Dayong Prefecture City

Dayong Prefecture City

Dayong Prefecture City is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Dayong Prefecture City is a key government-supported project responding to Zhangjiajie’s comprehensive planning initiative of “visit the scenic spots, stay in the city.” Built on the site of the over 600-year-old former Dayong Prefecture Government Offices, it is located in the heart of downtown Zhangjiajie—formerly the site of the original offices of the Yongding District Committee and Government. Bordered by Jiefang Road to the south, Tianmen Road to the north, Beizheng Street to the east, and Renmin Road to the west, it is situated at the core of Zhangjiajie’s busiest commercial hub.

Covering an area of 45 acres with a construction area of 65,000 square meters, Dayong Prefecture City mainly showcases thousands of years of Zhangjiajie's history and the intangible cultural heritage of its five major ethnic minorities: Tujia, Bai, Miao, Yao, and Dong. It consists of eight building complexes designed in the architectural styles of the Tujia, Miao, Bai, Yao, and Dong ethnic groups from the Ming and Qing periods—the rustic grandeur of Tujia stilted houses, the magical beauty of Miao villages, the romantic charm of Dong wind-rain bridges, the mysterious solemnity of Yao Panwang Temples, and the serene elegance of Bai-style “three courtyards and one screen wall”... The upturned eaves and horse-head walls, along with exquisitely carved doors and windows, artistically bridge past and present, bringing the simple yet delicate folk artistry to its fullest expression.

The central area features two major thematic exhibition halls: the “Zhangjiajie Multi-ethnic Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall” and the “Zhangjiajie Museum.” The Multi-ethnic Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall is primarily composed of sections dedicated to Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, and Bai cultures. Each section presents its unique culture, architecture, lifestyle, clothing, cuisine, music and dance, legends, drama, crafts, taboos, and funeral customs through immersive displays. The greater Xiangxi region, where Zhangjiajie is located, is home to five major ethnic minorities: Tujia, Miao, Bai, Dong, and Yao. Owing to the isolation created by surrounding mountains, these groups have preserved their distinct and splendid cultures and traditions for centuries. Among them, Sangzhi folk songs, Tujia hand-waving dance, Miao drum dance, Tujia brocade, Jiangyong Nüshu script, Tanzhou New Year paintings, and Huayao embroidery have all been included in China’s first “National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.” To authentically recreate the distinctive lifestyles of these ethnic groups, Dayong Prefecture City has collected a large number of precious daily items and invited more than ten folk artisans to perform together, presenting a grand show of Zhangjiajie folk art. Among these, Jiangyong Nüshu is a unique script used solely by women in Jiangyong, hailed as a marvel of China, possessing significant academic value in both Chinese character history and literary studies. Currently, there are only six surviving female inheritors of Nüshu. At the prefecture city, you can watch these nearly-lost Nüshu characters being written on-site by the inheritors. Additionally, you can listen to the original performances of Sangzhi folk songs, known as “living fossils,” enjoy the multi-part, unaccompanied harmonies of Dong Grand Songs, experience the energetic Miao drum dance, and take part in folk activities such as making glutinous rice cakes, weaving brocades, drinking Tujia wine, and listening to folk melodies—immersing yourself in the vibrant charm of minority intangible cultural heritage.

The Zhangjiajie Museum covers a total area of over 1,300 square meters and primarily uses cultural relics, historical documents, charts, simulated scenes, and multimedia elements such as sound, light, and electricity to recount fragments of historical memory. The museum currently houses over 300 national-level relics, including eight classified as first-grade national treasures. Making full use of modern scene simulation and enhanced with high-tech features such as sound, light, and electricity, the museum displays numerous precious cultural relics—including tiger-head bronze cymbals, eight-paneled skirts, kneeling bronze figurines, and many other national treasures—offering visitors a clear understanding of the profound historical and cultural legacy of Xiangxi and the splendid civilization it once possessed.

Dayong Prefecture City also hosts the Zhangjiajie Tourist Service Center, star-rated hotels, folk-style inns, folk-themed bar streets, specialty shopping streets, food streets, leisure centers, supermarkets, and a large underground parking garage. With comprehensive facilities and convenient transportation, it fully meets tourists’ needs for eating, accommodation, travel, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Complementing Zhangjiajie’s majestic natural landscapes, Dayong Prefecture City stands as a new cultural and geographical landmark of the city—a multi-ethnic cultural feast that leaves an impression of Zhangjiajie, and the first stop for domestic and international visitors eager to explore the area.

Suggested Duration

2–3 hours

Transportation

Take bus routes 1, 2, 3, 4 (inner loop), 4 (outer loop), 5, 6, 7, or 8 and get off at the “Department Store” stop.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

No. 145, Guyong Road, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City