The Wulingyuan valleys are a fantasy environment that is kept intact thanks to its location. Dare to travel and get to know this unique landscape up close.
Lovers of unique and unforgettable landscapes have a mandatory stop in the province of Hunnan, in China. Here are the Wulingyuan valleys, the area of ​​greatest scenic interest in the country. In fact, here are some of the most famous locations valued by international tourism, such as Tianzi Mountain or Huanglong Cave.
We invite you to learn more about the Wulingyuan valleys to discover its natural beauty and value it as one of the firm candidates for your future trip to China. And it is that not every day we will be able to photograph ourselves on a movie set, the same one that inspired the filmmaker James Cameron to create the planet Pandora of Avatar.
Wulingyuan Valleys, China’s National Treasure
The Wulingyuan valleys are located in the southwest of Hunan province, about 400 km from its capital, Changsha, in China. This natural environment extends over an area that exceeds 600 km2. Within it are: the Zhangjiajie National Park, the Tianzi Mountain, the Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and the Yangjiajie Tourist Area.
Thousands of years ago, the valleys of Wuliangyuan were covered by the sea. After many years of geological movements caused by the Yanshan Mountains and strong water erosion, the seabed rose, finishing transforming the area.
Thanks to this, today the place is a natural orchard with exuberant forests, unique rock formations on the planet and caves of great beauty. The springs are also abundant, where the Huangling spring stands out. In fact, there is a fluvial network here with more than 50 streams and several high-altitude waterfalls.
However, within this wide landscape area, what is most striking is what is known as the stone forest. This is made up of more than 3,000 rocky sandstone peaks, where many of them exceed 400 meters in altitude. The image is almost unreal, which is why many travelers associate it with images typical of stories and legends.
Another interesting detail is that this area remained anonymous until 1979. It would be the Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong who captured the images of this magical environment and endowed them with international fame. Finally, it would be designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in December 1992.
The biodiversity of the Wulingyuan valleys
The climate of this natural area is temperate with abundant rainfall. This provides the environment with ideal conditions for the development of the local fauna and flora. In addition, its remote geographical position and its low rate of residents offer nature a break from the hand of man and maximum protection for its ecosystem.
Due to this, we can say that more than 97% of the total area of ​​the valleys is completely covered with forests. More than 3,000 species of plants grow in them, among which impressive forests of magnolias, ginkgos and sequoias stand out.
As for the fauna, there are more than 110 species of vertebrates, including the clouded leopard, the pangolin, the South China tiger and the giant salamanders . As well as a wide variety of birds such as the giant golden pheasant. The valleys are also home to the rhesus monkeys and the civet cat. Many of them typical of the area and that are part of the list of protected species in the country.
Main tourist attractions of the wulingyuan valleys
Finally, we want to offer you a brief summary of the most important milestones in the Wulingyuan valleys. Among the many picturesque places that this natural environment offers, we highlight the Tianzi Mountain area , which is located to the north of the valley. From its top of the mountain, we will be able to contemplate one of the best panoramic views of the landscape area.
In addition, within this mountainous area we will also find agricultural terraces that rise above 1000 meters high; the highest in the country. To get to this area we must know that we will have to go through a multitude of irregular paths whose layout makes it impossible to use vehicles. We do not recommend doing this route without a minimum physical condition.
Nor should we miss the opportunity to visit the Baipu waterfall , the best view of the Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. Here, travelers can also visit several caves, including the famous Huanglong Cave, which is more than 7 km long.
Other of the most valued excursions within the natural area are the visit to the Xiangzhi stream, which offers picturesque trails for trekking lovers and the visit to the Valley of the Monkeys, where we can see up close the life of these animals that inhabit the great ravines. . A final touch to feel part of the typical nature of China.
