Last updated: December 2024
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Quick Summary:
🗺️ Location: Hunan Province, Central China
⏱️ Ideal Duration: 3-4 days
💲 Budget: $70-150 per day
🌡️ Best Time: September-October or April-May
🏠 Where to Stay: Wulingyuan for nature, Zhangjiajie City for convenience
🎫 Park Pass: from 20$ (4-day pass) - you can buy it online here
⚠️ Important: Book accommodations in advance during peak season
Visiting Zhangjiajie on one hand we were surprised how many international tourists visit this National Park. On the other - why wouldn‘t day?
The landscape is out of this world, it is easily accessible by high-speed rail, viewing points are accessible to anyone through extensive bus and cable care network - on top of all that, the mountains were inspiration for famous Hallelujah mountain in the Avatar movie (which is probably the number one reason for its popularity).
Though the park is accessible, planning the trip to Zhangjiajie is difficult - we arrived at the park underprepared and underestimating the size of the park.
Luckily for you, we have gathered enough knowledge to help you plan a great trip with no surprises.
Without further introducti0n, let‘s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Best Time to Visit
- Essential Things to Know
- How to Get There
- Where to Stay
- Things to Do in Zhangjiajie
- 4-Day Itinerary
- Visiting with Kids
- What to Pack
- FAQs
Best Time to Visit
Weather and Crowds by Season
Spring (March-May)
- Temperature: 15-25°C (59-77°F)
- Crowds: Moderate
- Pros:
- Beautiful spring blooms
- Comfortable hiking weather
- Less crowded than summer
- Cons:
- Occasional rain showers
- Can be misty
- Best for: Photography, comfortable hiking
Summer (June-August)
- Temperature: 25-35°C (77-95°F)
- Crowds: Extremely busy
- Pros:
- Long daylight hours
- All facilities open
- Cons:
- Very crowded with domestic tourists
- Hot and humid
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Long queues everywhere
- Best for: Early morning exploration only
Fall (September-October)
- Temperature: 15-25°C (59-77°F)
- Crowds: Moderate
- Pros:
- Clearest skies
- Perfect hiking weather
- Beautiful colors
- Cons:
- Popular with photographers
- Can be busy during Golden Week
- Best for: Overall best time to visit
Winter (November-February)
- Temperature: 5-15°C (41-59°F)
- Crowds: Minimal
- Pros:
- Lowest prices
- Rare snow scenes
- No queues
- Cons:
- Some facilities limited
- Cold at elevation
- Shorter operating hours
- Best for: Budget travelers, unique photography
Essential Things to Know
Navigation Challenges
Unlike many new Chinese tourist attractions, this park is not easy to navigate. Signage is confusing, and getting lost risks you long hike and hours lost. It is not only our experience, we met other tourists reporting preciely that.
We haven‘t gotten lost, but we heavily underestimated the amount of time needed to get around, so we weren‘t able to do all we had planned in the very short time frame.
Queue Times (Peak Season)
In the peak season, queues can be insane. The park is popular with tourists all year round. We visited in the end of September, and bus stops were very busy - luckily we had kids and we were let in front of the queue - otherwise on the way out it would have been an hour wait!
Food options and infrastructure
Even though it is a National Park, it is not a secluded mountain! If your experience with national park is mainly in Europe and America, you will be surprised to say the least.
There are roads both on the bottom and on the top of the mountain, so there is no much walking required.
There are many food vendors all along the hiking route to the viewing point. No need to be overprepared with snacks. It might be slightly more expensive there, but you save yourself carrying the stuff.
To my surprise (and to be honest, disappointment) there is a KFC next to the Bailong elevator!
Important Facts
- Different attractions require separate tickets
- Major sites are FAR apart
- Glass Bridge and National Park can't be done on the.same day
- Viewpoints don‘t require much walking, but are very busy
- Weather can change suddenly
🌟 Pro Tip: If you are able, get a physical map before coming to the park. We didn‘t have one, and was only able to plan our way to exit after someone showed us a map. Don‘t know where he had it from, but your life will be muh easier if you get one.
How to Get There
From Changsha
- By Train:
- High-speed train from (2.5 hours)
- Multiple daily departures
- Book tickets in advance
- Take taxi/bus to Wulingyuan
From Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie National Park East Gate
- Public bus: 40 minutes
- Taxi: 30 minutes
- Hotel shuttle: Varies by hotel
Where to Stay
1. Wulingyuan Area
Best for nature access and early park entry
Lanting Elegant Restaurant Hotel
- Cloes to the park
- Good quality amenities
2. Zhangjiajie City
Better for Tianmen Mountain access and city conveniences
Hotels in Zhangjiajie are not very impressive, but there are plenty of affordable options. I recommen chosing one close to the Tianmen cable car.
Hampton by Hilton, Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain
- Close to Tianmen Mountain cable car
- Modern facilities
🌟 Pro Tip: I would recommend splitting your stay between 2 locations. Start in Wulingyuan for easy park access, and move to Zhangjiajie to see the Tianmen Shan (requires separate ticket) and an evening show of Fox Fairy that takes every night directly at the bottom of Tianmen Shan.
Things to Do in Zhangjiajie
1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Cost: 20$ (4-day pass)
- Hours: 7:00-18:00
- Time needed: 1-2 full days
Must-See Areas:
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
- Home to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
- Best views of floating peaks
- Accessible by Bailong Elevator
- Allow 3-4 hours
Bailong Elevator
- World's tallest outdoor lift
- 326m high
- Glass walls
- Spectacular views
- Tip: Go early or late to avoid queues
Ten Mile Gallery
- Easy walking path
- Beautiful formations
- Less crowded
- Perfect for afternoon
Golden Whip Stream
- Flat walking trail
- Wildlife spotting
- Peaceful area
- Good for hot days
⭐ Pro tip: I recommend booking the tickets with cable cars and elevator tickets included
2. Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon
- Cost: 25$ including Grand Canyon
- Hours: 8:00-17:00
- Time needed: 0.5-1 day
- Location: 1 hour from Wulingyuan
Key Information:
- World's longest glass bridge
- 430m long, 300m high
- Stunning canyon views
- Must leave bags in lockers
- No cameras allowed on bridge
- Shoe covers provided
3. Tianmen Mountain
- Cost: from 20$
- Hours: 8:00-17:00
- Time needed: Full day
- Requires separate ticket!
Highlights:
- World's longest cable car ride
- Heaven's Door (natural arch)
4. Evening Entertainment
Tianmen Fox Fairy Show
- Cost: 288 RMB
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Times: 15:30 and 19:30
- Spectacular outdoor performance
- Local folklore story
- Worth seeing even without Chinese
⭐ Pro tip: Worth paying premium for VIP seats - the view is just spectacular!
4-Day Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival
- Arrive in Zhangjiajie
- Bus to Wulingyuan (40 minutes)
- Check into hotel
- Explore town
- Early night for early start
Day 1: Avatar Mountains
Morning:
- Early start (7:30 AM)
- Bailong Elevator
- Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
- Avatar Mountain viewpoints
Afternoon:
- Ten Mile Gallery
- Golden Whip Stream
- Return to hotel
Day 2: Glass Bridge Day
Morning:
- Early departure (8:00 AM)
- Glass Bridge visit
- Canyon walk (optional)
Afternoon:
- Return to Wulingyuan
- Local market visit
- Transfer to Zhangjiajie
- Hotel check-in
Day 3: Tianmen Mountain
Morning:
- Cable car up Tianmen
- Heaven's Door visit
Afternoon:
- Glass walkway (optional)
- Move to city hotel
- Evening: Fox Fairy Show
Day 4: Departure Options
Option A: Furong Ancient Town
- Less touristy
- Waterfall views
- Authentic experience
Magda Sawyer
Option B: Fenghuang
- Popular water town
- Better facilities
- More touristy
Visiting with Kids
Age Recommendations
- Best age: any age
- Considerations: not stroller-friendly, take a carrier or backpack-carrier
- Perfect for: School-age kids, teenagers into Avatar movie
Family-Friendly Tips
- Start with Bailong Elevator
- Plan regular rest stops
- Pack snacks just in case
- Take motion sickness medicine
- Book hotels close to attractions
Best Activities for Kids
- Bailong Elevator
- Really impressive elevator ride
- Easy access
- Glass Bridge
- Awe-inspiring
- Kids will love transparent floor
- Fox Fairy show
- Beautiful lights and music
- Mesmerising show
- Blend of performance wit powerful holograms
What to Pack
Essential Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Fleece (gets cool in the evening)
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit
Tech Needs
- Downloaded offline maps
FAQs
Q: How many days do I need in Zhangjiajie?
A: Minimum 3 full days to see the main attractions. 4-5 days is ideal if you want to include Furong or Fenghuang. The tickets is valid 4 days.
Q: Is it worth visiting in winter?
A: Yes, if you don't mind cold temperatures. You'll get lower prices and fewer crowds, plus possible snow scenes.
Q: Do I need a guide?
A: Not necessarily, but it can help with navigation. The park is manageable independently if you plan well.
Q: Can I visit with young children?
A: Yes, but it's best with kids 6+ who can walk independently. Strollers are impractical in most areas.
Q: How fit do I need to be?
A: Moderate fitness is sufficient. There are cable cars and elevators for major climbs, but expect a bit of walking (or a lot of walking if you get lost)
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Zhangjiajie?
✈️ Book your flights
🏨 Find hotels
🚂 Reserve train tickets
🎫 Book activities
🚌 Book a tour
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