At this particular one it is tradition for a couple to walk down the stairs to the archway. If they make it down and back without falling then they are destined to be together. You can see a couple attempting it.
We walked around all morning before reaching the tourist center area where there were a few local restaurants where we had lunch.
At the tourist center we did see some blue people from Avatar.
We walked over a natural bridge connecting 2 pillars. Here you can see the bridge from afar.
Here is the actual bridge with lots of people taking pictures.
Here is what they are taking pictures of.
You may be interested to know what it looks like where we are taking these pictures. Here is an example of a viewing platform along the trail. You see lots of people cramming onto the platform to get the perfect picture.
This steel grate bridge was a little frightening to walk over especially with so many people crammed on it
To get back down from the top of the pillar we took an elevator. The longest and fastest outdoor elevator in the world.
At the bottom of the elevators.
Since it was Mid Autumn Festival also known as Harvest Moon Festival, we had to go out at night and find the full moon. There it is!
DAY TWO
So day one we spent hiking around the tops of the pillars. We saw them from above and then at eye level. So day two we went hiking on the ground in between the pillars. So these next pictures will be looking up at the pillars. We hiked 6 km in the morning and 4 km in the afternoon.
On this particular trail there were monkeys all over. Yay!
More monkeys.
Monkey with baby on her back.
Here is a video... see if it works for you and is the correct direction.
In the afternoon of Day 2, we took another cable car up to the top of another pillar.
This trail was much less traveled and quite peaceful with lack of other tourists. Here is the full trail map we did.
This was at a lookout for 5 fingers pillars. Hence the 5 finger wave.
Oh, here are the 5 Fingers.
Here is the last viewing platform we reached. Once you realize that it is hanging out there you realize that this is quite frightening if the rocks gave way.
We took the cable car back down.
The scenery is breathtaking enough for wedding photos!
As we were leaving the park, there were these gorgeous blue butterflies.
Back at the hotel, there were these amazing paintings which were actually sand art. They are actually made of sand!
FOOD
Hunan Province is known for spicy foods. They don't have much seafood since it is landlocked. So mostly all meats and vegetables and peppers. Lots of peppers.
Our last night we found this really cool outdoor restaurant where we had hot pot.
What a great trip and experience.
Here is the Google Map image of where we were in China. It was 1 hour in car to Shenzhen, then 2 hour flight to Zhangjiajie and then another 1 hour in car to the park from the airport.
We stayed at a local hotel/hostel. Nothing special but a bed and bathroom. My room was on the 6th floor and there was no elevators.
The National Park was within walking distance of our hotel which was very nice. Here is one of the park entrances.
We hired a tour company and guide for our arrangements. They booked transportation, hotel, and we had a tour guide. This is Grace, our tour guide. She was great - one of the few English speaking tour guides in the area.
The National Park covers an area which is 48.1 km². That doesn't seem like much but when I convert it says it's over 11,000 acres. We took a bus about 40 minutes through the park and were only about halfway across. The roads are well built but they are windy through all the hills.
Day one we took a bus to the cable car. We took the cable car ride is up to the top of one pillar. About 1000 meters up!
I guess I should tell you who is on this trip. There are 6 of us. In below picture from the left. Ty, Natascha, Me!, Ola, Donna and Andy.
Andy, Natascha and I work at Hasbro. Ola's husband works at Hasbro. Ty is a teacher in HK from Canada.
There are some market stalls and pagodas at the top of the pillar. There is actually a McDonald's as well...
There is tradition for visitors to place sticks in the rocks. It is supposed to help heal your back and leg pain which helping support the rocks. We put in branches just to be safe.
Such an adorable little girl all dress up!
This is a pathway down the pillar. At this particular one it is tradition for a couple to walk down the stairs to the archway. If they make it down and back without falling then they are destined to be together. You can see a couple attempting it.
We walked around all morning before reaching the tourist center area where there were a few local restaurants where we had lunch.
At the tourist center we did see some blue people from Avatar.
We walked over a natural bridge connecting 2 pillars. Here you can see the bridge from afar.
Here is the actual bridge with lots of people taking pictures.
Here is what they are taking pictures of.
You may be interested to know what it looks like where we are taking these pictures. Here is an example of a viewing platform along the trail. You see lots of people cramming onto the platform to get the perfect picture.
This steel grate bridge was a little frightening to walk over especially with so many people crammed on it
To get back down from the top of the pillar we took an elevator. The longest and fastest outdoor elevator in the world.
At the bottom of the elevators.
Since it was Mid Autumn Festival also known as Harvest Moon Festival, we had to go out at night and find the full moon. There it is!
DAY TWO
So day one we spent hiking around the tops of the pillars. We saw them from above and then at eye level. So day two we went hiking on the ground in between the pillars. So these next pictures will be looking up at the pillars. We hiked 6 km in the morning and 4 km in the afternoon.
On this particular trail there were monkeys all over. Yay!
More monkeys.
Monkey with baby on her back.
Here is a video... see if it works for you and is the correct direction.
In the afternoon of Day 2, we took another cable car up to the top of another pillar.
This trail was much less traveled and quite peaceful with lack of other tourists. Here is the full trail map we did.
This was at a lookout for 5 fingers pillars. Hence the 5 finger wave.
Oh, here are the 5 Fingers.
Here is the last viewing platform we reached. Once you realize that it is hanging out there you realize that this is quite frightening if the rocks gave way.
We took the cable car back down.
The scenery is breathtaking enough for wedding photos!
Back at the hotel, there were these amazing paintings which were actually sand art. They are actually made of sand!
FOOD
Hunan Province is known for spicy foods. They don't have much seafood since it is landlocked. So mostly all meats and vegetables and peppers. Lots of peppers.
Our last night we found this really cool outdoor restaurant where we had hot pot.
What a great trip and experience.
