Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie scenic area is located in Wulingyuan(武陵源), Zhangjiajie City, the northwestern part of Hunan Province and it is  the first World Natural Heritage in China. It is well-reputed as “the most magic mountain in the world” and “the original version of Chinese landscape painting”.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the core part of Wulingyuan. There are more than three thousand magnificent karst peaks of different shapes in the natural park.

As a World Natural Heritage, the reputation of Zhangjiajie is actually well-known home and abroad. As a result of the hot movie “Avatar”, it becomes more international. 

The combo photo shows the "South Pillar of the Heaven" (above) in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province of China and the "Hallelujah Mountain" on the make-believe planet of Pandora in James Cameron's Avatar. [Photo/Rednet.cn]

It is reported that the inspiration of "Hallelujah Mountain" by James Cameron is originated from the "South Pillar of the Heaven"(南天一柱) about 150 meters above the ground at a height of 1,074 meters above sea level, a famous scenic attraction at the Yuanjiajie(袁家界) part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie.

A legend goes that in ancient times Zhangjiajia was called Green Stone Hill, without any family surnamed Zhang resided. It was all about Zhang Liang, a good official from the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang, a Han Emperor, got the throne and killed many good men. Zhang, knowing he would also be assassinated by Liu, was in search for place to hide and to live a hermit style life. He found that few place was suitable for a tranquil life in central and northern China. At that time, Hun was invading the northwest, chaos were almost everywhere and fierce beasts were roaming in countryside. Zhang thought that the southeast, being regarded as the barbaric place then, but it was good to be stayed! He had traveled to many places and finally reached Green Stone Hill, "A fairyland," he exclaimed. He decided to stay here for the rest of his life. It is said that Zhang Liang would like to plant seven gingko trees around the hill in order to make the scenery much better and isolating himself from outside environment. Later, the trees had grown up, very big, like seven giant umbrellas. Many years had passed, imperial cadre Zhang Wanchong and his family on boarded eight sedans and traveled here. When Zhang Wanchong saw the seven giant trees on the hill, a bad idea had been appearing in his mind. He wanted the Green Stone Hill to be his own country. He hired an artisan to carve seven giant Chinese characters, which each on each tree trunk - "指挥使张万冲界" (The Sovereign State of Military Commander Zhang Wanchong). Zhang expelled all other people who were not of his family from the hill.

One day, a hunter, also surnamed Zhang, passed here and saw yellow tears flowing down from the seven gingko trees. He was puzzled, but he realized after seeing the seven big characters. He was so angry and he changed the characters to be his name. Local people applauded the action. However, Zhang Wanchong sent 300 troops to drive the people out of the village and wanted residents to use their blood to dye those seven characters. During emergency, brilliant light flashed on the trunks, branches were breaking and then the trunks sprinkled yellowish water, rapidly flowing to Zhang Wanchong's forces. They all perished in nearby river. Locals gave praises to the seven ginkgo trees. The Green Stone Hill belonged to all people surnamed Zhang. "人间仙境张家界" (Ren Jian Xian Jing Zhang Jia Jie, which means "Zhang Family Village the Paradise on Earth") appeared as seven golden characters on the trees. Zhangjiajie has become the new name instead of Green Stone Hill.

Zhangjiajie is home to China's ethnic minorities Tujia, Bai and Miao, they covered about 70 percent of local population. Their art, culture and lifestyles are different from Han Chinese. The Peach Blossom Land and Meng Dong River are excellent scenic spots in addition to the majestic stone forest. In Zhangjiajie, it is very easy to start from here and go to the Three Gorges and beautiful city of Guilin, where also famous for great karst scenery.

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