Tianzi Mountains Quiz: China's Avatar Pillars in the Clouds

This Tianzi Mountains quiz explores the forest of stone pillars in China's Hunan province, with questions on Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie, the link to the film Avatar, the quartz sandstone rocks, the Son of Heaven legend, the Bailong Elevator and a record-breaking glass bridge. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Location
In which Chinese province are the Tianzi Mountains?
UNESCO
The Tianzi Mountains are part of which UNESCO-listed scenic area?
Film
The pillars helped inspire the floating mountains in which film?
Geology
What are the tall pillars mainly made of?
Location
Which nearby city is the main gateway to the Tianzi Mountains?
Names
Who are the Tianzi Mountains named after?
Attractions
The glass Bailong Elevator near the pillars is built onto what?
UNESCO
In which year did UNESCO list the Wulingyuan area?
Weather
What common sight forms around the pillars after rain?
Records
Which record-breaking attraction opened in the Zhangjiajie area in 2016?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which Chinese province are the Tianzi Mountains?
Answer: Hunan
The Tianzi Mountains are in northwestern Hunan province in central China. Hunan is also famous for its spicy food and as Mao Zedong's birthplace.
Q2: The Tianzi Mountains are part of which UNESCO-listed scenic area?
Answer: Wulingyuan
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area contains more than 3,000 sandstone pillars and was listed by UNESCO in 1992.
Q3: The pillars helped inspire the floating mountains in which film?
Answer: Avatar
James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar drew inspiration from the landscape, and one pillar was renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in 2010.
Q4: What are the tall pillars mainly made of?
Answer: Quartz sandstone
The pillars are made of quartz sandstone that was worn away over millions of years by rain, frost and plants growing in cracks, leaving tall columns.
Q5: Which nearby city is the main gateway to the Tianzi Mountains?
Answer: Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie was renamed after its national forest park in 1994. The city's airport and train station bring millions of visitors a year.
Q6: Who are the Tianzi Mountains named after?
Answer: A local rebel leader
Tianzi means Son of Heaven. The mountains are named after Xiang Dakun, a leader of the local Tujia people who rebelled and called himself the Son of Heaven.
Q7: The glass Bailong Elevator near the pillars is built onto what?
Answer: A cliff face
The Bailong, or Hundred Dragons, Elevator climbs about 326 meters up a cliff and is often called the world's highest outdoor elevator.
Q8: In which year did UNESCO list the Wulingyuan area?
Answer: 1992
Wulingyuan was listed in 1992. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the area, became China's first national forest park in 1982.
Q9: What common sight forms around the pillars after rain?
Answer: A sea of clouds
Mist and clouds often fill the valleys, leaving only the tops of the pillars visible. This is when the mountains look most like they are floating.
Q10: Which record-breaking attraction opened in the Zhangjiajie area in 2016?
Answer: A glass bridge
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge stretches about 430 meters across a canyon and was the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge when it opened.

Tianzi Mountains Quiz – A Forest of Stone Pillars

The Tianzi Mountains look like a landscape from another planet. Thousands of narrow stone pillars rise hundreds of meters from the forest floor, their tops covered in pine trees and often surrounded by drifting clouds. It is easy to see why the area helped inspire the floating mountains of Pandora in James Cameron's film Avatar.

The mountains are part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Hunan province, together with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and other reserves. UNESCO listed the area in 1992 for its extraordinary landscape of more than 3,000 sandstone pillars, deep ravines, streams, pools and caves.

The pillars formed over millions of years. Rain, ice and plant roots slowly widened cracks in thick layers of quartz sandstone, wearing away the softer rock and leaving tall columns behind. The process continues today, so the landscape is still slowly changing.

Visiting the area is an adventure. Cable cars, mountain trails and the Bailong Elevator, built onto the side of a cliff, carry visitors up to viewpoints above the pillars. Nearby, the Zhangjiajie glass bridge lets brave visitors walk across a canyon on a transparent floor.

This quiz explores the geology, history and attractions of this remarkable place.

Local culture adds to the experience. The Tujia people, whose leader gave the mountains their name, are known for their stilt houses, embroidered brocade and lively hand-waving dance, and visitors can try local dishes such as smoked pork and spicy river fish in nearby villages.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is ideal for travelers to China, film fans and anyone fascinated by unusual landscapes.

Where the Tianzi Mountains are
How the area connects to the film Avatar
What the pillars are made of and how they formed
Who the mountains are named after
When UNESCO listed the area
Which record-breaking attractions are nearby

Quick Facts About the Tianzi Mountains

The area is home to rare animals such as the Chinese giant salamander.
Spring and autumn are popular seasons, when mist and colorful leaves are common.
Tianmen Mountain nearby has a natural arch called Heaven's Gate.
The Tujia people are one of the main ethnic groups living in the region.
Some viewpoints are reached by long stone staircases with thousands of steps.
The pillars can be as tall as 200 meters or more.