Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve

Location: in the northern part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, also called Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, in Hunan Province of central China
Height: the highest peak is about 1,262m (4,140 feet)
Area: 67 square kilometers (16,550 acres)

Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve is one of the core scenic spots in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It provides stunning views of peaks, which rise one after another. It is known as 'the Monarch of the Peak Forest'. At the top of the mountain, visitors can see the full extent of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Beautiful scenes of the mountain greet visitors in different seasons.

Tianzi Mountain

 

Tianzi Mountain was formed by sedimentary rocks 318 million years ago. Those rocks, eroded by the water and wind, slowly turned into quartz stones, which formed those amazing peaks in the scenic area.

 

Heavenly Countryside is a 3-hectare-large trapezoidal fertile field with a slope at the height of over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Next to the field is the hundred-meter-deep valley and the towering peaks forests, just like a Chinese landscape painting. In autumn like September and October, activities such as harvesting paddy and tug-of-war would be held here.

Heavenly Countryside

 

Helong Park is constructed to commemorate a brilliant Chinese general – Helong. In the Park, there is 6.5-meter-high (21 feet) bronze Helong Sculpture with a bronze horse standing by, weighting 9 tons. In the past 100 years, it has been the biggest bronze sculpture in China. Yunqing Rock in the Park is another sight worth visiting. The huge stone deck locates by the cliff and has 5 view platforms.
 

It is the highest stone bridge in Zhangjiajie with the height of 350 meters (1,150 feet), length of over 20 meters (22 yards), and thickness of 5 meters (5.5 yards). The Bridge links 2 peaks, thus forming a natural cave under it. Walking on it, you can appreciate the landscape consisting of pine trees, hanging ancient vines, and pervasive mist.

Photoing on Tianzi Mountain

 

Tianzi Mountain takes its name from a man, Xiang Dakun, the leader of the Tu ethnic group during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 -1279). He led a revolution and avowed himself as Tianzi (Son of Heaven). Here, visitors can see many sites about his story, like:

Yu Bi Peaks: With pine trees on the top, the Yu Bi (imperial brushes) Peaks rise upward into the sky. Legend goes that they are brushes the Tianzi- Xiang Dakun used that became stone peaks after his martyrdom.

Yu Bi Peaks

Xi’an Nv San Hua: The Xi'an Nv San Hua (floral tributes by fairies) is slightly opposite the Yu Bi Peaks. A legend goes that Xiang Dakun and his army were defeated to fall back on the Tianzi Mountain. He fought to the finish, but finally jumped off the cliff. A girl in love with him went across the mountain to search for him. She strewed flowers over the cliffs and turned into a stone statue. 

Shen Bing Ju Hui: Shen Bing Ju Hui is a forest of soldier-like peaks arrayed for a review.

 

Visitors can take a cable car to see these charming peaks. With 692 meters' (about 2,270 feet) difference in elevation, the aerial tramway is 2,084 meters (about 2,279 yards) in length. The minimum running time is six minutes and twenty-two seconds for a single trip during which visitors can keep the wonderful scenery of the Tianzi Mountain in view.

Tianzi Mountain Cable Car

 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate – Lower Station of Tianzi Mountain Cable Car – Upper Station of the Cable Car – Helong Park – Dian Jiang Tai – Yangjiajie – Yuanjiajie – Upper Station of Bailong Elevator – Golden Whip Stream – East Gate
 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate – Lower Station of Bailong Elevator – Upper Station of the Elevator – Yuanjiajie – Tianzi Mountain – Upper Station of Tianzi Mountain Cable Car – Lower Station of the Cable Car – Ten-Mile Gallery – Golden Whip Stream – Exit from South Gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate
 

After entering the scenic area, there are eco-buses taking you to the lower station of the Tianzi Mountain Cable Car. However, there is still a long way of staircases from the eco-bus drop-off point to the cable car pick-up point. It’s tiring especially for children and seniors. 

Also, among other attractions in the scenic area like Helong Park, Shen Tang Bay, Dian Jiang Tai, Yuanjiajie, and Golden Whip Stream, there are also eco-buses for you to take.

 1 hour
 Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station (near Zhangjiajie Railway Station) and Zhangjiajie High Speed Rail Bus Station (beside Zhangjiajie West Railway Station) operate regular direct buses to Wulingyuan and the bus journey takes about 40-60 minutes. Bus fare is around CNY 12 - 13. Upon arrival, take the eco-bus to Tianzi Mountain.
 

	Admission Fee	Admission Fee + Eco-bus
Adult	CNY 165	CNY 224
Visitors aged 14 - 18 and 60 - 65, with 14 and 60 included	CNY 83	CNY 224
Children aged under 14	Free	Free
Seniors aged and over 65		CNY 30
Note: 1. The admission fee includes visit to all the sites in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, except Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave. 2. The ticket has 4-day validity.

Adults: CNY 72
Minors aged 14 (included) – 18 and seniors aged over 60: CNY 36
Minors under 14: Free

Note the above prices all refer to single trip price.
 Tianzi Mountain: 07:00 - 17:00
The cable car: 07:30 - 17:30