Introduction to the People's Republic of China

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Zhangjiajie 张家界
Located in western Hunan province, the famous tourist city of Zhangjiajie is the home of China's first forest park - the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - and a World Natural Heritage site Wulingyuan. Since an air route linking Zhangjiajie and Hong Kong opened last April, more and more visitors take their holidays in Zhangjiajie.

The new cableway on Mt. Tianzi is new and is 2,084 meters long. As the cable car runs across the dizzying peaks, passengers get a full view of the spectacular landscape that cannot be enjoyed any other way. Despite the new cableway's presence, there are still mountain-climbers struggling to reach the top of Mt. Tianzi. Sedan-chairs can also be seen among them.

There are many famous scenic spots in Zhangjiajie, such as Baofeng Lake, the Huanglong Cave (Asia's largest cave), and many beautiful waterfalls and brooks. But the most attractive scene that Zhangjiajie features is the mysterious mountain covered with dense, primeval forests. It is said that 23 species of rare animals and more than 3,000 species of plants are living in the misty world.

There are 243 pillar-peaks, each over 1,000 meters high, which are often shrouded in mist and drizzle. Together, the peaks form several "peak-forests" that are rarely found anywhere else. Visitors to the top of Mt. Tianzi will see many pillar-peaks gathered together like soldiers in an enormous battle array.




Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 张家界国家森林公园

Established in 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first of its kind in China. It lies in the southwest part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is home to thousands of plant varieties that cover an estimated 98% of the total area. Among them are rare species of gingko, sequoia and Yunnan catalpa. The park also provides a rich homeland for hundreds of animal species, such as clouded leopard, tarpon, macaque, giant salamander, pangolin, and more. The park is best known for its amazing rock formations. Some three thousand craggy sandstone monoliths, in all shapes and sizes, create a forest of stone that shapes the land into a natural labyrinth. Eight hundred streams lace through the valley and all around there are springs and waterfalls.

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郴州 The city of CHENZHOU




Tujia customs museum土家风情园

Zhangjiajie covers an area of 9,600 square kilometers, 1/1000 of China's territory, with a population of 1.54 million, 72.2 percent of which are ethnic ethnic groups such as Tujia, Miao, and Bai. A private Tujia family museum, Xinhua Shanguan, has been established in the city. Its buildings well represent traditional Tujia architecture. The museum is filled with the owner's collection of western Hunan handicrafts and furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Performances of Tujia customs, including wedding ceremony, are presented at the museum, and visitors are invited to participate in the activities.

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The city of Changde 常德

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The city of Yiyang 益阳

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The city of Loudi 娄底

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The town of phoenix 湘西凤凰
'Feng Huang' is Chinese for 'Phoenix', the mythical bird of good omen and longevity that is consumed by fire to be re-born again from the flames. Feng Huang Cheng or Phoenix Town is so called as legend has it that two of these fabulous birds flew over it and found the town so beautiful that they hovered there, reluctant to leave.

The town is situated on the western boundary of Hunan Province in an area of outstanding natural beauty where mountains, water and blue skies prevail. Upon entering the town the visitor will be impressed by its air of mystery, elegance and primitive simplicity. This is a world that is dominated by the colour green. The mountain slopes are covered with green foliage, the fields are green and even the Tuo Jiang River reflects the greenery. The bridges over the water and unique houses built on stilts display a harmony that is so often portrayed in traditional Chinese paintings. This is particularly true when mist pervades the scene in the early morning or after rain. It soon becomes apparent that the claim to being one of the two most beautiful towns in the whole of China is more than justified; the other town is Chang Ting in Fujian Province.

Feng Huang Cheng is a wonderful example of what villages were like prior to the onset of modernization. Here dozens of alleys paved with flagstones run between the houses, each showing wear caused by the feet of generations of local people who have used them when going about their daily business. For the visitor, these alleys are the way to see the typical high gabled wooden houses built on stilts along the banks of the Tuo Jiang River at close quarters.

Stretching diagonally from the northwest to southeast of the town, Tuo Jiang River is a life force of the local people. Here in its waters women wash their clothes and the men fish with their nets, while on the bank food is prepared in much the same way as it has for centuries. The river also provides a means for boatmen to support their families by ferrying tourists up and down stream so that they may admire the many splendours of the town.
The Miao ethnic minority is predominantly settled here and a visit to a Miao village is a must when going to Feng Huang Cheng. The Miao women have a natural beauty that renders the use of cosmetics quite unnecessary. They love to dress in traditional blue garments set off with a white scarf. They love also their silver jewellery especially during festivals. Visitors will find a large array of hand made items of silver ornaments for sale in the local shops. Home made tie-dyes, printed and batik cloths are other local specialities that make wonderful souvenirs. The Miao are friendly and hospitable and like nothing more than to interact with visitors with a variety of traditional entertainments and activities. Food here also is different from that found elsewhere in China. Pickled red peppers are a particular local delicacy and their appetizing smell wafts from the many small family run restaurants.

Feng Huang Cheng was home to the versatile writer Shen Congwen (1902-88) who contributed greatly to the development of modern Chinese literature. Venerated by the local residents, the one time home and the tomb of this famous writer have become tourist attractions.

There are two other notable people from the town worthy of mention. The first is Xiong Xiling the famous philanthropist who was the first premier of the Republic of China (1921-49) following the fall of the Manchu. The other famous citizen is Huang Yongyu, an outstanding contemporary painter in the traditional Chinese style. His frescoes illustrating Buddhist stories in the Zhunti Nunnery are a major tourist attraction.

Feng Huang Cheng does not rely entirely upon natural beauty to attract the visitor for this ancient town with a history spanning 1300 years has a number of remarkable old gardens as well as distinctive residential buildings, elegant bridges and mysterious towers and pagodas. These architectural delights date from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). Those of special interest are the Wengchen Pavilion, Huang Si Qiao Castle, Tian Wang Temple, Da Cheng Hall, Chao Yang Palace, and the tomb of Shen Congwen and the residence of Xiong Xiling. Here too there are the North Gate and South Great Wall both excellent examples of municipal fortification.
In many ways, life has not changed here for centuries and this is typified by the tough, hard working yet simple-hearted people. Feng Huang Cheng offers the visitor from both home and abroad a view of a quite different China from anything experienced in the modern cities and large conurbations that are more widely known. We are sure that the opportunity to travel in such a picturesque region will be remembered as an experience of a lifetime.

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The city of Jishou 湘西吉首市

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The city of Juzhou 株州

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Emperor Yan Mausoleum 炎帝陵

Emperor Yan, or Mr. Shennong, one of the earliest ancestors of the Chinese nation, was the founder of the cultivating culture of the ancient China. He created farming with plough and taught other people; He invented medicines by tasting herbs; he made cloths with ramie; He established the first market for people to exchange goods; He sharpened the timber into arrows as the weapons. He died by mistakenly tasting gelsemium elegant and was buried in Luyuanpo, Tangtian Township, Yanling Country, Zhouzhou.
The Emperor Yan Mausoleum has always been called Royal Mountain since ancient times. It covers an area of 2.4 square kilometers. The grand halls of the mausoleum, with an area of 3000 square meters, are the holy place for the descendants of Emperors Yan and Huang at home and abroad to seek roots and worship their ancestors. An endless stream of pilgrims and tourists makes the mausoleum a hot spot in South Hunan.



SOURCE：湖南城乡规划论坛。湖南在线华声论坛

a wrong in sichuan's city:never have a city named "Minzhong" in sichuan,this is city "Langzhong"!

[km-sh]

有很多死链接，看不了图片了

[Kc3000~China]

怎么不保持更新

[flybird]

good job!! there is at least one world-class scenery in every china'e provice!!

[vipermkk]

Beijing in the first post looks sooo small...

[annoying]

Originally Posted by vipermkk

Beijing in the first post looks sooo small...

That's a small west corner of the city

[Ebek21]

This is my first time visiting this thread..it is very IMPRESSIVE

[HKG]

Beijing Forbiden City

[HKG]

Forbiden city satelite
http://www.lvwo.com/bbs/attachments/...TU8UM50ta3.jpg

[tyronne]

I met some new Chinese friends and they're here in the Philippines to study English. They stayed in our apartment for 2 weeks and they always cooked for us authentic Chinese food They've been teaching us Chinese words--very difficult to learn but it's fun Since then, I've been interested in learning anything about China