Zhangjiajie travel guide
Avatar's floating mountains, brought to life on Earth
Plan your visit
Recommended stay3–4 days
Getting thereTrain or flight via Changsha / Wuhan; about 1 hour from Zhangjiajie station to Wulingyuan.
Good to knowYuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain are separate ticket zones — two days is more relaxed.
Zhangjiajie is the sandstone pillar forest that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar. The Wulingyuan scenic area packs several ticket zones into one UNESCO landscape, while Tianmen Mountain on the city side adds a cliffside glass walkway and one of the world's longest cable cars.
Top sights
- Yuanjiajie (Avatar Mountains) — The signature pillar-viewing platforms and the 108-turn Bailong Elevator; arrive before 9am for clear views.
- Tianzi Mountain — High plateau with panoramic pillar fields — connect it to Yuanjiajie with the free park shuttle loop.
- Golden Whip Stream — A flat 2.5-hour riverside walk under the pillars — the easiest scenic hike in the park.
- Tianmen Mountain — Cable car from the city, 99-bend mountain road, glass skywalk and Tianmen Cave arch — allow a full day.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge — One of the longest glass pedestrian bridges in the world, 45 minutes from the city.
Suggested itinerary
- Avatar Mountains. Yuanjiajie scenic area, Hallelujah Mountain, Bailong Elevator, sandstone pillar maze
- Glass Bridge & Stream. Grand Canyon glass bridge walk, Golden Whip Stream hike through primeval forest
- Tianmen Mountain. 999 steps to Heaven's Gate, cliff-hanging walkway, 99-bend road descent
Budget reference
LodgingWulingyuan town guesthouses ¥150–300; city hotels ¥200–450.
FoodLocal Tujia dishes ¥40–80 per meal; try the three-stove hotpot and wild mushroom dishes.
Local transportPark shuttle is included in the ticket; bus Wulingyuan–city ~¥12, taxis ¥60–100.
TicketsWulingyuan 4-day pass ¥225, Tianmen Mountain ¥278 including cable car, Glass Bridge ¥141.
Where to stay
Base in Wulingyuan town for the pillar park (walkable gate) or the city for Tianmen Mountain — the two zones are 45 minutes apart.
Good to know
- Wulingyuan and Tianmen are separate tickets — do not buy a combined pass from street touts.
- Pillar tops sit in clouds by late morning; go up first thing, descend when mist rolls in.
- The 4-day Wulingyuan pass covers repeated entry — keep the ticket and fingerprint registration.
Explore
Zhangjiajie travel guide