Wulingyuan
Forest parkNext to the park entrance.
Zhangjiajie city guide
Things To Do In Zhangjiajie
Thousands of sandstone pillars rising out of the mist, the mountains that inspired Avatar, a glass bridge over a canyon and a cable car to Heaven's Gate.
16
Hostels in the city
9.4
Average, from 697 reviews
1992
Wulingyuan joins UNESCO
326 m
The Bailong elevator
999
Steps to Heaven's Gate
The Avatar mountains
Zhangjiajie, in Hunan province, is famous for its sandstone pillars: thousands of them, some over two hundred metres tall, rising from the forest and often wrapped in mist. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its peaks inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.
There are two bases: Wulingyuan town, next to the national forest park, and Zhangjiajie city, closer to Tianmen Mountain and the railway.
It is extremely popular with domestic visitors. Three days is right.
Where to stay
Wulingyuan, the town at the main entrance to the forest park, is the best base for the pillars, with guesthouses a walk from the gate. Zhangjiajie city, about an hour away, has the airport, railway station and the cable car to Tianmen Mountain.
Zhangjiajie city
TransportNear Tianmen Mountain and the airport.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of Wulingyuan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, is a forest of thousands of sandstone pillars rising from the mist, said to have inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar.
The park is huge; allow two or three days, with a multi-day ticket. The Bailong Elevator, 326 metres up the side of a cliff, lifts you to the plateau; Yuanjiajie has the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain views, and Tianzi Mountain the classic panoramas. Golden Whip Stream is a flat walk along a river at the base of the pillars. Free shuttle buses link the areas.
Tianmen Mountain, near the city, is reached by one of the world's longest cable cars, then a climb of 999 steps to Heaven's Gate, a huge natural arch in the cliff. Glass walkways cling to the cliff face.
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon has a glass bridge across the gorge. Fenghuang, an old riverside town of wooden stilt houses, is about three hours away.
Free things
Free things to do in Zhangjiajie
The park's shuttle buses are included in the ticket, and Golden Whip Stream is free once you are in. Wulingyuan town's streets are free.
The park and Tianmen Mountain both need tickets; there is little that is free in the area.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Zhangjiajie
Hunan food is spicy, with chilli used even more than in Sichuan. Tujia people's dishes, such as smoked pork, la rou, and three-pot dishes, sanxiaguo, are local. Mao's red-braised pork, from Hunan, is the province's famous dish.
A meal is €4 to €10.
Nightlife
Going out in Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is quiet at night. Wulingyuan has a few bars and restaurants, and the Tianmen Fox Fairy show, an outdoor performance at Tianmen Mountain, is the evening event.
A beer is €2 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport and the high-speed railway station are near the city; Wulingyuan is about an hour away by bus. High-speed trains reach Changsha and other cities.
Inside the forest park, free shuttle buses, the Bailong Elevator and cable cars link the areas; much is on foot.
Costs
What Zhangjiajie costs
Zhangjiajie is mid-priced, but tickets are expensive. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €25 to €40, plus entry.
The forest park ticket is about €30, valid for several days; the Bailong Elevator and cable cars are extra. Tianmen Mountain costs about €30 to €40 with the cable car. The glass bridge is about €20.
The currency is the yuan (CNY), at roughly 8 yuan to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Almost everyone pays by phone: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive, and carry some cash as a backup.
Safety
Staying safe in Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is safe. The park is very crowded on Chinese holidays; avoid them if you can.
Paths are steep, with many steps; wear good shoes. Mist can hide the views; check the forecast.
Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked; use an eSIM with international roaming, and Amap or Baidu Maps for directions. Carry your passport: it is needed for trains, hotels and many sights, which are booked by real name.
Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, under a scheme extended to the end of 2026, and 240-hour visa-free transit covers many more; check the rules for your passport before you travel.
Emergency: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.
Day trips from Zhangjiajie
Heaven's Gate, a glass bridge and a riverside old town.
Tianmen Mountain
Heaven's Gate and cliff walks.
Grand Canyon
The glass bridge across the gorge.
Fenghuang
A riverside old town of stilt houses.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The holidays bring huge crowds.
1–7 October
Golden Week
Parks
Extremely crowded.
October and November
Autumn colours
Forest park
The forests turn.
Hostels
Where to stay in Zhangjiajie
The top-rated places to stay in Zhangjiajie right now, live from Hostelworld.
Whispering Mountains Boutique Hotel
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Zhangjiajie Wangyi Inn
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Zhangjiajie Tongfu inn (In National Forest Park)
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Sustainable
Xiangzi Creek
Dorms from €13 a night
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All Seasons Lodge
Dorms from €12 a night
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Just Waiting For You
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Travel of Swan Int'l Youth Hostel (Zhangjiajie)
Dorms from €10 a night
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Zhangjiajie Highilghts Guesthouse
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Destination Youth Hostel
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Sustainable
Zhangjiajie Jijiehao Hostel
Dorms from €13 a night
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One Step to Heaven Inn (National Forest Park)
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Zhangjiajie Gui Yuan Zhen Pin Hotel
See dates and bookWhen to go
April to June and September to November. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year if you can, when the whole country travels.
Jan
Cold
Feb
New Year
Mar
Spring
Apr
Good
May
Excellent
Jun
Rainy
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot
Sep
Good
Oct
Golden Week crowds
Nov
Autumn colours
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Mist is common, which is part of the beauty.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in yuan locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes park tickets.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Zhangjiajie travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do I need?
Two or three for the forest park, plus one for Tianmen.
Is the ticket multi-day?
Yes, the forest park ticket is valid for several days.
Is it the Avatar mountain?
The pillars are said to have inspired Avatar's floating mountains.
When should I avoid it?
Chinese public holidays, when it is extremely crowded.
Where should I stay?
Wulingyuan, by the park entrance.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to November.
Is it hard walking?
There are many steps; the elevator and cable cars help.
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