Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

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NHK World Heritage 100 Series

Narration Text

This is Wulingyuan in the Hunan province of China. It is a forest of 3100 rocky pillars and peaks. A railway was only built here in the 1970s. The area was given the name Wulingyuan in 1984. A village is hidden deep inside Wulingyuan located on top of the crags over 1000 meters up. It is called "the village in the sky". A minority ethnic group of Tu people had been living here in isolation from the outside world. The Tu have a distinct culture. They have a tradition of making embroidered in soles and presenting them to their chosen admirer. Tu people escaped from the war and found refuge in this mountain area about 2500 years ago during the spring and autumn warring states period. Local legend says that there was a strong leader who led the Tu to rise up against the authorities during the Ming Dynasty. His name was "TianWan TianZi". He created his own kingdom and chose the name TianZi, which means a son of heaven. Despite the resistance, TianWan TianZi lost the war and committed suicide. He jumped to his death from this point. This is the hoof print of the horse he was riding on. He threw himself into the ravine 400 meters below. However, Tu people believe that TianWan TianZi is still alive and training soldiers at the bottom of the valley. This is said to be his seal. And these pillars are seen as his favorite brush.

The village today is holding a wedding ceremony. The groom comes to the "Village in the sky" to collect his bride who lives here. They exchange rings. Their hotel is at the bottom of the mountain. The bride will come down from the sky to start a new life on earth.

Wulingyuan in winter

The tip of TianZi’s brush with snow on top. This mystic scenery reminds us of beautiful Chinese ink paintings, as if it was painted by the legendary hero with this "brush". It is a picture of a people’s history of suffering.