Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve

Located in the northern part of Wulingyuan scenic area in Hunan province, Tianzi (Son of Heaven) Mountain Nature Reserve is one of the four scenic spots in Wulingyuan (three other spots are the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve and the Zangjiajie scenic area). Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve covers an area of 67 square kilometers (about 16,550 acres), and the highest peak is 1,262 meters (about 4,140 feet) above the sea level.

Tianzi Mountain provides stunning views of peaks, which rise one after another. It is known as "the Monarch of the Peak Forest". At the top of the mountain, visitors can see the full extent of the Wulingyuan scenic area. Beautiful scenes of the mountain greet visitors in different seasons. There are four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter.

Tianzi Mountain takes its name from Xiang Dakun., the leader of the Tu ethnic group during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 -1279). Xiang Dakun led a revolution and avowed himself as Tianzi (Son of Heaven). Visiting the Tianzi Mountain area, visitors can see many sites about his story, the most impressive being: the Yu Bi Peaks, the Xian Nü San Hua, and the Shen Bing Ju Hui.

With pine trees on the top, the Yu Bi (imperial brushes) Peaks rise upward into the sky. Legend goes that they are brushes the Tianzi-Xiang Dakun used that became stone peaks after his martyrdom. The Xian Nv San Hua (floral tributes by fairies) is slightly opposite to the Yu Bi Peaks. A legend goes that Xiang Dakun and his army were defeated to fall back on the Tianzi Mountain. He fought to the finish, but finally jumped off the cliff. A girl in love with him went across the mountain to search for him. She strewed flowers over the cliffs and turned into a stone statue.

Visitors can take a cable car to see these charming peaks. With 692 meters' (about 2,270 feet) difference in elevation, the aerial tramway is 2,084 meters (about 2,279 yards) in length. The minimum running time is six minutes and 22 seconds for a single trip during which visitors can keep the wonderful scenery of the Tianzi Mountain in view.

The yearly average temperature of Tianzi Mountain is 12 degrees centigrade, and annual average rainfall is 1,800 millimeters. There are around 240 frost-free days. The best months to explore this mountain are April, May, September and October.

Tips:

Opening times: 07: 00—18:00 Full-price ticket: 245yuan+3yuan insurance for adult (through ticket valid for three days) including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Natural Resource Reserve, Suoxiyu Valley Scenic Area and battery car. Special fare: 168yuan for children between 1.2m and 1.5m, students under 24 years of age from whole-day school with certificates. Free ticket: For children under 1.2m, service personnel, seniors over 70, journalists and locals with related certificates. Cable Car: 52yuan (single fare), 104yuan (return fare) How to Get There: Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station has regular tourist buses to Sinanyu Ticket Station and the bus journey takes about 80-90 minutes. Then take battery car inside the scenic area.