Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, set up in 1982, is the first authorized national forest park in China. The area covers 480 thousand square meters (185 square miles). This park, together with Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and Yangjiajie Scenic Area makes up the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, also known as Zhangjiajie Scenic Spot.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has been described differently, such as, majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild. The park features grotesque peaks, lucid brooks, abundant fauna and floras and hospitable climate. There are six main attraction spots and over 90 smaller ones in the park to date.
 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Map

 It is located 32 kilometers (19 miles) from urban Zhangjiajie.

It belongs to the sub-tropical climate of Central Asia. Splendid mountains and luxuriant trees help form a favorable climate: warm in winter and cool in summer. The average temperature is 13C (55F), the highest 17C (62F ) while the lowest is 10C (50F) on average in winter. The charm of the park varies with the alternation of seasons; therefore, it attracts visitors all year round. Besides its pleasant climate, the environment and air quality also provide visitors a chance to breathe healthy air which is believed to be rich in negative oxygen. It is also believed that hypertension patient may have their blood pressure lowered if they stay in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for a period of time. This is due to the fact that dust particles in the park are 88% lower and the air 10% mistier than outside.

About 98% of the area is covered with vegetation. There are 720 species of the 102 families, including all the five most important floras, namely, the rose family, pulse family, grass family, composite family and orchid family. Some of these trees are rare and regarded as national treasure. For example, the Dove tree, known as living fossil, can be traced back as early as the Fourth Ice Age. The great variety of plants in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park takes up 82% of all the flora families in Hunan Province.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park also boasts a variety of animals. Exuberant forests offer them ideal habitats to live in and procreate their own species. There are more than 149 kinds of chordate animals inhabitants in this park. Among them, 28 kinds are under national protection, amongst which, are the Golden Pheasant, Rhesus Monkey, Giant Salamander and Musk Deer. Visitors will be able to hear birds singing and see monkeys playing in the tree.

If you arrive Zhangjiajie by train, then you can take a direct bus at the bus station near the railway stations to Wulingyuan.
Zhangjiajie High Speed Rail Bus Station (near Zhangjiajie West Railway Station) has regular tourist buses to Wulingyuan every ten minutes from 07:45 - 16:10 and the bus journey takes about 40 minutes. The bus fare is around CNY 13.

Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station (beside Zhangjiajie Railway Station) operates direct buses to Wulingyuan from 07:00 - 17:00, taking about one hours and CNY 13.

If arriving in Zhangjiajie by air, it is advised to take bus no.4 or a taxi to Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station and get on a direct bus there to Wulingyuan.