Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, approved by the State Council and the National Planning Commission in 1982, is China’s first national forest park. Located in the former Dayong City, it became famous worldwide, leading to the official renaming of Dayong City to Zhangjiajie City by the State Council on April 4, 1994. The park is connected with Tianzi Mountain and Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, forming the Wuling Scenic Area. In December 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially approved the inclusion of Wulingyuan, centered around the forest park, in the World Heritage List.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, within Zhangjiajie City, about 32 kilometers from the city center. Covering an area of 4,810 hectares, the highest peak, Tuwangyue, reaches an elevation of 1,334 meters, while the lowest point, Shui Rao Si Men, is at 426 meters. The average annual temperature is 12.8°C, and the average annual precipitation is 1,228.5 mm, placing it in the northern subtropical climate zone, with distinct microclimates.
In 1983, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Management Office was established, overseeing Zhangjiajie Village and Yuanjiajie Village. The park boasts a 98% forest coverage rate and a timber volume of 350,000 cubic meters. It has a permanent population of 3,800 people, with 1,500 employees in the management office. The park is renowned for its unique quartz sand peak forest landform, embodying the characteristics of “majesty, oddity, tranquility, wilderness, and beauty,” often described as a “miniature fairyland” and “expanded bonsai.” It has developed quality tourist routes, including Huangshizhai, Jinbian Creek, Yaozizhai, and Yuanjiajie, featuring over 130 scenic spots. The park is not only remarkable for its natural scenery but also rich in biodiversity, with 93 families and 517 species of woody plants, 720 species of ornamental plants, 41 species of birds, and 28 species of mammals, earning it the titles “Natural Botanical Garden” and “Animal Kingdom.” With the continuous development of tourism, the park has transformed from primarily focusing on forestry production to integrating agriculture, forestry, commerce, and eco-tourism, balancing protection and development. The implementation of a tourism-driven strategy has attracted increasing numbers of domestic and international tourists, resulting in significant economic and social benefits. Since its establishment, the park has received 16 million visitors, generating tourism revenue of 2.7 billion yuan.
