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The 1986 version of Journey to the West is a classic film that has been a part of the childhood of many generations of Vietnamese viewers. During its nearly 17-year filming journey spanning nearly 100,000 km, Journey to the West offered viewers impressive cinematography despite limitations in technology and budget. Even after so many years, viewers still love the film and choose many of its locations as tourist destinations.
The Lair of the White Bone Demon (Zhangjiajie)
The episode about the White Bone Demon's lair is considered the most impressive in the 1986 TV series Journey to the West. The beautiful demon's lair was filmed in Zhangjiajie National Park, 50 km from Zhangjiajie city (Hunan province). Zhangjiajie is blessed with a diverse and complex landscape of hills, sandstone formations, and plains, rarely seen elsewhere in the world. As the Earth's crust formed, the streams that cut through the land created rivers, valleys, and gorges. Thanks to this geological formation, Zhangjiajie possesses unique, towering sandstone pillars, which served as the backdrop for the flying mountains in Journey to the West and later in the famous film "Avatar".
Currently, this place attracts a large number of tourists, both domestic and international. Although the entrance fee is quite high, Zhangjiajie is never short of visitors, regardless of the time of year.
Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou, considered a "paradise on earth," is located in Sichuan province. It was a frequently featured location on the journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples to the land of Buddha.
Formed on sedimentary limestone mountains, Jiuzhaigou boasts hundreds of lakes and approximately 100 picturesque waterfalls of varying sizes. It is home to nine Tibetan villages (in Sichuan Province), hence its common name, "Jiuzhaigou" (Nine Villages). The entire nature reserve covers an area of about 60,000 hectares, situated at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters above sea level, encompassing three valleys arranged in a Y-shape: Rize Valley, Zecha Valley, and Shuzheng Valley. The lakes here are crystal clear, reflecting the sky and land, with their pristine and captivating scenery. Therefore, Jiuzhaigou is a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors throughout all four seasons.
Flower and Fruit Mountain (Flower and Fruit Tree Waterfall)
Mount Huaguo is home to a troop of monkeys and also the birthplace of Sun Wukong. The scenery, which appears many times throughout the classic film, is set against the backdrop of the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou.
Huangguoshu Waterfall is known as the "galaxy on earth". The waterfall is approximately 74 meters high and 81 meters wide, making it the largest waterfall in China.
Flaming Mountain
Flaming Mountains is a famous tourist area in Xinjiang, and it's also the name of the familiar mountain in the TV series Journey to the West, associated with the characters Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan. Administratively, Flaming Mountains are located near the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and east of Turpan city. The entire Flaming Mountains range is approximately 100 km long and 5-10 km wide, running from east to west. The average altitude of Flaming Mountains is 500 m, with temperatures frequently reaching 50°C, and surface temperatures once exceeding 70°C.
Following the film's success, bronze statues of the Rakshasa Goddess and the Bull Demon King were erected at the foot of the Flaming Mountains, attracting many tourists who come to visit and take souvenir photos.
Western Liang Women's Kingdom (Lion Forest Garden)
Loyal fans of The Monkey King will surely not forget the episode "The Kingdom of Women" with its array of graceful and gentle beauties. It was here that Tang Sanzang and his disciples successfully overcame the trials of the beauties to reach the Buddha. The Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou was chosen as the main setting for the palaces of this "land of women."
Lion Grove Garden, located in the northeast of Suzhou, dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. Spanning 1.1 hectares, the garden boasts breathtaking landscape architecture, becoming a showcase of the finest aspects of Chinese garden design – simple, refined, and romantic.
