Dreamy Memories - Zhangjiajie Phoenix Travel Notes

The self guided tour of Zhangjiajie has ended for many days now, but my mood still cannot be calm. My thoughts are still stuck in the beautiful Zhangjiajie, the quiet Jinbian River, the magnificent Yuanjiajie, and the ancient and romantic Phoenix Ancient City. And the beautiful nights there

trip

Day 1: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Scenic Area: Jinbian Creek - Water Around the Four Gates; In the afternoon, Yuan Jiajie: Back Garden - Enchantment Platform - Avatar - Five Women's Expedition - The First Bridge in the World, etc. In the evening, he stayed at Apartment 168 in the scenic area.

The next day: Grand View Terrace: Xianren Bridge - Tianzi Seat - Divine Chicken Pecking - Difficult to walk and undeveloped primitive landscape: Old House Field - Aerial Countryside -; In the afternoon, Yangjiajie Scenic Area: Wulong Village - Golden Rooster News - Yixiantian - Tianbo Mansion, etc. In the evening, the scenic area apartment is 168.

Day 3: Tianzishan Scenic Area: Shentang Bend - Dianjiangtai - Helong Park Tour Route; In the afternoon, Shili Gallery: the old man picking herbs - the three sisters return to Zhangjiajie

Starting Zhangjiajie

A group of 5 people departed from Guangzhou and took the K9072 train at 20:08 from Guangzhou Railway Station. After 13 hours of turbulence, they arrived at Zhangjiajie Railway Station around 10:00 am the next day. Fortunately, although the weather was gloomy, it did not rain. At the exit, I finally met the tour guide who had taken our colleague before. We will go to the central bus station next to the train station and take a bus to Zhangjiajie Forest Park.

There are many buses from the bus station to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, with a ten minute trip and a ticket price of 12 yuan per person. After more than 40 minutes of driving, we arrived at the entrance of the forest park and saw a large area of independent stone peak forest in front of us.

On the first day, the Golden Whip Creek - Water Around the Four Gates of Yuanjiajie: The First Bridge in the World - Enchanting Platform - Back Garden. The first route to take is the Golden Whip Creek, which is 7.5 kilometers long and terminates at the Water Around the Four Gates. The creek is about 20 meters wide, but the water is only shallow enough to cover the feet. It is named after a Golden Whip Rock that flows through it. It flows tens of kilometers out of Zhangjiajie, passes through Suoxiyu, and joins the Li River, becoming a source stream of Dongting Lake hundreds of miles away. The Golden Whip Creek winds left and right between two gorges, with a green stone ancient path flowing downstream. Along the way, trees cover the area, and the peaks and waters turn, making it very quiet and cool. The guide slowly retreats along the way. The width between the two gorges is only fifty meters, and the towering mountains are now approaching on both sides. Such a close distance makes it impossible for you to gaze into the distance. Only by looking up at the peak that enters the clouds and experiencing its magnificent momentum and grandeur, can one truly see the true face of this mountain. It is no longer a continuous undulating mass, but rather the vertical joints, smooth erosion surfaces, and even cracks caused by the swelling of mountain vines.

Another characteristic of the Jinbian River along the way is its cleanliness. Along the Qingshi Ancient Road, staff often clean the already very clean mountain roads, leaving no paper or bags behind. Their focus and diligence are rare. We listened to the guide recount the legends of each mountain peak and experienced their magnificence. Watching the scenic spots on the nearby cliffs along the way, such as the deep bond between mother and son, Zhu Bajie carrying his wife, the divine eagle protecting his whip, Wenxing Rock, Zicao Lake, and Qianli Meeting, all feel very vivid. The mountains here are like pillars stuck in the ground, very special.

We also witnessed the Golden Whip Rock, which gave the name to the Golden Whip Creek. An independent rock peak rose from the ground, piercing straight into the clouds, like the whip used in ancient warfare. The heavens were not beautiful, and we could not see the golden color of the sunset shining on it as described by the guide. Adjacent to the Golden Whip Rock is an eagle with spread wings. There is also a mountain peak on the opposite side that looks like a drunken monk, leaning 70 degrees towards the Golden Whip Rock, saying that he wants to steal the Golden Whip. However, due to the eagle's day and night vigilance, the monk has been unsuccessful, so he named it the Divine Eagle Protector Whip. I heard from the guide that a photographer won a huge prize of 100000 pounds for filming the Divine Eagle Whip

As it is the off-season for tourism, it is difficult to see other tourists on the trail, and we are happy to be quiet

After walking and stopping for almost an hour, we encountered a fork in the road, and on the right was the four gates leading to Shuiluo. Climbing up the left stone steps is the backyard (a scenic spot in the Yuan family world). The guide asked us if we should climb up the mountain or take the Hundred Dragon Ladder to the Water Loop Four Gates. We agreed to take the Hundred Dragon Ladder because we wanted to save energy and see more scenery. In the latter half of the journey, we walked for almost an hour, taking an eco-friendly bus from Shuiluo Simen to Bailong Tianti. The Tianti cost 72 yuan per person, and the guide had a tour guide certificate. Admission to the scenic area, elevators, and cable cars were all free. I really want to take the tour guide certificate exam. It will be so enjoyable to play in the future.

The elevator rose to the top of the mountain, and immediately there was another scenery. We all exclaimed with a "wow" at the same time that the scenery was so beautiful. The guide said that we would see even more beautiful scenery in the future, which later proved to be true. However, viewing the scenery also needs to be done step by step, gradually getting into a better state. For example, the last attraction we went to was the Ten Mile Gallery, which was originally quite good, but a few days ago, seeing the beautiful scenery made our eyes dizzy and we felt mediocre.

Get out of the Bailong elevator, take an eco-friendly car to the Enchanting Platform, and start visiting the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. After visiting the backyard garden, the Lost Soul Terrace, the world's first bridge, and the hundred yuan banknote, it takes about 2 hours. The Yuan family's world is characterized by thick and tall stone peaks, lush green trees, and deep ravines that reach thousands of feet, forming the most unique and charming picture of Zhangjiajie. Especially worth a visit is the backyard. As long as you stand on the observation deck, hundreds of stone peaks stand quietly in the canyon, piercing straight into the blue sky, like soldiers in formation, like a gathering of elites, with various postures and extraordinary momentum. The beautiful scenery of Tengu gazing at the moon, conch shells emerging from the water, generals lining up, and towering pillars of the sky are orderly separated by mountain valleys and barriers, making these stone peaks even more magnificent, squeezed and crowded. Standing on the mesmerizing platform overlooking the peaks, not only is the soul enchanted, but the soul will also be thrown into the canyon.

After visiting Yuanjiajie, we arrived at the First Bridge Parking Lot in the world and took a car to the Jinjiang Apartment 168 where we stayed in Wulong Village. We had dinner at the inn, perhaps due to excessive physical exertion and feeling that the dishes were particularly appetizing, we swept away all six dishes.

The rainy season in Zhangjiajie is coming in a while. It's inconvenient to hold an umbrella on the mountain, so it's best to wear a raincoat. You can bring your own raincoat, which is also sold everywhere on the mountain. If the bag is not waterproof, you can pack it in a large sealed bag and then stuff it into the bag. Before packing, squeeze out the air from the sealed bag to save space. The weather on the mountain is unpredictable, with some places suitable for seeing the sea of clouds after rain, while others have fog and can't see anything. You can learn about it in advance or ask the tour guide for advice. You need to make a plan, but don't be too bound by it. Even if the plan is detailed, unexpected changes are inevitable.

The next day, the Grand View Tower: Xianren Bridge - Tianzi Seat - difficult to walk in one step; In the afternoon, Yangjiajie Scenic Area: Wulong Village - Tianbo Mansion. The next day, the guide told us that it rained last night. It's possible to see a sea of clouds today, depending on the wind direction. In that moment, it was as if we had discovered a new continent. After hastily having breakfast, we followed our guide down to the Grand View Scenic Area. As soon as we arrived, a cold wind blew over. It's so cold. Besides, it seems like the opportunity to see the sea of clouds is about to be shattered. There isn't much fog here, and every place in the mountains is really different.

The Grand View Platform has four observation decks. To the right, halfway down the mountain, there is the Xianren Bridge and Tianzi Seat. To the left, there is the Divine Chicken pecking and the One Step Difficulty. Among them, the One Step Difficulty and Xianren Bridge are the most impressive. The reason why it is called the One Step Difficulty is because there is a natural crack nearly one meter wide between the two peaks. Although it is less than one meter wide, standing on one side of the peak and easily crossing this one meter wide distance, it really requires a certain amount of courage and bravery to reach the other side of the peak. It is said that there was once a professor from Peking University who fell into a valley without stepping over and never came back up again. Although the crack is currently covered by iron mesh for safety reasons, allowing visitors to safely travel between the two peaks, they still find it extremely dangerous.

Returning to Daguantai, we had Chinese cuisine at a small restaurant on the mountaintop. Our guide and we sat around a small square table in the open air and enjoyed local specialties such as kimchi and spicy meat.

After enjoying lunch, we rushed to Yangjiajie Scenic Area. Yangjiajie is a newly developed scenic area that is rarely visited by tour groups. We certainly can't miss this place, it can rival Tianzi Mountain. To go to the Yang Family Realm, you can't do without going to the "Wulong Village Bandit's Nest" where you can indulge in a bandit addiction. (Of course, if you are a super fat person, it is recommended that you do not go. To go to the Bandit General Hall, you must pass through a small stone gap, which is so small that even adults have to turn sideways to pass through. If your weight is over 100KG, hehe, it's better not to be a bandit!)

The attractions of Wulong Village include Tianbo Mansion, Echo Mountain, One Step Climbing to the Sky, and Sky Corridor. The most beautiful scenery is undoubtedly the Tianbo Mansion, with four naturally formed ancient city walls, turtles and snakes fighting on the top of the mountain in the distance, and thick and tall stone peaks. Due to the proximity of Yang Jiajie to our accommodation, we didn't want to return to the hotel too early and didn't return until after 5 pm in the evening.

On the third day, Tianzishan Scenic Area: Shentang Bend - Dianjiangtai - Helong Park tour route; In the afternoon, Shili Gallery: the old man picking herbs - the three sisters return to Zhangjiajie

Today's itinerary is relatively easy. After breakfast, I took an eco-friendly car and arrived at "Shentang Bay", where there are many mysterious legends. Due to the fact that this attraction is not a group route, there are very few visitors, so it is very relaxing to walk and see along the way. According to legend, an ancient leader of the Tu family in the early Ming Dynasty, Wang Tianzi, was defeated and trapped in Shentang Bay. Eventually, he couldn't support his entire army and jumped off a cliff to commit suicide. Whenever it rained or the weather changed suddenly, the sound of people shouting and horses neighing at the bottom of the cliff could be faintly heard... Not far from Shentang Bay is the Dianjiangtai, where the forty-eight generals below are lifelike, like soldiers ready to go.

Then we walked to Helong Park and hurriedly circled around until noon, finishing our Chinese food at a small restaurant on the mountaintop. Then, we took the cableway down the mountain and went to the Ten Mile Gallery. Many people take the small train to admire the Ten Mile Gallery, while we hike. The road is very narrow, and there is no flowing water in the river on the left. It is said that a flood diverted the source of the Yin River, and from then on, only heavy rain will bring water to the Ten Mile Gallery. But the mountains on both sides are towering, especially the "old man picking herbs" and "three sisters", which are very vivid. After visiting the Ten Mile Gallery, our trip to Zhangjiajie Scenic Area came to an end, and we felt a bit unsatisfied.

Phoenix Town

Beautiful Mountains and Waters - Phoenix City

Take the environmental protection car from Shili Gallery to the other gate of the scenic spot (Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot Ticket Station), because there were many people, we packed a plane and went straight to Zhangjiajie (120 yuan/set), bought the 17:30 train from Zhangjiajie to Jishou, said goodbye to the guide at the railway station, and arrived at Jishou at about 7:30 p.m. after about two hours' drive. After getting off the train to save time, we rented a room and headed straight to Fenghuang Ancient City (120 yuan/room), arriving at Fenghuang around 9 pm. Due to the off-season, I quickly found a hotel to stay and take photos of the night view of Fenghuang Ancient City.

Phoenix has a long and rich history, with many celebrities emerging. Modern people are familiar with Shen Congwen and Huang Yongyu. Shen Congwen's former residence is located in the city and is a typical southern courtyard house with a brick and wood structure. Inside, there are photos, works, and used objects of Shen Congwen displayed. There is a photo of him in the army hanging inside, with fluffy hair. "A soldier either dies on the battlefield or returns to his homeland," this is the inscription written by Huang Yongyu in front of his cousin Shen Congwen's tomb. Shen Congwen's grave is located in Tingtao Park, without a tomb, but with a natural large stone. The front of the stone is engraved with the calligraphy of Shen Congwen, which reads' Think of me, you can understand 'me'; Think of me, you can know people '. Behind it is a couplet written by Shen Congwen's aunt Zhang Chonghe, which reads' Do not bend or obey, but also be kind and submissive; the stars compete with his writing, and his heart is pure.' There is also a monument in the cemetery, engraved with the preface written by Shen Congwen's wife Zhang Zhaohe in their letter collection, filled with sorrowful nostalgia between the lines.

Duocui Tower is the new residence of the great painter Huang Yongyu, and everyone who has been to Phoenix knows it. Doucuilou, built near the Tuojiang River, is a memorial archway style structure, exquisite and unique. There is a small wooden sign in front of the door that reads: "Private residence, no visits allowed. If you ask where Huang Yongyu's old residence is, not every Phoenix person knows. According to a small map, on the afternoon of the 3rd, we arrived at an approximate place and asked the local residents. We came to an ordinary house with the inscription" Beware of evil dogs at home, visitors. "Folk residences allow strangers to visit freely, and I think maybe only Phoenix people have them. Phoenix people are very simple, and when they ask for directions, they will warmly guide. Phoenix exudes a sincere humanistic atmosphere everywhere. Most buildings have flying eaves and upturned corners, and there are couplets at the entrance, some of which are carved from wooden boards. I have seen a door posted with the words' Just hope there is no ghost in my heart '; Why bother having a god on the door? "The host's honesty and integrity are evident. In Phoenix, we feel a sense of tranquility and simplicity, far from the hustle and bustle of the world

Before coming to Fenghuang Ancient City in Hunan, I had already done my homework. This internet famous riverside restaurant in the ancient city must book a seat first and book the table closest to the outside for the best view of the Tuojiang River. Unfortunately, when we went, this table had already been booked by someone else and we had to wait until after dinner to sit at this table and have tea. Sitting on the second floor, drinking white tea and enjoying the wind and rain of the Tuojiang River, the river water is blue-green and gurgling. Watching tourists strolling by the river with umbrellas, it has a unique flavor. Finally, I had a meal at the riverside location. It was so comfortable that only those who truly experienced it would know!

Dehang Miao Village

We left the ancient city of Fenghuang and arrived at Dehang, which is about a 40 minute drive from Jishou.

Dehang, in Miao language, means "beautiful canyon". Dehang buys tickets in the village. There is a new Miao village. Some people are performing. Behind the village is the essence of the scenic spot. Entering the deep canyon, we have no direction, only know that the source of the stream is the waterfall. Along the winding stream, sometimes walking in the fields, sometimes climbing steep slopes, and sometimes crossing the stream. Due to the rain a few days ago, the stones were very slippery, so everyone was cautious and climbed up to each other. The peaks on both sides are verdant, the cliffs are towering, and there are no pedestrians on the road. Later, I found out that this road is not to the main scenic spot, the waterfall group. After more than an hour of trekking, I finally saw a thin waterfall hanging on the cliff like a pure white line