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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
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15 beautiful images of Zhangjiajie National Park in Hunan, China

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is one of the most peculiar national forest parks in China.

[湖南张家界国家森林公园; Húnán Zhāngjiājiè Guójiā Sēnlín Gōngyuán]

Situated in the northern region of Hunan Province in the People’s Republic of China, this national park forms a part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area and is positioned within the boundaries of Zhangjiajie City. It stands as one among the multiple national parks encompassed by the scenic area.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

History & Culture

Zhangjiajie, an area steeped in history and legend, traces its origins back to the Neolithic Age when it was known as “Dayong”. This region, once considered remote and inaccessible, has human traces dating back approximately 100,000 years. Ancient local narratives tell of Zhang Liang, a renowned strategist from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), who sought refuge in the area, then known as Qingyan Mountain, now Zhangjiajie. Fearing execution by Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, Zhang Liang chose this location for its serene beauty and seclusion, becoming a hermit and allegedly planting seven ginkgo trees. He was eventually buried beneath the same mountain. The name ‘Zhangjiajie’ is believed to derive from his lineage, with “Zhang” referring to his surname, “Jia” meaning family, and “Jie” signifying homeland or border.

Geographical and Natural Features

The park’s most distinguished geographic feature is its array of towering pillar-like formations. Contrary to appearances, these structures are not a result of limestone karst processes but are formed through extensive physical erosion over many years. The weathering of these pillars largely owes to winter ice expansion and the growth of plant life on them. The region experiences moist weather throughout the year, leading to dense vegetation. Streams primarily carry away the weathered material from these formations, which have become iconic in the Chinese landscape, often depicted in ancient paintings.

Park officials note that the stunning visuals of Zhangjiajie, particularly these unique formations, served as inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains in the film “Avatar.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park map

Images of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Source:

Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie_National_Forest_Park
Source: Zhangjiajie Tourism

The village in a cave in Guizhou
China Underground >

The village in a cave in Guizhou

Getu-River National Park in Guizhou Province, not far from Anshun is dotted by hundreds of mountains eroded by the force of water and wind. In a large cave live today 18 people (in 2007 they were about one hundred), all of the Miao ethnic minority group.

The villagers of Tajing have lived here for centuries. The largest cave is approximately 230 meters long, 115 wide, and 50 high. In China, they became famous after a China Daily article in 2007, which depicted them as modern troglodytes. Other articles claimed they were the last tribe who lived in a cave in Asia (but that’s not true). They have developed into a quasi-tribal society. Inside the cave, there are many houses, all without a roof, a school, and a basketball court. Most of the people left the village in search of money and job opportunities. However, many others refused to leave the village and even refused new houses built by the local government. In Southwest China, there is also another village in a cave, Fengyandong, in Yunnan province.

The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou

The new houses built by the government and refused by the villagers

\The village in a cave in Guizhou

The villagers in 2007

The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou

The village in 2011

The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou
The village in a cave in Guizhou

Source 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

backlinks > inhabitat , urbanista

dwarf theme park in China
China Underground >

The Kingdom of the Little People in China (video + pics), updated

Inside the Kingdom of the Little People, Kunming, Yunnan.

The Empire of Dwarfs or Kingdom of the Little People, was a bizarre theme park not far from Kunming.

When we arrived here for the second time, references to Snow White disappeared, but dwarfs were still the main attraction.

A number of dwarfs, a deformed calf, and a talented acrobat from Xinjiang are the main attractions of the theme park.

Twice a day dwarf dancers and dwarf singers performed in front of an audience of families and schools. If at first glance, this idea of creating a theme park based on dwarfs could be perplexing, for these people coming from all parts of China, was certainly one of the few alternatives to a life of begging.

If you want to know more, read here or here.

UPDATE: A friend told us the Empire has been shut down recently (2015).

The kingdom of the Chinese dwarfs

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Pictures & video by Matteo Damiani

The article was originally published on Aug 8, 2011, Latest update Jul 18, 2019

Topic: dwarf theme park in China,dwarfs empire in China,china dwarf empire,dwarf empire documentary