Where is Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, in the heart of the Wuling Mountains. It is a prefecture-level city in Hunan, administering Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, Cili County, and Sangzhi County (commonly known as the 'two districts and two counties'). Zhangjiajie's famous scenic areas are not concentrated in one place, so figuring out 'which scenic area is in which district or county' before you set off will make your itinerary much smoother.
- Wulingyuan District{"items":[{"k":0,"e":"Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park + Suoxiyu + Tianzi Mountain + Yangjiajie), Baofeng Lake, Huanglong Cave. This is the main stage for viewing the peak forest; the \"Qiankun Pillar\" in Yuanjiajie is the filming location that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar."}]}
- Yongding District: The city center, home to Tianmen Mountain National Park, Tujia Folk Custom Park, and more.
- Cili County: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (Glass Bridge), Jiangya Hot Springs, etc.
- Sangzhi County: Jiutian Fenglian, the He Long Memorial Hall, the departure site of the Red Second Front Army's Long March, and other landscape and revolutionary sites.
How to Explore the Core Scenic Area
Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area (5A)
Wulingyuan is famous for its quartz sandstone peak forest landform of "three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters," and is a World Natural Heritage Site and a World Geopark. After entering the mountain area, visitors mainly rely on the scenic area's eco-friendly buses to connect between different zones. Classic touring routes include:
- Golden Whip Stream: A valley trail with upward views of the peak forest, the most classic walking route after entering the forest park.
- Yuanjiajie: Houhuayuan, Mihuntai, and Tianxiadiyi Bridge; the Qiankun Pillar/"Hallelujah Mountain" is here.
- Tianzi Mountain: Daguan Terrace, Shentang Bay, and Dianjiang Terrace offer sweeping views over the peak forest.
- Yangjiajie: Wulong Village, Tianbo Mansion, Yibu Dengtian, and the Sky Corridor are known for their steepness and danger.
- Ten-Mile Gallery: Canyon sightseeing tram line, with jagged peaks and grotesque rocks standing in profusion.
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (5A)
Tianmen Mountain is about 1,518 meters above sea level, on the edge of Zhangjiajie's urban area, and is known for Tianmen Cave, the world's longest high-mountain passenger cableway, the 99-bend winding mountain road, and the glass skywalk. The cableway connects with eco-friendly buses, and a one-day tour is usually arranged.
Surroundings and Xiangxi Extension
{"items":[{"k":0,"e":"South of Zhangjiajie lies Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, where Fenghuang Ancient Town, Furong Town (Wangcun), Mengdong River, Dehang Miao Village, and Aizhai Bridge can be linked into a loop. If time permits, you can arrange a 5–7 day itinerary combining 'Zhangjiajie for mountains + Fenghuang for the town + Xiangxi for villages'."}]}
How to get to Zhangjiajie
By plane
Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport has flights to and from multiple cities, and schedules are subject to the day's information at local ticket offices. If there is no direct flight from your departure place, you can first fly to Changsha, then transfer by high-speed rail (about 3–5 hours), bus, or plane to Zhangjiajie.
High-speed Rail / Train
Zhangjiajie has a railway station (high-speed rail station), with passenger trains connecting to many large and medium-sized cities across China. In peak season, sleeper berths are in short supply, so it is advisable to book round-trip tickets in advance.
Self-driving
Zhangjiajie's road network is mainly based on the Changzhang Expressway and Changzhang Expressway. Self-driving cars are generally parked in the city area or in parking lots outside the scenic area; to enter the core scenic area, you need to transfer to an eco-friendly bus.
From the city to the scenic area
{"items":[{"k":0,"e":"There are tourist shuttle buses and public buses from the city center to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan (Biaozhimen), etc., with a journey time of about 45 minutes. Outside the railway station and airport, please use only licensed buses/taxis and do not trust touts offering \"low-price station pickup and ticket packages.\""}]}
Food and Accommodation
{ "items": [ { "k": 0, "e": "Zhangjiajie's cuisine is based on Hunan cuisine and blends Tujia flavors, with a strong preference for spicy tastes, cured meats, and pickled sour foods. Hotels are concentrated in the city area, Wulingyuan (Suoxiyu), and around the exit of the Forest Park, while inside the scenic area, farmhouse inns are mainly found in the Yangjiajie, Yuanjiajie, and Tianzishan areas." } ] }
Suggested Itinerary
- 3 days: Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area 2 days (Golden Whip Stream + Yuanjiajie / Tianzi Mountain + Ten-Mile Gallery) + Tianmen Mountain 1 day.
- 5 days: Add Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Baofeng Lake or Huanglong Cave, and transfer to Fenghuang Ancient Town on days 4–5.
- 7 days: Add the Xiangxi loop covering Furong Town, Mengdong River, Dehang Miao Village, Aizhai Bridge, and more.
Practical Tips
- The core scenic area of Wulingyuan operates on a through-ticket system. The ticket includes the eco-friendly shuttle bus and is valid for multiple days; cable cars, elevators, sightseeing trams, and other transportation are charged separately.
- There is a significant temperature difference between the mountain top and the foot, and it tends to be cool in the morning and evening. It is recommended to bring a jacket and non-slip sports shoes; prepare rain gear, sun protection, and spare clothing.
- During peak seasons (Spring Festival, May Day, summer vacation, National Day), prices for food, accommodation and transportation rise and rooms are in short supply, so try to avoid the crowds.
- At stations and airports, please decline enthusiastic offers of "free/cheap station pickup" and "cheap ticket packages," and choose regular transportation or a reception party you have contacted in advance.
Note: This page has been compiled from travelogues and guides originally published on the website "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com). Some ticket prices are historical information; for actual conditions, please refer to the latest announcements from scenic areas and transportation authorities.
