Suoxi Valley scenic area, located in the northeast of Wulingyuan scenic area, is near to Tianzi Mountains and it is connected to Tianzi Mountains by cable car. The reason why it is called Suoxi valley is that the shape of the stream looks like a curved rope. What’s more, the mountain and river here are always covered by the cloud and mist, which makes it looks like a beautiful oil painting.
Because of its unique geological landform and rich wildlife resources, Suoxi Valley is one of the highlights of Zhangjiajie tours.
Suoxi Valley Facts
- In Chinese: 索溪峪
- Location: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China
- Climate: monsoon climate of medium latitudes
- Size: 180 km²
- Suggested visit time: half day
- Best seasons to visit: spring
- Highlight attractions: Baofeng Lake, Huanglong Cave, Baizhang Gorge, Ten Mile Gallery, Xihai Fenglin
- Suitable for: nature lovers, active families, outdoor enthusiasts
What to See and Do in Suoxi Valley Zhangjiajie
There are many worth visiting scenic spots in Suoxi Valley nature reserve, such as the Yellow Dragon Cave, Baofeng Lake, Ten-mile Gallery, West Sea, the Four Gates Surrounded by Water, Nantian Gate, Baizhang Gorge and so on.
Yellow Dragon Cave
The most famous attraction of Suoxi Valley is the Yellow Dragon Cave, which is a typical karst landform. It covers a total area of 100,000 square meters with a total length of 7.5 kilometers and a vertical height of 140 meters. It is divided into four layers with different kinds of fantastic stalagmite, stalactite, small caves, rivers in it. With the amazing and unique view inside the cave, it was selected as “the most beautiful tourist cave in China” in 2005 and “the most beautiful tourist cave in China” in 2009.
Ten-Mile Gallery
Ten-Mile Gallery is the core of the Suoxi Valley nature reserve. Both sides of the valley is more than ten miles long. And at the end of it, there are many strange and huge rocks as well as dense forests, so visitors may see monkeys gathering and playing, thereforeit is called “Monkey Slope”.
Baofeng Lake
Baofeng Lake is a part of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Spot, which is a World Natural Heritage and World Geopark. Baofeng Lake is 8 kilometres from Tianzi Mountain, 1.5 kilometres from Wulingyuan District Government and 8 kilometres from Huanglong Cave. The best way to visit Baofeng Lake is taking a boat cruise.
Recommend Travel Routes for Suoxi Valley
There are three recommended routes for visitors to tour Suoxi Valley:
- Yellow Dragon Cave to Avalokitesvara Cave
- Baofeng Lake-Yingwo Zhai-Baizhang Gorge
- From West seaForest to Ten-mile Gallery
How to Buy Entrance Tickets:
Prices of Tickets:
| Combo ticket | CNY 225 |
| Yellow Dragon Cave | CNY 100 |
| Baofeng Lake | CNY 96 |
Notes: The combo ticket includes four core scenic spots (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, Tianzi Mountain) of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The ticket is valid for 4 days with many scenic spots in the scenic area, so, it is necessary for visitors to plan the tour route before travelling.
Opening time: 06:30-18:30
Baofeng Lake: 07:00-18:00
Prices of Transportation:
| Ten-mile Gallery Tourist Train | Single Trip CNY 38 |
| Ten-mile Gallery Tourist Train | Round Trip CNY 76 |
When is the Best Time to Visit Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve?
The best time to visit Suoxi Valley is April to October. During these months, the natural scenery is charming and the weather is warm.
Tips: Visitors had better avoid traveling to Zhangjiajie during the official holiday in China, because millions of Chinese citizens choose to travel through China on official holidays to ease the pressure of their work. As a result, the famous Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, visiting China at this time will bring tourists a less pleasant travel experience.
How to get to the Suoxi Valley?
By Bus: Visitors can take the direct shuttle bus at the Zhangjiajie Bus Station to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and then take the battery car or walk to Suoxi Valley.
By Cable Car (from Tianzi Mountain↔Suoxi Valley ) Visitors can take cable car directly to Suoxi Valley, which is not only a way to save time and energy, but also a better choice for visitors to enjoy the charming scenery that cannot be seen by walking.
