Zhangjiajie: The pinnacle of beauty and awe

The Bailong Elevator, a 326m elevator, is apparently the tallest outdoor lift in the world. [Photo by Meghan Horihan/Chinaculture.org]

While I knew enough not to hope for a major day of hiking, I was surprised by just how streamlined the trip up the mountains is. The Bailong Elevator, a 326m elevator, apparently the tallest outdoor lift in the world, was provided to make our trip up the mountains completely effortless.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park became the first national forest park of China in 1982 and listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 1992.

And it makes sense why it was given these honors. It may be cliche to say that pictures don't do Zhangjiajie justice, but in this case it's 100 percent justified.

The unique peaks are natural pillars made of quartz-sandstone. Their eccentric appearance was created over years of physical erosion.

We were surprised to hear the guide explain that the houses across a valley are real homes of people that still live in these mountains.