Wulingyuan, National park in Hunan Province, China.
The area encompasses over three thousand sandstone columns rising more than 200 meters that create a formation of peaks, gorges, and waterfalls across 690 square kilometers, while dense subtropical forests cover lower slopes and natural bridges and caves thread through the landscape.
The geological formations developed during the Devonian period between 400 and 350 million years ago through tectonic movements and water erosion, while the area was designated as China's first national forest park in 1982 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
The area is home to Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities whose traditional villages and cultural practices have shaped the region for centuries, offering visitors insights into local customs, dances, and craft traditions while the forests historically served as sources for medicinal plants and natural resources.
Visitors reach summit areas through the Bailong Elevator rising 1070 feet (326 meters) or by cable cars to different viewing platforms, while April through October offers optimal weather and early morning hours create fog around the columns, with hotels and restaurants available in nearby Wulingyuan town.
The sandstone columns and peaks provided direct inspiration for the floating mountains in the film Avatar, with director James Cameron visiting the formations and using photographs as reference material for the design team, which brought international attention to the geological wonders.
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