Zhangjiajie: The pinnacle of beauty and awe

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became the first national forest park of China in 1982 and listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 1992. [Photo by Meghan Horihan/Chinaculture.org]

There were fewer tourists than I was imagining, as the region inches closer to winter, but I still had to weave around packs of people to get the perfect shot of these beautiful surroundings.

The Southern Sky Column, a singular peak jutting out from the green abyss, was the inspiration of Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar, and it's name was officially changed to Hallelujah Mountain in 2010.

We also learned that Avatar may have made Zhangjiajie internationally famous but it was Chinese artists who initially brought its beauty to the outside world. One can see similar foggy peaks and greenery in Chinese art trying to capture its wonder.

The only true downside to this excursion was we didn't have much time to explore. We fit it into a half day when some people spend a week exploring the area. I suppose that means I may be coming back for more.