What are some fun things to do at the West Gate of Mount Mang National Forest Park in Chenzhou?

Mount Mang is located at the southern end of Yizhang County, Chenzhou, Hunan Province, bordering Guangdong Province. It has a reputation as the "No. 1 Peak in Southern Hunan" and is a national 4A-level scenic spot. It is the best-preserved original ecological area at the same latitude on Earth and is known as the "No. 1 Mountain of Original Ecology in China." 🌿 Forest coverage rate of 99%, with over 100,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter 🏞️ More than 150 peaks above 1,000 meters, with dangerous peaks, secluded valleys, and dense waterfalls 🌄 An average of over 200 foggy days per year, the sunrise and sea of clouds on Tiantai Mountain are known as the "Best in Southern China" ———Travel Guide——— 🕙 Opening Hours: Summer: 08:00–17:00 Winter: 08:00–16:30 🎟️ Ticket Price: 💰65/adult, half price for children/students/seniors, free for children under 1.2 meters. You can drive your car 🚗 into the scenic area. Parking in the outside parking lot is also free~ 🗓 Itinerary: Day 1️⃣: Arrive at the West Gate + Check into a Homestay - In the afternoon, drive/charter a car 🚙 from Chenzhou city to the West Gate (navigate to "📍West Gate of Mount Mang National Forest Park"), the highway toll is about ¥20 (you have to take a section of the national highway if the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway is closed). Check into a nearby homestay, taste Yao bacon, bamboo rice, fern cakes, etc., feel the atmosphere of the mountain, and rest early~ Day 2️⃣: Full-Day In-Depth Tour - At 8 am, after breakfast, go to the West Gate Visitor Center to buy tickets. Adult tickets are 💰65/person, and private cars can drive in! - Drive for 20 mins to the Yuntai Mountain ladder, you can choose to walk and climb the mountain, or take the ladder (💰36/person one way) to reach the mountainside in less than 5 minutes~ - Climb for 10 mins to reach the viewing platform, where you can clearly see the Five Finger Peak and the suspended plank road opposite~ - Climb for another 20 mins to reach the "Most Dangerous Peak in Central and Southern China." The road is very steep, and the last section leads to the top. The scenery is super beautiful after going up❗️ - Go down along the way to "Longevity Tower", and then go to "Guanyin Ancient Temple" to worship~ - After going down to the Yuntai Mountain escalator ticket office (you can bring your own lunch 🍱/eat some pork noodles in the scenic area at noon) - Drive down the mountain to Jiangjunzhai (15 mins drive), hike the original forest circular trail (about 2 hrs, adventure route, need to have mountaineering equipment), focus on visiting Jiangjun Stone and Qinglongxi Waterfall - After playing, drive to Monkey King Village, stroll along the waterfall plank road (1 hr), visit the Mount Mang Natural History Museum, and learn about rare species such as the Chinese pit viper - Return at around 4–5 pm after finishing 🌟 Seasonal Highlights: -🌸 Spring (Mar–May): Azaleas and peach blossoms all over the mountains -💦 Summer (Jun–Aug): The average temperature is 20℃, the waterfalls enter the high-water period, the first choice for summer vacation~ -🍁 Autumn (Sep–Nov): The mountains are covered with colorful forests, a paradise for photography enthusiasts -❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb): Rime ice hanging spectacle, but some trails are closed! 🍽 Dining/Accommodation Recommendations: Mount Mang Yuxin Hotel: Bacon bamboo shoots, bamboo rice, black pork, fern cakes (💰300 approx.) Mount Mang Zuowang Forest Homestay: 💰300–500/night 📝 Important Tips: 1. The East Gate of Mount Mang has attractions such as the Five Finger Peak and the Suspended Plank Road. If you go from the West Gate, you need to buy an additional ticket of 💰150/person. 2. Personally, I think the East Gate has a strong commercial atmosphere. Although there are fewer activities to play at the West Gate, the fees are cheaper, and you can see the sea of clouds, sunrise, and sunset from the viewing platform~ It's totally worth it~ 3. If you are afraid of heights, you can walk along the left side from the escalator and go directly to Longevity Tower and Guanyin Ancient Temple~