Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the floating mountains of *Avatar* with its 3,000-plus sandstone pillars rising over 200 metres. China's first national forest park (1982) covers only 43 sq km in Hunan, yet protects 3,000 plant species and 116 endangered animals like the Chinese giant salamander. Its 30 million annual visitors rival #7 Banff's 4 million by a factor of 7.5, making it one of the most crowded parks on Earth. The pillar formations, part of the larger Wulingyuan UNESCO site, are taller than any rock spire in #5 Fiordland, and their verticality creates a landscape unlike any other on this list.