Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve

The Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve is situated in the northeast section of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province. Suoxi Valley, or Suoxiyu in Chinese, means a“foggy mountain village”in the local Tujia language, and refers to the distictive climatic feature of the scenic area. Additionally, China’s largest karst cave is located here as well as a lake among the narrow gorges, and the rolling mountains of different shapes. Here are the most attractive spots:

 Yellow Dragon Cave is praised as the “All-round Champion Karst Cave in the World”. With an area of about 10 hectares, a length of about 4.7 miles (7.5 kilometers) and a vertical height of about 460 feet (140 meters), it is the largest karst cave in China. Inside are various kinds of stalactites, stalagmites, and stone columns. The best-known site in the cave is the Dragon Palace, which consists of many unusual stones such as the Magic Cudgel. It is the tallest stone pillar in the cave and is more than 200,000 years old.

Yellow Dragon Cave

Baofeng Lake

Surrounded by steep peaks, Baofeng Lake is the only water site in the core scenic area of Zhangjiajie. The scenic spot contains two major parts: Boafeng Lake and Yingwo Village. Visitors may take a boat to enjoy the clear lake reflecting the nearby mountains or admire the ancient temples in Yingwo Village. Moreover, there is a Folk Song Festival held here every April, where young lovers sing folk songs to express their love for each other.
 Located in the western section of the Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, West Sea actually is a basin-like gorge with a sea of peaks, trees and clouds. There are thousands of peaks standing in the deep canyon, covered by dense vegetation, looking like a green sea. Every time after it rains, the floating clouds resemble waves on the sea, showing visitors a splendid wonderland.
 Ten-Mile Gallery is a strip gorge located in the northwest part of Suoxi Valley. On both sides of the gorge, many peaks rise in various shapes, looking like “statues” carved by nature. The best-known peak is “Old Gatherer of Herbs”. It is about 300 feet (91 meters) tall and looks like an old man with a basket on his back gathering herbs. It is now the symbol of Ten-Mile Gallery. In addition, Couple Rocks consists of two rocks standing together. The left rock is steep and tall while the right one is gentle and short, resembling a couple whispering gently to each other.
 

Flower Sea in Suoxi Valley

This site is located in the western part of Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, about 1.2 miles from the entrance to Ten-mile Gallery. Three streams flow out from three valleys in the west, north, and south, then join together and run down to the Suoxi Valley, like four gates surrounded by four streams, hence the name.
 The gorge is said to be an ancient battlefield. Because of the rough road, it has not been disturbed by too many visitors and the scenery is pristine and wonderful. Visitors may consider going here to experience the steep peaks. Be careful on the roads, however, to avoid injury.
 Take the bus to Suoxi Nature Reserve at Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, which is close to the Zhangjiajie Railway Station. The buses depart from 06:00 to 17:30 about every 15 minutes in the day. It costs about CNY 12 and takes about 50-60 minutes.