[Photo from english.zhangjiajie.gov.cn]

Sparrow Hawk Village is formerly known as Kidney Village. It’s located in the northeast of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The village, together with Huangshi Village and Yuangjiajie are three major scenic spots in Zhangjiajie. Its average elevation is 1,098 meters. The terrain is so precipitous that even the sparrow hawk cannot fly over, hence the name Sparrow Hawk Village.

Shen Congwen, a great writer in China, wrote the line "Dangerous Sparrow Hawk Village, deep Golden Whip Stream" in 1982 when he visited Zhangjiajie.

The main attractions in Sparrow Hawk Village include Baiying Valley, Zhidian Jiangshan, Eagle Mouth, Heaven Bridge, etc. Tourists have to climb up the mountains to reach the village. There are many interesting scenes along the way, such as the stone-made "mushroom", "footprint", "plum blossom pile", "stave", etc. All the attractions here were named by Generals of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Overlooking peaks on the mountaintop, you may feel free and relaxed, and enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the mountains. Sparrow Hawk Village is formerly known as Kidney Village. It has been open to the tourists since the early 1980s, and is as equally popular as the Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Shan. In the early 1990s, Sparrow Hawk Village was closed in order to restore its original natural landscape, but is now re-opened to tourists with a fresh new look.

Sparrow Hawk Village was constructed with five touring routes: Baiying Valley, Village Top, Qingsong Ridge, Dove Tree Bay and Flowery Valley, which boasts more than 100 super attractions. Heaven Bridge, Eagle Mouth, Rabbit Moon, Suobiao Rock and other attractions have already been known by foreigners. Besides, over 80 new attractions were opened in Sparrow Hawk Village, such as Mountain Toppled and Sea Overturned, Flying Volley, Fairy Cave and Blue Piny Flower Sea, which are rarely known by people now. Sparrow Hawk Village Scenic Area is the largest scenic spot in Wulingyuan, with the longest touring route and the most attractions. All attractions were named and inscribed by Generals above the level of major general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The special route from Laomo Bay to Baiying Valley is integrated with sports, fitness, customs, interests and Taoism that derives from the Oxygen Bar of Golden Whip Stream. The entire touring route is ecological.

The whole journey in Sparrow Hawk Village takes about six hours. Tourists can also visit the Village Top first, namely from Baiying Valley, Dove Tree Bay to Golden Whip Stream or Laomo Bay, which takes about three hours. You can spend another three hours travelling along the other route from Heaven Bridge, Fairy Cave to the Water Winding Four Gates. There is no star-rated hotel on the mountaintop but mountain huts provide tourists with rest, dining (cooked by firewood), accommodations, entertainment and so on.

Sparrow Hawk Village is the ideal place for sightseeing, exploration, fitness and riddling.

Type of attraction: Natural scenery

Location: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Star rating of attraction: Five-star tourist attraction