The Karst Stone Mountains, like shy beauties relaxing in their boudoir, seem to like to play games of hide-and-seek with us.

Text and Photos by Editor Kong Xiaoling

After a recent trip, I experienced the beauty of this marvelous scenic in the true sense.Beautiful, glamorous....that's all I can choose to describe it....
                                 

The travelogs I read before going to Zhangjiajie all seem to offer similar conclusions; expensive but worth it for the natural beauty on offer. Despite having been to Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province, the Lijiang River in Guiling, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and even Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi Province I still feel an urge to see more. As I prepared to leave and remembered the comparisons friends had drawn between Zhangjiajie and China¡¯s most famous spots my excitement began to grow.

The city of Zhangjiajie is in northwestern Hunan Province, 400 kilometers from the capital Changsha, and is well-known for its unique landscapes. Wulingyuan Scenic Resort is the most famous attraction and Huangshizhai valley is the most important area within Wulingyuan itself.

The Huangshizhai Valley which first came into view was bathed in fog following a week-long summer rain. The Karst Stone Mountains, like shy beauties relaxing in their boudoir, seem to like to play games of hide-and-seek with us. They wrap themselves in the fog of the lower mountain, only to reappear further up then tuck themselves away again. Not as steep as Zhangjiajie Mountain in Anhui; waters not as graceful or elegant as the Lijiang River in Guilin, Huangshizhai remains however uniquely beautiful, stunning in fact.

What adds to the beauty of the natural attractions here is Tujia Ethnic culture. Zhangjiajie is densely populated with Tujia Ethnic groups (up to 70%). Its culture is an inseparable part of Zhangjiajie's natural beauty. One such tradition is known in Chinese as the "song reply". Every Tujia girl seems to be a born singer. Unlike ordinary people, they sing high and clear. Many, like Song Zuying, have gone on to be remarkably famous. From the echoing mountain, their beautiful songs can be heard from other mountains hundreds of meters away. All songs are ended with the invitation "Yowei", a request for a male to sing back a response.

Song reply also had romantic uses. The man who could amply respond to the cry of a beautiful girl might take her as a wife. For those who failed three years of servitude, including tasks like fetching water or washing her feet, might follow. We honored the tradition and sang out loud and clear on the way up.

Summary: Beautiful and marvelous, a worthwhile trip.

Best places to go (From local experts): Huangshizhai valley, Jinbianxi Valley, Baofenghu Lake, Tianzishan Mountain, Wulongzhai Valley and so on. Better stay for 2-3 days;

To get good price and service, contact the tourist companies first before you go although there are a great many choices here.