Indisputable natural beauty, savoury and spicy Hunan cuisine, and easily reachable from Hong Kong. If exploring more of China’s breathtaking gems is your travel agenda for 2025, Zhangjiajie should be on your list. It’s home to China’s first-ever national park with otherworldly quartz-sandstone pillars as well as the world’s tallest glass bridge (as of now). Ascending to 300 metres into the air, the rugged peaks were formed millions of years ago through a combination of geological events and erosion.
Today, you’ll see clumps of dense foliage adding a vibrant contrast to the sandstone shades. And there’s more to do beyond the National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie. Ahead, we curated a guide to the best time to visit Zhangjiajie, how to get to the park, where to stay, as well as day trips to nearby ancient towns.
The stupendous scenery also served as a major inspiration for Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar. The soaring rock pillars appear to be “floating” if you catch them on a misty day — a scene so mystical, it feels like CGI.
Pro tip: Plan your days early. Most tour groups start at 9 am, so you want to get to the scenic areas either before or a little after (10 am usually works).
Explore Zhangjiajie, the real-life Pandora that inspired Avatar, with this guide
How to get to Zhangjiajie from Hong Kong?
It’s best to set aside at least three days to fully explore Zhangjiajie, but if you’re looking to also include day trips to nearby towns in your itinerary, then opt for five. There are two direct options for getting to Zhangjiajie from Hong Kong.
Via high-speed train: Around 6 hours 22 minutes, costs CNY 1,229 or USD 170 (first-class seats); CNY 769 or USD 106 (second-class seats). Book via Trip.com or www.12306.cn.
Via flight: Greater Bay Airlines has a direct 2-hour flight to Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. It roughly costs HKD 1,500 (USD 191) for a round trip.
Things to do in Zhangjiajie: Your ultimate guide
Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Spanning 11,900 acres, you’ll need two days (or a day and a half) to hit all the scenic spots in the National Forest Park. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site under the name of Wulingyuan Scenic Area since 1992 and a World Geopark since 2001, the park features more than 3,000 sandstone columns and peaks.
Shuttle buses run throughout the park to get you from one scenic zone to the other—we still recommend wearing comfortable hiking shoes with a good grip. It’s also handy to keep a raincoat with you in case it pours. And of course, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! There are cafes and kiosks scattered all throughout the park to take a little break—the coconut coffees are particularly refreshing. The restaurants may not have an English menu so keep a translation app ready.
There are several ways to explore the park, but the easiest route begins at the East Gate. From here, hop on a shuttle bus that takes you directly to the Bailong Elevator — the world’s tallest outdoor elevator. If your entry ticket doesn’t include the elevator, you’ll need to purchase one separately. Be warned: queues can get long around noon, but the 88-second ascent is worth the time saved (and the energy spared) compared to hiking.
Once at the top, board another shuttle toward the First Bridge, followed by a ride to Yangjiajie. You’ll eventually find yourself on a circular route that winds through Tianzi Mountain, ending with a scenic cable car ride back down. This path easily takes up a full day — so slow down, take it all in, and let the surreal, wallpaper-like scenery reveal itself one breathtaking view at a time.
For your second visit to the park, enter again via the East gate and explore the Golden Whip stream. It’s roughly a three-hour leisurely walk around the forest and ends at the West gate. If you are pressed for time, you can also skip this section and spend more time at Tianzi Mountain.
Park entrance fees, opening hours, and more:
Entry fees: Tickets start at HKD 198 (USD 25), which includes park entry and shuttle bus access. For a more complete experience, opt for the combo ticket (from HKD 397 or 50), which covers park entry, shuttle bus, the Bailong Elevator, and the Tianzi Mountain cableway. All tickets are valid for four consecutive days and can be booked in advance on Trip.com.
Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm
Note: Sometimes, hotel concierge can also help you figure out the best park route for you, depending on the highlights you want to cover.
Step into the heavens at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie
Your acrophobia may reach new heights at Tianmen Shan, but this attraction is not to be missed if you’re travelling to Zhangjiajie. To get to the tallest peak in Zhangjiajie, you’ll have to hop on China’s longest cable car ride (takes about 30 minutes) — keep an eye out for a bird’s eye view of the 99 Bends Road.
The highlight here is to climb 999 steep and narrow steps — believed to bring good luck and good health—to reach the Heaven’s Gate Cave. Or take an escalator through the mountain to save your energy. Popular attractions on the mountain summit include the Tianmen Mountain Temple (built in the 14th century), and daring glass skywalks and cliff walkways. And only in China will you find a Burger King 1,500 metres above sea level!
It takes roughly four to five hours to complete Tianmen Shan so there’s still plenty time left to plan the rest of your day.
Park entrance fees, opening hours, and more:
You can pick between three different routes when purchasing the park tickets. Route A takes you to the top of Tianmen Shan and you descend the 999 steps; for Route B, you climb the steps to reach the top; and Route C is for those who’d prefer skipping the cable car and taking an express train instead.
Entry fees: A ticket costs HKD 304 (USD 38) and includes park entry, access to the glass walkway, and a scenic cable car ride. Tickets are valid for the day and can be booked in advance on Trip.com.
Opening hours: 6:30 am to 4 pm
Again, best to buy tickets ahead of time either via Klook or Trip.com, they’re often cheaper than purchasing on the spot.
Walk on air at the Dazzling Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
385 metres in length, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge can roughly fit four football fields. Hanging 300 metres above the Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie, attempting this walk is not for the faint hearted. It’s a popular spot for cultural events and daredevils looking to bungee jump or zipline — taking on Cloud 9 to the literal level. Tickets cost HKD 239 (USD 30) and come with access to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
Use the rest of the day to explore the forest walks, serene waterfalls and valleys of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Take a quick break and bask in all the beauty around you with the Shenquan Lake boat ride. Again, there are different routes to explore, ranging from one hour to around three hours, pick accordingly to your itinerary.
Discover the mystical beauty of Yellow Dragon Cave
Locally known as Huanglong Cave, explore unique limestone formations and intricate caverns, all colourfully lit up for better viewing. Encompassing colossal stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers, Yellow Dragon Cave is a treasure trove of natural beauty.
Legend has it that a dragon lived within this cave (hence, the name). Given the sheer size of it, exploring the four layers from end to end takes two to three hours. To add to the surreal experience, hop on an eight-minute boat ride along the Echoing Water River (costs an additional CNY 36 or USD 5.01 per person).
Do wear shoes with a good grip as some parts can be slippery. The cave includes many steps so come prepared. Entrance tickets cost CNY 60 (USD 8.35) per person and the cave is open daily from 7 am to 5:30 pm during peak season, and 8 am to 4 pm during non-peak season.
Explore Zhangjiajie city
If you’re free in the evening, head over to Zhangjiajie city. Here you’ll find plenty of local restaurants, shopping malls, and spas for that much-needed foot massage. Other attractions include Zhangjiajie Junsheng Painting Institute (an art museum), Tujia Folk Customs Park, and Dayong Town.
Day trips to ancient towns: Furong and Fenghuang
A charming blend of natural beauty, old wooden houses, and cultural traditions passed on for generations, Furong is a must-visit. With a history of over 2,000 years, this ancient town is perched atop a stunning waterfall. Staying true to its roots, local residents still live and work in these well-preserved houses.
The highlight of the town — the waterfall — spans 60 metres wide and drops 30 metres is striaght out of a fairytale. A magnificent view both during the day and at night, when subtle lights illuminate the cascading falls. You can explore the whole town on foot via its narrow alleys (all well-paved). You can either do a day trip from Zhangjiajie or stay the night at one of its heritage hotels.
Do note there’s an entrance fee of CNY 100 (USD 13). Furong is accessible via high speed train from Zhangjiajie—it takes 23 minutes and costs about HKD 43 (USD 5).
Another popular ancient town near Zhangjiajie is Fenghuang, which means “Phoenix” in Chinese. According to folklore, these mythical birds flew over this ancient town and were reluctant to leave, caught in its beauty.
The scenery is straight out of a traditional Chinese painting—concrete bridges, stilt houses, and lush greenery all reflected on the banks of Tuo Jiang River. Also explorable completely on foot, explore the local shops, restaurants, and snap a photos on the stone-crossing bridges for keepsakes. You can find the local Miao minority selling handmade silver ornaments, tie-dye batiks, and also homemade chilli oil. The whole town lights up at night with buzzing scenes and river cruises on traditional boats.
You can reach Fenghuang from Zhangjiajie via high speed train — costs about HKD 100 (USD 12) and takes almost an hour. If you stayed the night at Furong, you can reach Fenghuang in about 40 minutes by high speed train.
Fenghuang also has a direct train back to Hong Kong which takes about five and a half hours. Frequency is only once a day, and it costs about HKD 735 (USD 93) per person.
What is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie?
The best time to visit Zhangjiajie is between September to November for pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and clear views. April to June is also pleasant for lush greenery and misty mountains. If you’re after snow-capped mountains, November to February offers a chilly experience with far lesser crowds and cheaper rates too.
Avoid major holidays like Golden Week (October 1 to 7) and summer (July to August) due to large crowds.
Where to stay in Zhangjiajie: Wulingyuan vs Downtown
Wulingyuan offers a range of boutique hotels and inns with good service and views of the karst mountains. Most hotels are walkable distance to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, making it easier to beat the crowds. You’re also in closer promixity to the glass bridge, Yellow Dragon Cave, and Baofeng Lake. The downside is the 50-minute drive from the airport, railway station, or Tianmen Shan. And Wulingyuan also lacks dining options.
Downtown Zhangjiajie on the other hand, has plenty of restaurants, spas, and bars, and is much closer to Tianmen Shan. Here, you can find a wide range of hotels, from five-star to budget inns. But it does feel like any other city and it can get a bit noisy.
To get the best of both worlds, stay one night in Downtown Zhangjiajie to explore Tianmen Shan, and then spend the rest in Wulingyuan.
Hotel recommendations in Wulingyuan:
- Neodalle Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan (from HKD 796 or USD 101 per night)
- Manyuan Resort Hotel (from 489 or USD 62 per night)
- Nvue Resorts Zhangjiajie (from 571 or USD 72 per night)
- Zhangjiajie Tianzishan Family Boundary · Liangshe (from HKD 1,289 or USD 164 per night)
- JI Hotel (from HKD 651 or USD 82 per night)
- Jinyuanshan Meisu Hotel (from HKD 318 or USD 40 per night)
- Pullman Zhangjiajie (from HKD 517 or USD 65 per night)
Hotel recommendations in Downtown Zhangjiajie:
- Hampton by Hilton (from HKD 712 or USD 90 per night)
- the Mansion Inn Dream Mansion (from HKD 317 or USD 40 per night)
- Atour Hotel Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Cableway (from HKD 511 or USD 65 per night)
- Tian Men Shan Qian Hotel (from HKD 338 or USD 43 per night)
- Wyndham Garden Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain (from HKD 752 or USD 95 per night)
- Metropolo Hotel ZhangJiaJie Tianmen Mountain (from HKD 465 or USD 59 per night)
Keep this guide handy as you navigate sky-high bridges, misty peaks, and ancient caves — every turn promises a story worth remembering in Zhangjiajie.
(Feature Image Credit: Fashila Kanakka)
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many days are enough for Zhangjiajie?
Set aside at least three days to explore Zhangjiajie.
Which movie was filmed in Zhangjiajie?
‘Avatar’ (2009) by James Cameron was heavily inspired by Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
What is the best month to visit Zhangjiajie?
The best visiting time for Zhangjiajie is from April to June and September to October.
Which entrance is best for Zhangjiajie?
The East Entrance Gate is the easiest.
Why is Zhangjiajie so famous?
Zhangjiajie is famous for its dramatic sandstone pillar formations, which inspired the floating mountains in the movie ‘Avatar’.
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