The second trip to Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province was when the reporter followed Beijing Love Car Sunshine's self-driving Hunan motorcade to collect the wind. At that time, it was the May Day Golden Week in 2006. Although free highway traffic during major festivals had not yet begun at that time, the Zhangjiajie Scenic Area was still full of tourists during the festival.

Scenery of Yuan's family (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Reporters who drove in Hunan with their cars in the sunshine arrived in Zhangjiajie on May 1, 2006 and experienced two days of "torture" of overcrowding in Tianmen Mountain and Huangshi Village. They gradually figured out some rules here, that is, Visiting some newly developed scenic spots in Zhangjiajie will not only alleviate some of the worries of overcrowding, but also show many different beautiful and magnificent natural scenery. The reporter from the second trip to Zhangjiajie took a tour of Yuanjia with some riders, which is a good evidence.

Photo taken by Yuan Jiajie (Photo: Lin Lan)

Compared with Tianzi Mountain and Huangshizhai, although Yuanjiajie is a newly developed scenic spot in Zhangjiajie, it is famous for its majestic, strange, dangerous and steep. On the more than ten miles of mountain tour, the scenery along the way is countless. The Yuanjia boundary covers an area of about 1200 hectares and has an average altitude of 1074 meters. It is adjacent to Jinbian River in the east and overlooking Yaozi Village in the south; it faces Huangshi Village in the south and connects to Tianbo Prefecture; it connects to Tianzi Mountain in the west; and it is adjacent to Suoxi Valley in the north. It can be said to be a pearl inlaid in the core scenic area of Wulingyuan in Zhangjiajie.

Qifeng Junxiu (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

According to the data, Yuan Jiajie is located in the north of Zhangjiajie Forest Park. According to legend, its name originated from the Later Tang Dynasty. After the failure of the Huangchao Uprising, the court issued lists everywhere to arrest rebels in order to completely eliminate the rebels. At that time, Huang Chao had a soldier named Yuan. In order to avoid capture, he came to Qingyan Mountain, a remote mountain ridge far away from the world, to live in seclusion. He built a hut here, reclaimed wasteland and farmed, and named it "Yuan Family Realm" with his surname.

Water surrounds Simen Square (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

On the afternoon of May 3, 2006, the reporter and some motorists took an eco-friendly car from Tianzi Mountain to Shuiwaosimen. They got off and walked for about ten minutes to reach the eco-friendly station heading for Bailong Tianti. Then they continued to take the car, outside the window. Along the way, there were peaks and trees lined up. In about ten minutes, we arrived at Bailong Tianti Station. It only takes a few minutes to take the ladder from here to reach Yuanjiajie Scenic Area.

Wonders of the Hundred Dragons Ladder (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At the Bailong Tiantian ticket office, there were very few tourists. They didn't encounter the dizzying and intimidating queues like the Huangshizhai and Tianzishan Cableway Stations, and the word "cool" came naturally. Looking back at the majestic appearance of the Hundred Dragons Ladder built on a cliff and known as the "World's First Ladder" is amazing.

The mountains are stacked with peaks (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In fact, there are two passages from the foot of the mountain to Yuanjia Boundary. One is to climb the mountain from the middle section of Jinbian River, up the "Running Slope" to the "Back Garden"; the other is this road leading to the Hundred Dragons Stairs. But the former often takes more than two hours, while the latter only takes two minutes. High technology not only reduces people's physical effort, but also brings advanced speed.

Group photo with the waiter (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Bailong Sightseeing Elevator ranks first in the world's natural heritage Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie with three titles, including "the world's tallest fully exposed sightseeing elevator; the world's fastest double-decker sightseeing elevator; and the world's largest payload and fastest sightseeing elevator". The project is ambitious, with a vertical height of 335 meters and a running height of 326 meters. It consists of a 154-meter shaft in the mountain and a 172-meter steel structure attached to the mountain. It uses three double-layer fully exposed sightseeing elevators to operate in parallel and in separate units. Each set carries 47 passengers at a time and runs at a speed of 3 meters per second. The three sets operate simultaneously and carry 3000 round-trip passengers per hour.

Bailong Stairway Channel (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking into the long corridor leading to the elevator, you feel very comfortable with the cool breeze and the beautiful lights and beautiful scenery of Zhangjiajie on the walls on both sides. Before boarding the elevator, the riders took a group photo with the waiter. After that, they climbed the elevator and felt that the speed was extremely fast, relaxed and safe. They reached the top of the Yuanjiajie Mountain in about two minutes.

Ethnic small commodity stalls (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Tourists get on the elevator, and the moment they drive out of the shaft, they immediately become suddenly enlightened. A magical picture enters people's eyes. The tall and powerful "Heavenly Soldiers Gathering" is like a neat and majestic honor guard, waiting for the "review" of tourists; the elevator reaches the top of the mountain, walks out of the station building, and looks up into the distance. A fresh and natural pastoral landscape painting jumps out of the sky, arriving quietly like a mirage. This is the "sky pastoral". After coming up, you can see a sightseeing path for selling small ethnic commodities. The small commodities are lined up one after another and are particularly eye-catching.

A pillar rises to the sky (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Not far from Bailong Elevator Station, you will arrive at the environmental protection station on Yuanjiajie Mountain. Tourists continue to travel by car and arrive at the "Back Garden" in about ten minutes. There are unique caves in the back garden, the prosperous "bonsai"; the paradoxical "rockery"; the rows of "screens","murals", and "carvings"; the lifelike stone tables and stone chairs; and the endless stream of "small bridges and flowing water"... constitute a natural and wonderful "back garden".

Wanghai Divine Turtle (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Opposite the "Back Garden" is a towering mountain range with towering ancient trees blocking the sky. It is said that wild goats are often found in the forest. In the dead of night, you can often hear the cry of wild lambs "baa", so it is called the "sheep village". During the Republic of China, this place was occupied by bandits. Until now, there are still remnants of Carmen, hidden forts, broken trenches, houses, wells, pestle mortar, mills and other remains on the mountain. The thick pine trees still bear the "V"-shaped sign left by the bandits.

Yuan Jiajie Lianxin Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Standing on the "Shanzhai" and looking up, you can see the panoramic view of Jinbian River. You can see a beautiful stream slowly passing through hundreds of stone forests, which looks so quiet and harmonious. Walking about 100 meters from the "Back Garden" is another unparalleled wonder in the Yuanjia Boundary-Chizhuo Terrace.

Yuan Jiajie Ecstasy Platform (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Looking at the Ecstasy Platform from afar, I saw hundreds of mountains rising from the ground and swarming towards them. They looked like "dogs watching the moon", some like "conch emerging out of the water"; some like "generals lined up", and some like "a pillar reaching the sky."

Photo taken by Yuan Jiajie (Photo: Cao Qun)

Several mountain depressions and barriers divide these mountains in an orderly manner, making these stone peaks appear more well-defined and orderly. Embellished by thousands of rays of light, they appear spectacular and extraordinary. This is more like an ink painting written by a painter. It is like a wandering in a fairyland in the "Ecstasy Platform".

Yuan Jiajie pays homage to Sendai (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

From the "Back Garden" of Yuanjiajie to the First Bridge in the World, there is a tour road with a total length of more than 2000 meters. The road surface is mostly paved with white stones. Standing from a distance and looking at it, it looks like a white silk ribbon tied in two knots., one end is tied to the "Ecstasy Platform" and the other is tied to the "First Bridge in the World".

Baizhang Cliff (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Reporters and motorists wandered around the mountains, and along the way, they successively enjoyed many interesting attractions such as "Baisendai","Baizhang Cliff","Little Cave", and "Lovers Valley" in the Yuan family. The altitude here is not high and is generally not affected by climate. It will be pleasing to the eye to savor the lifelike scenery of the mountain and rock landscape.

Yuan Jiajie Love Valley (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There are still many unknown scenic spots on Yuanjiajie Mountain, waiting for tourists to name them. This invisibly adds a lot of interest to the motorists who visit the Yuanjiayjie. Everyone can spread their wings of fantasy and name these scenic spots. If once adopted by the scenic spot, while receiving certain rewards, your creativity will remain in the Yuan family's realm forever. In any case, the focus on participation will make people feel happy and beautiful.

The first bridge in the world (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

"The No. 1 Bridge in the World" is one of the "Top Ten Wonders" in Zhangjiajie. It is also a landmark attraction in the Yuanjia Realm. It is a natural stone bridge formed between two mountains. The two mountains were originally integrated. The bridge body is the key part connecting the two mountains. However, because the stone in the middle is relatively weak, due to the influence of weathering and collapse, and after exposure to sun and rain, washing by running water, and flash floods, over time, this special spectacle has finally been formed today.

Yuan Jiajie Shadaogou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The "World's No. 1 Bridge" has a deck width of two meters and a thickness of four meters. It has a span of more than 20 meters and a height of more than 300 meters. It is the natural stone bridge with the highest drop found in the world so far. Throughout the bridge, there is a small stream in the canyon. Thousands of trees compete for spring at the edge of the stream. The stream flows gurgling under the "World's First Bridge". This is the famous "Shadaogou".

Lovers Valley Heart Lock (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After passing through Shadaogou and heading down, you will arrive at Lovers Valley. The wishing pavilion here and the iron chains on the mountain road leading to the wishing pavilion are all covered with copper locks. I heard Xiaoye, a tour guide from Zhangjiajie China International Travel Service who accompanied him, say that this is called a heart-to-heart lock. In order to express their loyal love, young couples or couples who came here locked the copper lock here and threw the key into the valley.

Yuan Jiajie Wish Pavilion (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Traveling to Yuanjiajie was the most enjoyable trip for reporters during their second trip to Zhangjiajie. The Yuan family in Zhangjiajie Scenic Area has created an incomparably natural, beautiful, magnificent and magical scenery picture for people with its unique craftsmanship. Yuan Jiajie has truly left people with too many beautiful memories. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)