Zhangjiajie (张家界)

1. Introduction

Zhangjiajie City, formerly known as Dayong, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province. The city borders Changde City to the east, Huaihua City to the south, Xiangxi Prefecture to the southwest, and Enshi Prefecture of Hubei Province to the northwest. Situated in the heart of the Wuling Mountains, its terrain is predominantly mountainous. Limestone is widely distributed, featuring numerous karst formations, peak forests, and caves. The Lishui River traverses the entire area, with tributaries such as the Lou River. The city covers a total area of 9,534 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 1.524 million, of which the Tujia ethnic group accounts for over 60%. Zhangjiajie is a famous tourist city, renowned as the "Land of Three Thousand Strange Peaks and Eight Hundred Beautiful Waters." The sandstone peak forest landscape of Wulingyuan is exceptionally rare worldwide and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in December 1992. The Municipal People's Government is located in Nanzhuangping Subdistrict, Yongding District.

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2. History

Zhangjiajie derives its name from the Han Dynasty minister Zhang Liang, who lived in seclusion here. During the Qin Dynasty, the entire area of present-day Zhangjiajie belonged to Cigu County in Qianzhong Commandery. In the Han Dynasty, it was part of Chong County and Lingyang County in Wuling Commandery. During the Three Kingdoms period, it fell under Louzhong County and Linli County in Tianmen Commandery. The Sui Dynasty established Chongyi County. In the Tang Dynasty, the entire area belonged to Cili County in the Shannan Circuit. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it was under the jurisdiction of the Chu Kingdom. In the Song Dynasty, the entire area was assigned to Liyang Commandery. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was governed by the Luzhou Route Chief Administration.

In the second year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1369), Cili Prefecture was downgraded to Dayong County, under the jurisdiction of Lizhou. In the eighth year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1730), Sangzhi County and the Maogang Tusi (native chieftaincy) underwent the "Gaitu Guiliu" policy (replacing native chieftains with state-appointed officials). Lizhou was elevated to a directly-administered prefecture, governing four counties including Anxiang, Shimen, and Cili. Simultaneously, Yongding and Jiuxi garrisons were abolished, and a new Anfu County was established (the present-day Yongding and Wulingyuan districts, along with Cili and Sangzhi counties, all belonged to Anfu County at that time).

In the fifth year of the Republic of China (1916), Hunan Province abolished the Wuling Circuit, placing Dayong, Sangzhi, and Cili counties under the Chenyuan Circuit. Later, the entire province was reorganized into 10 Administrative Inspection Districts, with Dayong and Sangzhi belonging to the Fourth Inspection District, whose administrative office was located in Changde. From the founding of the People's Republic of China until 1988, Cili County was under the jurisdiction of the Changde Special District (later changed to a Prefecture). Meanwhile, Dayong and Sangzhi counties were under the jurisdiction of the Yongshun Special District from 1949 to 1952, after which they were transferred to the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region (now the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture).

In May 1985, the State Council of the People's Republic of China approved the revocation of Dayong County to establish Dayong City, which remained under the jurisdiction of Xiangxi Prefecture. On October 16 of the same year, the county-level Dayong City was officially established. On March 17, 1987, due to overlapping management authority over the core scenic area, the "Zhimata Fire Incident at Water-Rounded Four Gates" occurred at the border between Dayong City in Xiangxi Prefecture and Cili County in Changde City, which prompted the establishment of a prefecture-level Dayong City. In May 1988, the State Council approved the elevation of Dayong City to a prefecture-level city. Consequently, the administrative divisions of Hunan Province were readjusted. Sangzhi County and Dayong City were separated from Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and Cili County was separated from Changde City, jointly forming the prefecture-level Dayong City. The newly established prefecture-level Dayong City governed the areas including the two municipal districts of Yongding and Wulingyuan, and the two counties of Cili and Sangzhi. Because the name "Dayong" was far less well-known than the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—the first national forest park in mainland China located within its jurisdiction—on April 4, 1994, Dayong City was renamed Zhangjiajie City.

3. Geography

Zhangjiajie features a mountainous mid-subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual sunshine duration is 1,440 hours, the average annual temperature is 16°C, the average annual precipitation is approximately 1,400 mm, and the average annual frost-free period ranges from 216 to 269 days. Influenced by factors such as topography and landforms, the local climate is complex and variable, with frequent natural disasters including droughts, floods, strong winds, and hail.

Geographically, Zhangjiajie is located at the junction of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau uplift and the Dongting Lake subsidence area. Its coordinates lie between 109°40' to 111°20' east longitude and 28°52' to 29°48' north latitude. Neighboring counties (cities) include Shimen County and Taoyuan County to the east, Yuanling County to the south, and Hefeng County and Xuan'en County of Hubei Province to the north. The city spans a maximum of 167 kilometers from east to west and 96 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 9,653 square kilometers.

The topography of Zhangjiajie comprises mountains, karst formations, hills, ridges, and plains, with mountainous areas accounting for 76% of the total land area. The terrain is higher in the northwest and slopes southeastward along the Li River. The central area along both banks of the Li River is gently lower in a northeast direction, while the southern mountains descend toward the Yuan River. The Wuling Mountain Range extends from the Yunwu Mountain in Guizhou into the city and branches into three ridges. The northern ridge enters Sangzhi County from Laifeng Longshan in Hubei, passing through Lishan, Guiying Mountain, and Qinglong Mountain. The central ridge, north of the Li River, includes Tianxing Mountain, Hongxi Mountain, Chaotian Mountain, Qingyan Mountain, and Maohua Boundary. The southern ridge runs between the Li and Yuan Rivers, encompassing Qixing Mountain, Chong Mountain, Tianmen Mountain, and extending into the Dalong Mountain and Tianhe Mountain of Cili County. All three ridges extend eastward and disappear at the alluvial plain of Dongting Lake. The highest point in the region is 1,890.4 meters above sea level, while the lowest point is 75 meters above sea level. The urban area averages 183 meters in elevation, and the scenic areas average 1,000 meters.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |-------------------|----------|----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------|----------|-----------|--------------| | Record High °C | 21.8 | 29.4 | 33.9 | 38.2 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 40.8 | 41.2 | 38.6 | 35.5 | 30.0 | 23.9 | 41.2 | | Record High °F | 71.2 | 84.9 | 93.0 | 100.8 | 98.6 | 101.8 | 105.4 | 106.2 | 101.5 | 95.9 | 86.0 | 75.0 | 106.2 | | Avg. High °C | 9.4 | 11.5 | 15.9 | 22.7 | 27.2 | 30.2 | 33.1 | 33.1 | 29.1 | 23.0 | 17.8 | 12.3 | 22.1 | | Avg. High °F | 48.9 | 52.7 | 60.6 | 72.9 | 81.0 | 86.4 | 91.6 | 91.6 | 84.4 | 73.4 | 64.0 | 54.1 | 71.8 | | Daily Mean °C | 5.4 | 7.4 | 11.2 | 17.3 | 21.8 | 25.2 | 28.0 | 27.7 | 23.8 | 18.1 | 12.8 | 7.7 | 17.2 | | Daily Mean °F | 41.7 | 45.3 | 52.2 | 63.1 | 71.2 | 77.4 | 82.4 | 81.9 | 74.8 | 64.6 | 55.0 | 45.9 | 63.0 | | Avg. Low °C | 2.6 | 4.5 | 7.8 | 13.4 | 18.0 | 21.6 | 24.2 | 23.8 | 20.0 | 14.8 | 9.4 | 4.4 | 13.7 | | Avg. Low °F | 36.7 | 40.1 | 46.0 | 56.1 | 64.4 | 70.9 | 75.6 | 74.8 | 68.0 | 58.6 | 48.9 | 39.9 | 56.7 | | Record Low °C | -4.5 | -3.4 | -1.3 | 3.1 | 8.7 | 11.9 | 18.3 | 15.8 | 12.5 | 4.1 | -0.9 | -3.6 | -4.5 | | Record Low °F | 23.9 | 25.9 | 29.7 | 37.6 | 47.7 | 53.4 | 64.9 | 60.4 | 54.5 | 39.4 | 30.4 | 25.5 | 23.9 | | Avg. Precip. mm | 42.6 | 59.8 | 88.9 | 133.1 | 177.8 | 209.2 | 233.3 | 120.9 | 91.9 | 93.7 | 65.7 | 28.7 | 1,345.6 | | Avg. Precip. in | 1.68 | 2.35 | 3.50 | 5.24 | 7.00 | 8.24 | 9.19 | 4.76 | 3.62 | 3.69 | 2.59 | 1.13 | 52.99 | | Avg. Humidity % | 75 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 78 | 76 | 74 | 77 | 76 | 73 | 76 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Zhangjiajie City administers 2 municipal districts and 2 counties.

• Municipal Districts: Yongding District, Wulingyuan District
• Counties: Cili County, Sangzhi County Currently, Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, and Sangzhi County enjoy the policy treatment of ethnic autonomous areas, while Cili County enjoys the treatment of a province-designated county with an ethnic minority population exceeding half.

| Division Code | Division Name | Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Including: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|--------------------------------| | 430800 | Zhangjiajie City | Zhangjiājiè Shì | 9,533.77 | 1,517,027 | Yongding District | 427000 | 8 | 34 | 30 | 12 | | 430802 | Yongding District | Yǒngdìng Qū | 2,169.03 | 517,595 | Xixiping Subdistrict | 427300 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | 430811 | Wulingyuan District | Wǔlíngyuán Qū | 397.53 | 60,857 | Jundiping Subdistrict | 427400 | 2 | 2 | | | | 430821 | Cili County | Cílì Xiàn | 3,492.02 | 562,493 | Lingyang Town | 427200 | | 15 | 10 | 7 | | 430822 | Sangzhi County | Sāngzhí Xiàn | 3,475.19 | 376,082 | Caoyuan Town | 427100 | | 12 | 11 | 5 |

5. Economy

The main crops include rice, corn, sweet potatoes, rapeseed, and legumes. The primary mineral resources are coal, iron, nickel, and molybdenum. Industries include agricultural machinery, cement, nitrogen fertilizer, and cotton and wool textiles.

5.1 Products

Zhangjiajie Ponkan, Xiangxi Yellow Cattle, Maoyan Berry Tea, and Juhuaxin Pomelo.

6. Transportation

6.1 Aviation

Located in the urban area, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport is the second largest airport in Hunan Province. It covers an area of 247.49 hectares, is classified as a 4D airport, has a runway that is 2,600 meters long and 45 meters wide, and features a total of 19 aircraft parking positions. In 2012, the airport handled 41,529 inbound and outbound passengers.

6.2 Railway

The Jiaozuo–Liuzhou Railway passes through Yongding District and Cili County. It is a single-track electrified railway with two express stations: Zhangjiajie Station and Cili Station. The Qianjiang–Changde Railway commenced construction in December 2014 and was completed in 2019, with Zhangjiajie West Station located in the northern suburbs of the urban area. The Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua High-Speed Railway began operation in December 2021.

6.3 Highway

Due to the mountainous terrain of northwestern Hunan, highway development has been relatively slow. There are no ordinary national highways within the region. Currently, there are two expressways: the G5513 Changsha–Zhangjiajie Expressway and the S10 Zhangjiajie–Huayuan Expressway. The Zhangjiajie–Sangzhi Expressway, connecting the urban area with Sangzhi County, began construction in 2014 and was expected to open by the end of 2017. The Anxiang–Cili Expressway started construction in 2017 and was scheduled for completion in 2020.

• National Highway 352 has its 0-kilometer starting point here.
• National Highway 353 passes through the area.

6.4 Urban Public Transportation

Urban public transportation in Zhangjiajie primarily consists of buses, taxis, and ride-hailing services. Due to poor government management, public transportation in the main urban area was once chaotic and disorganized, but improvements have been made in recent years. There are 13 bus routes operating in Yongding District of Zhangjiajie City. The vehicles are relatively new, and signage is clear. However, issues such as the lack of a large-scale network, absence of audio stop announcements, and no night bus services have created certain travel pressures for residents and tourists. The bus stops along the main urban roads feature a unified ethnic-style design, which is distinctive. Additionally, problems such as taxi drivers refusing fares, not using meters, and not giving change are relatively severe.

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education

• Jishou University Zhangjiajie Campus
• Jishou University Zhangjiajie College
• Zhangjiajie Aviation Industry Polytechnic

7.2 Secondary Education

• Zhangjiajie Ethnic Middle School
• Zhangjiajie No.1 Middle School
• Zhangjiajie Tianmen Middle School
• Zhangjiajie Jinhai Middle School
• Cili County No.1 Middle School
• Cili County No.2 Middle School
• Sangzhi County No.1 Middle School
• Wulingyuan District No.1 Middle School
• Zhangjiajie Tourism School (Secondary Vocational School)

8. Population

According to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, Zhangjiajie City had a permanent resident population of 1,476,521, accounting for 2.25% of Hunan Province's population, ranking 14th, with a population density of 155 persons/km². The sex ratio was 104.38 males per 100 females. By educational attainment, those with a university degree or above accounted for 6.47% of the total population, those with a junior high school education or above accounted for 55.37%, and the illiteracy rate was 4.74%. There were 438,419 family households in the jurisdiction, with a population of 1,388,420, accounting for 94.03% of the total population; the average family size was 3.17 persons. In terms of age composition, the population aged 14 and below was 262,085, accounting for 17.75% of the total population; the population aged 15–64 was 1,049,596, accounting for 71.09%; and the elderly population aged 65 and above was 164,840, accounting for 11.16% of the total population.

By the end of 2016, the city's total registered population was 1.7087 million, and the permanent resident population was 1.5291 million. By urban-rural division, the urban population was 704,300, accounting for 46.1%; the rural population was 824,800, accounting for 53.9%. By gender, there were 773,000 males and 756,100 females. By age, there were 335,200 people aged 0–17, 374,700 aged 18–34, 649,100 aged 35–59, and 349,700 aged 60 and above. There were 16,600 births throughout the year, with a birth rate of 9.71‰, a decrease of 1.29 per thousand points compared to the previous year. There were 11,800 deaths throughout the year, with a mortality rate of 6.91‰. The natural population increase for the year was 4,800, with a natural population growth rate of 2.8‰. By the end of the year, the urbanization rate of the city's permanent resident population was 46.1%, an increase of 1.45 percentage points from the previous year.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 1,517,027. Compared to the 1,478,149 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 38,878 people over ten years, a growth of 2.63%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.26%. Among them, the male population was 771,497, accounting for 50.86% of the total population; the female population was 745,530, accounting for 49.14%. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.48. The population aged 0–14 was 272,412, accounting for 17.96% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 914,493, accounting for 60.28%; the population aged 60 and above was 330,122, accounting for 21.76% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 259,203, accounting for 17.09%. The population living in urban areas was 783,520, accounting for 51.65% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 733,507, accounting for 48.35%.

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 1.504 million. By urban-rural division, the urban population was 797,000, accounting for 53%; the rural population was 707,000, accounting for 47%.

8.1. Ethnic Groups

Zhangjiajie City has the highest proportion of ethnic minorities in Hunan Province. The city's ethnic minority population was 1,111,525 (2010 "Sixth Census"), accounting for 75.28% of the total population, ranking third in Hunan Province in terms of total ethnic minority population. The Han population was 364,996, accounting for 24.72%. The indigenous ethnic minorities in Zhangjiajie are the Tujia, Bai, and Miao ethnic groups; it is a major settlement area for the Tujia and Bai ethnic groups in Hunan Province. Preliminary results from the 2010 "Sixth Census" show that there were 980,852 Tujia people in the city, accounting for 66.43% of the regional total population; and 95,235 Bai people, accounting for 6.45% of the regional total population.

Data analysis from the 2000 Fifth National Population Census showed that Zhangjiajie City had 1,152,480 ethnic minorities, accounting for 17.98% of the province's ethnic minority population, ranking third in the province in terms of total ethnic minority population; they accounted for 77.19% of the regional population. Among China's 55 ethnic minorities, 33 are distributed in the city. The Tujia population in the city was 1,021,238, accounting for 68.40% of the regional population, 38.69% of Hunan's Tujia population, and 12.71% of the national Tujia population, making it a major Tujia settlement area. The Bai population was 104,163, accounting for 6.98% of the regional population, 82.93% of Hunan's Bai population, ranking first in Hunan; it accounted for 5.59% of the national Bai population, making it one of the major Bai settlement areas. The Miao population was 23,883, accounting for 1.60% of the regional population, 1.24% of Hunan's Miao population, ranking fourth in the province.

In 2020, among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population was 377,952, accounting for 24.91%; the total ethnic minority population was 1,139,075, accounting for 75.09%. Compared to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 12,456, a growth of 3.41%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.19 percentage points; the total ethnic minority population increased by 26,422, a growth of 2.37%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.19 percentage points. Among them, the Tujia population increased by 24,113, a growth of 2.44%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.12 percentage points; the Bai population increased by 257, a growth of 0.27%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.15 percentage points; the Miao population decreased by 500, a decline of 2.08%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.07 percentage points.

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9. Culture

Zhangjiajie is home to many ethnic minorities, resulting in a rich and diverse ethnic culture. The Tujia religion in Zhangjiajie is divided into three categories: belief in the Tuwang (Earth Kings), faith in the Tima (ritual masters), and worship of nature. In Tujia villages, Tuwang temples enshrine deities such as the Eight Great Kings, Lord Peng Gong, King Xiang Wang, and King Qin Hou. The Tima (chieftains) are considered the "living deities" among the people, and they are always invited for activities such as exorcising evil spirits, healing the sick, and averting disasters. Deities like the Earth God, the Four Officials God, the Five Grains God, the Kitchen God, the White Tiger God, the Hunting God (Meishan, Zhang Wulang), and the Tree God are also highly revered. The Tujia people worship tigers, as evidenced by the continuous discovery of tiger-shaped artifacts in Yongding and Cili areas of Zhangjiajie. Experts believe that the tiger is the totem of the Tujia people.

• Tujia New Year Celebrations The Tujia people celebrate the New Year three times a year: on the 29th (or 28th) day of the twelfth lunar month, known as "Guo Gan Nian" (Rushing the New Year); on the 25th day of the sixth lunar month, known as "June New Year"; and on the first day of the tenth lunar month, known as "October New Year." During the evening of "Guo Gan Nian," bonfires are lit in the villages, and the Tujia people dance the Hand-Waving Dance and sing New Year songs around the fire. The New Year celebration is the most important festival for the Tujia people, surpassing all other Tujia festivals in significance and duration. The Tujia New Year is celebrated one day earlier than the Han Chinese New Year—on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month in long months and the 28th day in short months. This practice of celebrating the New Year one day earlier than the Han Chinese is called "Guo Gan Nian."

• Ascending the Knife Ladder Before ascending the knife ladder, the ritual master leads all participating elders in chanting incantations and performing rituals around the wooden pole. After the rituals, the young Miao elders begin their ascent. Starting from the first knife, they climb step by step until they reach the top, where they perform extraordinary feats and blow the ox horn three times. This signifies the success of the ritual and the end of the test, with the presiding master acknowledging their skill in ascending the knife ladder.

• Diaojiaolou (Stilted Houses) Diaojiaolou are mostly wooden structures. Initially, the Tusi (chieftains) forbade the common people from using tiles, allowing only fir bark and thatch for roofing, a rule summarized as "only horses may be bought, but tiles may not be used." It was not until the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign in the Qing Dynasty, after the policy of "Gaitu Guiliu" (replacing native chieftains with state-appointed officials), that tiled roofs became popular. Typically, these houses consist of four bays and three rooms in a row, supported by three columns and six beams or five columns and six beams. The central room is the main hall, housing the ancestral shrine, which serves as the core for family worship.

• Xiangxi Cured Meat Located in northwestern Hunan, Zhangjiajie is mountainous with abundant vegetation and rich in timber. Since ancient times, the people of Zhangjiajie have had the custom of smoking cured meat, a tradition that has continued for over two thousand years. In rural Xiangxi, households typically have a fire pit, and meat is hung above it. Firewood is burned below for warmth and cooking, incidentally smoking the meat. Xiangxi is a high-altitude cold region with long winters, resulting in extended periods of smoking cured meat. This process allows the cured meat to be stored for a long time without spoiling, often lasting until the following year's Beginning of Winter.

• Tujia Cuisine in Zhangjiajie The diet of ethnic minorities in Zhangjiajie primarily consists of corn, rice, sweet potatoes, mixed beans, and potatoes, supplemented with various vegetables. The local ethnic groups have a strong preference for alcohol and foods with sour, spicy, and fragrant flavors. For mountain dwellers, three meals a day are incomplete without chili as a seasoning.

• Daliuzi (Percussion Ensemble) Daliuzi is the most widely spread and beloved traditional percussion music among the Tujia people. It is an essential part of festive occasions such as Tujia weddings, New Year celebrations, and Hand-Waving Dance festivals. A full Daliuzi ensemble consists of four percussion instruments: the small gong (commonly known as "Ma Luo," called "Jiaozi Bi" by the Tujia people), the first cymbal, the second cymbal, and the large gong. Some musical pieces also include accompaniment from the suona (Chinese horn) and the ban drum.

9.1 Media

The media development in Zhangjiajie is relatively underdeveloped, with all media being state-run or state-run outsourced. Currently, the print media includes Zhangjiajie Daily (with weekend editions divided into Tourism Weekly and Livelihood Weekly). Zhangjiajie Radio and Television Station operates five channels: News Channel, Urban Channel (formerly Yongding Television), Tourism Channel (formerly Wulingyuan Television), Entertainment Channel, and Politics and Law Channel. It also co-operates Mango Radio Zhangjiajie Voice. Additionally, the Hunan Public Channel's Zhangjiajie segment is broadcast through frequency outsourcing. The propaganda departments of Cili and Sangzhi counties operate county-level television stations.

9.2 Tourism

Zhangjiajie was established as a city due to tourism. Its unique natural landscapes and ethnic culture have endowed it with exceptionally rich tourism resources. The city boasts two national 5A-level scenic areas, nine 4A-level scenic areas, and eight provincial-level key cultural relics protection units.

The most important scenic area within the city is the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which consists of four major scenic spots: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (the first national forest park in mainland China), Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie. In September 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became the first national forest park in mainland China. In August 1988, the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area was listed in the second batch of national key scenic areas. In 1992, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. In 2004, Zhangjiajie World Geopark became one of the first global geoparks. In 2007, Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Tourist Area was designated as one of the first national 5A-level tourist attractions.

9.2.1 Major Attractions

• Yongding District: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain Temple, Puguang Zen Temple, Old Courtyard, Yuhuang Cave Grottoes, Xiushan Mountain Hall, Tujia Folk Customs Park, Huilong Park, Tianmen Fox Fairy, Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base Provincial Committee, Dayong Ancient Town (including Sanyuan Palace)
• Dayong Ancient Town Sanyuan Palace
• Dayong Ancient Town Sanyuan Palace
• Wulingyuan District: Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, Enchanting Xiangxi, Zixia Taoist Temple, Xibu Street
• Cili County: "Southern Wudang" Wulei Mountain, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Jiangya Hot Springs
• Sangzhi County: He Long's Former Residence, Badagong Mountain National Nature Reserve, Maoyan River Jiutian Cave Tourist Area

9.2.2 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• He Long's Former Residence
• Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base
• Qilonggang Ancient Tombs
• Ancient Architectural Complex of Puguang Zen Temple
• Tian Family Courtyard
• Shiyanping Ancient Architectural Complex
• Site of the Red Second and Sixth Army Corps Long March Departure Point

9.2.3 Peripheral Industries

The development of Zhangjiajie's tourism economy has driven many peripheral industries. Cultural performance projects such as Tianmen Fox Fairy, Enchanting Xiangxi, and Misty Rain Zhangjiajie are extremely important cultural brands for the city. The Zhangjiajie International Rural Music Week, organized by the Municipal People's Government, has become a biennial music carnival event for the city.

10. Sister Cities

• Hadong County, South Korea (March 31, 2006)
• Santa Fe, United States (October 29, 2009)
• Naruto, Japan (October 26, 2011)

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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park within the territory

No. 2 Nanzhuang Road, Yongding District

Cili County

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