Yuanjia Stockade

Yuanjia Stockade

Yuanjia Stockade is located in the core scenic area of Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie. It is the only privately built structure within the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area — the preserved stockade of a local landlord that has become a major tourist attraction. The architecture still retains features of the Tujia ethnic group, such as outward-curving roof corners, with strings of corn and chili peppers hanging under the eaves. The locals are very hospitable and enjoy treating guests with their homemade liquor, often preceded by singing a traditional toast song. After the young woman finished her toast song, every visitor was offered a small cup. The alcohol content was not high, just a few degrees, and it was quite mild and unremarkable... Among the three well-known Tujia traditions — "corpse-driving, crying weddings, and poisoning" — the first two remain unsolved mysteries to this day. This is the poison insect used in the poisoning ritual. Xilan Kapu — another unique Tujia tradition — is a beautifully handwoven fabric made by brides-to-be using multicolored threads. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the process time-consuming.

Adhering to the architectural characteristics of the Tujia people, the gate of Yuanjia Stockade features upward-curving eaves, with a plaque reading “Yuanjia Stockade” in the center and large red lanterns on both sides. The gate is also adorned with golden-yellow dried corn. As soon as we arrived, the villagers greeted us with the sounds of suona horns and drums, creating a lively atmosphere. Upon entering, a fierce tiger lies at the entrance, with a child and a giant ape sitting nearby — these are totems of the Tujia people, who have long believed in worshipping the tiger as their father and the ape as their mother. Inside the stockade, exhibits showcase the Tujia people’s history of development, lifestyle, and daily utensils. For example, there are various self-defense weapons used by Tujia men and women — some oddly shaped, and I honestly wouldn’t know how to use them if they were handed to me.

The chaos at Zhongping Resettlement Area was even unbearable for the locals of Yuanjiajie themselves. In 2006, inspired by the vision of “building world-class tourism products,” the village committee organized the original residents to go out for inspections and study trips. This helped them understand that development benefits the present while preservation secures wealth for future generations. After a villagers’ representative meeting, it was decided to use 15 original households in Zhongping as a pilot project to explore new paths through self-rescue and self-governance. That meant transforming the exterior of the houses into the shape of a Tujia mountain village without altering the building area; operating under unified management without changing property ownership; and changing service offerings — replacing family-run guesthouses and restaurants with farming culture demonstrations and folk performances — all without affecting income.

In February 2007, led by the village committee, 15 households consisting of 80 people invested their houses as shares and established Yuanjia Stockade through mutual cooperation. They legally obtained the business license for Yuanjia Stockade, along with the enterprise code certificate and tax registration certificate. By March of that year, they hired a professional team to begin comprehensive renovations. Subsequently, the stockade obtained a cultural performance venue operation filing certificate and a health permit, carried out fire safety improvements, and was regulated under the performing arts industry by the pricing department. Thus, a new production model was born — one based on voluntary community cooperation and an alternative livelihood path pioneered by the original residents of the scenic area — Yuanjia Stockade. In a bustling guesthouse within Yuanjia Stockade, Village Party Secretary Zhang Yuhui gave the author a revealing calculation: 20 years ago, at the founding of Zhangjiajie City, the per capita net income of Yuanjiajie Village was only a little over 300 yuan. Ten years ago, when almost every household ran a guesthouse and restaurant, the per capita income was merely around 2,000 yuan. This year, despite government-led demolition and resettlement efforts that reduced the scale and scope of operations, villagers' incomes have significantly increased. A conservative estimate puts the per capita income at no less than 16,000 yuan.

In June 2007, Zhang Zuoji, Governor of Heilongjiang Province, visited the stockade accompanied by city officials. Upon learning that Yuanjia Stockade had removed 388 beds and canceled 1,650 dining seats, thereby reducing annual sewage discharge by over 5 million tons, he praised the stockade model as an effective attempt to protect the scenic environment, enrich tourism offerings, and provide solutions for the livelihoods of local residents. In August 2008, Wang Zhi, a renowned reporter from China Central Television, came to the stockade for research. Hearing about the profound history of the Tujia people, the richness of their ethnic culture, and especially the widespread popularity of their folk art among tourists, he commented that the stockade serves as a live heritage platform demonstrating the revival of Tujia farming culture, and praised Zhangjiajie for exploring a new path balancing protection and development.

Anyone who has been to Yuanjiajie knows that rainy and foggy days are common in the mountains. But with the stockade, visitors won’t feel disappointed even if the mountains are hidden — because there's such a wonderful place up here.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Huangshizhai, Huanglong Cave, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain, Zuolong Gorge, Red Stone Forest, Aizhai Suspension Bridge, Qianzhou Ancient City, Dehang Miao Village, Xiaoxi International Nature Reserve, Mali River, Bumen Gate, Laosi City, the “Number One Drift in the World” — Mengdong River, and Fenghuang Ancient City. Yuanjia Stockade is located in the Zhangjiajie area, which features a mid-subtropical mountainous monsoon humid climate with abundant sunlight and heat, plentiful rainfall, a long frost-free period, short severe cold seasons, and distinct four seasons. The average frost-free period ranges historically between 216 and 269 days. The annual average temperature is around 16.6°C. Zhangjiajie experiences neither severe winters nor sweltering summers, with an average annual temperature of about 16.8°C — truly spring-like all year round. All four seasons are suitable for travel, but the best times to visit are from April to October each year, especially the months of April and October when Yuanjia Stockade displays its most beautiful scenery and is particularly ideal for visiting.

Address: Within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

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