Golden Whip Stream

Golden Whip Stream, aka Jinbian Brook - the iconic tourist area in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is reputed as the Landscape Gallery and Fairyland on Earth for its charming stream, verdant valley, and towering sandstone pillars. Different from Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village, which offer breathtaking overlooks from high above, Golden Whip Stream scenic area allows visitors to immerse themselves in the deep valley where the stream winds through and look up to towering peaks on both sides. 

Towering Peaks

 Covered by dense vegetation, Golden Whip Stream area is a natural oxygen bar. Every time you breathe, your heart and lungs will be cleansed. The stone peaks in varied shapes are arranged in a staggered manner; together with salamanders, wild monkeys, and over 9,000 types of plants, they create picturesque landscapes. A flat footpath built along the stream without steps makes it suitable for visitors of all ages.

Enjoy Golden Whip Stream with Children

 Especially in the middle section. As a popular tourist landmark, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is full of tourists from April to October, particularly in core areas including Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. However, along the 7.5-km-long (4.7-mi-long) Golden Whip Stream, tour groups usually turn back at a quarter of the way; the deeper you go, the quieter it is. 
 Zhangjiajie sees a lot of rainfall and high temperatures in June to July. On rainy days, views from observation decks at the mountaintop sightseeing areas are often blocked by heavy fog, making it difficult to see the peak clearly, and stone trails there can also be slippery. When it gets sunny, tourists appreciate views in the sun on open-air viewing platforms without any shade.

However, things are different in Golden Whip Stream. When it rains, the rainwater increases the flow of the stream, and clouds and mist fill the valley, forming more enchanting scenery. What’s more, lush forests offer sunshade in hot weather, making the perceived temperature even 5 - 8℃ (9 – 14.4℉) lower than the outside. The stream water can also help cool down.

Golden Whip Stream in Rain

 The attractions along Golden Whip Stream are all named after their unique and lifelike shapes, and behind every spot lies a mythological story.
 It is a 380-meter-high (1,246.7-feet-high) columnar rock with 4 distinct edges, thin in the upper part and thick in the lower. Covered with many stripes, the rock stands on the land like a long whip. As the sun shines, it is coated with dazzling gold, turning from the livid whip into a “golden whip”, hence the name. In particular, there is another peak next to Golden Whip Rock shaped like an eagle with its wings outstretched, as if guarding the whip.

Golden Whip Rock

 It refers to two adjacent stone peaks resembling two people standing face to face. The higher and thicker one, slightly leaning forward, can be imagined as a man who has just returned after a long journey with luggage on his back; The smaller and thinner one, with a gentle figure, approaches like a wife. They hold hands with each other and gaze silently. 

Lovers Peak

 In the middle of Golden Whip Stream, a mountain peak with a straight and deep crack stands steadily, as if it’s split by a huge axe. There happens to be a small stone peak next to it, shaped like an axe. Local people gave it a romantic name, “Cleave Mountain to Save Mother”, based on an ancient Chinese story: A fairy was imprisoned under a mountain due to violating holy rules. Her son, called Chenxiang, cleaved that mountain with an axe after persistent efforts, and finally saved her.
 It is a stone pillar over 200 meters (656.2 feet) high, leaning toward Golden Whip Stream at an angle of 70°. Watching from the back, it looks like a sword pointing to the sky; in the front, the peak seems to fall on the ground at any moment, but in reality, it stands firmly there, as if a drunken Arhat who staggers but tries hard to stand still. 
 It is where Jinbian Brook converges with three other streams, serving as the end of the hiking trail of this area. The four streams flow around surrounding peaks and pass through four natural gates of the mountains, forming an oasis at the center with an open view. It is one of the filming locations for Avatar. Other than being an attraction, it also works as a transportation hub, operating the eco-bus to Bailong Elevator and the East Gate of the park, and thus sees crowds all the time, especially tour groups.

Golden Whip Stream Map

 It’s not challenging to hike Golden Whip Stream for most tourists, although the trail is 5.8 km (3.6 mi) long. It consists of stone slabs and wooden boardwalks, without steps throughout the entire journey. Wheelchair users and families with strollers can also easily pass through with the accessible pathway. Besides, it’s easy to find the correct direction: just follow the stream. 

Stone and Wooden Boardwalk

At both ends of the brook are the east Streams Flowing Through Four Gates and the west Big Oxygen Bar Square, respectively. Hiking from west to east, following the stream from upstream to downstream, requires fewer efforts than going in the opposite direction. A whole journey takes about 2.5 - 3.5 hours.

Big Oxygen Bar Square

Stream Flowing Through Four Gates

Notes:
1. Tourists can hike only without eco-buses or any other tools in this area.
2. Walking half the distance is advised for visitors on a tight schedule. You can walk to set jetting of Journey to the West or Lovers Peak and return the same way to cover essence spots. It takes about 1.5 – 2 hours.
 Those are extra rewards for children visiting Golden Whip Stream in hot weather from June to August. The clear and cool stream, above the ankle and below the knee, becomes a water amusement park. Children can have a water fight, catch crabs and shrimp, or observe jumping fish in the gently flowing pond. 

Observe Fish in the Pond

Tips:
1. Water gun, kids fishing nets, and other tools for water activities are available at the ends of the stream.
2. Take good care of your children and enjoy yourselves at safe shallows instead of areas with turbulent water flow. Some sections are not open to tourists for fun. Besides, be careful of the pebbles covered in moss and rocks scattered throughout the stream. 
3. Prepare a change of clothes for your kids.
4. It’s not recommended to enter the cold stream in winter.
5. You need to release what you catch to protect stream ecology.

Do Water Activities

Encounter Monkeys

 You are definitely sure to encounter the monkey during Golden Whip Stream hike, which has become a landmark of this area. Hundreds of monkeys live there, especially in the section between the east end and Lovers Peak. They may suddenly appear on treetops, rocks by the stream, and railings on the footpath, or just wait for you on the roadside. You can also see monkey mothers walk on the boardwalk with their babies. Take a photo with them at a safe distance. 

To note that some bold ones ask for or even directly grab food from tourists, so it is wise to hide all food and drinks in your backpack before stepping on the path, and not open it in front of monkeys. 
 The two are usually scheduled on the same day for sightseeing because both are very close to the South Gate of the park.
 Ideal choice for hiking enthusiasts
 The two ends of the stream are located near the east and south gates of the forest park, respectively. Both of them can be reached from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station and Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station in downtown by direct tourist bus; however, they are far away from each other and not linked by any internal transportation, so you need to choose one first according to your travel plan.

For tourists who want to complete the entire journey of Golden Whip Stream or plan to visit Huangshi Village together, South Gate, only 1 km (0.6 mi) away from the west end of the stream – Big Oxygen Bar Square, is the best option. Especially in peak season, the west end with fewer tourists is advised for visitors who hate tourism congestion. 

If you plan to turn back halfway and transfer to Yuanjiajie or Ten Miles Gallery, just choose East Gate, which is conveniently linked to the east end of the stream by eco-bus. But you need to be prepared for the busy and noisy tour groups at the east end.

To note that you can only leave from another gate after walking the entire length, as there is no eco-bus serving inside the park between the two entrances. 
 Stalls of snacks and drinks are set at the two ends of the stream. Rest bench is available every mile. As for bathrooms, you can find one at the two ends and near the middle of the stream.

Barrier-free Passage

 1. Clothes & Shoes: If you plan to go into the water, wear pants or shorts that are easy to roll up, and bring an extra pair of wading shoes, slippers, or sandals.
2. Food: Prepare your own food, as there are no supplies midway.
3. People with sensitive skin are advised to wear mosquito repellent.
4. A trekking pole can help to defend against monkeys.
 1. Keep away from the grass by the stream, where there may be aquatic snakes.
2. Focus on weather conditions. Once it rains heavily, leave the valley immediately in case of a flood of the stream.
 Included in the entrance ticket of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, meaning that no additional ticket or fees are needed for this area.

 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking
 7:00 – 17:00, as that of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

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