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Hiking in Terrestrial Paradise - Wulingyuan

THURSDAY, 30 JULY 2009
Submitted By: Sherwin Mapanoo

Wulingyuan Scenic Area consists of three parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve and Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve, covering over more than 26,000 hectares.

Home to more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks (over 1,000 rise at least 200 meters), Wulingyuan has been arguably praised as one of the most beautiful place in China. Often misted in low cloud and scored by countless streams, sixty percent of the park still has its original vegetation. Among the 550-odd tree species (twice Europe's total) are rare dove trees, gingkoes, and dawn redwoods, these last identified by their stringy bark and feathery leaves – a now-popular ornamental tree but believed extinct until 1948. The wildlife list is impressive too, including civets, giant salamanders, monkeys and game birds.

It was included in the World Heritage sites in 1992.

What to do there:

1. A bit strenuous trekking is followed by a rewarding and gorgeous experience by taking the panoramic view from the top of Mount Tianzi and Yellow mini-train at Tianzishan nature reserve Stone Village (accessible by trail or cable car);

2. A 2 hours hike along the picturesque Golden Whip river;

3. 326-meter Heavenly Elevator, possible the highest one in the world;

4. Exploring the amazing Huanglong Cave featured with complicated formation of stalactite and stalagmite;

5. A cruise in photogenic Baofeng Lake;

6. Sightseeing mini-train travel to go through a 5km "natural art gallery" in a undisturbed valley.

Source: www.prlog.org

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