Zhangjiajie is in the northwest region of Hunan Province. It is a quick half hour flight from Changsha. Described by the Hunan Provincial Tourism Administration as a green treasure-house and a natural zoo, the region is 95 percent forest. Zhangjiajie has more than 1,000 varieties of plants and 50 kinds of rare animal species. Highlights include the Huangshizhai Mountains with scenic overlooks such as Fir Forest Path and Southern Heavenly Gate and the Tianzi Mountains, which overlooks a misty valley and waterfalls. In Zhangjiajie, travelers can taste regional Hunan specialties including braised shark skin and chicken slices and shredded pork with fern at the Hunan Pipaxi Hotel. A bumpy bus ride takes your clients from the Pipaxi Hotel to Hunan Provinces Yellow Dragon Cave. But riders on this trip don't mind the transportation turbulence. They're too busy looking at the magnificent scenery. We're possibly in one of the most spectacular mountainous regions in this corner of the world. And it's beautiful, it's truly stunning, said Joseph O'hara, product manager, Hibiscus Tours in New York. We're seeing what looks like a Chinese painting, which I'm sure most Americans or any traveler who's never been to China would assume is largely out of Chinese imagination and the painter had put together mountains shrouded in mist with craggy sort of peaks at the top, yet still covered with trees, but you can just barely make out the distant mountains in the background. And in front of them the traditional tiered rice paddies edging up the mountain until they can go no further and the last one maybe three to fifteen feet wide. And you kind of wonder how is it that anyone can go up and farm not only that far up, but farm such a small piece of land.

Where to Stay -Zhangjiajie
Hunan Pipaxi Hotel is 45 minutes from the airport. The three-star hotel, which is styled like a mountain lodge, has seven suites, 26 three-bedroom rooms, and 156 standard rooms. A standard sparse no frills room starts at about $25. The hotel's best feature is its location in Zhangjiajie's national park area. Rooms are equipped with balconies to take advantage of the surrounding mountain peaks and forest. Other amenities include an excellent massage room (a one hour massage is $20), a karaoke bar, and a beauty salon.