Wulingyuan Natural Resort

Wulingyun Natural Resort of Zhangjiajie city in the northwest of Hunan Province was listed as a World Natural Heritage in 1992 by UNESCOWHC .

　Stretching in the Wuling Mountain Range and zigzagging past the Yuan River and Li River , Wulingyuan Natural Resort covers a total area of 23,490.18 square kilometers . Its central scenic sites occupy an area of 369 sq . km . comprising Zhangjiajie , the Suoxi Ravine and Mount Heavenly Son , The resort is natural zoological and botanical garden as well as a geological park . These scenic sites all feature strange peaks , secluded caves , limpid streams and thick forests .

　      Zhangjiajie scenic sits , located in he center of Wulingyuan Natural Resort , covers 13.34 square kilometers . It is the first national forest park in China, where are strange peaks , bizarre boulders , springs and flying cataracts , think woods with old , precious trees , and rare birds and beasts . It boasts of five scenic are : The Yellow-Stone Stockade , which is the best scenic area in Zhangjiajie , including the Heavenly – Book Rock , the Sea calming Needle , the Literary Star Rock , etc .

　The Golden-Whip Stream scenic area , featuring continuous stone cliffs and flying cataracts . Particularly the Golden-Whip Rock is its best scenic spot .

　The Kidney Stockade scenic area , featuring steep precipices , which are a great attraction to adventurers and explorers .

　The Sand-Knife Ravine Scenic Area featuring precipices , old trees and grotesque rocks , full of wilderness charm .

　Pipa Brook Scenic Area , featuring thick forests , steep cliffs and strange rocks . The main scenic spots in this scenic area are Nine-Tiers Tower , Husband Watching Peak and Pray Heaven Daoism Temple . Viewed from three angles , the look of Husband Watching Peak changes from a girl to a middle-aged woman to an old woman , quite mysterious and fascinating .

　The Suoxi Ravine Scenic Site is situated west of Cili county , covering a total area of 200 km2. The Suoxi stream penetrates the scenic sit from west to east . It shapes like a string (suo) . The geographical feature of this site is extraordinary , making the site known s a "natural potted landscape" . The lower stratum of he ground consists of yellowish green or dark green shale ; the upper stratum of the ground consists of 600 m . thick purple or grayish quartzite mixed with some shale . Due to he geological structural force , many vertical crevices are formed in the ground , creating the ravine landform . The Yellow Dragon Cave and the Four Strata Cave in this scenic site are both rocky and watery , and are spectacular and imposing .

　Mount Heavenly-Son lies within Sangzhi county and has a total area of 93 sq .km. Its main peak Kunlun Peak is 1,262 meters above he sea level . On the sides of the Mount are concentrated strange landforms : waterfalls , overpasses , limestone caves , stone forests , etc . At 900 meters above the sea-level , many minute springs seep out of rock crevices to form little brooks or foaming falls , glistening against a background of red sand rocks . Six tourist spots are open : the Shi-Family House Eaves , the Tea –Tray Pagoda , he Old-Farm House , he Phoenix Sojourn Hill , he Yellow Dragon Spring and he Kunlun Peak . Cloudy Mist , Sunglow , Moonlit Night and Winter Snow are four great natural spectacles here . Other spectacles here are exuberant subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests , colorful flowers , and rare birds and animals .

 

2010-12-13

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