由 wangyuning21@gmail.com Zhangjiajie is truly a place where you can experience natural wonders and diverse cultures. Here is a travel guide tailored just for you, covering everything from core attractions to practical tips.
How to Get to Zhangjiajie
International Travel Options
Direct Flights: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport now offers international routes. For instance, starting October 9, 2025, Zhejiang Longhao Airlines will operate a new Hangzhou-Zhangjiajie-Singapore route with three weekly flights. This offers great convenience for travelers from Southeast Asia or those transiting through Singapore.
High-Speed Rail Network: Departing from Hong Kong is a viable option. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link offers direct services from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Zhangjiajie West Station, taking approximately 6 hours. Upon arrival at Zhangjiajie West Station, you can easily transfer to buses or taxis to reach the core scenic areas.
Domestic Connections
If you’re already in another Chinese city, you can first fly to major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, then transfer to domestic flights or high-speed rail to Zhangjiajie.
Core Attractions and Experiences
Zhangjiajie’s attractions each have their own unique features. You can combine them based on your stamina and interests.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: The heart of the region, featuring thousands of quartz sandstone peaks. This is where the floating mountains in the movie Avatar were filmed.
Yuanjiajie: Don’t miss the Hallelujah Mountain (the inspiration for the floating mountains in Avatar).
Tianzishan: Admire landmarks like the Imperial Brush Peak and Fairy Presenting Flowers. With good luck, you might witness spectacular sea of clouds.
Huangshizhai & Jinbian Stream: Huangshizhai offers one of the park’s highest vantage points, while Jinbian Stream winds through a scenic gorge perfect for hiking. Note: Monkeys along Jinbian Stream may attempt to snatch food—keep snacks securely stored.
Bailong Elevator: As the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, it transports you to the summit in mere seconds, instantly revealing panoramic views of the peak forest.
Tianmenshan National Forest Park: Renowned for Tianmen Cave—a natural karst archway—and its thrilling suspended walkway.
Tianmen Mountain Cableway: Ride the approximately 7,500-meter-long cableway to overlook the Heavenly Road below and the mountain scenery.
Glass Walkway: Walking along the glass walkway affixed to the cliff face offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the thrill of walking in the air.
Tour Routes: Select Route A, B, or C when purchasing tickets. Route A (cable car up, bus down) is widely recommended as the best option.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: The highlight is the breathtaking Cloud Sky Glass Bridge—the world’s highest canyon glass bridge—guaranteed to get your heart racing.
Cultural Performances & Folk Traditions:
The grand song-and-dance show Zhangjiajie Thousand-Year Sentiment employs cutting-edge technology to depict the region’s billion-year history and legends.
The live-action musical Tianmen Fox Fairy, adapted from mythical tales, performs within the canyon for a breathtakingly immersive experience.
At the Zhangjiajie Cultural Tourism Creative Industrial Park, you can personally experience intangible cultural heritage crafts like Tujia brocade weaving.
Ticket & ID Guidelines
Foreign Visitor ID Usage
Good news: To enhance the experience for international visitors, Zhangjiajie’s scenic area system has been upgraded. Foreign tourists can now use their passports or the new Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to scan directly at turnstiles for entry, enabling “one-swipe access.” Note that some scenic areas’ official notices may still primarily mention ID card entry, but the system now supports passports. Ensure you select the correct ID type when purchasing tickets.
Ticket Purchase Recommendations
Official Channels First: We recommend booking tickets online via the official WeChat accounts or websites of each scenic area. This is the most reliable method.
On-Site Purchases: Tickets can also be bought at scenic area ticket windows or multilingual self-service kiosks.
Ticket Packages: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is vast and ideal for in-depth exploration. Consider purchasing a 4-day pass. If planning to experience multiple mountain access methods, look for transportation packages including the “Three Cable Cars and One Elevator” (three cable cars and Bailong Elevator).
Practical Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit: October to December each year is an excellent off-peak travel period. This period not only avoids crowds but also allows for a more leisurely appreciation of the scenery and local culture.
Accommodation Options:
Wulingyuan District: Located very close to the entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, this area offers a wide range of lodging options, from high-end resorts to unique homestays, making it an ideal base for exploring the forest park.
Zhangjiajie City Center: If you plan to visit Tianmen Mountain, staying in the city center will be more convenient.
Language & Payment:
Major attractions feature multilingual ticket machines, and some performances offer multilingual commentary. However, small shops or taxi drivers may not speak fluent English. Prepare the Chinese names or photos of your destinations in advance.
Attractions have improved payment services for international visitors, but carry some cash in Chinese yuan and ensure Alipay or WeChat Pay functions properly.
Clothing and Gear:
Mountain weather is unpredictable, and temperatures at the summit are typically 5-8°C cooler than in the city. Be sure to pack a windproof jacket.
Comfortable, slip-resistant sneakers are essential, as significant walking is required.
We hope this guide helps you plan your Zhangjiajie trip more effectively.