Take a Tour Around Wulingyuan Scenic Area, China

China is home to some of the most beautiful places on earth. In fact, over 40 locations in the country are currently being well preserved due to their uniqueness and ecosystem diversity.

270 kilometers from Changsha, the capital of the Hunan Province, is Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie City. The scenic area is part of the Wuling Mountain Range and is comprised of four national parks: Tianzi Mountain Natural Resource Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve, and the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

The parks are full of amazing flora and fauna, some of which were once thought to be extinct. There are beautiful sceneries everywhere you look, which is why countless tourists from around the world visit the parks every year. Here are some things you should know if you’re planning a trip there.

Places to Visit

The Wulingyuan Scenic Area offers plenty of beautiful places to visit. In fact, it would take more than a day to go to all of the places. If you have the time, try to fit the following places into your schedule.

• Baofeng Lake - You’ll need to take a bus or taxi to get to the lake. Once there, you can take a short boat ride on the pristine waters or go on a hiking trail.
• Huanglong Dong - This is a cave system believed to be the longest in Asia. The cave is usually lit up with artificial lights in different colors enhancing the beautiful interior. Navigating the cave will include a short boat ride and about a couple of hours walking. The routes are well maintained and not too steep. Water drips from the ceiling during the rainy season so you might want to bring an umbrella or something to cover your head.
• Xianren Qiao - Also known as the Bridge of the Immortals, is a stone bridge that provides a great view. However, the bridge does not have any railings, so access is prohibited. Unfortunately, there are those who undermine the dangers and cross it anyway.

How to Get There

You can reach Zhangjiajie from Changsha, capital of the Hunan Province through several means. If you want to get there faster, a daily flight leaves Changsha airport at around 1900 hrs. If you want to take the more scenic routes, you can travel by bus or train. The train takes around 4.5 hours to get there, while the bus is slightly faster at around 4 hours. A trip by bus used to take 8 hours, but the completion of the Changsha-Zhiangjiajie highway has reduced this drastically.

From Zhangjiajie City, you’ll need to hop on another bus to take you to Zhangjiajie Cun Village. The bus trip from the city to the village will take about an hour. From the village, you’ll need to take a 15-minute walk to the entrance of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. If you prefer not to walk, you can take a taxi to the entrance.

Transportation Around Wulingyuan Scenic Area

The parks are rather large so the park management has arranged for buses to service the areas. Bus rides are free of charge, you just need to know which ones to get on. The purple buses take a route along the valleys, while brown colored buses head towards the mountains.

Cable cars are also available for those who want an aerial view of the valleys. One goes to the top of Huang Shi Zhai and the other to the top of Tianzi Mountain. For those who are a bit more adventurous, there are walking trails all over the parks.

Where to Stay

Visiting the numerous sites at Wulingyuan Scenic Area will definitely take more than a day. There are inns scattered around the village areas and reserve where you can spend the night. If you’re looking for better accommodations, you’ll need to head back to Zhangjiajie City where there are hotels.

If you’re just need a decent place to rest, there’s a hostel near the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It’s only a short bus ride away. There’s also a hotel in Zhangjiajie Village, which is a bit further. If you took the bus from Zhangjiajie City to Zhangjiajie Village, you’ll probably be met by locals offering rooms in the area. The rooms are cheap and fairly decent.

Safety

Most of the trails in the scenic area are well maintained. However, there are places that can get very near to the cliffs. The views are excellent but it is still better to err on the side of safety, as it can be a while before any medical assistance arrives in case of an accident.

Photos of Wulingyuan Scenic Area