Everything in Between: 6 Days 5 Nights Changsha/Zhangjiajie/Feng Huang Ancient Town

This entry are specially pictures of Mr. AZ's trip to China..

This is his itinerary for the whole trip..all of the information on the places he visited, I get either from google or from the information by their travel agent..

Day 1

Liu Ye Lake

East Dongting Lake, Wuling Mountain to the west, far and by bringing the wonders of the world famous leisure Wulingyuan echoed near and fairyland paradise, mountain river rock flower Shui Sau Ling, Temple together into one folder

Feng Huang Ancient Town

Fenghuang County is located in Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China. It has an exceptionally well-preserved ancient town that harbors unique ethnic languages, customs, arts as well as many distinctive architectural remains of Ming and Qing styles. The town is placed in a mountain setting, incorporating the natural flow of water into city layout.Over half of the city's population belong to the Hmong/Miao or Tujia minorities. It was the center of the Hmong/Miao Rebellion (1854–73) that brought devastating Qing repression and massacre, initiating the diaspora of Hmong/Miao into South East Asia during the last two centuries. The city is revered in Hmong/Miao traditions and funeral rites and is the location of the "Suav Tuam Choj" or "Wall built by Chinese", also known as the Southern Wall built by the Ming dynasty to segregate and impoverish the Hmong/Miao.

DiaoJiaoLou

Many people may know that China has a number of minorities. Different from the Han(汉) ethnic group in food, clothes and many other ways of life style, people of minorities have developed a series of unique life styles which adapt themselves to the local environment and place where they have lived for generations. Their characteristic dwellings are just a good example needing to be mentioned here.Diao Jiao Lou is the representative traditional dwelling of Tujia, Miao and some other minorities in China. The word Diao Jiao Lou can be transtated literally into English as “feet-hanging building” which means a building built with its base hanging in the air instead of locating on the ground. It is really amazing since building technique like this has went beyond most people’s common sense. How could a building suspending above the ground maintain itself upstanding firmly for years, not to mention those hurricanes and floods.

Tuojiang

Tuo Jiang River, the biggest river within the county, is one of the branches of Wushui River. Originating from Nanshan Gorge of Dusha, Kuhe, it flows through Fenghuang County from west to east, passing nine counties and towns including La’ershan and Fenghuang County, and then plunges into Wushui River. It is 131 kilometers in length, among which 96.9 kilometers is in Fenghuang County, with the drainage are of 732.42 square kilometers.Tuo Jiang River is the Mother River of Fenghuang County, feeding the Fenghuang people from generations to generations. Women are usually seen washing their clothes by the river, wearing traditional Chinese leaf or bamboo hat. Men are fond of wearing ancient Chinese waistcoat, fishing in the river. Stone bridges, winding flagstone paths, wooden waterwheels and beautiful Miao ethic girls and Tujia ethic girls in their traditional costumes. A glide on Tuo Jiang River in a Wupeng Boat (an ancient styled shed boat in strong Xiangxi flavor), listening to the folk labor song of the boatman, appreciating the hundred-year-long unique houses built on stilts along the riverbank is a impressive and peaceful experience. As rowing ahead, passing through the Hong Bridge (an ancient Chinese bridge in Miao ethnic style), famous attractions of Fenghuang County are turning up one flowing another: Longevity Palace, Wanming Tower, Tuocui Building. The ancient city wall along the south bank of the Tuo Jiang River is built by mauve stones and sands, which is elegant and marvelous. There are two ancient city towers in distinct Qing Dynasty style constructed at the east part and the north part of the city wall respectively. The river water is limpid and shallow in the areas approaching to the city wall where float grass can be seen flickering in the green waves.

Day 2

The ram 1 Miao Village (HangWu Miao Village)

Located in Guzhang county Nam Mao Village, Zhangjiajie to FengHuang classic tourist routes. Ram 1 Hmong transliteration, meaning the small stream of the stockade. To take full advantage of the good local scenery, location and other various advantages in resources to lead the masses in their fortunes, the village Cunchiliangwei under the care of Party committeesand governments at all levels, on the basis of the full study, repeated demonstration of local conditions the introduction of a Ram1 Miao Village in pro-poor tourism development project.

Tianmen (Heavenly Door) Mountain Scenic Are || Cable Car + Glass walkway + Tianmen Caves

Tianmen Mountain (Tiānmén Shān) is a mountain located within Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie, in northwestern Hunan Province, China. A cablecar was constructed by the French company Poma from nearby Zhangjiajie railway station to the top of the mountain. Tianmen Mountain Cableway is claimed in tourist publications as the "longest passenger cableway of high mountains in the world", with 98 cars and a total length of 7,455 metres and ascent of 1,279 metres. The highest gradient is an unusual 37 degrees. Tourists can walk on kilometres of paths built onto the cliff face at the top of the mountain, including sections with glass floors. An 11km road with 99 bends also reaches the top of the mountain and takes visitors to Tianmen cave, a natural hole in the mountain of a height of 131.5 metres. A large temple is also located on the summit with chairlift or footpath access. The original temple here was built in the Tang Dynasty. Today a more recent construction with Tang dynasty architecture occupies the site and includes a vegetarian restaurant in the 10000 square metre setting.

Day 3

Baofeng Lake || Cruise

The Baofeng Lake Scenic Area is part of the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, one of the world's natural heritages. It is situated at the back of Mount Baofeng, with an area of 274 hectares. The area comprises Baofeng Lake and Yingwo Stockaded Village. The natural beauty of the lake and the mountain complement the human culture and landscape.Baofeng Lake features beautiful natural scenery. It is located in the mountains, where there is abundant water and fresh air. Green trees and stone peaks of various shapes surround the lake. There are also marvelous running waterfalls pouring out like troops from heaven descending to the world. Yixiantian Valley, less than an average of four meters wide, is another wonderful scenic spot. Only a line of the sky can be seen from the bottom of the valley, which resembles a seemingly long and thin silk thread. The length, narrowness, and depth here are rare for national scenic spots.Mount Baofeng, at a height of 1,212.8 meters, is nearby and points straight up to the sky. Yingwo Stockaded Village is strategically located in the terrain and is difficult to access. By reaching the top of the mountain, you can look down upon many smaller peaks. Within the green background is Baofeng Temple, gracefully ancient in color and style, half hidden and half visible, and radiating the ethos of a religious culture. Lake Baofeng lies calmly, like a goddess, outstanding and pure, projecting a sense of peace

Ten-mile Art Gallery || Tram ride

Awe-inspiring peaks and valleys on both sides of the column, different shapes, is composed of a flexible and natural health site sculpture painting. Sculptor Qian called "a natural sculpture gallery displays masterpieces of images." Which well-known attractions include herbs for the elderly, Assembly of Immortals worship Guanyin is the best landscape.

Tianzi Mountain || Cable Car

Tianzi Mountain is named after Xiang Dakun who led the local farmers’ revolt and called himself Tianzi---the Son of Heaven. Bounded by Suoxi Valley on the east, Zhangjiajie on the south, Sangzhi County on the north, Tianzi Mountain is one of the four scenic zones in Wulingyuan. It lies on the highest point of ”Golden Triangle”, its highest point being 1262.5m(Kunlun peak) and lowest point being 534m(Shilan valley). It has an area of 67 square kilometers, a touring line of 45 kilometers, an average temperature of 12oC, an annual waterfall of 1800 mm, a frost-free period of 240 days and a frozen period of 60-80 days. Except a layer of limestone and a few areolate stones at the peak, some hundred meters above sea level, the majority of scenic spots is formed of quart stones, belonging to sandstone ground feature which is the same as Suoxiyu Valley and Zhangjiajie. The 500-meter or 600-meter thick quartzite sandstone has evolved from neptunic rocks that subsided from oceans 380,000,000 years ago and after a complicated and long process formed strangely shaped spectacles. To sum up, the landscape in Tianzi Mountain is natural and primeval. Every scenic spot is created by nature and of no artificial trace.

No. 1 Bridge in the World

In reserves lies the First Bridge under the Sun. This natural stone bridge, with a width of 2 metres, stretches 20 metres across thin air between two peaks of 350 metres above the valley floor, forming a natural bridge.

DuanHunTai

The best natural overlooking stand in YuanJiaJie Scenic Area, Hundreds of all in the canyon, a myriad eyes quietly that looks most imposing

BaiLong Lift

The Bailong Elevator (literally Hundred Dragons Elevator) is a glass elevator built onto the side of a huge cliff in the Wulingyuan area of Zhangjiajie, China that is 1,070 feet (330 m) high It is claimed to be the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world. Construction of the elevator began in October 1999, and it was opened to the public by 2002. The environmental effects of the elevator have been a subject of debate and controversy, as the Wulingyan area was designated a World Heritage Site in 2002. Operations were stopped for 10 months in 2002-2003, reportedly due to safety concerns, not environmental ones.

Day 4

Hunan Provincial Museum
It boasts abundant collections that feature cultural relics excavated from the outstanding Mawangdui Han Tombs, the bronze wares of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and Chu State, pottery and porcelain works in the past dynasties, calligraphy works and paintings, and modern cultural relics.

Huangxing South Road
Experienced hundreds of years of vicissitudes, witnessed historical changes, the strret is the most exciting place where all the gold shops gathered. The most distinctive than dispersed in the whole street on the real proportion of the bronze.

Hunan Embroidery
Hunan embroidery is one of the four famous embroideries in China, originated in the Hunan folk embroidery, which is characterized by rigorous composition, bright, expensive variety of acupunture by a rich color line and the ever-changing needle, so embroidered figure animals, landscapes, birds and flowers, with special artistic effects.

Baisha || First Changsha Spring
Is also one of the springs in the south, existing aperture of four, head to the granitestone blocks, 67cm long, 33cm wide, 70cm deep, head east of vertical "white sands Inn" tablet.

Tianxinge
The most scenic spot located in Changsha City Center. Covering an area of 40 acres, it is the only signs of the ancient city of Changsha, now a "new Xiaoxiang Eight" - Changsha four monuments.

As for the pictures below I couldn't figure out which picture is which place.. so figure it out yourself.. but I do love the scenery.. superb nature..