Cities > Zhangjiajie City
Overview
Chinese Name: 张家界市English Name: Zhangjiajie City
Climate Conditions: Subtropical Mountain Monsoon Humid Climate
Airport: Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport
Train Stations: Zhangjiajie Station, Zhangjiajie West Station
Background
Zhangjiajie City, a prefecture-level city in Hunan Province, is one of the most important tourist cities in China. It is a key ecological function area and an important ecological barrier in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It serves as a beautiful postcard for China and is praised as an "expanded bonsai, a miniature fairyland."Climate
Zhangjiajie is located in the northern mid-latitudes, featuring a subtropical mountain monsoon humid climate with abundant sunlight and rainfall, a long frost-free period, a short cold period, and distinct seasons. The average annual sunshine duration, temperature, and precipitation are approximately 1440 hours, 16 degrees Celsius, and 1400 mm, respectively. The average frost-free period each year ranges from 216 to 269 days. Influenced by factors such as topography and landforms, the climate is complex and variable, with natural disasters like droughts, floods, strong winds, and hail occurring relatively frequently. The annual average temperature is 17°C, with an average temperature of 5.1°C in January and 28°C in July. The annual precipitation totals around 1400 mm.Zhangjiajie's climate is moderate, situated in the northern mid-latitudes, aligning with a subtropical mountain monsoon humid climate. Therefore, it experiences abundant rainfall (with an average annual precipitation of 1400 mm), ample sunlight, a long frost-free period, and a short cold period, with an annual average temperature around 16.6°C. In August, extreme summer temperatures can reach about 37.2°C, while the coldest month, January, averages 4.3°C (with extreme temperatures ranging around zero to 4.5°C). The urban area of Zhangjiajie is at an altitude of 183 meters, while scenic spots average around 1000 meters, causing a day-night temperature difference of up to 10°C.
Customs
Crying Marriage
On a Tujia woman's wedding day, the celebrations begin with crying. The bride starts crying more than a month before the wedding, with some crying for more than a month, and at least three to five days. The Tujia people view the ability to sing crying marriage songs as a measure of a woman's intelligence and virtue. Crying marriage songs include "Crying for Parents," "Crying for Brothers and Sisters," "Crying for Uncles," "Crying for Sisters," "Crying for Matchmakers," "Crying while Combing Hair," "Crying for Flower Carriers," "Crying for Farewell to Mother," "Crying for Ancestors," and "Crying while Getting on the Carriage." Some Miao people also practice crying marriages, though it is primarily a ritual.Marriage Regulations Among Same Surnames
The Tujia people take marriage between individuals of the same surname very seriously, allowing marriages only between different clans or outside the five degrees of kinship. Marriages within the five degrees are considered a major taboo. In practice, even marriages among the same surname that align with Tujia marriage customs are not widely accepted by most Tujia people. Historically, Tujia marriages were quite free; couples could marry after love was established and with parental consent. In areas like Enshi and Shidashan, there is a “Daughter's Meeting” custom, held on the 12th day of the seventh lunar month, where young men and women freely interact and choose lifelong partners. However, after the reform, the Tujia were forced into arranged marriages dictated by parental authority and matchmakers, as recorded in the Qing Dynasty's “He Feng County Records.”Celebration of the New Year
The Tujia people have unique customs for celebrating the New Year: if it’s a larger month, they celebrate on the 29th; if it’s a smaller month, they celebrate on the 28th. The Tujia refer to celebrating a day early as "Catching the Year."Naming Ceremony
The naming ceremony, commonly known as getting a name, involves men using red lacquered wooden plaques with gold characters to welcome the bride. A day before the wedding, friends and relatives beat drums and play music, bringing the plaque to the groom's home. The father leads the groom to bow to receive the plaque, which is then hung on the wall, referred to as raising the name plaque. The raising of the name plaque involves three horn blows and drum beats, accompanied by cannon fire for celebration. After the cannon fire, ten individuals are gathered, including the groom, called the "Ten Brothers," with the groom being referred to as the "Top Scholar."Nine Children Whip
The Nine Children Whip, also known as the “Tian Shen Whip,” is popular among the Han, Bai, and Tujia ethnicities, particularly favored by the Bai people. They attribute happiness and auspiciousness to deities and create whips from bamboo woods, with nine copper coins inserted. The whip measures about 1 to 1.5 meters and is decorated with bright red and purple silk tassels. The Nine Children Whip can be used for solo dances or group dances, from a single performer to hundreds. Dancers hold the whip and move rhythmically to suona music. The performance includes various techniques and is known for its beautiful yet rugged movements. The whip makes rhythmic sounds as the ancient coins clash, creating an enjoyable melody.Tujia Worship
The Tujia people worship the Earth God to pray for a good harvest and prosperity for the livestock, as well as for the safety of their village and to drive away evil spirits. The Tujia people hold the Earth God in high regard, with each village having one or more Earth God temples.High Lantern Dance
The High Lantern Dance is a dance rich in ethnic characteristics, popular in the Yongding and Yuanguiping areas. Performances typically include between 12 to 14 people, accompanied by instruments such as gongs, cymbals, suona, and drums. Each performer holds a lantern made of paper, with two candles inside and a wooden puppet on top, decorated with colorful paper cutouts depicting stories like "Eight Immortals," "Wagangzhai," and "Heroes of Liangshan." The performance follows specific patterns, moving east to west, and can be performed in people's homes for blessings or in open areas for public viewing.Festivals
February 2: Birthday of the Earth God, observed with Earth God rituals.February 15: Flower Festival; young girls pierce their ears, and many couples marry at this time.
March 3: "Artemisia Cake Festival," where people eat cakes made from artemisia.
Qingming Festival: People insert willow branches at home, called "Qing Men," to symbolize family harmony. Families also clean and pay respect at ancestral graves.
April 8: "Bathing Buddha Festival." Farmers rest on this day, marking an ancient labor festival.
Duanwu Festival: Local temples display portraits of Zhang Zhenren, children apply realgar on their foreheads to ward off evil. People eat zongzi and drink calamus, hanging mugwort at their doors. There are boat races on the Li River in certain areas, with distinctions between Great and Small Duanwu festivals.
June 6: Tujia people wash clothes, considered a significant ethnic holiday due to its association with the death anniversary of a Tujia leader.
July 7: Women weave colorful silk to worship the Cowherd and Weaver Girl.
Mid-Autumn Festival: Tujia people do not emphasize moon viewing but partake in mooncake traditions, with a unique custom of stealing melons for couples longing for children.
November 19: The Sun God’s Birthday, families rise early to burn incene respectfully.
December 24: Small New Year; in Sangzhi County, people of the "Xiang" surname celebrate a day earlier due to local lore about bandits leading to a day early celebration.
Local Specialties
Zhangjiajie Wine, Wild Mushrooms, Stone Ears, Eucommia, Pueraria Powder, Maoyanmei Tea, Kiwi, Turtle Pattern Colored Stone, Tujia Brocade, Stone Ear Stewed Chicken and Duck, Loach Drilling Tofu, Sour Fish, Tujia Three Dishes, Couple’s Radish, Eighteen-Child Konjac, Tujia Mixed Residue, Pueraria Crisp, Yulu Tea, Sangzhi White Tea.
Scenic Attractions
Zhangjiajie Scenic Area
The Zhangjiajie Scenic Area is divided into four major parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yangjiajie Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, collectively known as the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.Yangjiajie
Yangjiajie is located west of Zhangjiajie City, north of Tianzi Mountain, and west of Yuanjiajie, only ten kilometers from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. At an altitude of over 1000 meters, it is one of Zhangjiajie’s four core tourist attractions, with highlights such as Wulong Village, Sky Corridor, Three Ghost Gates, and Bandit’s Nest included in classic tourism routes.Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is adjacent to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site and a World Geopark.Bada Gongshan
Bada Gongshan Nature Reserve is located 85 kilometers from Sangzhi County and stands at the northern end of the Wuling Mountains, the source of water. The main peak, Dou Mountain, stands at an elevation of 1890 meters, the highest point in Wuling Mountain. The reserve consists of five forest areas: Doufeng Mountain, Shamu Ridge, and Tianping Mountain, covering an area of 44,900 hectares and is a national nature reserve with the largest and best-preserved primeval forest in southern China.Yuanjiajie
Yuanjiajie is situated on the northern slope of Shandao Valley, located in the core area of Zhangjiajie World Natural Heritage, with an altitude of over 1000 meters and steep cliffs all around, resembling a raised platform among the Wuling mountains. It is primarily composed of quartzite.Huangshizhai
Huangshizhai, also known as Huang Lion Zhai and formerly Huangsi Zhai, is named after an ancient man named Huang Shigong who lived here. It is a central attraction in the Zhangjiajie tourist area, known for the saying "If you don't climb Huang Lion Zhai, it's pointless to visit Zhangjiajie." With an altitude of over 1200 meters, it features various cliffs and rocky terraces forming a plateau that is 16.5 hectares in size. Major scenic points include Tianshu Treasure Box, Dinghai Shen Needle, Nantianshizhu, and Jinhai Tangu, making it one of the most concentrated areas of beautiful scenery and the largest sky-view observation platform in Zhangjiajie.Jinbian Stream
Jinbian Stream is a naturally formed beautiful stream named after Jinbian Rock. The stream winds from west to east, and even during droughts, it never runs dry.Hawk Zhai
Hawk Zhai is located in the northeastern direction of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, alongside Huangshizhai and Yangjiajie, forming a "triangular" balance. It stands at an altitude of 1500 meters and is known for its perilous terrain, originally named Yaozi Zhai due to its kidney-like shape. Facing Huangshizhai, it features deep gorges and dangerous mountains, yet has an open flat area at the top, serving as an excellent natural observation platform, covering about 60,000 square meters, surrounded by deep cliffs and valleys.Wulei Mountain
Wulei Mountain is one of Hunan Province's first key religious sites, and is at the core of Zhangjiajie's eastern tourism landscape. It is located in the eastern part of Cili County, 20 kilometers from the Cili East exit of the Changzhang Expressway reaching Shimen to the north, Linyi to the east, and connecting to Taoyuan in the south—an essential route to enter Zhangjiajie City.Jiutian Cave
Jiutian Cave is known as the "largest cave in Asia," named for its nine skylights open to the ground. The cave comprises three layers, with a total area of 2.5 million square meters. Discovered by spelunker Wang Hairan in 1987, it officially opened to visitors in 1988, designated as a provincial scenic area. Jiutian Cave serves as a member of the International Caving Organization and is an international spelunking base.Huanglong Cave
Huanglong Cave is a renowned cave attraction in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area, celebrated for its “wonder of world caves,” as well as titles like "World Cave All-Around Champion" and "China's Most Beautiful Tourist Cave." It has been explored with a total cave floor area of 100,000 square meters; the cave comprises four levels with varying features such as caves within caves and rivers inside the caves. Experts agree that Huanglong Cave's vastness, diversity, and beauty encompass all elements of speleology.Longwang Cave
Longwang Cave is one of Zhangjiajie's key tourist attractions, praised by cave specialists as a "unique wonder of world caves" and regarded as one of China's largest and oldest caves. Longwang Cave extends about 30 kilometers, with an average height of 50 meters and a width of 80 meters, featuring 58 halls, 28 stone corridors, 15 pearl waterfalls, three underground rivers, two lakes, and 45 water flower pools, with abundant stalactites, stalagmites, stone curtains, and stone flowers throughout, including the famed "First Column Under Heaven," known as the Longwang Treasure Column.Puguang Zen Temple
Puguang Zen Temple is part of the Zhangjiajie scenic area. It was built in 1413 and has a history of nearly 600 years, covering an area of 8000 square meters. This temple represents a combination of Buddhist and Taoist cultures, with scenic spots such as Puguang Martial Temple and Wenchang Shrine within its grounds.
