The scenic area is known for its Tianmen Cave, a natural karst cave, which has a height of around 131 meters, a width of approximately 57 meters and a depth of about 60 meters, Ding said.

The cave has also become a hub for extreme sports enthusiasts to take part in parkour, bungee jumping and experiencing the glass walkway, she added.

All of this has made it one of the most famous scenic areas for international travelers in Zhangjiajie.

Jean Jacque Wallis from South Africa finished second in this year's wingsuit target competition and second in the speed competition.

It was the third time he'd participated in the event in Zhangjiajie, and he believes it's the best wingsuit event in the world.

"There is no place in the world like this, where there is a big cave and lots of spectators. The whole crowd can watch it. It's the best place to watch the sport and it's amazing to have the energy of all the people," he said.

Tian, the local tourism official, said that with the combined efforts from the local government and private tourism enterprises, Zhangjiajie has made strides in its international image branding through various marketing events and strategies.

The city has also worked hard to improve its services and infrastructure for international travelers. All major transport hubs, scenic areas, hotels and restaurants have signs in Chinese, English and Korean, she said.

Dhiren Rodrigues, 23, from Australia and visiting Zhangjiajie, said the popular tourist site was highly recommended online.

"Many people in the West believe it is difficult to travel to China, but if foreigners get Didi, Alipay (Chinese ride-hailing and payment apps) and a translation app, they will be okay. You do not need much," Rodrigues said.

The thing that shocked me the most is how friendly people here are, he added.