Located in the northwestern part of Wulingyuan Scenic Zone, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve boasts rocky peaks in grotesque shapes and shrouded in drifting mist. There are many scenic attractions, such as the lofty Imperial Writing Brush Peak, Fairy Maid Scattering Flowers, and the Mid-Air Farmers’ Cottage. The highest peak is 1,260 meters (4,130ft) above sea level and provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Waterfalls, bridges, stone forests and caves are found throughout the mountains. There are not just beautiful landscapes, but also simplicity, peculiar folk custom and local folk food of special flavor awaiting the arrival of visitors.
The landscape here varies in different seasons and also in one day, which makes Tianzi Mountain a very interesting destination. There are four highlights for the breathtaking sceneries: peak forest, cloud sea, sunrise and winter snow. Cloud and mist in Tianzi Mountain enjoys high reputation nationwide, especially just after the rain, which adds much charm to Tianzi Mountain.
Tianzi Mountain has four scenic wonders, namely Cloud Billows, Moon Brightness, Sun Glow and Winter Snow. The cloud billows are ever changing, morning and evening sun glows vast sky, moon shines in the still night, winter snow falls enchanting the scenery, like a lyric, like a landscape painting. Here in the Tianzi Mountain, scene majestic is in all its variety. There are five main scenic zones and over ten scenic spots in the Tianzi Mountain area. They include more than 80 natural platforms to take in the magnificent scenery. Highlights in Tianzishan: Helong Park, West Sea Stone Forests, Divine shrine and Immortal Bridge. 6 tourist areas have been built to accommodate visitors and they include more than 80 natural platforms to take in the magnificent scenery. Visitors can also reach the peaks of the mountain by cable car.
West Sea Stone Forests
Situated in the west of Suoxiyu Valley, it is a basin-like landform with a collection of peaks and woods. In this sea, numerous peaks stand with different shapes and poses, covered with lush vegetation. Therefore, it is called sea of trees and sea of peaks. In spring or summer or a clear day immediately after a rain in autumn, the clouds are surging and rolling like waves, covering the whole sky and earth. The view is so magnificent that it is called sea of clouds. The combination of the three seas is the characteristic of West Sea. In it, Gate to Heaven and Sky Terrace are wonderful scenes.
Shentang bay (divine shrine)
Shentang Valley is also named Shentang Fort. It is a gorge shaped like a huge basin walled by lofty precipices. The bottom of the gorge is veiled in mists and clouds all day, adding to its mysteriousness. As the saying goes, the most beautiful scene is seen from the most perilous peak. There are almost no roads to Shentang Valley, only a quite dangerous flight of stairs that is as wide as a foot being available. Local people say, Every step kills one soul. In the center of the bottom lies a fathomless green pond. Looking down the pond from the mouth of the gorge, one cant help shivering. Whats peculiar is that visitors can hear sounds of gongs and drums, neighs of battle steeds and shouts of men echoing from the bottom. Nobody can give a reasonable answer to this mystery. Therefore, Shentang Valley was a forbidden place in Wulingyuan and a puzzle for hundreds of years.