Published : 2024-06-06
Starting from June 15, the high-speed rail Zhangjiajiexi route will officially open, adding 6 new stops along the way, including the well-known Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient Town, making it convenient for everyone to visit the beautiful scenery of western Hunan in one stop.
What are the stops on this new long-distance route? How long is the trip? Which travel-worthy sights are along the way?
Launch on June 15 with a total duration of 6.5 hrs
The new Zhangjiajiexi high-speed rail route will officially open on June 15, adding 6 new stops.
The full route is: West Kowloon - Shenzhen North - Humen - Guangzhou South - Chenzhou West - Hengyang East - Shaoyang - Dongkou - Huaihua South - Fenghuang Ancient City - Jishou East - Zhangjiajie West.
Ticket sales for the train started on June 1. Currently, there are two trains running on the Zhangjiajiexi route each day (one round trip), with a journey time of around 6.5 hours.
Landscape gallery: Mount Hengshan and Mount Langshan
In addition to the well-known Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient City, the Zhangjiajiexi route also has many unique attractions, including natural landscapes and ancient water towns, for everyone to experience the unique style of Western Hunan.
If you want to closely enjoy the stunning mountain and water landscape, Mount Hengshan (衡山) and Mount Langshan (崀山) would definitely be your top choices!
As one of the Five Mountains (五嶽) in China, "Nanyue" Hengshan is located in the Nanyue District of Hengyang City with more than 200 religious buildings around the mountain. This place has been a holy site for Daoism and Buddhism since ancient times.
The Hengshan Scenic Area principally centres on Zhurong Peak (祝融峰), the highest peak, and is home to well-known attractions such as the Nanyue Ancient Town (南嶽古鎮), Sutra Depository (藏經殿), Water Curtain Cave (水簾洞), and Fangguang Temple (方廣寺).
Mount Langshan is situated in Shaoyang City. It is a genuine natural Danxia geological museum that combines mountains, water, forests, and caves. It has a unique geological structure and is renowned worldwide for the "Six Absolutes" (崀山六絕).
Among them, Bajiaozhai (八角寨) is the most representative scenic area of Mount Lanshan, and its name comes from the eight corners of the peak.
The area of the Danxia landform here is a whopping 40 square kilometres! As far as the eye can see, there are continuous mountains and valleys, the overwhelming mountain scenery is acclaimed as the "soul of China's Danxia".
Read more: Is the hidden Miao village in Jishou related to Qu Yuan?
Misty water town: Disun Miao Village and Chadong Ancient Town
The second highlight of Zhangjiajiexi route is the villages full of ethnic minority characteristics. Here, we recommend two scenic spots along the route, namely Disun Miao Village (地筍苗寨) and Chadong Ancient Town (茶峒古鎮).
Dibao Miao Village is located in Dibao Village of Huaihua City, which is at a relatively low altitude and has a cool climate. The environment is naturally quiet and lush, making it an ideal natural "oxygen bar".
As a settlement place of "Flower Cloth Miao" (花衣苗), one of the five major branches of the Chinese Miao ethnic group, Disun Miao Village has many buildings with Miao characteristics, such as unique stilt houses, wind and rain bridges, drum towers, etc., showing an ancient charm.
At the same time, it is also the main inheritance place of the national intangible cultural heritage "Miao Zu Ge Teng" (苗族歌鼟), known as the "living fossil of original polyphonic folk songs in China". The unique musical and cultural atmosphere is extremely attractive.
The name of the ancient town of Chadong, near Jishou, may sound unfamiliar, but perhaps you will know it if I say it's the prototype of "Border Town" (邊城) in the famous novel written by Shen Congwen (沈從文).
Chadong Ancient Town is located in Huayuan County (花垣縣), borders Yiajia Town of Guizhou Province, and Hong'an Town of Chongqing. It is one of the top four famous towns in western Hunan where you can “step in three provinces” at the same time.
As you stroll through Chadong Ancient Town, you can feel the beautiful scenery and rustic customs described by Shen Congwen in "Border Town" everywhere.
The stilt houses, wind and rain bridges, ferries and river streets are the elements that constitute the unique ancient charm of the town, tranquil and comfortable, poetic and picturesque.
Read more: Sights along Zhangjiajiexi route: The Furong Town which "hangs on the waterfall"
