Into China's dreamscape beyond the clouds

They also show great interest in the customs and rituals of the ethnic groups in Zhangjiajie, with cultural performances serving as a key way for this exploration. "Foreign tourists rely on subtitles to grasp the story, but the art itself transcends all boundaries," Ding says.

Set against the majestic backdrop of the canyon of Tianmen Mountain, the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show is a large-scale outdoor spectacle staging the legendary Chinese folk love story of Liu Hai and the Fox Fairy with breathtaking special effects.

Charming Xiangxi, or Charming Western Hunan, is a grand indoor ethnic song and dance extravaganza. It vividly showcases the daily life, wedding and funeral rites and religious practices of local ethnic groups such as Tujia and Miao.

According to Ding, most inbound tour groups spend three days in Zhangjiajie city, which is one of their destinations in China. The primary advantage of winter travel at this time in Zhangjiajie is the smaller crowds, and the snow-clad landscapes.

Ding has observed significant improvements in infrastructure within scenic areas in recent years. These enhancements include the addition of multilingual signs and services, which cater to a diverse range of international tourists, as well as the implementation of convenient payment options that facilitate transactions for inbound visitors. The number of high-grade hotels is also on the rise, offering refined services.

Tuo Jiming, marketing director of the administrative bureau of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, outlined an ambitious vision to transform the park into a world-class scenic area, with strategic efforts that go beyond infrastructure.

"We will develop world-class trekking routes and collaborate with international associations of geology, photographers and outdoor adventure, to promote the unique landscape of Zhangjiajie," he says.