Chinese tourists flock to Zhangjiajie to escape heat waves

With heatwaves sweeping across China, many tourists are flocking to Zhangjiajie in central Hunan province, where misty peaks and natural forests provide respite from the boiling temperatures, creating a perfect destination for a summer getaway.

Tianmen Mountain stands as one of the most popular scenic attractions in Zhangjiajie. Not only does it offer a spectacular view, but the temperature at the summit remains at 26 degrees Celsius this summer.

As temperatures in some Chinese cities reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius, Tianmen Mountain has become an ideal place to escape the heat.

"The scenery of Tianmen Mountain is beyond words. After seeing Tianmen Mountain, there's no need to visit other mountains. And the temperature at the top of the mountain is cool and comfortable," said a visitor.

As students throughout China are gradually starting their summer holiday, Tianmen Mountain is receiving over 20,000 visitors daily.

The scenic area has also implemented measures to cope with the high influx of visitors.

"This summer, the average daily number of visitors to our scenic area has increased by 175 percent compared to the same period last year. We have opened three cableway lines for round trips, introduced paperless smart entry, and advanced ticket sales, making it more convenient and efficient for visitors," said Ding Yunjuan, deputy manager of the marketing department at the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, nicknamed as “natural oxygen bar and summer resort”, has also attracted a large number of tourists.

From July 1st to 9th, the number of ticket purchasers in the park exceeded 160,000.

"It feels great here, very beautiful. The murmuring streams give a poetic and beautiful feeling, like a fairyland," a visitor said.

Boosting consumption is one of the measures the Chinese government is taking to drive economic development this year, and tourism is one of the key sectors.

This summer, Zhangjiajie has intensified its marketing efforts, launching various types of tourism products, in the hope of seizing the opportunities of the summer tourist season.