Situated on the border of Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie is a newly developed international tourist city. Zhangjiajie is noted worldwide for its pristine national scenery and the government's potent policy on tourist infrastructure construction. The semitropical monsoon humid climate offers Zhangjiajie modest climate, plentiful sunshine, flush rainfalls, fertile land and rich tourism resources.
Zhangjiajie features a variety of different terrains including: mountainous regions, upland areas, plains, and Karsts rock areas. Among these, the mountains cover 76 percent of the total area. The world-famous natural heritage site Wulingyuan Scenic Area is located on the base of these mountains. Areas worth visiting include Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is known as China’s first national forest park; Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve, and Tianzi Mountain Natural Resource Reserve. The scenic area hosts many natural features including: mountains, forests, caves, lakes and waterfalls and so on. They enjoy a reputation of Original Picture on Mountain and River of China. This wonderland is covered with dense forests and is considered Nature’s Oxygen Bar.
The history of Zhangjiajie can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. There are three main ethnic minority groups known as Tujia, Bai, Miao and other 30 ethnic groups living harmoniously. Many different folk cultures converge here. Thus visitors can experience various folk customs, clothing, decorations, dance, music and food.
With primitive and simple folk customs and rich ethnic culture, Zhangjiajie possesses all kinds of intangible cultural heritage, including 15 categories and more than 70 items. In 2006, Folk Songs of Sangzhi County, Hands-waving Dance of Tujia Ethnic Group, Maogusi Dance, and The Crafts of Tujia Brocade were all listed in the Protection Catalog of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage. Zhangjiajie Yang Opera, Gaohua Light (kind of dance), Cili Banban Dragon Light are listed as the provincial-level intangible heritage. Zhangjiajie Hard qigong has even performed in seven countries in Europe with our national leaders visiting in these countries.