Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: The Stunning Canyon

​Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is located in Sanguansi Township, Cili County, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, about 50 kilometers away from the urban area of Zhangjiajie, with a total area of 19.6 square kilometers. It is based on ‘the deep canyon, waterfall and springs, and lush vegetation’, and it has become an Internet celebrity check-in place because of the world-famous ‘Yuntiandu’ glass bridge. In one, the complex scenic spot can be called ‘another landscape business card of Zhangjiajie’. zitain

1. Core landscape: the double shock of canyon and bridge

(1) Yuntiandu Glass Bridge: The ‘Sky Mirror’ on the Clouds

As the ‘significant symbol’ of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Yuntiandu Glass Bridge has created a number of world records – 536 meters in total length, 6 meters wide, and the bridge deck is about 300 relative height from the bottom of the valley. Rice is the world’s first sloping alpine canyon glass bridge, and it is also the world’s longest span and highest height of transparent glass bridge. zitain

The bridge deck is laminated with three-layer laminated tempered glass, which can bear 800 kilograms per square meter, which is extremely safe. Walking on it, there are deep and bottomless canyons and ravines, and beside it is the green mountains and green trees surrounded by clouds and mists, like ‘walking the clouds’; Reflecting the blue sky, it is a shocking blockbuster when you shoot it at your fingertips; on rainy days, the clouds and mists over the bridge deck add a hazy feeling like a fairyland. zitain

In addition, there is an observation deck at both ends of the bridge, which overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire Grand Canyon. In some time, extreme experience items such as ‘Glass Bridge Bungeing’ and ‘High-altitude zipline’ will also be launched (reservation must be made in advance) to meet the needs of adventure enthusiasts. zitain

(2) Scenery of the Grand Canyon: a natural carved ‘landscape picture’​

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is a quartz sandstone canyon landform. ‘Sanchiyou Road, 100-meter waterfall, thousand-year-old vines, 10,000-acre rhododendrons’ and other scenes:​

• Shenquan Gorge: The core paragraph in the upper reaches of the canyon, the stream is crystal clear, the rock walls on both sides are steep, and the ancient vines are entangled.

• Rainbow Square: Located in the middle of the canyon, it is named after the rainbows often appear in the waterfall. ‘A line of blue sky’ with great visual impact;

• bandit hole: Hidden in the rock wall on the west side of the canyon, which is said to be the hiding place of the bandits in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

• Millennium Guteng: In the depths of the canyon, an ancient vine with a diameter of about 30 cm is entangled on the rock wall, and the branches spread for tens of meters. zitain

2. Featured experience: a variety of choices from casual to exciting​

(1) Walking in the canyon: immersive view

The trekking road built along the canyon is about 4 kilometers long, mostly built on cliffs. Some sections have to walk through the stream and under the waterfall. The difficulty is moderate and suitable for most tourists. You can feel the depth and agility of the canyon up close on the walk—— Listening to the gurgling streams, watching the waterfalls and springs, and watching the macaques shuttle between the forests (there are dozens of wild macaques inhabiting the scenic spot, which are docile relatives, you need to be careful not to feed human food), the whole journey takes about 2-3 hours, which is an excellent way to get close to nature. zitain

(2) Glass plank road and slideway: advanced version stimulation​

In addition to Yuntiandu Glass Bridge, there are also ‘glass plank road’ and ‘alpine slide’ in the scenic area:

• The glass plank road is located on the west side of the canyon, about 300 meters long, and the altitude drop is about 100 meters.

• Alpine slides (also known as ‘dry slides’) have a total length of about 1200 meters, winding from half of the canyon to the bottom of the valley. The fun is suitable for parents, children and family tourists. zitain

(3) Cruise and sightseeing: enjoy the canyon from a different perspective​

In the ‘Shenquan Lake’ in the lower reaches of the canyon (the artificial lake formed by the reservoir, the lake is clear and green), you can take a cruise on a cruise, and the whole journey takes about 20 minutes. The cruise ship travels between the green mountains, the lake is sparkling, and the peaks and forests on both sides of the water are reflected in the water, which is completely different from the perspective of walking and glass bridges, which is more peaceful and comfortable, especially suitable for relaxing and relaxing in the later period. zitain

3. Practical tour guide

(1) Tickets and transportation

1. Tickets: The scenic area implements the ‘ticket + glass bridge’ joint ticket system (separate tickets need to be purchased separately), it is recommended to make an appointment through the official public account or travel platform 1-3 days in advance to avoid queuing on the spot; tickets are valid 1 Day, including canyon trekking, glass bridge, Shenquan Lake cruise (some packages do not include cruise ships, please pay attention to the distinction). zitain

2. Traffic:

• External: From the urban area of Zhangjiajie, you can take the ‘Zhangjiajie Bus Station – Grand Canyon’ special bus (about 1.5 hours, the fare is 25 yuan / person), or take a taxi / chartered car (about 1 hour, fee 150-200 yuan); starting from Wulingyuan Scenic Spot, about 40 minutes by taxi, the cost is 80-100 yuan;​

• Inside: From the entrance of the scenic spot to the glass bridge, you need to take the environmental protection car of the scenic spot (including the ticket), and then take a cruise to the mountain after walking to Shenquan Lake without additional transportation costs. zitain

(2) Route recommendation​

1. Classic Day Tour (Recommended):

Entrance to the scenic spot → take an environmentally friendly car to Yuntiandu Glass Bridge → Experience the glass bridge → walk to the glass plank road → go down the hiking plank road to enjoy the scenery of the canyon → arrive at Shenquan Lake → go down the mountain by boat → go down the mountain → the exit of the scenic spot (the whole journey is about 4-5 hours, taking into account the core landscape and experience). zitain

2. Easy half-day tour (suitable for time constraints):

Entrance to the scenic spot → take an environmentally friendly car to the glass bridge → experience the glass bridge → take the elevator down to the middle of the canyon → walk to the Shenquan Lake → take a cruise down the mountain (skip some hiking sections, about 2.5 hours). zitain

(3) Notes

1. Garment and Equipment: If the hiking road is too humid, it is recommended to wear non-slip sneakers; the temperature difference in the canyon is small, but it is sultry in summer and cold in winter, so you need to wear suitable clothes according to the season; you should do a good job of sun protection in summer, and bring a sun hat and sunscreen. zitain

2. Safety Tips: Glass bridges and glass plank roads are prohibited from wearing high heels (shoe covers can be rented at the entrance of the scenic spot), and it is forbidden to carry sharp items; when walking, pay attention to slippery feet, Avoid being close to the edge of the cliff; extreme items (such as bungee jumping) must meet the height and weight requirements, and have a health certificate (some items need to be reserved in advance). zitain

3. Diet and Rest: There are 3-4 rest points along the way in the scenic area, selling drinking water, snacks and Xiangxi specialty snacks (such as pueraria root powder and bacon skewers), the price is slightly higher than the urban area; it is recommended to bring a small amount of light snacks to replenish physical strength. zitain

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon has the tenderness of ‘small bridge and flowing water’, but also the shock of ‘glass overpass’; it can not only make you immersive in the beauty of nature, but also meet your expectations for the stimulating experience. Whether you are a family outing, a couple vacation, or a friend together, here can bring you a ‘movement and stillness’ landscape trip, which has become an unforgettable stop in your Zhangjiajie itinerary.