Suoxiyu (Suoxi Valley) Nature Reserve, located in Cili County, Hunan Province and whose name in the Tujia dialect means "Fog-laden"-is the largest of Wulingyuan Scenic Area's three subsections, spanning more than 180 square kilometers.

The three original subsections of Wulingyuan Scenic Area form a horizontally-oriented triangle whose southern point is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, whose northern point is Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and whose eastern point is Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve (a fourth subsection, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, was later added).

Roughly speaking, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve is divided into a large, western part that is characterized by sandstone bedrock and a somewhat smaller, eastern part that is characterized by limestone bedrock, the latter of which-given that limestone, at least the softer, more porous parts of it, is relatively easily dissolved (eroded away) by water-is further characterized by karst caves, underwater streams, deep crevices in the surface (some of which reach a depth of 600 meters), and grotesquely shaped surface rocks. The topography of the sandstone section of Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve is characterized by mountain peaks and sheer cliff faces, by rivers-and waterfalls and by brooks. There are dense forests in the eastern part of the valley and thick copses and scattered individual trees growing everywhere in the western part of the valley, also on the craggy surfaces of the mountain peaks.

With respect to fauna, there are some 20 species of rare animals living and thriving in Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve,albeit, in some cases, rare only in a local sense, including the common leopard (Panthera pardus), the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla, aka scaly anteater, looking like a 'cross between a sloth and an armadillo', according to US pilots (The Raven Forward Air Controllers, aka "The Ravens") flying in support of the Hmong ethnic minority of Laos during the Vietnam War (think of the 1990 film, Air America, with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey, Jr.)) and the giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). Within Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, there are over 20 groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), numbering over 1000 individuals.

Shilihualang

It is located at the foot of Tianzi mountain.Suoxi Valley Scenic Spot is named as “Ten-mile Gallery”,with looks like outdoor sculpture showroom .Along two sides of the river ,there display many great hills and cliffs.The Gallery offers an amazing experience of beauty.It is like an exhibition based in the gorge. Along the road are 200 peaks like old man collecting medicine, parents holding a son, and three Sisters and so on.It has a fleet and clean river on-flowing with the width the width of 6 meters and length of 5km.

Story of a Chinese Cartoon is based on the Ten-mile Gallery. Hiking on it, you could enjoy smell of flowers, singing of birds, purity of water, and touching of wind. Along the road you could see a train track(Mini Rail). If you don’t want to walk, you could take a ride on the electric train which would take you enjoy it slowly.

Baofeng Lake

Baofeng ("Treasure Peak") Lake Scenic Area, part of the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area – specifically, the Suoxi Valley subsection – of Hunan Province that was listed as a World Heritage site in 1992, is situated on and around Mount Baofeng in the northern part of the province, not far from the metropolis of Changde. Baofeng Lake Scenic Area comprises some 275 hectares, and consists of Baofeng Lake and Yingwo Stockade Village.

Baofeng Lake and the area immediately surrounding it offer pristinely beautiful natural scenery. Being located high up in the mountains, the lake catches some of the first and purest runoff water from the mountain peaks. Its height also guarantees an air freshness not found around lakes at lower altitudes. Baofeng Lake is bordered by lush green trees and shrub-clad stone peaks of various shapes that enclose the lake and give it a fairytale-like atmosphere. Indeed, Baofeng Lake is a reservoir, with a dam enclosing its waters, not for the purpose of power generation, but for the purpose of crop irrigation.

There are also majestic waterfalls that seem to pour out of the mountainside and which add an even more invigorating freshness to the air. Not far from the lake itself is a deep, gorge-like valley that is less than 4 meters wide on average, and creates a most unusual sight when one views the sky from the valley floor: the sky up above looks like a long, wavy, silk ribbon. It is one of the most unique sights in all of China, and, indeed, anywhere in the world.

Nearby Mount Baofeng, with an elevation of over 1200 meters above sea level, points straight up to the sky. Yingwo Stockade Village, a former military outpost atop the mountain, is strategically located in terrain that offers only difficult access. However, the ascent is worth it, for upon reaching the top of the mountain, one has a marvellous view of all the smaller peaks below (one understands well why this spot was chosen as a military outpost in ancient times, as defending it was easy).

Baofeng Temple is also located within Baofeng Lake Scenic Area, discreetly hidden in among the surrounding verdure. It is an old, graceful temple, constructed for monks in search of isolation in order better to devote themselves to contemplation.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area certainly boasts other spectacularly beautiful sites, but Baofeng Lake, with its deep, serene waters and its fairytale-like, pristine surroundings, ranks among the top attractions of Wulingyuan. As is typical for Chinese architects of old, manmade structures that must necessarily intrude on such a uniquely beautiful landscape have been erected with a minimum of violence, as it were, to the work of mother nature.

Huanglong cave

Located in the east of Suoxiyu Valley in Zhangjiajie City of Hunan Province, Huanglong Cave (Yellow Dragon Cave) is called underground magic palace. It has many chambers and subterranean streams. The most fantastic of which are the Stone Fields Chamber and the Stalagmite Chamber. The stalagmite known as “sacred Needle for Stabilizing the Sea” is unique in China. It is insured for a huge sum and is indeed a miracle of Zhangjiajie’s subterranean world.

The Huanglong Cave is the largest travertine cave in China. In addition, it is a natural ice cave with the longest frozen period in China. It is graceful, spectacular and has certain scientific research value. It has been sensibly developed and well protected.

Magic Fairyland

At the entrance, mists coil. In the cave, passages zigzag. Stone shoots, stone stalactites, stone curtains, stone pianos, and stone flowers can be founded there. In this cave, we can see "cave beyond cave, tower beyond tower, sky beyond sky and mountain beyond mountain". There are four layers, about 1600 meters high, having one reservoir, two brooks, three waterfalls, four ponds, thirteen halls and ninety-six passages. The Yellow Dragon Cave is 13 km in length. The biggest hall in it is 12,000 square meters which can hold 10,000 people. The cave is so big that it is in fact another world under the ground. Entering the cave, you will feel you are in a fairyland, beautiful and tranquil.

The best time to go is from April to October. It has been granted “One of Top Six Most Beautiful Show Caves in China” by China National Geography Magazine.

Tour Map of Suoxiyu in Zhangjiajie:














Weather Information of Zhangjiajie 

Note: From January to December, red line is the highest Centigrade in average, blue line is the lowest climate in average.