Daredevils descend on Zhangjiajie's iconic peaks

Growing number of international visitors discovering scenic area's natural wonders

A flyer hits a target during his glide at the World Wingsuit League Wingsuit Flying World Championship in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, in September. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Standing atop a vertigo-inducing platform 1,458 meters in the air, and surrounded by Zhangjiajie's iconic towering verdant peaks, Ambroise Serrano from France, dives into the air, gliding in his specially designed wingsuit toward a 10-centimeter target in the valley below.

The Frenchman was not alone on his way to this year's World Wingsuit League Wingsuit Flying World Championship title, joined by similar daredevils from across the globe descending on Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, for the 10th iteration of the event.

The world's top 16 fliers competed in the most recent championship in September, which included a speed section, where contestants launched themselves from a 1,458-meter platform on the mountaintop, gliding 1.3 kilometers to the finish line, descending 990 meters vertically before landing. Their maximum speeds reached can hit more than 200 kilometers per hour.

The stunning performance of the athletes and the breathtaking view of the scenic areas in the city have prompted the return of increasing numbers of international travelers to Zhangjiajie, known for being the inspiration for the scenery in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar.

From this year, the country has implemented a visa-free entry policy for 38 countries for 30 days, and expanded the 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 ports and 54 countries, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Tian Hongman, deputy director of the Zhangjiajie bureau of culture, tourism, radio, television and sports, said the city welcomed a total of more than 786,000 international travelers in the first half of this year, up by 671 percent from the same period last year.

Tourism revenue from international travelers reached more than $218 million during the period, marking a year-on-year increase of 737 percent, she said.

The total number of foreign travelers is expected to reach between 1.3 million to 1.5 million for the whole year, she said.

Nie Senfeng, director of Zhangjiajie immigration inspection, said the number of foreign travelers arriving via international flights to the city has seen remarkable growth this year, with the highest daily entry being more than 3,000.

The number of travelers on international flights this year had reached almost 400,000 as of Sept 26, with more than 2,500 flights arriving, marking an increase of 177 percent compared to last year, he said.

There are 50 international flights each week between Zhangjiajie and 13 international destinations, he added.