Dayong Ancient City brings together historical remains, an old city gate, and three themed areas with distinct focuses in Zhangjiajie. Together with the exhibitions at the Zhangjiajie Museum, the sandstone paintings at the Junsheng Painting Academy, and Route A on Tianmen Mountain, these offer visitors a range of points of interest.
Dayong Ancient City and the “六月六” Festival
Covering 165,500 square meters, Dayong Ancient City is located in the urban area of Zhangjiajie. The historical remains of the former city of Dayong Prefecture and the old South Gate were incorporated into the design of the cultural and tourism complex. On July 10, 2026, the site reopened to the public as a renovated historical cultural and tourism district. At the reopening, three themed areas were named: Hao Liu Street is a Mango TV experience street, Guai Market is a creative social hub, and Shouyi Lane is a place where intangible cultural heritage is passed on through living traditions.
On July 19, 2026, the Zhangjiajie celebration of the Tujia “六月六” Festival was held at Dayong Ancient City. The event featured three themed areas and six individual activities. Intangible cultural heritage performances included Daliuzi, Sanbanggu, and Yongding Yangxi; there was also a dramatic portrayal of a Tujia bride’s lament and an interactive Nuo mask-painting experience. On this occasion, the riverside festival market offered local specialties such as glutinous rice cakes, Hezha, and iced sweet rice wine.
Museum and Sandstone Painting
The Zhangjiajie Museum brings together exhibitions on history, folklore, and geology, as well as urban development and planning. The Junsheng Painting Academy is also located in the urban area of Zhangjiajie, but has a more specific focus: founded by painter Li Junsheng in 2001, it is a dedicated exhibition venue for sandstone painting. The two cultural venues therefore differ above all in the breadth of their subject matter: the museum covers several fields, while the academy focuses on one art form. The Junsheng Painting Academy is about 35 kilometers from the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
Route A on Tianmen Mountain and Getting There
An official transport guide from 2022 describes Route A on Tianmen Mountain as a route from the urban area up to the summit and down to Tianmen Cave. After the ticket check, it begins at the lower cable-car station in the urban area. From there, visitors take the cable car to the upper station and visit the summit’s attractions. A seven-section escalator through the mountain then descends to Tianmen Cave. Check the route arrangements before your trip, as this description is based on the 2022 transport guide.
Tianmen Mountain Nature Reserve lies in northwestern Hunan, on the outskirts of Zhangjiajie’s Yongding District. For arrival by train, an official transport guide from 2022 lists bus routes 6 and 8 from Zhangjiajie Railway Station to the Puguang Temple stop. From there, it is about a four-minute walk. Check the bus route and travel time before your trip to ensure this guidance fits your plans.
Discover more destinations: Yiyang, Xiangtan, Xiangxi, Yongzhou, Chenzhou, Shaoyang, Zhuzhou, Changsha
For the broader travel overview: Hunan.
