After hearing about the mystical world of Zhangjiajie, China.. the floating pillars shooting straight up in an almost unbelievable fashion, the so-called “Avatar Mountains” after their resemblance to the beautiful scenes from this groundbreaking film… we just had to visit!
But China is not the easiest place to navigate and several inquiries got us nowhere, and we were beginning to lose hope of ever visitingZhangjiajie. Thankfully with the help of a few hostel mates and a couple of Tsingtaos later, we’d figured it out and we’re on our way!
Then came the confusing maps, the crazy layout of the park, and the overwhelming transport options! It felt like the best areas of the park were lost somewhere in the middle of the chaos.
So after managing to figure out not only how to visit, but how to make the most of your time visiting Zhangjiajie, we wanted to share with our readers the sheer majesty of this incredible place.
Here is a rundown of how to visit this crazy place and the all-important information on things like where to stay, Zhangjiajie travel tips and how to get to the best viewpoints in the park.
So, you want to visit Zhangjiajie, well, you won’t be disappointed. This magical place will take you on a fairytale journey to some of the most incredible natural landscapes you’ll likely have ever been lucky enough to come across.
If you’re fed up of busy Beijing, then these mysterious mountains are the perfect antidote.
So, let’s take a closer look.
What is Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, as we are referring to it here is actually the “Wulingyuan Scenic Area“, but most people simply call it “Zhangjiajie” or the “Avatar Mountains, China”
Confusingly Zhangjiajie is the name of the nearby city, a village near the park and also the unofficial name of the park itself! So where exactly to head to isn’t always clear!
It is located in the Hunan province of China, the capital of which is Changsha. So heading to Zhangjiajie, China isn’t as simple as it first seems and arranging your Zhangjiajie travel can be a headache too.
The park is famous for its precarious peaks, dense forests and meandering rivers and streams. Becoming the first of the National Parks in China in 1982 it only really came to fame after the film Avatar. These tall sandstone peaks, some standing over 1000ft tall, are a result of erosion over thousands of years.
Ice, wind, water and the plants that grow on them in this tropical environment have worn away layers of the rock to create the free-standing peaks we see today making Zhangjiajie, China one of the most unique places in the world!
Zhangjiajie Essential Information For Visitors
Ok, so now you’re sold on visiting the Zhangjiajie mountains, but it can be a little daunting at first to figure out exactly how to do that including how to get here, where to stay and which spots to visit when you do.
So I’ve put together this handy guide.
Zhangjiajie Travel – How To Get To Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
From many parts of the country, you will find no direct service to this area.
The city of Zhangjiajie should be your target destination before heading to the park. To get here you will likely have to transit through one of the bigger cities.
On the way over we travelled from Chengdu and took the train to Yichang before on to Zhangjiajie
On the way out and over towards Guilin we travelled through Changsha.
Zhangjiajie, China has good train connections to these nearby larger cities and these cities in turn are very well connected to pretty much everywhere else in China.
The train is the best way to travel over distance in China and overnight trains offer great sleepers, the “Hard sleep” is cheap and really not as bad as it sounds and a great way to sort out your Zhangjiajie travel.
Once you arrive in the city you want to be heading out towards the Wulingyuan National Park … yet more Zhangjiajie travel hassle!
There are several entrances but the most used are the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park entrance and the Wulingyuan entrance.
Most people stay in the village of Wulingyuan when visiting the Zhangjiajie mountains as it has a great atmosphere, plenty of shops, hotels, hostel and places to eat but is close by the entrance.
The Wulingyuan entrance is walkable from the village of the same name and the Zhangjiajie forest entrance is accessible by a bus costing 10 Yuan and taking 30mins from the village.
To get here you must head to the central bus station and take one of the small minibuses around the corner from stand 1.
These only have their destinations written in Chinese, so show them your destination in Chinese or check that it matches up on the front.
English isn’t commonly spoken on these local buses, but thankfully they’re not full of scammers like when we visited The Great Wall of China!
You can see what they look like here –
Zhangjiajie: 张家界
Wulingyuan 武陵源
This takes around 40 minutes, costs 14 Yuan, and you can pay on the bus. They run regularly between 8 am and 8 pm.
Another option which people often take when not just visiting Zhangjiajie but exploring the wider region is to hire their own car. It’s simple and easy to do and most accommodation options also have free parking.
If you want to visit many of the other incredible landmarks of the region like Tianmen Mountain, Fenghuang Ancient Town and the Glass Bridge then it’s a great option.
This ticket allows unlimited use of the main transportation systems within the park, including the Bailong Elevator and various cable cars. Well worth the price in my opinion.
It is valid for 4 days and costs CNY 298
Validity and other information:
A standard ticket allows for 4 days of entry, those 4 days however must be consecutive.
You must use an official entrance point to gain entry to the park.
You need to be aware of the time slot on your ticket which allows you to enter only at that time.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the Yellow Dragon Cave are additional attractions which need to be paid for separately.
Zhangjiajie offers several options to help you navigate the park once you’re inside, these are great if you want to skip some of the strenuous hiking trails or in combination with trekking through this Avatar landscape.
Bailong Elevator:
One-way ticket: CNY 65
Round-trip ticket: CNY 130
Cable Cars:
Tianzi Mountains China Cableway: CNY 72 one-way/ CNY 134 roundtrip.
Discounted rates are also available for children and seniors.
Best Time to Visit Zhangjiajie
The best time to visit Zhangjiajie is from April to May and Sept to October – This time of year offers the most pleasant weather and you’ll get to enjoy the vibrant colours of spring or the beautiful foliage of Autumn.
The peak Summer season of June to August is often when the park is at its busiest and the weather is hot and humid.
Winter (December to February) offers a totally different experience entirely. This time of year can be bitterly cold, yet at the same time, the snow-covered landscapes offer unmatched magic. The park is also at its quietest during this time and accommodation is often cheaper.
FYI – Our visit was during November and it was cold, some days we got weather that didn’t allow us to take in all the views, but we did get snow which was an incredible thing to see and something we totally didn’t expect when visiting China if I’m honest.
The park generally opens from 07:00 to 17:30, but times may vary depending on the season, so sticking to daylight hours is a good reference point. Be sure to double-check before you travel.
We’ve used the Osprey Farpoint/ Fairview for all our backpacking adventures over the past 5 years and highly recommend them!
The main area of the pack opens like a suitcase, which is great for using packing cubes to keep everything organised and they even come with a detachable day pack!
When considering how many days to have in Zhangjiajie one of the main things to think about is both the size of the park and the weather.
Tickets are valid for 4 consecutive days and I recommend using every one of them if your Zhangjiajie itinerary allows. This gives you time to see the more popular highlights of the park as well as some of the lesser-known trails and viewpoints.
However, I am aware that not everyone has that kind of time on their hands.
So with that in mind, I would say give yourself at least two days and make full use of transport inside the park.
If you only have one day – here is what we would do
Head to the Wulingyuan entrance.
Take the Zhangjiajie travel bus to the first cable car and take this scenic ride up to the top.
Take in the viewpoint of Yunqing Rock, Arranging Battles Platform and Imperial Writing Brush Peaks. You can even venture a little further down the road for some more viewpoints close by that are usually pretty quiet.
From there take the bus all the way around to the Enchanting Terrance and make your way back up the trails towards the direction in which you just came.
Along here is where we would consider the most amazing views are, the Heavenly Pillar and also the Natural Bridge. It can get busy though.
You can also head up the Lucky Peak which is covered in prayer flags, quite an amazing sight! If you have time heading up to where the Youth Hostel is offers great views too.
Next, you can take the bus all the way to be Balong Elevator and take it down to the bottom of the park, or nip down the trail instead. Now you can walk along the stunning Golden Whip Stream. This is about 5/6 KM but it’s easy walking through a valley.
From here take the bus to the base of the Yellow Stone Village cable car and head up to the top of this amazing mountain, from here you can hike the trail down through the monkey-infested forest!
Once you get back down you then take the bus all the way back to the Forest Park entrance where you will need to get a minibus back to Wulingyuan.
As mentioned above the park is closest to the Wulingyuan village and is a great place to base yourself. The village is small enough to feel warm and friendly but is also developed enough to have banks and plenty of places to stay, eat and stock up on supplies.
There is also a central bus station where you can take buses back into the city and to the other park entrances. Where you stay in Zhangjiajie, China can make all the difference as to how long you get to spend in the park.
The Best Backpacker Option: Destination Youth Hostel
This cosy hostel is only a 5-minute walk from the park and offers a fun place to stay and meet fellow travellers. There are also heaps of places to eat nearby as well as parking and luggage storage.
This modern boutique hotel is situated in a lively area close to the scenic park of Zhangjiajie. With air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge, it’s the perfect place to relax after a day on the trails.
Foggy Valley offers a unique experience where you feel like you’re staying in the mountains themselves. With incredible views and patios for each room, you’ll get to soak it all in each day. There’s also a sauna and restaurant for a relaxing visit.
Here are a few bits of advice I think will make your time visiting this place so much more enjoyable.
Food
Options for food in the park are pretty scarce on the whole, although this is very much dependent on where you will be headed too.
More popular areas like Tianzi Mountain even have a McDonalds, which is a shocker really, but this is China, for better or for worse.
Near many of the main attractions, you’ll like small stores and carts selling mostly local food like steamed buns, noodles and snacks. Whereas the more remote areas there will be virtually nothing.
I suggest bringing along a good packed lunch and some high-calorie snacks, plus water and sports drinks if you’re hiking. Just be careful with your food in areas where monkeys live as they can get aggressive if they know you’ve got snacks!
Whilst the key tourist areas have Western-style toilets, in most of the park you’ll find squat toilets. There are even, in the very remote area, little huts where it’s literally just a hole in the ground… so you’ve been warned!
On the trails, well, do bears shit in the woods!
The biggest bit of advice I can give you, besides learning to use a squat toilet (but that should be a given if you’re coming to China) is to always carry toilet paper with you because it’s very unlikely any will be provided… again, that is for China as a whole too!
Crowds
Chinese tourists like to move in packs and generally speaking, love any attraction that involves paying! So basically, if you’re near anywhere that’s easy to access, popular or has something you’ve got to pay for, you’ll find the crowd!
We had this same experience when we were visiting the Guilin region and it’s kinda funny really, but maybe a bit sad at the same time!
It can be frustrating when you want to visit some of the well-known areas like hallelujah Mountains Viewpoint or Tianzi Mountain, but on the other hand, it does also mean that everyone is kinda congregated in certain areas of the park, and they’re not always the best areas either.
This means there are heaps of other areas where you can escape them! I found even getting off the bus a stop before and having a wander around meant I saw some insane views and was all on my own… well, apart from Paul!
Aside from this, the time of year you visit also makes a huge difference. Visiting during shoulder seasons or winter gives you the best chance to avoid crowds.
Zhangjiajie is a large mountainous park with sections that are very isolated. If you plan on hiking the trails, wandering down to many of the viewpoints or taking a stroll down the valleys, you need to be prepared.
Wearing proper walking boots or shoes is essential even if you don’t plan on doing much hiking as many of the paths can be slippery. Thankfully, after climbing in Yangshuo, we still had a lot of gear with us.
Dressing in layers is a must when visiting outside of the hottest months as temperatures can be freezing in winter and vary significantly throughout the day during spring and autumn.
It rains here a lot, whatever time of year you visit. So be sure to bring a waterproof jacket, quick-drying hiking pants and a backpack cover.
A good waterproof jacket is useful no matter where and when you’re travelling because the weather is always unpredictable. They’re lightweight and packable too, so don’t leave without one!
Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).
So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!
Navigating your way around Zhangjiajie National Park (the cable cars, buses, lifts, hiking trails & views)
Zhangjiajie, China is huge and is serviced by several modes of transport to allow you to navigate it.
The first is the buses, these run along routes on both the top and bottom sections of the park. These are free to use and will take you to great starting points for hiking and for using the other transport.
There are also cable cars and an elevator to help you gain access to the top sections of the park. These all incur an additional fee but will skip a lot of time and energy. Plus, the cable cars offer amazing views.
The only other way to get to the top is to hike up a mountain. Most routes up to the top section take a couple of hours. We hiked 3 out of our 4 days and on the last day took one cable car and walked back down.
Bear in mind that the buses will stop running at a certain time. They still do operate after dark but the park is huge and it is entirely possible to get stuck on a trail, alone and in the dark! It will usually take you at least an hour to get down from the top so set off in good time for the buses and plan your route.
The trails are well-marked out and easy to follow but can be a little confusing. It is best to have a route planned out for your day ahead and check which transport you will use to complete each section.
This is a list of areas of the park we feel are not to be missed on your Zhangjiajie travel adventure!
1. The 10-mile gallery: Skip the monorail and walk this amazing trail to the 3 Sisters Peaks. It is also not 10 miles, but only 5.8km… around 4 miles.
2. Continue on beyond the 3 sisters and hike the trail here up to Tianzi Mountain, it is hard going but you will be rewarded with some amazing views. Make sure to head to the Heavenly Platform.
3. Take in the viewing platforms of Yunqing Rock, Arranging Battles Platform and Imperial Writing Brush Peaks and even walk a little further to some of the other lesser visited viewpoints. These will be much quieter than other spots in the park.
4. Get off the bus when others stay on and see “One Dangerous Stop” and “Cock Pecking” for amazing views on top of one of the peaks.
5. Take the walkways from the Enchanting Terrance all the way towards the Lucky Mountain. Here are the best views of the park by far. It might be a little busy but seeing the Heavenly Peak and Natural Bridge are must-do’s.
6. Stroll around the 5km stretch of the Golden Whip Stream through the valleys of these amazing sandstone pillars and take a break from steep hiking.
7. Hike up to the Yellow Stone Village Mountain through monkey-infested forests!
Zhangjiajie can easily be visited without the need for a guide or a tour, BUT, it does require some planning and a lot of forethought before your trip if you’re going to fit in all the best bits and more.
If you are going to be visiting Zhangjiajie by yourself then avoid disappointment by researching the areas of the park you just have to visit and plan out which transport you’ll use, which trails you’ll head up and what order you’ll do everything in.
If you’re really unsure, then there is an excellent 4-day highlights tour that takes all the hard work and guessing out of it. It’s a fantastic option for those looking for a little more structure and reassurance.
Right then, there you are, we got to the end of this bumper guide to visiting Zhangjiajie. I really hope you get to visit this incredible region because it’s one of the most magnificent places I’ve ever been and the sights I saw there will forever stay with us.
When you’re in the planning and research stage of visiting Zhangjiajie it can feel a little overwhelming, but trust me, it’s nowhere near as complicated as you think once you arrive.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me or comment below.
Just remember to take heaps of photos and don’t get chased by a monkey!
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3-4 days is ideal for visiting Zhangjiajie. This will give you enough time to visit the main spots as well as explore some more off-the-beaten-track areas.
No, not at all, it’s easy to explore all the main areas of the park using public transport and walking. However, if you’re unsure or want to head to some more remote areas, then taking a highlights tour is a great way to do that.
The months of April, May and September, October offer the best weather and fewest crowds.
Two days give you a great amount of time to visit all the highlights of Zhangjiajie National Park.
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Yo, I’m Nic (they/them), one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia! I am also a proud member of the LGBT+ community.
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work? I dunno, but my back hurts, and I still collect Pokémon cards! Who wants in?!
What an incredible guide! I’ve been wanting to visit Zhangjiajie for years, and your tips have really inspired me to plan my trip for 2024. The itinerary suggestions and insights about the park are super helpful. Can’t wait to explore those amazing landscapes! Thank you for sharing!
This guide is incredibly detailed and helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie next year, and I really appreciate the tips on best times to visit and must-see attractions. The photos are stunning too—I can’t wait to explore those breathtaking landscapes!
This guide is so helpful! I’ve always wanted to visit Zhangjiajie, and your tips on when to go and what to do are invaluable. The stunning photos really capture the beauty of the area. Can’t wait to plan my trip for 2026!
Thank you for this comprehensive guide! I’m planning to visit Zhangjiajie in 2025, and your tips on the best trails and photography spots are incredibly helpful. I can’t wait to experience the stunning landscapes you’ve described!
This guide is incredibly helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie for next year, and all the tips on best times to visit and must-see spots are exactly what I needed. The photos are stunning too! Can’t wait to explore those breathtaking landscapes!
This guide is fantastic! I’m so excited about my upcoming trip to Zhangjiajie. The tips on the best times to visit and where to stay are super helpful. I can’t wait to experience those stunning views and the glass bridge! Thank you for the detailed information!
Wow, this post has me even more excited for my trip to Zhangjiajie! The tips on navigating the parks and the recommendations for local food are incredibly helpful. I never knew there were so many stunning viewpoints! Can’t wait to experience all of this.
This guide is fantastic! I’ve always wanted to visit Zhangjiajie, and the tips you shared really help me plan my trip. I especially appreciated the recommendations for the best viewpoints and the advice on when to go. Can’t wait to experience those stunning landscapes! Thank you for the detailed insights!
This guide is incredibly helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie next year, and your tips on the best viewpoints and hiking trails are just what I needed. I can’t wait to see the stunning landscapes in person. Thanks for sharing such detailed information!
This guide is fantastic! I’ve been dreaming of visiting Zhangjiajie for years, and your tips on the best times to go and what to see have really inspired me to plan my trip. The insights about the Avatar Mountains and the glass bridge are super helpful. Thanks for sharing such thorough information!
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![A COMPLETE Guide To Visiting Zhangjiajie, China [UPDATED FOR 2026]](https://theroamingrenegades.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/visiting-zhangjiajie-avatar-mountains-advice-tips-transport-china-368x552.jpg){kind=avatar}
What an incredible guide! I’ve been wanting to visit Zhangjiajie for years, and your tips have really inspired me to plan my trip for 2024. The itinerary suggestions and insights about the park are super helpful. Can’t wait to explore those amazing landscapes! Thank you for sharing!
This guide is incredibly detailed and helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie next year, and I really appreciate the tips on best times to visit and must-see attractions. The photos are stunning too—I can’t wait to explore those breathtaking landscapes!
This guide is so helpful! I’ve always wanted to visit Zhangjiajie, and your tips on when to go and what to do are invaluable. The stunning photos really capture the beauty of the area. Can’t wait to plan my trip for 2026!
Thank you for this comprehensive guide! I’m planning to visit Zhangjiajie in 2025, and your tips on the best trails and photography spots are incredibly helpful. I can’t wait to experience the stunning landscapes you’ve described!
This guide is incredibly helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie for next year, and all the tips on best times to visit and must-see spots are exactly what I needed. The photos are stunning too! Can’t wait to explore those breathtaking landscapes!
This guide is fantastic! I’m so excited about my upcoming trip to Zhangjiajie. The tips on the best times to visit and where to stay are super helpful. I can’t wait to experience those stunning views and the glass bridge! Thank you for the detailed information!
Wow, this post has me even more excited for my trip to Zhangjiajie! The tips on navigating the parks and the recommendations for local food are incredibly helpful. I never knew there were so many stunning viewpoints! Can’t wait to experience all of this.
This guide is fantastic! I’ve always wanted to visit Zhangjiajie, and the tips you shared really help me plan my trip. I especially appreciated the recommendations for the best viewpoints and the advice on when to go. Can’t wait to experience those stunning landscapes! Thank you for the detailed insights!
This guide is incredibly helpful! I’m planning my trip to Zhangjiajie next year, and your tips on the best viewpoints and hiking trails are just what I needed. I can’t wait to see the stunning landscapes in person. Thanks for sharing such detailed information!
This guide is fantastic! I’ve been dreaming of visiting Zhangjiajie for years, and your tips on the best times to go and what to see have really inspired me to plan my trip. The insights about the Avatar Mountains and the glass bridge are super helpful. Thanks for sharing such thorough information!
Zhangjiajie National Park is breathtaking, with its dramatic sandstone pillars and surreal natural scenery