Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie (also known as Wulingyuan)
is a scenic area famous for its towering
pinnacles and the region is said to be the
inspiration for the mountains of Pandora
in the film Avatar. The summit of the
mountain is easily accessible by cable
car or the impressive Bailong Elevator,
which at 330 metres high claims to be
the tallest outdoor elevator in the world.
Either way the views of the rocky peaks,
lush forests and swirling mist will astound
you. Enjoy a mountain walk to make the
most of the striking scenery. For the more adventurous, take a path around an
exposed cliff-face for an eagle’s-eye view
of the surrounding landscape. On one
section, the glass-bottomed Skywalk clings
precariously to the sheer rock 1,430 metres
above the valley floor and is definitely not
for the faint-hearted! For a more relaxing
experience enjoy a boat ride across the
tranquil waters of Baofeng Lake. Nestled
between the peaks, this small lake perfectly
captures the beauty of the area. The pristine
surroundings and verdant trees give the
lake a fairy-tale atmosphere.
Henan
Henan Province is often referred to as
the cradle of civilization in China. It has
evidence of some of the earliest settlements
in the country and was home to some of its
first dynasties.
The ancient city of Luoyang has a history
stretching back over 4,000 years. Here, the
Longmen Grottoes are one of the most
important Buddhist sites in China where
there are over 100,000 Buddhist statues
carved into limestone cliffs. Also visit White
Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in
China, where the picturesque grounds are
a tranquil place for reflection. Kaifeng is another ancient capital which
reached its peak in the 11th century and was
possibly the largest city in the world at that
time. Many historical sites remain including
the Iron Pagoda, Dragon Pavilion and several
ancient temples.
The most well-known monastery in Henan
Province is at Shaolin, home of the famous
Kung-Fu Monks. Founded in the 5th century
the monastery has many traditional temples
as well as the Pagoda Forest dating back to
the Tang Dynasty. Shaolin Monastery has long
been associated with martial arts and you can
witness a demonstration of the monks’ skills.
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