BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS

Quartzite-sandstone formations reach up, like a forest of hands, to grasp the morning mist that hangs above in the early hours of a dewy morning in Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park. This jaw-dropping location is situated in the north of the Hunan Province of Eastern China and is home to more than 3,000 distinct plant species. It’s almost hard to believe that such a mystical place exists — it’s easy to see why the location became the inspiration for the backdrop of the blockbuster movie, “Avatar.” Travel tip: After hiking through the park and forest, take a ride on one of the park’s cable cars to get an up-close, birds-eye view of this breathtaking landscape. (