Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, National forest park in Zhangjiajie, China.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a protected forest area in central China with thousands of steep sandstone columns rising from dense subtropical forest. The landscape feels otherworldly, with rock pillars reaching over 3,000 feet tall and often shrouded in mist at higher elevations.
The park was established in 1982 as China's first national forest area, marking a turning point in the country's nature conservation efforts. A decade later in 1992, it gained UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the broader Wulingyuan site, bringing international recognition to its unusual geology.
The name connects to a legendary figure from Chinese history, reflecting how local stories are woven into the natural landscape. Visitors encounter shrines and markers throughout the park that show how the pillars hold spiritual meaning for people living nearby.
Visitors can take the Bailong Elevator (the world's tallest outdoor lift at over 300 meters) or explore on foot; the Golden Whip Stream Trail offers easier walking without technical demands. Plan your visit during drier weather when mist clears, giving better views of the distant pillars rather than obscuring them entirely.
The rocks consist of over 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars formed through erosion spanning millions of years and found nowhere else on Earth. This geological formation gives the area a distinctive appearance that sets it apart as one of the world's rare natural landscapes.
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