Tujia Folk Custom Garden

Located in Nanzhuangping of Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie Tujia Folk Custom Garden covers over 80 mu with a total investment of nearly 100 million yuan. Built based on the Tusi castles of western Hunan and designed to fully restore the original layout of an ancient Tujia stockade, it was reconstructed on the original site and officially opened to tourists in 1997. A brilliant cultural pearl complementing Zhangjiajie’s natural mountain and river scenery, it serves as a sacred venue for the Tujia people to worship, offer sacrifices, pray and hold festivals.

It preserves thousands of years of exotic Tujia folk customs. The Tusi Castle, Nine-Heaven Hereditary Hall and Tujia stockades within the garden gather the essence of Tujia history across the greater western Hunan region. This ethnic cultural attraction integrates Tujia farming culture, warfare culture, Tusi culture, architectural art and folk customs as a whole. Since its opening, it has received more than 30 state and Party leaders represented by Zhu Rongji, former Premier of the State Council. China Central Television and provincial TV stations have covered the garden many times. It was rated a National AAAA-level Scenic Area in 2003, receiving over 600,000 Chinese and foreign tourists annually. It forms a premium tourist route featuring "admire mountain scenery on the peaks and experience folk customs at the foot of mountains".

The garden stands on the former site of the Tusi City, which was constructed in the 8th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1730 AD). Spanning more than 120 mu, its architectural complex mainly consists of winding horse-running turn-corner buildings and clusters of stilt houses.

The Nine-Heaven Stilt House is an all-timber structure with upturned flying eaves, incorporating all classic architectural elements of Tujia folk dwellings. It is home to China’s largest and most spectacular stilt house, elaborately designed and constructed by folk artisans. Standing 48 meters tall with nine tiers and twelve floors, the layered structure presents a particularly magnificent silhouette when viewed from the side.

Folk exhibitions cover Tujia wedding rituals, traditional headwear and costumes, batik, brocade, silversmith and stonemason crafts, exotic stone and root carving displays, as well as precious cultural relic shows. Additionally, authentic full-length Tujia artistic performances are staged, including Maogusi Dance, Bronze Bell Dance, Hand-Waving Dance and Liuzu Percussion Ensemble, which depict the primitive labor and daily life of Hunan’s Tujia ancestors.

This large-scale ethnic cultural attraction encapsulates Tujia farming civilization, Tusi history, architectural arts, handicrafts, performing arts, folk customs and traditional cuisine. Visitors can enjoy intoxicating Tujia gate-blocking rice wine, mysterious Tujia ancestor worship ceremonies, exhibitions of Tujia historical relics, live folk performances, and displays of ethnic headwear, garments, batik, brocade, silverware, stone crafts, rare stones and root carvings. Moreover, the garden holds two Guinness World Records: the Nine-Heaven Stilt House and the Thousand-Participant Maogusi Dance.

Most buildings in the garden adopt wood-and-stone structures with exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent golden decorations, upturned flying eaves and delicate elegant layouts. Representative architectures include the Tusi Castle, Hand-Waving Hall, Hunan Tujia Stockade and Marquis Hou Palace. The towering Sky-Reaching Building is especially striking: built against the mountain, it stretches 48 meters high with nine tiers and twelve floors, featuring winding corridors and unique ingenious craftsmanship.

Take a train to Zhangjiajie Railway Station, then drive for 5 minutes to Wuzipo in Nanzhuangping, southern Zhangjiajie. Public buses No.1, 5 and 10 also reach the scenic spot. Chartered cars cost no more than 20 yuan one way.

Tourists are recommended to visit the garden before departure. You won’t need to rush for trains or flights, and it offers a perfect ending to your Zhangjiajie trip!

Opening Hours: 8:00 – 17:00