Zhangjiajie, often referred to as a “fairyland on earth,” is home to China’s first national forest park.
The Wulingyuan Scenic Area has long been listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
If you haven’t visited Zhangjiajie yet, you must find time to explore it thoroughly and experience its unique and magnificent scenery.
Of course, as a long-standing popular tourist city, Zhangjiajie has large scenic areas, numerous attractions, and a high volume of tourists. Many people visiting for the first time inevitably fall into some pitfalls, so it’s essential to have a well-prepared travel plan before you go!
Today, the editor has put together a comprehensive Zhangjiajie Travel Guide to help you avoid pitfalls, save money, and provide a step-by-step guide to maximize your experience!
Keep reading to find out more~
Zhangjiajie · Must-Visit Attractions
Zhangjiajie is a prefecture-level city in Hunan Province. The scenic area is divided into four main parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yangjiajie Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and Xiyu Nature Reserve, collectively known as the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
Most people come to Zhangjiajie to visit the core scenic spot—Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is divided into Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, and Suoxi Valley, all of which are core attractions that must be visited when touring Zhangjiajie.
Here, more than 3,000 peculiarly shaped peaks rise from the ground, creating a lush green landscape. Mist and clouds swirl between the peaks and valleys, with waterfalls and streams visible everywhere, making it a beautiful fairyland with endless stunning scenery.
The floating mountains of “Hallelujah Mountains” in the movie “Avatar” were filmed in Yuanjiajie, which should be familiar to fans of the film.
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is named after the natural wonder “Tianmen Cave.” When visiting the scenic area, you must take a cable car ride of approximately 7,500 meters. From the cable car, you can overlook the winding Tongtian Avenue and the beautiful mountain scenery below.
Inside Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, there is also a famous Guigu Plank Road, named after the plank road along the cliffs above the Guigu Cave. The plank road starts at Yihong Pass and ends at Xiao Tianmen, with a total length of 1,600 meters and an average altitude of 1,400 meters. Here, you can enjoy the misty fairyland scenery.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon has lush vegetation, fresh air, and numerous waterfalls and springs, making it a natural oxygen bar.
With fewer tourists and beautiful scenery, the emerald-green lake water is like a jade embedded in the valley. Walking here, all unpleasant thoughts are left behind, and you can simply enjoy the tranquil beauty.
In addition to the natural scenery, the glass bridge—Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge—is worth experiencing.
It is the world’s first oblique cable-stayed high mountain canyon glass bridge and has set multiple world records. Those who enjoy extreme sports can challenge bungee jumping, zip-lining, and other activities here!
Fenghuang Ancient Town
Fenghuang Ancient Town was built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and gained worldwide fame through Shen Congwen’s novel “Border Town.”
The ancient town is situated in the mountains and by the water, with the Tuojiang River flowing through it. The bluestone-paved streets, stilted houses along the Tuojiang River, numerous ancient buildings, and rich local customs create a unique Xiangxi charm.
The main attractions include Shen Congwen’s Former Residence, the Ancient Town Museum, and Chongde Hall.
If time permits, it is recommended to include Fenghuang Ancient Town in your itinerary.
Zhangjiajie · Recommended Routes
Zhangjiajie is vast, so to fully understand and enjoy it in one trip, you must first know the locations of each scenic spot! This will allow you to better arrange your itinerary, avoid backtracking, and wasting time on the road.
⭐3-Day Tour Route (for reference only)
Day 1: Various places → Zhangjiajie → Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Day 2: Ten-Mile Gallery → Tianzi Mountain → Helong Park → Yuanjiajie → Yangjiajie → Bailong Elevator
Day 3: Tianmen Mountain Forest Park → Tianmen Cave → Return
⭐4-Day Tour Route (for reference only)
Day 1: Various places → Zhangjiajie
Day 2: Zhangjiajie Forest Park → Yuanjiajie → Yangjiajie
Day 3: Huangshi Village → Ten-Mile Gallery → Golden Whip Stream
Day 4: Tianmen Mountain Forest Park → Tianmen Cave → Return
⭐5-Day Tour Route (for reference only)
Day 1: Departure → Zhangjiajie
Day 2: Zhangjiajie Forest Park → Yuanjiajie → Yangjiajie
Day 3: Tianmen Mountain Forest Park → Ten-Mile Gallery → Golden Whip Stream
Day 4: Furong Town → Fenghuang Ancient Town
Day 5: Fenghuang Ancient Town → Return
Zhangjiajie · Ticket Information
As a long-standing tourist area, Zhangjiajie has excellent online ticketing and tour guide services. All tickets can be purchased online. Below, the editor will teach you how to make reservations and purchase tickets through official channels:
Find the “Zhangjiajie Smart Tourism” mini-program on WeChat, which is the official ticketing channel and can be used with confidence.
Highlight: Not only can you make reservations and purchase tickets for various attractions on your own, but you can also find attraction information, attraction tour maps, passenger transport information, and more. For those traveling independently, this mini-program is truly convenient and practical, so be sure to bookmark it first!
If you want to visit many attractions, buying a combo ticket is definitely the most cost-effective option. There are many package types to choose from based on your itinerary.
It is recommended to book attraction tickets 1-7 days in advance on the official account to save a lot of hassle!
Zhangjiajie · Pre-trip Preparation
Weather Conditions
No matter where you travel, you must check the weather forecast before departure. Good weather is sometimes the decisive factor in whether a trip is enjoyable or not, and Zhangjiajie is no exception. If time permits, choose a sunny day to set off, and prepare appropriate clothing and daily necessities according to the weather conditions.
Luggage Preparation Reference
- Electronic devices: power bank, mobile phone, headphones, camera, selfie stick;
- Clothing: change of clothes, flat shoes (be sure to prepare a pair of comfortable shoes for hiking), sun-protective clothing;
- Medicines: gastrointestinal medicine, band-aids, mosquito repellent, motion sickness medicine;
- Skincare and makeup: lotion, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toiletries, face towels, cosmetics;
- Others: masks, hand sanitizer, umbrella;
Zhangjiajie · Transportation Guide
How to Reach Zhangjiajie
✈️ By Plane: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport
Airport → City Center: ① Take the airport shuttle bus ② Take bus No. 4
🚅 By High-speed Train or Regular Train: West Railway Station (High-speed Rail Station), South Railway Station
West Railway Station → City Center: Take bus No. 6 or 17
South Railway Station → City Center: Take bus No. 1, 5, 6, 8, or 10
🚌 By Bus: Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station
How to Get to Each Scenic Spot
① Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: There are direct buses from Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station to the park entrance, departing approximately every 10 minutes. The fare is 12 yuan/person, and the last bus departs at 19:00.
② Tianmen Mountain Forest Park: The railway station and bus station are very close to Tianmen Mountain Park, about a 10-minute walk away. If your hotel is far away, you can take a taxi. If departing from Zhangjiajie Forest Park, you can take a direct bus at Wulingyuan Bus Station.
③ Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: Take the bus to the Grand Canyon at Wulingyuan Bus Station, which departs approximately every 30 minutes. The fare is 22 yuan/person.
④ Other Scenic Spots:
- ◎ City Center – Huanglong Cave: 55 km, about 62 minutes (Huanglong Cave is on the way to the Grand Canyon, so take the same bus as the Grand Canyon. For the return trip, wait for the bus to Wulingyuan Bus Station on the roadside).
- ◎ City Center – Changsha: 320 km, about 4 hours by bus, 2.5 hours by high-speed train.
- ◎ City Center – Fenghuang Ancient Town: 256 km, direct bus from Wulingyuan Bus Station takes about 4 hours, with two departures per day. You can also take a train to Jishou first, then take a bus from Jishou to Fenghuang.
- ◎ Tianmen Mountain/Grand Canyon – Fenghuang Ancient Town: There are no direct buses. You need to go to the Central Bus Station or the railway station.
Zhangjiajie · Accommodation Suggestions
- City Center: If you have higher requirements for accommodation standards and conditions, the editor recommends staying in hotels in the city center. The amenities provided by the characteristic inns in the mountain area are not as comprehensive and differ from the hotels in the city center.
- Near Wulingyuan/Forest Park Ticket Station: There are many hostels and hotels to choose from near Wulingyuan and the Forest Park ticket station, varying in size and scale. You can select based on your budget and needs.
- Notes: If you plan to stay near the scenic spots, inquire whether the room is close to the mountain before booking. Rooms close to the mountain are relatively damp and have more mosquitoes and insects. It is recommended to avoid these rooms as much as possible.
Zhangjiajie · Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
- ❌ Do not trust the accommodation places recommended by those soliciting customers on the roadside at bus stations or airports. The environment is poor, and safety is not guaranteed.
- ❌ Ignore those who actively approach you at the entrance of scenic spots and offer cheap tickets. During peak seasons, many scenic spots have time and visitor flow restrictions. If you haven’t booked tickets in advance, you may not be able to enter. Remember to make reservations online 3 days in advance.
- ❌ Taxis in Zhangjiajie city center generally use meters, and there are fewer instances of overcharging. However, there are still many drivers at the airport, railway station, and bus station who do not use meters. It is recommended to use Didi (a ride-hailing app) for transportation.
- ❌ Do not easily trust the unofficial tour guides on the roadside. If you need tour guide services, you can contact a large travel agency to make arrangements in advance or explore on your own.
The above is the “Zhangjiajie Travel Guide” compiled by the editor. Quickly forward it to your travel buddies and come to Zhangjiajie together to enjoy the mountains and waters!
