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Travel Guide

Zhangjiajie is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, administering Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, and Cili and Sangzhi counties. It is home to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The city's history dates back to 221 BC and was formerly known as Dayong. In 1994, it was renamed Zhangjiajie to highlight its World Heritage status.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and Autumn

Daily Budget

¥400-800 ($60-120) per day

Getting Around

Airplane, Train, Long-distance bus, Scenic area environmental protection vehicle, Cable car

Suggested Stay

3-5 days

Must-Visit Attractions

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is located in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China, and is a famous peak with an elevation of 1518.6 meters. The park is renowned for its magnificent natural scenery and unique karst landform, earning it the reputation of 'Heavenly Gate Immortal Mountain'. Within the scenic area is the world's longest high-mountain passenger cableway, the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, which transports visitors directly from the city to the mountain top. Several kilometers of cliff-side walkways have been developed on the summit, including multiple thrilling glass skywalks, such as the famous 'Coiling Dragon Cliff Glass Skywalk'. Connecting to Tianmen Cave at the summit is the 'Heaven-Linking Avenue', a winding mountain road that is 11 kilometers long with 99 sharp turns. Its S-shaped bends ascend layer upon layer, reaching straight into the clouds, earning it the title of 'The World's First Highway Wonder'. Tianmen Cave is a natural karst cave that is 131.5 meters high, often shrouded in mist, resembling a gate to heaven. 999 stone steps lead directly to the cave entrance, known as the 'Stairway to Heaven'. A temple, Tianmen Mountain Temple, originally built during the Tang Dynasty, is also located on the summit.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Tianmen Cave

Tianmen Cave is a landmark attraction of Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, a naturally formed massive karst cave piercing through the mountain, 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep. It resembles a gateway to heaven, suspended high on a towering cliff, perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, exuding a magnificent aura. Legend has it that the opening of Tianmen Cave is a symbol of heavenly blessing, and its unique characteristics of being 'exceptionally high and deeply hidden' attract countless explorers. At the cave entrance, there are 999 stone steps, commonly known as the 'Stairway to Heaven', a must-pass route for challenging oneself and praying for peace and safety.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is located in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, and is a natural scenic area integrating mountains, water, caves, and canyons. It features the world's longest and highest glass bridge – Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge (Yuntiandu), suspended 300 meters high, with a total length of 430 meters and a width of 6 meters. Its fully transparent glass deck can accommodate 800 people simultaneously. In addition to the glass bridge, the Grand Canyon also offers various landscapes and attractions such as waterfalls, streams, plank roads, 'A Ray of Sky' (Yixiantian), and zip lines. The scenic area attracts tourists from all over the world with its majestic and beautiful canyon scenery and thrilling glass bridge experience. It was temporarily closed for system upgrades due to excessive visitor numbers and reopened on September 30, 2016.

Mountain-Traversing Escalator

Mountain-Traversing Escalator

The Mountain-Traversing Escalator is located within Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park and is one of the key transportation facilities in the Tianmen Cave scenic area. It ascends directly from the bottom of Tianmen Cave to the mountain peak, divided into seven sections, with a total ascent height of 340 meters and a total length of 800 meters. Built into the mountain, the escalator is grand and magnificent, offering unique scenic views along the way. It is an important way for domestic and international tourists to experience the unique charm of Tianmen Mountain.

Yuntiandu

Yuntiandu

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, also known as "Yuntiandu" (Skywalk), is a glass-bottomed pedestrian bridge located in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in Hunan, China. Built above the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, it is a tourist attraction renowned for its transparent glass bottom. Upon its opening, it was the longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge in the world. The bridge opened to the public on August 20, 2016, with a total length of 430 meters (1410 feet), a width of 6 meters (20 feet), and suspended approximately 300 meters (980 feet) above the ground. It spans the canyon between two cliffs within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The bridge can accommodate 800 visitors simultaneously. The bridge was designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan.

Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area

Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area

Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area is located in the northwest of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It is named after Xiang Dakun, a leader of a Tujia peasant uprising in the early Ming Dynasty, who called himself 'Xiang Wang Tianzi' (King Tianzi). It is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. Tianzi Mountain boasts a unique quartz sandstone landform, formed over hundreds of millions of years through crustal movement and erosion. Its highest peak, Kunlun Peak, stands at an elevation of 1262.5 meters. The area is renowned for its magnificent peak forests, sea of clouds, sunrises, and winter snowscapes, and also served as an inspiration for the 'Pandora' mountains in the movie 'Avatar'.

Huanglong Cave Scenic Area

Huanglong Cave Scenic Area

Huanglong Cave is a karst cave located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China, and is also a national 4A-level scenic area. As of 2010, it attracted over one million visitors annually. Besides the cave itself, the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area also includes the Huanglong Cave Ecological Square and the 'Hallelujah Concert Hall', built at a cost of 160 million RMB. The cave system covers a total area of 48 hectares and is 15 kilometers long, divided into dry and water caves. It features four levels, thirteen halls, three underground waterfalls, two underground rivers, three pools, ninety-six passages, and one underground lake. The largest hall within the cave measures 4000 square meters, and the highest of the three waterfalls is 50 meters tall. A guided tour of the cave takes approximately two hours, including a boat ride on the underground river.

Qiankun Column (Avatar Hallelujah Mountain)

Qiankun Column (Avatar Hallelujah Mountain)

Qiankun Column, also known as the Southern Pillar of Heaven, is famous for being a filming location for the movie 'Avatar' and is hailed as 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountain'. It is an iconic attraction within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a stone peak approximately 150 meters high, shaped like a giant pillar supporting the sky, with a magnificent presence. When shrouded in clouds and mist, the peaks appear and disappear, like a fairyland, making it an excellent spot to admire the spectacular geological formations of Zhangjiajie.

The First Bridge Under Heaven

The First Bridge Under Heaven

The First Bridge Under Heaven is located in the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie. It is a natural stone bridge formed by the masterful craftsmanship of nature. It spans across two massive mountain peaks with a vertical height of 357 meters, making it the natural self-formed stone slab bridge with the largest vertical drop discovered in the world to date. The bridge is approximately 20 meters long and 1 to 2 meters wide. It is magnificent and spectacular, and is one of the essential attractions of the Zhangjiajie landform.

Yunmeng Fairy Peak

Yunmeng Fairy Peak

Yunmeng Fairy Peak is located within Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. It is the main peak of Tianmen Mountain, with an elevation of 1518.6 meters. It is an excellent spot to overlook the panoramic view of Zhangjiajie city and the surrounding mountains, and also an ideal place to watch the sunrise and enjoy the sea of clouds. Ascending Yunmeng Fairy Peak, one can experience the magnificent feeling of 'standing atop the highest peak, all other mountains appear small'.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Guigu Plank Road

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Guigu Plank Road

The Guigu Plank Road is a famous suspended plank road located within Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. Built on a cliff, it is approximately 1600 meters long with an average elevation of 1400 meters, known for its thrilling experience and magnificent natural scenery along the way. Parts of the plank road are paved with glass, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of an 'aerial walk' and overlook the bottomless valley. The area is often shrouded in clouds and mist year-round, offering ever-changing scenery, making it an excellent place to challenge oneself and admire unique peaks and strange rock formations.

Tianmen Mountain Cableway

Tianmen Mountain Cableway

Tianmen Mountain Cableway is one of the highest passenger cableways in the world, and also the longest single-line circulating detachable gondola cableway in the world. It has a total length of 7455 meters, a height difference of 1279 meters, and a one-way journey time of approximately 28 minutes. It connects Zhangjiajie city center directly to the top of Tianmen Mountain, linking the city's prosperity with the majestic scenery of the mountain peak, and is the main mode of transport to Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. Along the cableway, the scenery is magnificent, offering panoramic views of Zhangjiajie city center, Tianmen Cave, and the 99-bend mountain road.

Golden Whip Rock

Golden Whip Rock

Golden Whip Rock is located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is one of Zhangjiajie's top ten scenic wonders. It gets its name from its resemblance to a golden whip piercing the sky. It stands as a solitary peak, majestic and grand, surrounded by the Golden Whip Stream, making it one of Zhangjiajie's most representative natural landscapes.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Huangshizhai

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Huangshizhai

Huangshizhai is located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is the largest aerial viewing platform in the park, with an elevation of 1080 meters. It is a majestic quartz sandstone peak, famous for its unique mountain landform and rich forest vegetation. Legend has it that Huang Shigong, the master of Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu in the Han Dynasty, once refined elixirs here, hence the name Huangshizhai. There are numerous attractions within the Huangshizhai scenic area, such as Five Finger Peak, Front Garden, General's Platform, Rear Garden, South Heaven Gate, Star Picking Platform, etc., making it an excellent place to admire Zhangjiajie's peak forest landform. Visitors can choose to go on foot or by cable car.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Lingxiao Platform

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Lingxiao Platform

Lingxiao Platform is a famous attraction within Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, located in the 'Quest for Immortals' Scenic Area. It is an excellent spot for visitors to overlook the mountains and experience the breathtaking craftsmanship of nature. Lingxiao Platform is renowned for its perilous terrain and magnificent scenery, making it one of the must-visit photo spots in Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain Temple

Tianmen Mountain Temple

Tianmen Mountain Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty and is the Buddhist center of the Xiangxi region. The temple is located on the top of Tianmen Mountain, overlooking a deep gorge, offering a vast view and a magnificent presence. The current Tianmen Mountain Temple was rebuilt on its original site, covering a large area, with an architectural style that blends characteristics of the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring flying eaves and upturned corners, making it ancient and elegant. Incense burns profusely inside the temple, making it an important place for devotees to worship Buddha and for tourists to sightsee.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Panlong Cliff Glass Skywalk

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Panlong Cliff Glass Skywalk

The Panlong Cliff Glass Skywalk is located in Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie. It is a fully transparent glass skywalk suspended over a bottomless abyss, attracting numerous tourists with its thrilling excitement and magnificent natural scenery. Built along the mountain, the skywalk is over a hundred meters long and 1.6 meters wide, offering views of the valley and the thrill of walking in the air. It is one of the three glass skywalks on Tianmen Mountain and an excellent place for visitors to challenge themselves and admire unique peaks and strange rock formations.

Yangjiajie Scenic Area

Yangjiajie Scenic Area

Yangjiajie Scenic Area is located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, and is an important part of the core scenic area of the Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage. It is famous for its majestic, steep, and unique 'peak wall' landscapes. These distinctive quartz sandstone peaks are the product of hundreds of millions of years of geological changes and erosion, forming a magnificent, continuous scenery like a natural Great Wall. The scenic area is crisscrossed with ravines, dotted with streams, waterfalls, lakes, and deep pools, boasting a good ecological environment and home to a variety of rare animals and plants. Yangjiajie, together with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, collectively forms Wulingyuan, a world-class geological park and scenic spot.

West Sea Peak Forest

West Sea Peak Forest

West Sea Peak Forest is a famous natural landscape within the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Spot, renowned for its unique quartz sandstone peak forest landform. Here, when the peaks are stacked and clouds and mist linger, it resembles a fairyland, earning it the title 'King of Peak Forests'. Visitors can admire thousands of stone peaks rising from the ground, each with a different shape, forming a magnificent spectacle.

Yuanjiajie Scenic Area - Observation Deck

Yuanjiajie Scenic Area - Observation Deck

Yuanjiajie is one of the core scenic areas of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, renowned for its unique sandstone peak forest landform. It features the Southern Sky Column (Qiankunzhu), the filming location for the 'Hallelujah Mountains' in the movie 'Avatar', as well as other famous attractions like the First Bridge Under Heaven and the Enchanting Platform. Visitors can admire the ever-changing stone peaks, deep canyons, and magnificent misty landscapes here.

Five Finger Peak

Five Finger Peak

Five Finger Peak is located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is an important part of the Huangshizhai Scenic Area. It gets its name from the shape of its peaks, which resemble five outstretched fingers. It is one of the typical representatives of Zhangjiajie's landform and possesses unique viewing value. Visitors can admire the peculiar sandstone peak forest landform here and experience the marvels of nature.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - West Line Glass Skywalk

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - West Line Glass Skywalk

The West Line Glass Skywalk of Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is a transparent glass walkway suspended on a cliff, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of walking in the air while overlooking the magnificent valley scenery. The skywalk is approximately 60 meters long, with its highest point at an altitude of 1430 meters. It is the most challenging of the three glass skywalks on Tianmen Mountain.

Baofeng Lake Scenic Area

Baofeng Lake Scenic Area

Baofeng Lake Scenic Area is located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. It is an artificial freshwater lake formed in the 1970s. The lake was formed by damming a canyon, with an average depth of 72 meters and a length of 2.5 kilometers, surrounded by dense stone peaks. Baofeng Lake is one of the filming locations for the TV series 'Journey to the West' and 'The Bandit Suppression of Wulong Mountain'.

Golden Whip Stream

Golden Whip Stream

Golden Whip Stream is a beautiful stream within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, named for flowing past Golden Whip Rock. It is famous for its lush green peaks, unique rock formations, clear flowing water, and dense forests, making it one of Zhangjiajie's most beautiful natural oxygen bars. Walking along the stream, visitors can admire famous attractions such as 'Divine Eagle Protecting the Whip', 'Golden Whip Rock', and 'Drunken Arhat', making it an excellent place for hiking, sightseeing, and getting close to nature.

Bailong Elevator

Bailong Elevator

The Bailong Elevator (Hundred Dragons Heaven Elevator) is a glass double-deck elevator built into the side of a cliff in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, China. The region is famous for its more than 3,000 quartz-sandstone pillars and peaks, many of which are over 200 meters (660 feet) tall. The Bailong Elevator is notable for its ascent of 326 meters (1070 feet) in 1 minute and 32 seconds and has been certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest outdoor elevator. It offers visitors panoramic views of Wulingyuan's magnificent quartz-sandstone peak forest landscape. Construction of the elevator began in October 1999 and it opened to the public in 2002.

Ten-Mile Gallery

Ten-Mile Gallery

The Ten-Mile Gallery is a famous scenic spot within the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie, located in the Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. The gallery stretches for ten miles, with lush trees on both sides, fragrant wildflowers, and peculiar peaks and strange rocks in various shapes and forms, resembling a huge landscape painting. Along the way, there are attractions such as 'Longevity Star Welcoming Guests', 'Herb-Collecting Old Man', and 'Three Sisters Peak'.

One Step to Heaven

One Step to Heaven

One Step to Heaven (Yibu Dengtian) is located within the Zhangjiajie Yangjiajie Scenic Area, it is a unique and precipitous natural attraction. Visitors need to pass through a section of steep steps and plank roads to reach the top. From the summit, one can overlook the peaks, with a vast view and magnificent scenery. This is one of the best locations to admire the spectacular landforms of Zhangjiajie, and a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts.

Imperial Brush Peak

Imperial Brush Peak

Imperial Brush Peak is a famous scenic spot within the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is composed of dozens of stone peaks of varying heights, shaped like an inverted pen holder, and legend has it that it is the 'imperial brush' left by King Xiang, hence its name. This is one of the best locations to view the 'West Sea Peak Forest', attracting numerous tourists with its unique shape and beautiful scenery.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Natural Great Wall

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Natural Great Wall

The Natural Great Wall is located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a unique geological wonder of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is composed of a series of towering quartz sandstone pillars, with a winding shape, resembling a naturally formed city wall, spectacular and majestic. This is an excellent place to appreciate the landscape of Zhangjiajie and a paradise for photography enthusiasts.

He Long Park

He Long Park

He Long Park is located in the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, northwest of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area in Zhangjiajie. It was built to commemorate He Long, a marshal of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Major attractions within the park include the He Long Bronze Statue, the Exhibition Hall of Marshal He Long's Life and Deeds, and observation decks offering panoramic views of magnificent natural landscapes such as the 'West Sea Peak Forest'. It is an important part of the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, combining humanistic commemoration with natural beauty.

Fairy Scattering Flowers

Fairy Scattering Flowers

Fairy Scattering Flowers is a famous scenic spot within the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie. It gets its name from its unique sandstone peak forest landform, which resembles a beautiful fairy holding fresh flowers and scattering them across the human world. Here, stone peaks form a forest, each with a different shape, appearing dreamlike and ethereal when shrouded in mist. It is an excellent place to appreciate the Zhangjiajie landform. Visitors can marvel at the wonders of nature and experience the charm of the peak forest spectacle.

Wulongzhai

Wulongzhai

Wulongzhai is located in the Yangjiajie Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Due to its treacherous terrain and strategic defensibility, it was once a stronghold for bandits from Western Hunan. It features unique peak forests, spectacular cloud seas, and thrilling plank roads, making it a classic adventure destination in Zhangjiajie. Legend has it that bandits occupied this place during the Qing Dynasty, hence its name.

Grand View Terrace

Grand View Terrace

Grand View Terrace is located within the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, in the northwest of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, and is a famous attraction of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The scenery here is beautiful, making it one of the best places to appreciate the spectacular geological formations of Zhangjiajie.

Zicaotan Pool

Zicaotan Pool

Zicaotan Pool is located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is a scenic spot. The pool water is clear, and the surrounding vegetation is lush, making it an excellent place for visitors to get close to nature and enjoy the scenery.

Sky Garden

Sky Garden

Sky Garden is located within the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It is a unique mountaintop pastoral landscape, renowned as 'a human world within a fairyland'. Here, the views are expansive, surrounded by peaks, with terraced fields layered one upon another, presenting a natural agricultural tableau. It is one of the classic landscapes of the Zhangjiajie geomorphology.

Herb-Collecting Old Man

Herb-Collecting Old Man

The Herb-Collecting Old Man is a famous natural attraction within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, named for its unique geological features, which strikingly resemble an old man carrying a medicine basket and bending down to collect herbs. This naturally formed stone peak is vivid and lifelike, a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship, attracting countless tourists to stop and admire it. Located deep within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, it is one of the iconic landscapes along the Golden Whip Stream or in the Yuanjiajie scenic area, renowned for its peculiar shape and rich cultural connotations.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Three Sisters Peak

Wulingyuan Scenic Area - Three Sisters Peak

The Three Sisters Peak is located in the Ten-Mile Gallery scenic area within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, and is a typical representative of Zhangjiajie's unique quartz sandstone peak forest landform. The three stone peaks here resemble three graceful sisters, standing tall and elegant, each with its unique charm. They are a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship and one of the iconic attractions of Zhangjiajie's World Natural Heritage. Legend has it that these three stone peaks are a creation of nature, resembling three young girls dressed in ethnic costumes, vivid and imaginative. Visitors can admire these peculiar peaks up close and experience the majestic beauty of nature.

Ecstasy Platform

Ecstasy Platform

Ecstasy Platform is located within the Zhongping Group of Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It is a famous viewing platform within the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. The terrain here is precipitous, making it an excellent spot to admire Zhangjiajie's unique landforms, renowned for its peculiar peak forest topography and mist-shrouded scenery. Standing on the Ecstasy Platform, one can see hundreds and thousands of stone peaks and pillars, standing majestically as if carved by knives and axes, with layered mountains and unpredictable changes, which is exhilarating and feels like entering another world, hence the name 'Ecstasy Platform'.

Xibu Old Street

Xibu Old Street

Xibu Old Street is located in the core scenic area of Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie. It is a composite tourist commercial pedestrian street integrating a waterfront bar street, a Chinese specialty snack street, a Xiangxi folk custom shopping street, leisure inns, creative workshops, and more. It is based on the local Tujia and Miao ethnic charm of Xiangxi, adopting the architectural styles of ethnic minorities such as the Tujia and Miao people, showcasing unique ethnic cultural customs. It is an excellent place for tourists to experience local history and culture and taste special delicacies.

Tianbofu

Tianbofu

Tianbofu is a famous scenic spot within the Yangjiajie Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, known for its unique geological landscape and majestic peak forests. Visitors here can overlook magnificent stone walls and peak clusters, experiencing the marvels of nature's craftsmanship.

Liuqige Pavilion

Liuqige Pavilion

Liuqige Pavilion is located within the Huangshizhai Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is a viewing pavilion, from which one can overlook the unique peaks, strange rocks, and magnificent scenery of Huangshizhai. It is one of the important attractions of Huangshizhai, providing an excellent platform for photography and sightseeing for visitors.

Must-Try Local Food

Dry Pot Potato Slices

Dry Pot Potato Slices

Dry Pot Potato Slices is a widely popular home-style dish, primarily made with potato slices, paired with various spices and auxiliary ingredients, and cooked in a dry pot. It is known for its spicy, aromatic, fresh, and rich flavor, with potato slices that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside after cooking, offering a rich taste. It's an excellent dish to accompany rice or alcoholic beverages.

Zhangjiajie Sanxiaguo

Zhangjiajie Sanxiaguo

Zhangjiajie Sanxiaguo is a traditional famous dish from the Zhangjiajie region of Hunan, evolved from the Tujia ethnic group's "He Cai" (mixed dish). It typically involves stewing cured meat, tofu, and radish together, served with a special chili seasoning, resulting in a spicy, fragrant, and rich flavor. This dish is a distinctive delicacy for locals in Zhangjiajie, both for daily meals and entertaining guests, and is deeply loved by diners.

Stir-fried Preserved Vegetables with Pork

Stir-fried Preserved Vegetables with Pork

A home-style stir-fry, made by stir-frying preserved vegetables and sliced meat together. It has a sour and refreshing taste, unique flavor, and is a common dish served with rice in many regions.

Xueba Duck

Xueba Duck

Xueba Duck is a famous traditional dish from the Xiangxi region, prepared with duck meat and xueba (made from glutinous rice and duck blood). It is renowned for its unique texture and flavor, and is a classic delicacy in Hunan cuisine.

Stir-fried Yellow Beef

Stir-fried Yellow Beef

Stir-fried Yellow Beef is a dish primarily made with yellow beef, stir-fried with auxiliary ingredients such as chili peppers and garlic. It is characterized by tender beef, a spicy and delicious taste, and rich flavor.

Tujia Cured Pork

Tujia Cured Pork

Tujia Cured Pork is a traditional delicacy of the Tujia ethnic group, primarily popular in Tujia-inhabited areas such as western Hunan. It is made from fresh pork, undergoing multiple processes such as curing and smoking. Its characteristics include firm texture, golden color, unique flavor, and a rich smoky aroma. It is an important New Year's food and a hospitality dish for the Tujia people.

Stir-fried Fern Root Cake with Cured Pork

Stir-fried Fern Root Cake with Cured Pork

Stir-fried Fern Root Cake with Cured Pork is a home-style dish with local characteristics, made primarily from fern root cake (a block-shaped food made from wild fern root powder) and cured pork, stir-fried to perfection. The fern root cake has a smooth and chewy texture, while the cured pork is savory and aromatic. The combination offers a unique flavor, making it a traditional farmhouse dish in the Southwest region, especially in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei.

Smoked Tofu

Smoked Tofu

Smoked tofu is a tofu product made through a smoking process. It typically has a firm texture and a unique smoky flavor. In China, smoked tofu is a common ingredient in many local dishes, especially popular in Hunan and Guizhou, where it can be served as a cold dish, stir-fried, or used in soups.

Mugwort Cake

Mugwort Cake

Mugwort Cake is a local specialty snack, usually made with mugwort (also known as haozi) as the main ingredient, possessing a unique fresh aroma and taste. In spring, many regions have the custom of making Mugwort Cake.

Chopped Chili Fish Head

Chopped Chili Fish Head

Chopped Chili Fish Head is a famous Hunan cuisine dish, originating from Hunan. It uses a large silver carp head (or bighead carp head) as the main ingredient, steamed with special chopped chilies, minced garlic, minced ginger, and other seasonings. Its characteristics include a bright red color, soft and glutinous texture, fresh and spicy flavor, tender fish meat, rich gravy, and a unique chopped chili aroma, making it one of the representative dishes of Hunan cuisine.

Sour Radish Old Duck Soup

Sour Radish Old Duck Soup

Sour Radish Old Duck Soup is a traditional Sichuan dish with a long history. It primarily uses old duck and sour radish, slow-cooked to perfectly blend the freshness of the ingredients with the unique flavor of the sour radish. The soup is milky white, the meat is tender, and it's sour, appetizing, and rich in nutrients.

Wild Mushroom Soup

Wild Mushroom Soup

Wild mushroom soup is a dish made by simmering various wild edible mushrooms, offering the unique umami flavor of mushrooms and rich nutritional value. It is often regarded as a nourishing and health-promoting delicacy.

Black Chicken Stew with Medicinal Herbs

Black Chicken Stew with Medicinal Herbs

Black Chicken Stew with Medicinal Herbs is a traditional Chinese nourishing soup, made primarily with black chicken and various Chinese medicinal herbs such as red dates, goji berries, codonopsis, and astragalus, slow-cooked for a long time. This soup is known for its benefits in nourishing yin and strengthening kidneys, replenishing qi and blood, and boosting immunity. It is an important component of Chinese medicated diets and is highly favored by those who practice dietary therapy for health.

Kudzu Powder

Kudzu Powder

Kudzu powder is a starch made from the dried roots of kudzu (a leguminous plant). In East Asia, it is often used to make beverages, desserts, and as a thickening agent in cooking. Depending on the preparation method and region, kudzu powder can be made into a thick, translucent drink with a unique texture.

Stir-fried Shredded Pork with Green Peppers

Stir-fried Shredded Pork with Green Peppers

A widely popular homemade Chinese dish, primarily made by stir-frying shredded pork and green peppers (which can be bell peppers or spicy green peppers) together, with simple seasoning and delicious flavor.

Mi Dou Fu

Mi Dou Fu

Mi Dou Fu is a distinctive snack originating from Southern China, made from rice and water. It has a soft, chewy, and springy texture, and is a common refreshing delicacy in summer. Unlike blood tofu, Mi Dou Fu does not contain animal blood and is a plant-based food.