Zhangjiajie Travel Guide – A Visually Stunning Feast for the Soul
Zhangjiajie, located in the northwest of Hunan Province, is a world-famous tourist destination standing out for its thousands of pillar-like peaks and pinnacles. As the top destination for a nature adventure in China, Zhangjiajie travel will reward you with numerous natural wonders and marvels.
Some of the most famous attractions in Zhangjiajie include the National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, the worldās highest glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, and Yuanjiajie scenic spot which is the inspiration for the floating mountains in the popular movie Avatar.
In addition, it is also inhabited by many ethnic minorities, including 33 ethnic minorities in total and the typical ethnic groups are Tujia, Bai, and Miao. Statistics in 2018 showed that the population of ethnic minorities account for 75% of the total population in this place, and there are more than 70 kinds of intangible cultural heritages in categories, among which the folk songs of Sangzhi are the first batch listed in the to it at first. Follow our complete Zhangjiajie Travel Guide to plan your perfect trip to Zhangjiajie.
- Geographic Position:Ā inĀ southernĀ China (109.40Ā°ā 111.20Ā°E, 28.52Ā°ā 29.48Ā°N)
- Climate:Ā Mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate (four distinctive and pleasant seasons, hot summer and warm winter, abundant rainfall, long forst-free period )
- Nearby Airport:Ā Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG)
- Nearby Train Stations:Ā Zhangjiajie Railway Station, Zhangjiajie West Railway Station
Chinese: å¼ å®¶ē zhÄng jiÄ jiĆØ
Population: 1.7M
Area:Ā 3,675 sq miles
Airport:Ā DGY
Zip Code:Ā 427000
Time Zone:Ā GMT+8
Content Previewā
- Top Zhangjiajie Touist Attractions
- Top Things to Do in Zhangjiajie
- What to Eat in Zhangjiajie?
- How Many Days to Plan for a Zhangjiajie Tour?
- Recommendations for Different Tour Types and Travel Styles
- Zhangjiajie Transportation: How to Get to and Travel Around
- Weather & Best Time to Travel to Zhangjiajie
- Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie: Accommodations
- Best China Tours including Zhangjiajie
- FAQs about Zhangjiajie Travel
- Recommended ZhangjiajieToursā
Taking a Zhangjiajie tourĀ is like stepping into a living fairyland. The over 3,000 unique peaks in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the awe-inspiring Tianmen Cave of Tianmen Mountain are just some of its highlights. The thrilling Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is a new trend for adventurers.
There are multiple ways to ease your exploration of all the Zhangjiajie travel highlights. You can take a Tianmen Mountain cableway to fly through the sea of clouds, hop on a sightseeing train through the breathtaking Ten-Mile Gallery, or ride the Bailong Elevator to ascend from Golden Whip Stream to the towering peaks at Yuanjiajie directly.
Top Things to Do in Zhangjiajie
Embarking on a tour to Zhangjiajie means youāll encounter a wealth variety of captivating sceneries, exhausting adventures, and ethnic and cultural experiences. The options are abundant when it comes to recommended activities and things to do in Zhangjiajie. See the following list to get inspired on what to do in Zhangjiajie.
Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
A top highlight of Wulingyuan Scenic Area and Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park will offer a memorable exploration of unique landforms, peaks of different shapes, and dense forests.
You will admire the inspiration of the floating mountains in Avatar at Yuanjiajie, enjoy leisure walking and sightseeing at Golden Whip Stream, and encounter the Ā “King of Peak Forests” at Tianzi Mountain. Not to mention the exciting cableway ride and Bailong Elevator.
Explore the Thrills of Tianmen Mountain
Tianmen Mountain will welcome you with a thrilling array of experiences. You can reach the mountain directly from the city area by the longest cable car in the world. Challenge the 999 steps to marvel at the iconic Tianmen Cave, and enjoy exhilarating walking on the glass skywalk.
Cultural Exploration in Fenghuang Ancient Town
When you have a tour of Fenghuang Ancient Town, you can taste authentic Hunan cuisine and local snacks that are spicy and soul, walk along the Tuo River, enjoy the unique architectural style of ancient buildings or experience the primitive life customs of the Tujia People.
Challenge Your Courage at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is most known for its Glass Bridge (named Yuntian Du), the highest and longest glass bridge in the world. Many adventurers like to challenge themselves by walking on the transparent surface of the bridge while admiring the panoramic view of the canyon. Besides that, the canyon also provides great hiking trails with awesome canyon sceneries and natural wonders. The Rainbow Lake and Shnequan Lake at the bottom of the canyon allow visitors to enjoy a leisure boat ride. Ā
Related reading: Things not to do in Zhangjiajie
What to Eat in Zhangjiajie?
Sanxia Guo (a hot pot with three ingredients)
Zhangjiajie Sanxia Guo, also known as Tujia Sanxia Guo, is a specialty in Zhangjiajie, which is a hot pot with three ingredients.Ā In the early years, preserved meat, tofu and radish were stewed in one pot. Nowadays, ingredients containĀ pork intestines, pork stomach, beef tripe, lamb tripe or pig feet, and local chef. The dish has two kinds: the dry pot and soup pot. Dry pot without soup tastes spicier, so if you canāt eat spicy food, you had better try the soup pot.
Tujia Steamed Pork Belly
Ā Tujia Steamed Pork Belly is a main course for Tujia people, which is usually served as the main course when local people hold banquets or great events. It usually takes pork belly as an ingredient, then cooks it by boiling, frying, steaming and other ways, and people may put some pickles under the pork belly when finish. Although it is made of fat meat, it tastes delicious rather than greasy.Ā
Smoked Blood Tofu
Ā Smoked Blood Tofu is mainly made of tofu and fresh pig blood. By using the seasoning such as pork diced and pepper and mixing or mashing them together. The most important procedure is smoking the chunk for a long time and cutting it into pieces, then cooking them with
garlic or pepper.Ā Although the dish looks ordinary, it tastes delicious. It is a famous and
nutrient-rich Tujia specialty, and its microelement is beneficial to human health.
Kiwi-fruit juice
Kiwifruit has rich nutritional value, it contains calcium, potassium, selenium, zinc, germanium and other microelement, vitamins and 17 kinds of amino acids needed by the human body.Ā So itĀ isĀ known as the “king of fruit”.Ā Because ofĀ the unique geographical location and climateĀ of Zhangjiajie, the kiwifruit here is abundant and famous, and the kiwi-fruit juice is deliciousĀ as well asĀ cheap, which is a popular drink for people.
How Many Days to Plan for a Zhangjiajie Tour?
Typically, we recommend planning 3-4 days Zhangjiajie Tours. This duration allows you to cover its core scenic areas or enjoy a relatively deep experience here. Or, you can contact our travel consultants regarding your travel ideas and time schedule, they will customize your perfect trip according to your specific preferences and requirements.
2-3 Days in Zhangjiajie
If you have only 2 to 3 days available in Zhangjiajie, we recommend covering some of its core scenic areas. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a must for first-timers, including scenic areas such as Yuanjiajie (the inspiration for floating mountains in Avatar), Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream, Yangjiajie, etc. All these scenic areas are included in the combo ticket of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, and will be valid for four days. But if you have very limited time (such as only 1-2 days), you can click on this to take a look.
Recommended 2-3 days tours in Zhangjiajie:
4 Days in Zhangjiajie
With 4 days, consider adding Tianmen Mountain and Grand Canyon (with the glass bridge) to your trip, beyond the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. These are the three top highlights of Zhangjiajie, offering breathtaking natural wonders as well as memorable outdoor adventures.
Recommended 4-day Zhangjiajie tours:
5 or More Days in Zhangjiajie
If you have 5 or more days, besides the above recommended top natural highlights, we advise spending 1-2 days visiting the nearby Baofeng Lake, Yellow Dragon Cave, or exploring Tujia and Miao ethnic culture at Furong Town and Fenghuang Ancient Town. Or, you can also extend your Zhangjiajie travel to the nearby Changsha City.
Recommended 5 or more days Zhangjiajie tours:
Recommendations for Different Tour Types and Travel Styles
Family Trip in Zhangjiajie
If you plan to travel to Zhangjiajie with family, attractions equipped with convenient public transportation and advanced tourist facilities are highly recommended. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Tianmen Mountain or Fenghuang Ancient Town are such attractions.
Zhangjiajie Gourmet Food Trip
The food in Zhangjiajie is one kind of typical Hunan Cuisine, which is famous for its sour and spicy flavor. Sanxia Guo and Smoked Blood tofu are the most popular foods in Zhangjiajie. You can easily find them in any restaurant in Zhangjiajie, and after the meal, you can try the local popular kiwi-fruit juice. There are also multiple traditional ethnic foods worth trying, and if you want to eat the more authentic local food, Miao Village around Fenghuang Ancient Town is the best choice for you.
History & Culture Discovery
Visitors who are interested in ancient architectures and cultures cannot miss visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town built in 1704, the 43rd year of the reign of emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, which is one of the ten cultural heritages in Hunan province. Here visitors can not only enjoy the unique ethnic songs and dances of the Miao people and taste traditional food, but also buy some handmade silver products or embroidery and other souvenirs with ethnic characteristics.
Adventure Trip
For adventurous people, they will not want to miss the Grass Bridge at the Grand Canyon, and the glass skywalk at Tianmen Mountain. Besides that, Yangjiajie Scenic Area is also an ideal destination, thanks to its primitive and beautiful scenery and steep mountains. The Oolong Village in this area used to be the place where bandits lived. So the road is challenging for most visitors.
Photography Trip
The natural landscape of Zhangjiajie is magnificent and breathtaking, so visitors can take beautiful pictures in almost every scenic spot. But never miss to take great pictures at the āHallelujah Mountainā of Yunajiajie which is the prototype of Avatar. Yellow Dragon Cave is also a great place to catch typical karst landforms, fantastic stalagmites, stalactites, and mysterious caves.
Related reading: How to Plan a Trip to Furong Ancient Town from Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie Transportation: How to Get to and Travel Around
By Air
The most convenient option is to fly directly to Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. The airport is located in Hehua village, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie of Hunan province, is 10 kilometers away from the downtown area. Currently, it operates airlines to 55 domestic cities and flights to/from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Seoul, etc. For cities with no direct flights to Zhangjiajie, it is easy to make a transfer from the nearby Wuhan and Changsha by either high-speed trains or long-distance buses.
- Transportation to downtown area: Take bus line 4 from airport police station stop to peopleās square directly. It takes about 40 minutes and CNY 2.
- Transportation to National Forest Park: Take bus line 4 to Wuling Zhenshan Guan stop and walk to Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station. Then transfer to the Tourism Shuttle Bus to the scenic area directly. The total duration is about 2 hours and the price is about CNY 12. As for taxi, it takes about 40 minutes and CNY 100.
By Train
The developed railway network makes it convenient to get to Zhangjiajie by high-speed trains. Zhangjiajie West Railway Station now offers bullet trains to/from Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Guangzhou.
- Transportation to downtown area: Bus lines 17, 13, 102 connect Zhangjiajie Railway Station to the city center with a duration about 30 minutes and cost of CNY 2. And bus line 17 connects West Railway Station to city center, which takes about 50 minutes and CNY 2.
- Transportation to National Forest Park: The Central Bus Station is next to Zhangjiajie Railway Station, so you can walk to bus station and take the Tourism Shuttle Bus to the park directly. You will spend about 45 minutes and CNY 12. If you are in West Railway Station, you can take the Tourism Shuttle Bus at the bus stop opposite to the station entrance, which takes about 55 minutes and CNY 12.
The duration and fare of taxi from Zhangjiajie Railway Station and West Railway Station are 40/30 minutes and CNY 100/80, respectively.
Travel Around
There are a total of 10 bus lines in the city, connecting the airport, railway stations, bus station and downtown area. The ticket price is all CNY 2 per person and the opening hours are about 06:00 – 20:30 with sight differences between routes.
Taking a cab in the city is very cheap. The flag-down fare of the cab in Zhangjiajie is CNY 5 for the first 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), and when the mileage exceeds 1 kilometer, the fee is CNY 1.6 per kilometer, and when the mileage exceeds 6 kilometers, the fee is extra CNY 3.2 per kilometers.
Online car-hailingĀ is also available here. Its advantages are more transparent price and avoiding detours.
Related reading: Zhangjiajie vs Jiuzhaigou: Which One to Visit?
Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie: Accommodations
Downtown Area
The hotels in downtown area range from economy to high-end luxury hotels, so tourist can choose according to your needs. With train stations, airport, and city buses, the transportation is quite convenient. The supporting facilities are complete, and restaurants and night markets are abundant. But its distance to the scenic areas is a little far, so it may take relatively more time and expense to the scenic areas.
Recommended hotels:
- Yun Mei Bie Yuan Hotel
- Address: No. 1, Lane 2, Shuangyong Road, Nanzhuangping, Yongding District
- Features:This hotel is about 5 minutes driving to the Tianmen Mountain cable car. The room is spacious and clean, and the decoration is in a wooden Chinese style. Well-equippedĀ facilities and excellent service will ensure a comfortable living experience.
- Price:CNY 250 – 600
- Longxiang Int Hotel
- Address: Building 3, Phase II, Weile Imperial Garden, Yongding District
- Feature: About 0.5 kilometersā walk from the bus station and about 2kilometersā walk from the entrance of Tianmen Mountain. The hotel offers breakfast, and the restaurants around hotel is diverse.
- Price: CNY 200 – 400
Wulingyuan District
Near to the main scenic areas, living in this area can save time and transportation cost. Surrounded by abundant natural scenery, the air is fresh and you can feel the charm of the nature when living here. The tourism service facilities are also mature in this area, making it convenient for you to plan a tour. But in peak season, the hotel price is higher.
Recommended hotels:
- Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
- Address: No. 188, Gaoyun Road, Wulingyuan District
- Feature: Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel is located nearthe core area of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is a 30-minuteā drive from Zhangjiajie City, airport, and railway station, and 3.5 hoursā drive to Changsha. Whatās more, it is only a few minutesā drive to the entrance of Tianzi Mountain, Yellow Dragon Cave, and Baofeng Lake of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
- Price: CNY 500 – 900
- Xiangruige Boutique Hotel
- Address: No. 25, Tianzi Road, Wulingyuan District
- Feature: This hotelis located at the entrance of Xibu Street (special style street) and only 2 kilometers away from Baofeng Lake scenic spot, Wulingyuan scenic spot and Wulingyuan bus station with the convenient transportation.Ā Both local western Hunan cuisine and western food are offered here.
- Price: CNY 300 – 450
Tianmen Mountain Area
In walking distance to Tianmen Mountain cable car station, tourists can enter the mountain at dusk to avoid crowded populations. It is suitable for travelers who mainly visit this scenic area, especially for short trip travelers or those with tight schedules.
Recommended hotels:
- Metropolo Jinjiang Hotels
- Address: S3 building, Dianda Plaza, Yongding District
- Feature: Only 2 minutes walking to the entrance of Tianmen Mountain. The observation deck on the top floor of the hotel offers a direct view of the Tianmen Cave. From the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms, you can enjoy the sea of clouds.
- Price: CNY 350 – 600
- Hampton Hotel
- Address: Building 1, Nancheng Jinzuo, Yongding District
- Feature: About 5 minutes walking to the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car S The hotel offers warm and comfortable guest rooms, a dynamic gym and a healthy restaurant with authentic flavors. It is suitable for families with children and business travelers.
- Price: 550 – 1,000
Inside the National Forest Park
Staying insideĀ the scenic area, you can not only enter the scenic spots earlier in the morning, butĀ also enjoy the unique beauty of the scenic area at dusk and dawn.Ā But the hotel choices are less and the facilities are relatively basic. Most are rural inns which incorporate Tujia ethnic customs.
Recommended Hotel:
- Guiguan International Hotel
- Address: At the entrance of National Forest Park
- Feature: The design of the hotel integrates the style of Tujia stilt houses and it provides Tujia folk performance and cooking courses. All guest rooms have viewing terraces, so you can enjoy the scenery inside the room.
- Price: CNY 300 – 900
Best China ToursĀ including Zhangjiajie
- 6 Days Best Beijing ā Zhangjiajie Adventure Tour
- 7 Days Zhangjiajie-Guilin Adventure Tour by High-speed Train
- 8 Days Chengdu Panda, Jiuzhaigou, and Zhangjiajie Tour
- 11 Days Exploration Tour of Beijing ā Chengdu -Xian -Zhangjiajie
- 12 Days Shanghai ā Zhangjiajie ā Guilin ā Beijing Exploration Tour
FAQs about Zhangjiajie Travel
If time is limited, which scenic spots are must-visits?
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Huangshizhai and Golden Ship Stream are must-visited attractions in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. While in Tianmen Mountain, Tianmen Cave, Glass Walkway and Yunmengxian Peak are unmissable.
How toĀ arrange the itinerary for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain?
Since Tianmen Mountain is near city center, so it is usually recommended to spend one day touring Tianmen Mountain first. Then transfer to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park on the second day. At least one day is required in this scenic area to cover the core spots. An in-depth tour will need 2 days.
Is the transportation within Zhangjiajie City, Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park convenient?
Inside Zhangjiajie City, both bus lines, taxis and online hailing service can cover the downtown area, so it is quite convenient. While in Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, there Ā are shuttle bus, cableway and elevator for tourists to choose.
Are there multi-day or combo passes available for Zhangjiajie attractions?
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers multi-day passes of 2 and 3 days. And Tianmen Mountain offers only single-day ticket. Unfortunately, combo passes between attractions are not provided now.
Are there food and rest areas inside the scenic spots?
Near the ticket center and at the peak of mountains in all scenic areas, you can find restaurants providing fast food and local cuisines. Along the footpaths, pavilions and chairs are densely distributed for tourists to have a rest.
