Dongting Xiaoxiang (1): The Marvel of Zhangjiajie, The Legend of Wulingyuan

The long-awaited Hunan trip, after half a year of planning, finally set off during this May Day holiday. For the first time in my life, I set foot on this land of Xiao and Xiang. At this moment, my heart is naturally filled with excitement. The vast land of China, with its beautiful mountains and rivers, I will explore step by step.

Thanks to the extensive high-speed rail network, we have been spared the fatigue of traveling day and night. Cities thousands of miles apart can now be connected in just a few hours. From my city to Wuhan, then to Changsha, and finally to the first stop of this Xiaoxiang journey—Zhangjiajie—I set out to explore the unique charm of this city surrounded by strange peaks. There are many legendary stories about the origin of the name Zhangjiajie. Two mainstream theories have been passed down. One says that after Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, unified the country, Zhang Liang, a founding hero, fled here to save his life and left a lineage of descendants named Zhang, hence the name Zhangjiajie. The other theory is that during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial general Zhang Wancong was granted this area, including today's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, as his fiefdom for his meritorious service. Thus, this land became the hereditary territory of the Zhang family, and people named it Zhangjiajie after their surname.

As a world natural heritage site certified by UNESCO, Zhangjiajie is renowned both at home and abroad. One of its core natural scenic areas, Wulingyuan National Forest Park, has been known to later generations thanks to Tao Yuanming's essay "The Story of Peach Blossom Spring." "In the Taiyuan period of Jin, a man from Wuling made a living by fishing" is the mainstream theory for the origin of the name Wulingyuan. Due to historical surnames, the core scenic area of Zhangjiajie also includes Yuanjiajie and Yangjiajie, with Yuanjiajie being the most famous. As the filming location for the blockbuster film Avatar, which once broke the box office record of Titanic, Yuanjiajie features towering peaks. With the addition of the Bailong Elevator, certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest outdoor mountain elevator in the world, Yuanjiajie has become a must-visit spot for tourists from home and abroad at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Taking the high-speed train from Changsha to Zhangjiajie, we arrived near noon. With only half a day to explore, we had to make choices for this Zhangjiajie trip. After all, the place is too vast, with high mountains and long distances. Even with shuttle buses connecting various scenic spots, it's impossible to tour the entire area in such a short time. After the complete relaxation of epidemic prevention and control, we could foresee the peak tourist flow during the May Day holiday. Fortunately, we entered the park at noon when the crowd was not too large. However, when we got inside, waves of tour groups passed by us, and we truly felt the pressure of the gathered crowds.

Going up the Bailong Elevator, we experienced a rapid ascent within 88 seconds. At the top, towering peaks of various forms rose right before our eyes. Nature's extraordinary craftsmanship, combined with the legendary stories bestowed by humans, gave these peaks a sudden vitality. Countless stories to tell, endless beautiful scenery to see. Thanks to the favorable weather—though the forecast had predicted rain—it held up well during our climb. Otherwise, we would have seen nothing amid the misty clouds around the peaks! On the way back from the Bailong Elevator, we went down to visit Ten Mile Gallery, taking the popular mini train and looking up at the vividly shaped peaks and strange rocks, each endowed with beautiful stories. The first day in Zhangjiajie was not only packed with tourists from all directions but also with monkeys that were ubiquitous and adorable. They are already accustomed to human presence. If you are not careful and expose your food, you might become a target for their robbery. If that's not enough, getting "beaten up" by monkeys while taking close-up photos is nothing new either!

Scenery is everywhere, but when it is infused with legendary stories, it becomes even more captivating. This treasured land of Zhangjiajie, a natural wonder, coupled with the fantastic tale of "The Story of Peach Blossom Spring" by Master Wuliu, adds a touch of mystery from the Eastern world!