Pingbaying Ecotourism Area

Pingbaying Ecotourism Area

Pingbaying Ecotourism Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Pingbaying Ecotourism Area is located at the southern end of Xianfeng County, 50 km from the county seat. It borders Laifeng County to the east and neighbors Qianjiang and Youyang in Chongqing to the west and southwest. The area includes Hubei Province’s second-largest forest farm—Pingbaying Forest Farm—and parts of Jiamachi Town, covering a total area of 154 km². It was approved as a national forest park in 2004. The Pingbaying tourism area is characterized by its rich primeval atmosphere, featuring ancient, peculiar, beautiful, serene, and wild landscapes, making it the largest contiguous primeval forest cluster in central and western China.

The tourism area is rarely visited by humans, with rolling mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. It boasts 120,000 mu of virgin forest, 80,000 mu of secondary forest, and 60,000 mu of planted forest. There are nationally protected plants of Grade II or above and over 1,300 species of trees and plants. It is home to 128 species of rare wildlife, including South China tigers, leopards, golden pheasants, musk deer, and large civets. Rare cave clusters and deep gorges with rapid streams make it a kingdom of trees, an ocean of flowers, a paradise for animals, a fairyland on earth, and a natural expo of primeval charm.

“A vast expanse of wonder, four extraordinary caves closely linked—one cave’s fragrance leads to another world, two mirrors the heavens, three a skylight for longing dreams, four a canyon jade pool. A Cupid’s sword pierces the heart, in this fairyland one never wishes to leave.” These verses, spontaneously composed by Yang Binqing after visiting the pristine forests and wonders of Pingbaying in Xianfeng, vividly depict the stunning scenery of Pingbaying.

Pingbaying Primitive Ecotourism Area is a pristine destination for tourism development. Aside from standardized infrastructure, the scenic spots retain their original appearance, and the reception and service facilities preserve the ethnic characteristics of the Tujia and Miao peoples. Within the four developed scenic areas—the Four Caves Gorge, the Ten-Thousand-Mu Ancient Tree Azalea Forest, the Jigong Mountain Primeval Forest, and the Qingyun Pavilion—mountains, water, caves, and sentiment blend as one. Here, you can explore pristine wilderness, admire vibrant wildflowers, enjoy cool mountain breezes, seek rare wildlife, stay in Miao villages, listen to Tujia folk songs, and experience otherworldly authenticity.

Pingbaying Ecotourism Area is characterized by its strong primeval ambiance, formed by ancient, peculiar, beautiful, serene, and wild landscapes. The area has 120,000 mu of virgin forest, 80,000 mu of secondary forest, and 70,000 mu of planted forest. Together with the extended primeval forest clusters reaching into Youyang and Qianjiang, it forms the largest primeval forest ecological cluster in the Wuling Mountain region, with a forest coverage rate of over 96%. It is a natural oxygen bar in southwestern Hubei.

The terrain here is complex, with significant elevation differences. The highest altitude is 1,911.5 m, and the lowest is 720 m, with altitudes between 1,200–1,400 m accounting for two-thirds of the total area. It has a mountainous climate typical of southwestern Hubei, with mild temperatures year-round and abundant rainfall. The microclimate is distinct, with an average annual temperature of 11.8°C, extreme highs of 35°C, and extreme lows of -8°C. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,800–2,600 mm, with 85% relative humidity and a frost-free period of about 250 days.

The area has a sparse human population and sees little human activity, making its biological diversity and ecological primitiveness highly typical. It is an important part of the “Central China Biological Refuge.” The undulating mountains stretch endlessly, vast and profound. There are thousand-year-old azaleas with trunks over 80 cm in diameter and 20,000 mu of ancient azalea trees. Protected plants of Grade II or above include yew, dove tree, tulip tree, and weighing-scale tree, along with over 1,300 tree species. Nearly 2,000 plant varieties have been identified, including dozens of precious medicinal herbs such as wild gastrodia, codonopsis, radix pedatisectae, notoginseng, and coptis. There are also over 180 edible wild vegetables and fruits. The area is home to more than 200 species of rare wildlife, including leopards, musk deer, large civets, and golden pheasants, with over 30 species under national protection. Wild boars, rabbits, and pheasants are commonly seen.

The area features towering mountains and continuous ridges, vast and lush green forests, deep gorges, peculiar caves, murmuring mountain springs, rapid streams, and occasional waterfalls, forming natural scenic landscapes.

Address: Pingbaying Village, Jiamachi Town, Xianfeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture

Type: Forest Mountain Folk Village

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 day

Phone: 0718-6831018; 0718-6831801

Social Media Accounts:

Opening Hours:

8:30–17:00

Ticket Information:

Adult Ticket: 140 RMB (includes admission and round-trip cable car). Children under 1.2 m tall are exempt from tickets; seniors aged 70 and above may exchange tickets for free at the window with a valid ID; minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) and full-time university undergraduates or below may purchase discounted tickets.