The tallest, fastest and most powerful elevator in the world is located in China. It is here, in Hunan province, that the Baylong elevator. It is designed to lift tourists to a huge height - 360 meters!
The structure was included in the Guinness Book of Records for several parameters at once - as the tallest two-story excursion elevator, as the tallest elevator with an open view, as the most powerful elevator and as the fastest passenger elevator.
Its main goal is to lift those who wish to the observation deck, located on one of the peaks of the most picturesque rocky mountains. Since only well-trained climbers can climb such mountains, ordinary people before the advent of this device had no opportunity to get to the top of the mountain and enjoy the splendor of the views from its incredible height. Therefore it becomes clear why Baylong elevator It is very popular among tourists coming here from different countries.
The elevator is equipped with a two-story cabin, which is ready to lift 50 people up at once. The walls of such a cabin are naturally transparent, which makes the “trip” to the top even more impressive. In total, the complex includes three similar elevators, each of which has a load capacity of 3,750 kilograms.
Work on the construction of the elevator began in 1999 and three years later, in 2002, the giant elevator was built. More than $18 million was spent on the construction of the Baylong elevator.
However, the construction of the lift met fierce resistance even at the design stage. The fact is that the elevator columns had to be installed in thousands of places in quartz sandstones, and this area is a protected area and is under the protection of UNESCO. But such obstacles were successfully resolved by the Chinese government, and the largest elevator is now actively carrying out its “lifting” activities. It only remains to add that the Bailong elevator is equipped with earthquake sensors, which in case of danger should help the three elevators evacuate all tourists from the mountain in a short time.
An excellent idea, in my opinion, for a mountain resort in Dzheyrakh:
Original taken from masterok The highest outdoor lift in the world - the Hundred Dragons Lift
The Bailong Elevator, whose name translates as the Hundred Dragons Elevator, was decided to be built in 1999. An elevator was necessary to transport tourists to the 330-meter mountain. Before the construction of the elevator, tourists could only make the ascent on foot, and since the rock is almost vertical, few could dare to do so.
In 2002, the area of Wulingyang, on the territory of which the elevator was built, was decided to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Now tourists have the opportunity to climb to the top of the rock in just a few minutes, from where landscapes of unearthly beauty open up.
The world's highest free-moving mountain elevator, called the Bailong Elevator, was finally installed in 2001 in the most beautiful park-reserve of China (Wulingian district, Hunan province). The two-story elevator car can accommodate 50 people (or 1,380 people per hour). What adds piquancy is the fact that the walls of the elevator are transparent, so strong-willed passengers, along with a small dose of adrenaline, can enjoy contemplating the mountain landscapes that open to them
The project was met with fierce criticism from environmentalists who were unhappy with the fact that it was located in the central part of the protected area.
Shafts and tunnels were cut into the rock to provide elevator infrastructure. In addition, in the event of an earthquake or natural disaster, people from all three elevator cabins can be quickly evacuated.
Supporters of the project say the elevators, with the largest passenger capacity in the world, have saved mountain trails from being overburdened.
But their opponents point out that the region, which is visited by 5 million people every year, is already oversaturated with tourists and another attraction that would increase their numbers would only harm the environment.
Despite the protests, the elevator serves tourists and has indeed contributed to the growing popularity of this region of Hunan.
After the structure became operational in 2002, it was temporarily closed due to safety concerns. After some improvements, the elevator resumed operation in 2003 and is now a cult destination among tourists. The lift saves 3 hours of walking and takes travelers to the mountain in just one minute, from which there is a beautiful view of the valley with quartzite pillars.
Those who decide to explore this beautiful place should take into account that the elevator is closed in bad weather. A ticket to the park costs $39, and one elevator ride costs $8.9.
Wulingyuan are cliffs in Zhangjiajie National Park, which is located in Hunan Province in southeast China. This is an amazingly beautiful place and at the same time a natural zoo, botanical and geological reserve. The place is famous for its quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high. The highest peaks of Wulingyuan reach heights of more than 3 km above sea level. The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars above the tropical forest, rugged sharp peaks, waterfalls, a giant cave system.
Entrance to the park costs 158 yuan and allows you to visit the park for two days. The airport is located 10 km west of the city of Zhangjiajie, it is 33 km from the entrance to the park, and there are regular buses from there to the city. Minibuses stop opposite the train and bus stations, and the village and park entrance can be reached in one hour. Trains run to Zhengzhou, Guangzhou and other regional centers of China.
Mount Jiankunzhu, located near the Chinese city of Zhangjiajie, January 24, 2010. was renamed "Hallelujah Avatar", Reuters reports, citing local authorities
The idea to change the name of the mountain is related to the desire of local authorities to capitalize on the success of the film. “Pandora is far away, but Zhangjiajie is close,” says the city government’s website. Officials hope that the new name of the mountain will attract tourists to the region.
Zhangjiajie is the oldest of China's national parks and perhaps its most remarkable. Opened in 1982, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ten years later. The park is home to more than 500 species of animals, including civets, monkeys, birds and salamanders. Rare plants such as gingko, pigeon tree, and mahogany also grow here. In addition, in this area of Hunan province there is the Tianzishan Geopark, famous for its mountains of amazing beauty, and Soxiu Park, notable primarily for the huge Huanglong Cave, the largest hall of which can accommodate ten thousand people. Since Zhangjiajie is a popular tourist area, there are excellent hotels and restaurants offering excellent cuisine. And as a souvenir, guests can purchase products by craftsmen of the local Miao, Tujia and Bo peoples, who lived in these lands for many thousands of years and developed original crafts, the secrets of which were passed on from generation to generation.
The city of Zhangjiajie is located in the northwestern part of the Chinese province of Hunan. Its population is approximately one and a half million people. Near the city is the Wulingyuan district, on whose territory the Zhangjiajie National Park is open with an unusually diverse flora and fauna. The city has its own airport, which receives flights from all major cities in China. In addition to the ethnic Chinese (Han), the Zhangjiajie region is also home to the Miao, Tujia and Bo peoples, who have their own original culture.
Climate
The climate in Zhangjiajie is humid and tropical, with clear sunny days followed by heavy rains throughout the year. The year is divided into four seasons with short, cool winters and long, warm summers. There are no frosts or excessive heat here. In summer, the average air temperature is +27℃, and in January, the coldest month, it fluctuates around +4.3℃.
How to get there
You can fly to Zhangjiajie Airport (located 10 km from the city and 33 km from the national park) from any major city in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chongqing. Regular buses run from the airport to the national park. The journey from the airport to the park takes about an hour. The best way to get there is by train from Changsha, which will take about five hours.
When is the best time to go?
Zhangjiajie can be visited at almost any time of the year. Although it can be a little chilly in winter, the snowfall turns the park into a magical land. Spring fills the local nature with the fragrance of flowers, and autumn brings a luxury of colors. And the dense fogs, mist and altitude, bringing mountain coolness, create a pleasant atmosphere for a summer visit.
What to see
Zhangjiajie is interesting primarily for its picturesque area Wulingyuan, which is divided into four main zones:
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Sosiyu Geopark
- Tianzishan Geopark
- Yangjiajie Geopark
Since the late 1980s, Wulingyuan has been one of China's top national scenic spots. In total, about seven hundred and seventy species of different plants grow here, including a number of quite rare ones that are found in the wild exclusively here. The fauna of Wulingyuan is no less extensive - twenty-eight species of local inhabitants are considered rare and protected by law. These include giant salamanders, clouded and common leopards, and a range of more common large predators.
Located in Wulingyuan Zhangjiajie National Park- the oldest existing in China. It was created in 1982 and its area is 13,000 square meters. km. The landscape of Zhangjiajie is quite diverse - dense forests suddenly give way to high mountains. The climate here is warm and humid. The park is home to more than 500 different species of animals. Rare plants such as gingko, pigeon tree, and mahogany also grow here. And even civets (the cat family), monkeys, birds and salamanders live in the park. In 1992, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Tianmen Mountain- the first mountain in Zhangjiajie, the height of which was measured by specialists (1518.6 m). The mountain is located 8 km from the center of Zhangjiajie and is one of the main attractions of the national park. The mountain is famous for its unusual cave Heaven's Gate - the highest cave in the world formed naturally during erosion processes. It is even called the “magic cave of Western Hunan.” The cave was formed in 263, when suddenly a large piece of the mountain simply fell away, creating a huge cavity 131.5 m high, 57 m wide at its widest point and 60 m long. Shrouded in clouds, the "Heaven's Gate" is indeed very impressive: it seems that once you go through them, you will truly be in heaven. There is a belief among local residents that this mountain is connected with the sky and has supernatural powers. So, in the 20th century, four times a waterfall 1500 m high unexpectedly and for an inexplicable reason collapsed from the top of the mountain. Streams of water fell for 15 minutes, and then also suddenly disappeared. This phenomenon was observed in 1949 (the formation of the People's Republic of China), 1976 (the death of Mao Zedong), 1989 (the suppression of student protests in Beijing) and 1998 (the largest flood), and superstitious Chinese consider these coincidences to be no coincidence. For a long time, rumors have also been circulating here that countless treasures are hidden in the mountain, brought here by one of the leaders of the peasant uprising during the reign of the Ming Dynasty. For centuries, treasure hunters have come here in search of riches, but all their attempts to find the treasure have remained in vain. Leads to the top of the mountain the world's longest and highest cable car(7455 m), the spans of which reach 500 m! In some places the road rises sharply at an angle of 70º, suddenly crashing straight into the clouds. Unforgettable experience! The main spare parts for the construction of the cable car were imported from the French company ROMA. At the top of the mountain, a staircase with 999 steps leads to the cave. The number “9” in this case is not accidental: in the Taoist tradition, this number is a symbol of the emperor and the highest number available to man. The meaning of this number once again emphasizes the mystery of this place, located on the border of the human and divine worlds. You can go down the mountain by bus along the Tongtian road with 99 turns. The name of the road is not an exaggeration: it is one of the most impressive serpentines in the world, the “heavenly highway”. The length of the route is less than 11 km, and the distance between turns is from 200 to 1300 m. At the top of the mountain, right on the edge of the abyss, there are paths among fancy relict trees, in some places there is a glass floor, so you can see the clouds under your feet.
- Buddhist Temple "Heaven's Gate", one of the main pilgrimage sites in Hunan Province since the Ming Dynasty. The elegant temple occupies an area of about 10 thousand square meters. m.
- Cave of the Yellow Dragon. It is said that the inside of the Yellow Dragon Cave is even more beautiful than the outside in Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve. Day and night all year round it is always cool and fresh there, not hot in summer and not cold in winter. This cave is one of the main attractions of the reserve and one of the most beautiful “magical karst caves” in the world. Yellow Dragon Cave is a typical karst cave in which water plays an important role in its formation. Drops of water seep through cracks into the karst layers and constantly dissolve the limestone, thereby widening the crack. This process continues year after year until the gap reaches enormous dimensions. This is exactly how the Yellow Dragon Cave came about, reaching a height of 140 m. At the highest point of the cave, the distance to the top of the mountain is only 17 m. Inside the cave there are the following “natural wonders”: two underground rivers, three pools, four waterfalls, 13 large “halls” ", 96 galleries and hundreds of thousands of stalagmites, columns, stalactites and other formations. The “interiors” of the Yellow Dragon Cave are so complex and incomprehensible that even geologists call this place “magical.” The Yellow Dragon Cave has several picturesque natural compositions, including Dragon Palace,Ballroom with draped stone curtains, Immortal Waterfall etc. In the Dragon Palace you can see the Dragon King, which can be reached through the “Longevity” or “Happiness” gates. According to the old tradition, the visitor can choose only one of them. According to local beliefs, those who pass through the Gate of Happiness will find prosperity in marriage, and those who choose Longevity will live happily ever after. The complete journey through the cave will take about two hours. During this time, you will have to walk 2400 m and swim 800 m along the river. This is one of the longest caves in Asia and is widely known outside of China. Yellow Dragon Cave is located 15 minutes from Suoxiu Town, an hour's drive from Zhangjiajie City and 20 minutes from Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve.
Yangjiajie Park adjacent to Zhangjiajie National Park to the east and Tianzi Mountain to the north. The park was inaugurated in 1992. The territory of Yangjiajie covers an area of 34 square meters. m and is divided into three parts: Xiangzhi Stream (Xiangzhi), Longquan Valley and Baihou Valley - which have a total of more than 200 landscape areas.
- Longquan Valley, it is characterized by steep cliffs growing out of the ground almost at right angles. The rocks fit together so closely that from afar they look like the protective wall of an ancient city.
- Baihuo Valley(translated from Chinese as “one hundred monkeys”) is indeed often visited by macaques. This is also a favorite place for egrets, which flock to this area.
- Longquan Valley famous for the beautiful Dragon Spring waterfall. A waterfall falls from a cliff densely covered with ivy and exotic five-color flowers.
In the Xiangzhi region, high sharp peaks are wrapped in a thread of transparent streams, ancient paths are laid along the ravines, along which you can hear cicadas and birdsong.
The history of Yangjiajie is closely related to the legends of the Northern Song Dynasty. According to legend, during one of the bloody wars of that time, a general from the Yang clan set up camp at the foot of Mount Tianzi. The war dragged on for several years, and during this time more and more scions of the Yang clan appeared in this area. Since then, the place has been called the “Yang Land,” which in Chinese sounds like “Yangjiajie.” The graves of members of the Yang family, including their descendants, who were buried here in the Ming and Qing eras, are still preserved here.
You can also get to them by cableway, which numerous travelers who once rode along it dubbed “the most exciting” in the world. It is no coincidence that the local cable car is called the “road to heaven”: on some sections it rises upward at an angle of 70°, crashing straight into the clouds.
The journey to the top takes about 40 minutes, and due to the pressure difference, passengers often have blocked ears, and the temperature in the cabin drops sharply. There is often thick fog over the park, which adds mysticism to the surrounding landscapes.
Those who still dare to overcome the distance of 7,455 m will see the highest miraculous cave in the world, created by erosion of rocks. Local residents believe that she has supernatural powers. And you can go down from Tianmen Mountain by bus along the serpentine road, which has exactly 99 turns.
Fare: 48 yuan ($7.6) one way.
And this lift reminded me of this scene from the movie. DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOVIE?
Well, the fact that these mountains suggested the idea to Cameron in his “Avatar” and were the prototype of “Pandora” is probably everyone already knows!
Now down!
The Bailong Elevator, located in Zhangjiajie National Park in China, is a unique engineering structure. In just a minute, it takes tourists to a height of 360 meters - to one of the most picturesque viewing platforms of the reserve. Transparent two-story cabins can accommodate up to 50 people (each load capacity is up to 3,750 kilograms). Built on a cliff, Bailong is considered to be the tallest and fastest open air passenger elevator in the world. The lift is included in the Guinness Book of Records.
Construction of the Bailong Heavy Duty Elevator began in 1999 and was completed three years later. During its construction, the lifting mechanism was built directly into the rocks of quartz sandstone. Engineers also equipped the cabins with earthquake sensors. The cost of such a large-scale project in the Zhangjiajie National Park was $18 million.
You can visit Zhangjiajie National Park at any time of the year. However, when planning a trip to the reserve, be sure to allow an extra day in case of bad weather. The climate in the region is humid tropical. In summer, the air temperature ranges from +25°C to +29°C. In winter the air warms up to +4°C. From June to August, heavy fog (visibility up to 10 meters) and haze (up to 200 meters) are possible in Zhangjiajie. In autumn, rains occur quite often.
Choose days from Monday to Friday for your visit and do not plan to visit Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve on national holidays. On peak dates, tens of thousands of Chinese tourists come to the park. For the same reason, it is better to avoid July, August, as well as the first weeks of May and October.
If you are planning a multi-day visit to a national park, then you can spend the night either in the city of the same name; or in a village located at the southern entrance to the reserve, which is also called Zhangjiajie; or in the tourist village at the western entrance; or within the park.
At the same time, it is worth considering the pros and cons of each option: when spending the night in the city of Zhangjiajie, you will have to adapt to the bus schedule, or take a taxi - 150-200 yuan one way. An overnight stay in the village of Zhangjiajie will allow you to explore only the southern part of the park: buses do not go to the central part of the reserve from here. And when choosing the village of Wulingyuan, it is worth booking your accommodation in advance: this is the most popular place for overnight stays among Chinese tourists.
You can also spend the night directly on the territory of the Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve - there are tourist camps with a basic set of amenities. In this case, it is worth taking care of warm clothes in advance - even in summer, as well as towels, toilet paper and food that can be stored for a long time. In the camps you can only buy traditional Chinese food, which is difficult for European stomachs to digest.
Despite the great popularity of Zhangjiajie Park among foreign tourists, the reserve's employees speak virtually no English. There are few guides in the park who speak foreign languages. It is best to order their services in advance - for example, by writing to the hotel where you plan to stay. Almost all signs and maps on the territory of the national park are only in Chinese.
In addition to Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve, Hunan Province also has Suoxiyu, Tianzishan and Yangjiajie Geological Parks. All of them are located in Wulingyuan District.
Tickets
It is almost impossible to explore the Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve in a day. Therefore, it is better to purchase tickets to the national park for several days at once. Season tickets are sold at all ticket offices. The cost is about 245 yuan for a three-day ticket per person. The price of passes depends on the number of days and season.
The entrance fee includes unlimited transfers on buses within the park. However, you will have to pay for the ride on the cable cars and the Bailong elevator - 60-80 yuan per lift.
How to get there
The nearest airport to Zhangjiajie National Park is located 33 kilometers away, not far from the city of the same name. You can get to Zhangjiajie by plane from Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and other major cities in China.
You can get to Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve by regular buses. They depart from the bus station in downtown Zhangjiajie; the schedule is linked to the flight schedule. Travel time is about an hour. The fare is 12 yuan. A taxi from the airport to the national park will cost about 200 yuan.
Bailong Elevator is located in the central part of Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve, at the end of the Golden Whip Tourist Route. The lower and upper lift points can be reached by buses operating within the park.
Location
The Bailong Elevator is located in Zhangjiajie National Park, Wulingyuan District, northwest Hunan Province, China.
If you are afraid of heights, then this activity is not for you. The Bailong Elevator, also known as the Hundred Dragons Elevator, transports tourists 330m up the side of a massive mountain range in Hunan Province, China.
A ride in the glass elevator, which can accommodate up to 50 people at a time or 1,380 people per hour, offers stunning, if not dizzying, views of the plain.
(Total 7 photos + 1 video)
1. The Bailong Elevator, whose name translates as the Hundred Dragons Elevator, was decided to be built in 1999. An elevator was necessary to transport tourists to the 330-meter mountain. Before the construction of the elevator, tourists could only make the ascent on foot, and since the rock is almost vertical, few could dare to do so.
2. The project was met with fierce criticism from environmentalists who were unhappy with the fact that it was located in the central part of the protected area.
3. Shafts and tunnels were cut into the rock to provide elevator infrastructure. In addition, in the event of an earthquake or natural disaster, people from all three elevator cabins can be quickly evacuated.
4. Supporters of the project say that these elevators, with the largest passenger capacity in the world, have saved the mountain trails from being overloaded.
5. But their opponents point out that the region, which is visited by 5 million people every year, is already oversaturated with tourists and another attraction that will increase their number will only harm the environment.
6. Despite the protests, the elevator serves tourists, and indeed contributes to the growing popularity of this region of Hunan Province.
7. After the structure was put into operation in 2002, it was temporarily closed for safety reasons. After some improvements, the elevator resumed operation in 2003 and is now a cult destination among tourists. The lift saves 3 hours of walking and takes travelers to the mountain in just one minute, from which there is a beautiful view of the valley with quartzite pillars.
This is an amazingly beautiful place and at the same time a natural zoo, botanical and geological reserve. The place is famous for its quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high.
The Bailong Elevator, whose name translates as the Hundred Dragons Elevator, was decided to be built in 1999. An elevator was necessary to transport tourists to the 330-meter mountain. Before the construction of the elevator, tourists could only make the ascent on foot, and since the rock is almost vertical, few could dare to do so.
In 2002, the area of Wulingyang, on the territory of which the elevator was built, was decided to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Now tourists have the opportunity to climb to the top of the rock in just a few minutes, from where landscapes of unearthly beauty open up.
The world's highest free-moving mountain elevator was finally installed in 2001. The two-story elevator car can accommodate 50 people (or 1,380 people per hour).
The piquancy is added by the fact that the walls of the elevator are transparent, so strong-willed passengers, along with a small dose of adrenaline, can enjoy contemplating the mountain landscapes that open to them.
The project was met with fierce criticism from environmentalists who were unhappy with the fact that it was located in the central part of the protected area.
Shafts and tunnels were cut into the rock to provide elevator infrastructure. In addition, in the event of an earthquake or natural disaster, people from all three elevator cabins can be quickly evacuated.
Supporters of the project say the elevators, with the largest passenger capacity in the world, have saved mountain trails from being overburdened.
But their opponents point out that the region, which is visited by 5 million people every year, is already oversaturated with tourists and another attraction that would increase their numbers would only harm the environment.
Despite the protests, the elevator serves tourists and has indeed contributed to the growing popularity of this region of Hunan.
After the structure became operational in 2002, it was temporarily closed due to safety concerns. After some improvements, the elevator resumed operation in 2003 and is now a cult destination among tourists.
The lift saves 3 hours of walking and takes travelers to the mountain in just one minute, from which there is a beautiful view of the valley with quartzite pillars.
Those who decide to explore this beautiful place should take into account that the elevator is closed in bad weather. A ticket to the park costs $39, and one elevator ride costs $8.9.
Entrance to the park costs 158 yuan and allows you to visit the park for two days.
The airport is located 10 km west of the city of Zhangjiajie, it is 33 km from the entrance to the park, and there are regular buses from there to the city.
Minibuses stop opposite the train and bus stations, and the village and park entrance can be reached in one hour. Trains run to Zhengzhou, Guangzhou and other regional centers of China.
The highest rock peaks of Wulingyuan reach heights of more than 3 km above sea level.
The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars above the tropical forest, rugged sharp peaks, waterfalls, a giant cave system.
Mount Jiankunzhu, located near the Chinese city of Zhangjiajie, January 24, 2010. was renamed "Hallelujah Avatar", Reuters reports, citing local authorities
The idea to change the name of the mountain is related to the desire of local authorities to capitalize on the success of the film. “Pandora is far away, but Zhangjiajie is close,” says the city government’s website. Officials hope that the new name of the mountain will attract tourists to the region.
Zhangjiajie is the oldest of China's national parks and perhaps its most remarkable. Opened in 1982, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ten years later.
The park is home to more than 500 species of animals, including civets, monkeys, birds and salamanders.
Rare plants such as gingko, pigeon tree, and mahogany also grow here. In addition, in this area of Hunan province there is the Tianzishan Geopark, famous for its mountains of amazing beauty, and Soxiu Park, notable primarily for the huge Huanglong Cave, the largest hall of which can accommodate ten thousand people.
Climate
The climate in Zhangjiajie is humid and tropical, with clear sunny days followed by heavy rains throughout the year.
The year is divided into four seasons with short, cool winters and long, warm summers. There are no frosts or excessive heat here.
In summer, the average air temperature is +27℃, and in January, the coldest month, it fluctuates around +4.3℃.
Zhangjiajie can be visited at almost any time of the year.
Although it can be a little chilly in winter, the snowfall turns the park into a magical land.
Spring fills the local nature with the fragrance of flowers, and autumn brings a luxury of colors.
And the dense fogs, mist and altitude, bringing mountain coolness, create a pleasant atmosphere for a summer visit.
Yangjiajie Park is adjacent to Zhangjiajie National Park to the east and Tianzi Mountain to the north.
The park was inaugurated in 1992. The territory of Yangjiajie covers an area of 34 square meters. m and is divided into three parts: Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Valley and Baihou Valley - in which there are a total of more than 200 landscape areas.
Longquan Valley is characterized by steep cliffs that rise out of the ground at almost right angles.
The rocks fit together so closely that from afar they look like the protective wall of an ancient city.
The Baihuo Valley (translated from Chinese as “one hundred monkeys”) is indeed often visited by macaques.
This is also a favorite place for egrets, which flock to this area.
Longquan Valley is famous for the beautiful Dragon Spring Waterfall. A waterfall falls from a cliff densely covered with ivy and exotic five-color flowers.
In the Xiangzhi region, high sharp peaks are wrapped in a thread of transparent streams, ancient paths are laid along the ravines, along which you can hear cicadas and birdsong.
The history of Yangjiajie is closely related to the legends of the Northern Song Dynasty.
According to legend, during one of the bloody wars of that time, a general from the Yang clan set up camp at the foot of Mount Tianzi.
The war dragged on for several years, and during this time more and more scions of the Yang clan appeared in this area. Since then, the place has been called the “Yang Land,” which in Chinese sounds like “Yangjiajie.” The graves of members of the Yang family, including their descendants, who were buried here in the Ming and Qing eras, are still preserved here.
You can also get to these incredible rocks by cableway, which numerous travelers who once rode along it dubbed “the most exciting” in the world.
It is no coincidence that the local cable car is called the “road to heaven”: on some sections it rises upward at an angle of 70°, crashing straight into the clouds.
The journey to the top takes about 40 minutes, and due to the pressure difference, passengers often have blocked ears, and the temperature in the cabin drops sharply.
There is often thick fog over the park, which adds mysticism to the surrounding landscapes.
Those who still dare to overcome the distance of 7,455 m will see the highest miraculous cave in the world, created by erosion of rocks.
Local residents believe that she has supernatural powers. And you can go down from Tianmen Mountain by bus along the serpentine road, which has exactly 99 turns.
Fare: 48 yuan ($7.6) one way.
