Daredevils descend on Zhangjiajie's iconic peaks

Standing atop a vertigo-inducing platform 1,458 meters in the air, and surrounded by Zhangjiajie's iconic towering verdant peaks, Ambroise Serrano from France, dives into the air, gliding in his specially designed wingsuit toward a 10-centimeter target in the valley below.

The Frenchman was not alone on his way to this year's World Wingsuit League Wingsuit Flying World Championship title, joined by similar daredevils from across the globe descending on Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, for the 10th iteration of the event.

The world's top 16 fliers competed in the most recent championship in September, which included a speed section, where contestants launched themselves from a 1,458-meter platform on the mountaintop, gliding 1.3 kilometers to the finish line, descending 990 meters vertically before landing. Their maximum speeds reached can hit more than 200 kilometers per hour.

The stunning performance of the athletes and the breathtaking view of the scenic areas in the city have prompted the return of increasing numbers of international travelers to Zhangjiajie, known for being the inspiration for the scenery in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar.