Ten-Mile Gallery (Shilihualang) is a 5km valley in the Suoxiyu (索溪峪) section of Wulingyuan, lined with named sandstone formations: Three Sisters Peaks, Two Generals Meeting, Concubine Watching Her Husband, and so on. Most foreign visitors find the named formations underwhelming (they require Chinese-folklore context), but the valley itself has a small open-air monorail train (¥38 round-trip) that runs the full 5km — useful if you're short on energy. Walking the path takes 60-90 min one way. Best done in the late afternoon after a full Yuanjiajie or Tianzi morning, as a 'wind down' before returning to your hotel.
Address
Ten-Mile Gallery, Suoxiyu Scenic Area, Wulingyuan
张家界市武陵源区索溪峪景区
Highlights
- Monorail train (观光小火车)¥38 round-trip; full 5km valley loop
- Three Sisters Peaks (三姐妹峰)Iconic group rock formation
- Easy walkingMostly flat; works for elderly + limited mobility
What Chinese travelers actually do here
Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.
- ▸The 'named formations' (Three Sisters, Two Generals, Concubine Watching) are heavily marketed but require you to squint at rocks and imagine Chinese-folklore characters. Foreigners typically rate them 3/10 unless they speak Mandarin and know the legends.
- ▸The valley is in the SUOXIYU section of Wulingyuan — a different park entry from Yuanjiajie / Tianzi area. The internal shuttle bus connects them but the ride is 45-60 min. Plan Ten-Mile Gallery as either a morning OR afternoon block, not a quick add-on.
- ▸Monorail tickets are sold at the entry gate, NOT inside the park. Buy on the way in or you'll have to backtrack. ¥38 round-trip is the standard price; one-way is ¥22.
- ▸The shaded forest cover makes this the best Wulingyuan section for hot July-August afternoons. Where Yuanjiajie's exposed summit cliff platforms hit 35°C+ in summer, Ten-Mile Gallery stays 5-8°C cooler under canopy.
- ▸There's a small Tujia minority-themed food stall halfway along the route — sweet rice cakes (米糕) and tea-eggs (¥10-15). Local-priced, decent quality, makes a nice break from the formation-spotting.
- ▸Skip this entirely if it's raining. The monorail open cars don't have rain covers, and the named formations look like wet gray rocks in overcast weather.
For foreign visitors
- English service: partial english
- Cards accepted: cash_only
- Booking / entry: required
- Best time: Late afternoon as a wind-down section
- Wi-Fi: none
- Transit access: need taxi
Photos
What travelers say (9 reviews)
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Zhangjiajie Travel Guide: National Park, Glass Bridge, Grand Canyon, Tianmen Mountain and more
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Ten Mile Gallery
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Frequently asked questions about Ten-Mile Gallery
- Should I take the monorail or walk Ten-Mile Gallery?
- Monorail (¥38 round-trip) for most foreigners. Walking takes 60-90 min one way (so 2-3 hours round-trip) and the named rock formations require Chinese folklore context to appreciate. If you've already spent 8 hours hiking Yuanjiajie and Tianzi that morning, the monorail is the right call. Walking is only worthwhile if you specifically want quiet time after the bigger summits.
- Is Ten-Mile Gallery worth visiting at all?
- Conditional yes — as a 90-min 'wind down' on day 2 or 3 of Wulingyuan, after the bigger summit days. Skip it entirely if you only have 1-2 days at Wulingyuan; the foundation hits are Yuanjiajie + Tianzi + Golden Whip Stream. Ten-Mile Gallery is a 'bonus' for travelers with time, not a must-do.
- Is Ten-Mile Gallery accessible for elderly or wheelchair users?
- Yes — this is the most accessible section of Wulingyuan. The monorail is wheelchair-friendly at both ends and the valley floor walking path is mostly flat with gentle gradients. If you're traveling with elderly parents who can't do summit hikes, Ten-Mile Gallery is the recommended 'Wulingyuan experience' for them.
- What's the difference between Ten-Mile Gallery and Golden Whip Stream?
- Both are valley-floor walks, but Golden Whip Stream is denser (4.5km of constant sandstone pillars + a clear flowing stream); Ten-Mile Gallery is sparser, drier, and has named-formation tour-bus theatrics. If you only do one canyon walk, do Golden Whip Stream. Do Ten-Mile Gallery as the easy option after a hard summit day.
- Is the monorail safe? Does it have English signs?
- Yes safe — it's a slow-moving open-air train running on a single rail at <15 km/h. Signs are Chinese-only but route is obvious (out-and-back along one valley). Recorded announcements name each formation in Chinese as you pass; you'll miss the cultural references but the visual content stands on its own.
