Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: The Ultimate Travel Guide, Itineraries, Tickets & Tips (2026)

Zhangjiajie National Forest is an incredible place to visit and an absolute must on your China Itinerary! This blog contains everything you need to know to go and the best way to see everything. Essentially everything we wished we knew before we went.

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What Is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Why Is It Famous?

Zhangjiajie is China’s first national forest park established in 1982 and is a major tourism attraction, renowned for its towering quartz-sandstone pillars. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage SIte in 1992 it draws millions of tourists per year to see the now infamous ‘Hallelujah Mountains’ which were the inspiration for the movie Avatar!

The Avatar Mountains and the Inspiration Behind Pandora

The Avatar Mountains are surreal when viewed in real life and standing in front of them it is easy to see why they were the perfect setting for Avatar! These towering peaks are like nothing we have seen before and lend themselves perfectly to an otherworldly story.

Zhangjiajie vs Tianmen Mountain: Which Should You Visit?

We were planning to visit both mountians but unfortunately Tianmnen Mountain was under renovation (or at least all the cable cars were!) at the time we were visiting. If you only have time for one then I would do Zhangjiajie as it really is the most incredible place.

Is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Worth Visiting?

YES! Zhangjiajie is absolutely worth visiting. Not only is there a lot to see here but the experience is like nothing you will see anywhere else. It is completely unique.

How to Get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

You will either fly into Zhangjiajie Airport or arrive by train. We arrived by train from Furong Ancient Town, another must visit place in China! TIP- the best place to stay is not in Zhangjiajie but in the nearby town of Wulingyuan where the national forest park is located.

Where Is Zhangjiajie Located in China?

Zhangjiajie is a city in the northwest of Hunan Province, China. It is famous for the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, and the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with its famous glass bridge.

How to Get to Zhangjiajie by Plane, Train and Bus

Zhangjiajie by plane – Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport International Airport (DYG) is located about 10km from Zhangjiajie City.

Zhangjiajie by train – We arrived by train from Furong Ancient Town, trains in China a frequent and easy to use. You can check the schedule on the Trip app, which is the best app for booking everything in China.

Zhangjiajie by bus – There are local buses, people will mostly arrive from Changsha by this method. The Zhangjiajie Central Coach Station is located right next to the train station exit.

How to Get from Zhangjiajie City to the National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station to Wulingyuan

The bus between Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan leaves from Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, which is just by Zhangjiajie Railway Station. Buses from here depart regularly every day of the week, taking about 40 minutes at a cost of 12 RMB. This is the cheapest way to get between the two towns but note: There English spoken. It is maybe very noisy.

Taxi, Didi and Private Transfers Explained

There are lots of transport options to get around in China, there are regular taxis with meters, Didi (a rideshare app) and private transfers. Private transfers are lovely if you want to go around for a full day to hard to reach locations. The driver will take you, wait while you visit the location and then move on, at your time frame. You will usually pay for his time, fuel and food for the day. Taxis are easy to get, there are lots of them everywhere and the meter is usually fair but it will be completely Chinese speaking.

Didi is our prefered way to get around, you can down load the app and there is English translation. You can then order a ride (the same as Uber) to whatever address you put in and see how much it is. As the address is already in the app you don’t need to speak Chinese to tell the driver. Check out our China travel tips blog for more info.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets, Passes and Entry Fees

Getting the right tickets for your trip to Zhangjiajie National Park is really important and can be really difficult and confusing. This is exactly what to purchase for your time at Zhangjiajie.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Ticket Prices (2026 Update)

It doesn’t matter where or what ticket you buy they will all be for 4 days entry as standard. Currently the tickets cost the same online and at the ticket gate. The ticket we purchased was 530 CNY and allowed us complete access for our 4 days. Our ticket included multiple uses of all cable cars for as many trips as we wanted and multiple trips on the Bailong elevator for the full four days access.

How to purchase the exact tickets we used at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

To purchase our tickets follow these steps: go to this link at Trip (best booking platform for everything in China!) and scroll down to the Ticket + In-Park Transportation section and then click on the 4-Day Ticket + 3 Cableways and 1 Elevator Transportation Ticket (Adult) which will bring up the booking information section. Here select your date, event time you want to enter the park each day – we chose 7am, route – we chose multi trips which allowed us to use the elevator and cable cars as much as we wanted with no limits, the other option gives you only 4 rides on cable cars and 1 elevator trip, any excess you would have to pay for. Then select the Package, we chose East gate-Line B(Bailong Elevator Direction) which I will explain in more detail below.

See images here to help show what we purchased. You will then get a booking confirmation on the app, go in there to add your passport details so you are ready when you arrive. You must make sure to have your passport with you as this is your actual ticket for entry on the first day. Then facial recognition will be set up on your first entry and your face is your ticket! (Don’t worry if it doesn’t work, Mike’s didn’t and he just scanned his passport each time and was fine.)

How and Where to Buy Zhangjiajie Tickets

The best way to purchase your Zhangjiajie Natiional Park Tickets (and what we did) is online with Trip, check out our ticket here. This will ensure you get the day, time of entry (really important!) and route you want. Let us be very clear – you MUST enter at the time you book. Miss the time and you can’t enter until you can be booked in to another slot, this may be hours later. That is then your time for entry for the rest of your ticket access.

What the Park Ticket Includes (and What It Does Not)

Different tickets will include different things, our ticket was perfect for anywhere up to 4 days use.

Our exact ticket (and the one we recommend above) included: entry to Zhangjiajie National Park for 4 days, use of the Bailong Elevator and all cable cars as many times as we wanted. Use of all the mini buses inside the park.

Our ticket did not include the mini train in the 10 Mile Gallery (we walked this or you can add it on when you arrive at the 10 Mile Gallery for 35CNY per ride at the ticket box there. It was a nice scenic walk and very easy. If you are trying to decide if you need to train ride watch our Zhangjiajie vlog and check out that section to see our walk!)

Bailong Elevator, Cable Cars and Shuttle Bus Costs

To successfully get around the park even just once you would need most of these twice. The cost to pay for these things separately would be approximately:

Entry ticket and mini bus around park 240 CNY

Bailong Elevator one way 65 CNY

Huangshizhai cable car one way 65 CNY

Tianzi Mountain cable Car one way 72 CNY

Yangjiajie cable car one way 76 CNY

While the prices may seem low, they do add up really quickly especially when considering it doesn’t include the cost of the entry ticket.

How Long Zhangjiajie Tickets Are Valid For

All Zhangjiajie National Park Tickets are valid for 4 days, there is no other option.

Best Time to Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

We visited during November and it was excellent, perfect weather with clear blue skies and a slightly cool temperature. The changing colour of the leaves made for some pretty spectacular views against the towering peaks as well.

Zhangjiajie Weather by Month

Best Months to Visit Zhangjiajie for Clear Views

The best months to visit Zhangjiajie for clear, panoramic views are September and October (autumn) and April to May (spring). March and November are shoulder months, November was perfect for us-lower crowds and great weather!

Worst Time to Visit Zhangjiajie (Crowds, Rain and Fog)

The worst time to visit Zhangjiajie is during the summer months (June–August) due to extreme heat and high humidity. During major Chinese holidays (May 1–5, Oct 1–7) which bring massive crowds. Avoid the monsoon season from May to September, particularly in June, July, and August as this will bring rain, fog, and poor visibility. January and February are also peak winter with freezing temperatures and possible snow. While this can provide a different and beautiful landscape it can also make travel here more difficult.

When to Visit Zhangjiajie to Avoid Crowds

To avoid crowds in Zhangjiajie, visit during the shoulder months of March and November. Try to aim for weekdays if possible for lower crowds.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Map and Layout Explained

We were so surprised by how big Zhangjiajie National Park is. One really important thing to note is there are no paper maps available in the park. I asked at multiple kiosks and ticket booths and was told there were none. The ones that are up on boards aren’t that great either ( I was taking photos of them to use but found it didn’t help). I got a basic map from our hotel, see image below.

Key Scenic Areas Inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

The main areas to visit are:

Yuanjiajie Scenic Area (Avatar Mountains)

The main place where you will witness these majestic mountains

Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve

A really beautiful part of the park to explore and home to the biggest cable car

Golden Whip Stream

Stunning lush green forest walk, a must.

Yangjiajie Scenic Area

One of the prettiest cable car rides and also the option to do some extra hikes.

Huangshizhai (Huangshi Village)

This is a great place to visit as it is one of the hidden gems of the park. Not as many people head over here and less do any of the short walks around the paths. It was perfect to walk basically on our own on a Saturday morning which feels unheard of for China! It offers those same stunning views and is worth visiting.

How to Navigate the Park Efficiently

You will need to make a solid plan to get around the park efficiently, if you are using the full 4 days you will have heaps of time (weather permitting!) and it shouldn’t be a problem but if you are limited to one or two days you will need a sold itinerary, check out our recommendations below to help you plan.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Itineraries (1, 2 and 3 Days)

Below I have listed an itinerary for your time at Zhangjiajie National Park, the first day will repeat each time as it provides the most bang for your buck and checks off a lot of the ‘big’ things that you will want to make sure you see. Then if you have more time you can follow the rest of the days.

1-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Itinerary

A short version of day 1 – East Gate Entry – Bailong Elevator – Yuangjiajie – Yangjiajie – Tianzi Mountain

If you only have one day in Zhangjiajie National Park you will want to tick off all the most popular attractions. For this itinerary we will be going with Route B which starts with the Bailong Elevator, if you prefer to choose Route A then you would just do it backwards. If you only have one day I would suggest booking the earliest entry time of 7am as you will need to fit a lot in to the day.

Start your day by arriving at the Main Entry at the East Gate. The line up starts at about 6:30am so if you want to be the first in then you would need to get here around then. This is the best access point for the route. Walk in and turn left, heading towards the entry gates for Route B (you will see a big B letterboard above it). There will be lots of turnstiles/gates to line up at, this is where you will scan your passport and face to create your facial recognition, essentially your ticket for the next few days. There are lots of staff here to help you.

Once you are through you can walk around to the buses. These mini buses or eco buses as they call them are all lined up and ready to go. They will fill up quickly so don’t worry about delays. Jump on the one going to Bailong Elevator with everyone else. It will drive and stop off at a few other stops, just stay on until you see the Elevator signs, it is after the Golden Whip Stream stop, if you want you can ask the bus driver which stop you are at.

Bailong Elevator

Go up to the Bailong Elevator and walk through the gates, scanning your face to enter. You’ll walk down a long hallway to the line up for the elevator. Hopefully you will be in the first bit so you can get up front to see, but don’t stress too much. It is a great view but you’ll see more from the top as well. Hold your phone up above your head and record to see the incredible scenery unfold. The ride is exhilarating and takes about 1 minute, 30 seconds of it is a wall and when the wall stops and the landscape unfolds around you it really is breathtaking!

Yuanjiajie

At the top of the elevator you will see a lookout, check out the view then head to the next mini bus stop. You will just follow the crowd or the pathway. There jump into the line up and head to the stop called the Enchanting Stop. This is Yuanjiajie and the place to get off to see the Avatar (Hallelujah) Mountains. There are lots of pathways to follow, you can choose your own adventure here. We wandered around slowly taking it all in. Some paths will go up to higher lookouts, make sure to check them out too! Take your time here espeically if you have one 1 day in Zhangjiajie as you wont be coming back.

First Bridge Under Heaven Natural Bridge

While walking this area you will cross a metal bridge with great views and the First Bridge Under Heaven. This is a natural bridge which is still intact and you can walk over! There are red ribbons tied all over it for good luck. Head over there to take a look and follow the path up and around to do the loop, you will get a nice little quiet spot to take it in.

After finishing at First Bridge Under Heaven you are heading out towards the next mini bus stop. You will find lots of food stalls here as well. Head over to the mini buses and get on the one going to Yangjiajie.

Yangjiajie

Arriving at this stop you have one or two options. IF you purchased the same ticket as us above-with the multi trips then you can do a fun round trip on the Yangjiajie cable car. This is a really nice 1,876-meter-long ride! Taking only about 5 minutes each way it offers stunning views of the cliffs and dense forests of the Yangjiajie Scenic Area. PLEASE NOTE- if you have not purchased the multi trip ticket do not do this as it will use up 2 of the 4 rides you have available and you will need to purchase extra rides to complete this itinerary.

At the bottom of the Yangjiajie cable car you will find the west entrance/exit. As you are not exiting the park here, simply get out and walk to the cable car entrance and head back up. The views are stunning and it is a nice peaceful trip.

The One Step to Heaven Hike (also called the One Step to the Sky Hike

If you are up for a walk then head off to this hike, you will see signposts for it or just ask the ladies selling food who will point you in the right direction. There is a rather long paved path to follow, it isn’t actually hard, but there are ALOT of steps. It is a few km out and then back but easy if you are ok with stairs. At the end you will come to a little food shop (of course!) and a metal ladder. You will need to climb the 30 ish steps up to the top, and come to a rocky outcrop lookout.

This is a really nice spot and totally worth the walk/climb out here. It feels like you are standing on one of the many quartz peaks you have been staring at all morning, a surreal experience. Be warned there were a few pesky monkeys, make sure not to have food out! Take your fill of pictures, enjoy the view and grab a drink at the little shop if you need before heading back to the mini buses.

Tianzi Mountain

Getting on the mini bus go to the Tianzi stop. The buses here will be a pale cream colour not the purple in the other areas. Head to Tianzi mountain. When you get off you will walk through long food hall corridor and out to the main Tianzi area. When you come out you will see there is a Mc Donalds here on the left, which really surprised us…and it was very busy! There are loads of hikes and look out spots here. Send the rest of your day taking in the view from as many as possible.

NOTE-there is a huge hike you can do, we started it and it takes you down thousands of stairs, miles away. We asked a few of the people selling food about it and they said definitely don’t do it. We started but decided to take another path to some lesser visited lookouts which was nice. The next day we met back up with a couple who we saw go the whole way down the stairs and they said it was terrible, too far and long and thought they wouldn’t make it back up so we don’t recommend it.

The shorter walk we did was great, to find it head down past the toilets, down the stairs until you get to a map on a signpost and go right along the path, that will circle around a quiet area with little lookouts. It feels a world away from the busier main part of Tianzi!

Our favourite spot was the ‘warrior training horses’ lookout. We found a cute little cat here and there was a great sunset view.

Tianzi Mountain Cable Car

When you are ready to head off go back to the mini bus area and catch it to the Tianzi Mountain cable car, while the line up moves quickly it is usually pretty busy! When we went down after sunset it was very crowded but even so we didn’t wait too long. The Tianzi Mountain cable car is really big, 2,084 meters long and gives stunning views across the park. When you get to the bottom you will take another mini bus to the east gate exit. Walk back to your hotel (we stayed super close to the East Gate) and grab some food on the way.

2-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Itinerary

If you have 2 days at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park you can fit in our perfect itinerary! Follow day one as above.

A short version of day 2 – South Gate Entry – Huangshi Village- Big Oxygen Park- Golden Whip Stream – 10 Mile Gallery

Day 2 of your 2-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Itinerary starts by catching a Didi to the South Gate (Forest Park Entrance). It should only cost about 30CNY and makes the early start easier. You can catch a mini bus there at a cost if 8CNY but it is hard to find and you have to wait until it is full to go so you can’t be sure what time you would arrive. When you get there head in the South Gate to the gates to go in. You may have to head over to the booths to get your gate entry changed, but it is fine they just update it on the system and then you can go in (as long as you are still in your entry time).

Huangshizhai (Huangshi Village)

Walk to the Big Oxygen Square and take the mini bus to the Huangshizhai (Huangshi Village) cable car. This is one spectacular ride especially in the early morning. It is 1000m long and you will head up through some big tall peaks.

At the top you can wander around as there are loads of hikes and lookouts. We walked a lot of it and it really does have its own charm. The stone pillars have a yellow tone and the word Huangshi means yellow stone. There are some really nice viewpoints here and we easily spent a couple of hours taking them in. We did do a few loops here but nothing crazy, there is a really long deep stair walk you can do but we gave that a miss.

Big Oxygen Park

When you are finsihed here head back down the cable car and take the mini bus back to the Big Oxygen Square. It is a really lovely place to soak up the mountain views from the bottom. There are gorgeous gardens here and an area next to stream with lots of monkeys.

Golden Whip Stream

This is another one of my favourite places in the national park. The Golden Whip Stream is a 3km walk through lush forest with pockets of stunning mountain views. The walk takes longer than expected if like us you fall in love with the scenery and stop to take a billion photos.

While you walk you will feel like you are lost in the forest, but you are just following a path through it. Enjoy the lush vibes and soak up the babbling stream. When you pop out at the other end you will come to a mini bus area where you can jump on and head to 10 Mile Gallery.

10 Mile Gallery

This is the last stop of the day! Here you can choose to either pay the extra cash for a little train ride out (or back) from the main part of the area. We decided just to do the walk which was only a few km. It was a really nice day and we strolled along the train tracks waving and saying NiHao to everyone that went past. Honestly it was so much fun that we walked back as well and had a ball. It felt so wholesome and lighthearted.

When you arrive at the main area head towards the monkey zoo. I don’t recommend going to the zoo, but there is a great viewpoint on the way. Find the large boulder and you will see a fantastic view of the Three Sisters Peaks which is the most scenic view here. We didn’t stay too long, heading back to walk the fun path to the mini bus area.

When we arrived back here we jumped on the mini bus that took us to the East Gate Exit.

3-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Itinerary

If you are doing three days in Zhangjiajie then you have time to go back and revisit your favourite places. We used days three and four as back ups incase of rain, luckily this was not needed as we had perfect weather the whole time.

Follow days one and two as above and then find your favourite places and go back to explore them more thoroughly. Over the next two days we went back to the Bailong Elevator, Tianzi, Yuangjiajie and Yangjiajie as well as spending more time at Big Oxygen Park, Golden Whipe Stream and Huangshi Village. As we had already seen everything the pressure was off us and we could move slowly and just soak it all up. We didn’t really need the fourth day as we had covered everything but it is useful as a swing day in case of rain or bad weather.

Can You Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in One Day?

Yes you absolutely can, however you will not be able to see everything. Our one day in Zhangjiajie itinerary above will give you the best chance at seeing most of the ‘big ticket’ attractions.

Attractions in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

These are the top things to see in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park but there are definitely other options and tons of small viewpoints and moments to be had here. Spending as much time as possible will give you the best chance at the full experience.

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain (Qiankun Pillar)

This is the main sight in the park and one you have to prioritise seeing. The Avatar mountains are the main event. We spent a lot of time here wandering the many viewpoints. The crowds and tour groups will move through, if you hang out you will get quiet moments with less people.

Bailong Elevator: Is It Worth It?

The Bailong Elevator is so worth it! The moment the wall stops and the landscape comes into view and you are surrounded by the mountain pillars is pretty incredible! It is also the highest and quickest elevator in the world so that in itself is impressive.

Tianzi Mountain Viewpoints

Tianzi is super popular for a reason, it has some spectacular viewpoints and perfect for sunset. We loved it here and think it is the perfect place to spend the afternoon portion of one of your days.

Golden Whip Stream Walk

This is one of the best things we did in the park! I just loved walking in the forest and seeing the mountains from ground level towering above us.

Best Photography Spots in Zhangjiajie

My favourite spots were of course the Avatar Mountains, Tianzi at sunset, One Step to Heaven hike viewpoint, the First Bridge under Heaven Natural Brdige and the Golden Whip.

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon (Optional Add-On)

While we didn’t do this one it is an option for your third or fourth day. It is an extra cost and not included in the ticket purchased above.

Is the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in the National Forest Park?

No, but they are in the same general area. The 430-meter-long glass bridge is situated in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area, a separate scenic area located about 40 minutes to an hour’s drive from the National Forest Park’s east gate.

How to Visit Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

You need to purchase tickets very much in advance and take a taxi, Didi or tour to the Grand Canyon to access this area. There are lots of options to add on high impact activities like ziplines and bungee jumping as well.

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge Ticket Prices and Tips

This is a completely different ticket to your Zhangjiajie National Park Ticket. This is the ticket to purchase for the Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge. Route B includes the Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon, if you want to include some of the more high impact activities scroll down a little further on that link and you can select these options, see images below.

Where to Stay Near Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Where you stay really makes a difference for your time in Zhangjiajie National Park. Really make sure to check your location.

Best Area to Stay: Wulingyuan vs Zhangjiajie City

You actually don’t want to stay in Zhangjiajie town as this is over a 40 minute drive to the national park. Belive it or not staying in Zhangjiajie is better for Tianamen Mountain!

Stay in the smaller town of Wulingyuan for your time at the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park where you can stay right next to the East Gate entry and be the first in line.

Best Hotels Near Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Best Budget Hotel

Jijia Yaju Hotel – This hotel is exceptional value for the quality. Honestly it is borderline midrange because the rooms are so great. We stayed here and thought it was perfectly positioned only a 3 minute (if that) walk to the East Gate. The rooms were big, comfortable and very clean. It didn’t serve breakfast but we were up and gone long before that would have been available anyway (we took snacks and bought food in the park).

Best Mid-Range Hotel

JI Hotel (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Wulingyuan Biaozhimen) – This hotel chain is really well placed near the East Gate and the quality is great all throughout China, easy and comfortable stay!

Best Luxury Hotel

FUNGEE S Hotel, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan sign gate – located right near the East Gate entrance, this hotel is really traditionally beautiful with lots of free inclusions!

Pullman Zhangjiajie – this is a very affordable luxury hotel located a little away from the main gate but you do get the Pullman quality!

How Many Nights to Stay in Zhangjiajie

We booked three nights in Wulingyuan at Jijia Yaju Hotel and it turned out to be the perfect amount of time. On the last day we left our bags at reception and went back into the park to spend what time wanted then took a Didi over to Zhangjiajie where we had a night booked to see Tianmen Mountain the next day. Best hotel to stay in Zhangjiajie for Tianmen Mountain is Hampton by Hilton, Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain or Atour Hotel (Zhangjiajie Yongding District Tianmenshan Cableway Station).

Grab your tickets for Tianmen Moutnain in advance as they do sell out.

Essential Tips for Visiting Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

These are our essential tips to have the best time at Zhangjiajie National Park! We loved our experience but this is what we wished we knew before we went!

How to Avoid Long Queues and Crowds

The only way to give yourself the best chance at avoiding long queues and crowds is to go in a shoulder month, during the weekdays and go early! This may not be possible and if not then just relax and enjoy your time. The crowds will pass and you will get those quieter moments I am sure. Sometimes walking out further or around the next corner gives you a few moments of quiet, people and tour groups do tend to stick to the main thoroughfare.

What to Wear and Pack for Zhangjiajie

This will definitely depend on what season you are visiting. We went in November and it was delightfully cool and fresh. The sky was blue and there was a slight chill in the air. I loved it! We wore exercise style clothing, I wore leggings, T-shirt and jacket as well as a rain jacket just incase ( I found I needed it more for the cool breeze early morning though!) I also took a beanie, gloves and sunglasses. Mike wore shorts believe it or not and long casual pants, T-shirt, jumper and his favourite Helly Hansen rain coat. Comfort is key here, you don’t need full on hiking gear unless you are doing some serious hikes. We wore comfortable sneakers, be prepared for about 20K steps per day.

Hiking Difficulty and Accessibility

Honestly it is pretty easy unless you are planning to do the huge hikes, such as the hike from 10 Mile Gallery to the top of Huangshizhai (Huangshi Village). I have yet to meet anyone who actually did this. The only consideration for a general visit is for stairs because there are loads of them all over. But there are also men you can hire to carry you in a chair!

Is Zhangjiajie Safe for Solo and Female Travelers?

I believe it is, in fact I think China is in general. I felt very safe at all times when Mike was not with me. There is of course a lot of cameras around and no one really bothered me at all. As with any destination always act in a safe manner and don’t take risks.

Common Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make

I think the most common mistake is not being prepared. By reading and saving this blog to your phone you have it on hand to look back to when you are there and forgetting where to go next etc.

Another very common mistake is buying the wrong ticket! If you are visiting the park for 2 to 4 days you will want the multi trip ticket as outlined above in our blog. It will give you then most flexibility for your time.

A lot of people overpack for a day in the park, they take loads of food and water yet it is all readily available in the park. We took a light snack for the early morning part of our day and an iced coffee from the mini market to get us going and then bought water and food in the park. Prices are really reasonable and it is everywhere.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park FAQs

How Many Days Do You Need in Zhangjiajie?

We spent a full three days in the park and it was really the perfect amount of time. We had perfect weather and managed to get around comfortably to see everything. You could definitely do it in two days following my 2 day itinerary above as day three and four are really to revisit your favourite spots or if you experience rain or want to move more slowly through the park and spread it across four days.

Can You Visit Zhangjiajie Without a Tour?

Absolutely! You can visit with a tour but it is not necessary. Just follow my 2 day itinerary above and you will see all the best parts of the park. If you are looking for a Zhangjiajie tour this is the one we recommend.

Is Zhangjiajie Suitable for Children or Seniors?

It can be as long as they are able to walk up and down many many stairs. There is no rush and we saw people of all ages around the park, some even using the ‘chair men’ when they needed a break walking up hill!

Is Zhangjiajie Better Than Guilin or Jiuzhaigou?

I think that Zhangjiajie National Park is better than Guilin the town itself, alhtough the Guilin area of Yangshaou is really beautiful in such a different way. If you want the tall towering otherworldy peaks of the Avatar mountains you need to come to Zhangjiajie. If you want a more mystical, serene beauty then the karst mountains and rivers of Yangshaou, Guilin is wonderful. We visited both on this trip and loved them both for different reasons. We haven’t been to Jiuzhaigou yet, it is on our list though!

Final Thoughts: Is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Worth It?

Zhangjiajie National Park is absolutely worth it! There is no place that is like it that we have been to yet. I will be really honest, I am not the biggest fan of the move Avatar…don’t hate me! But these mountains are incredible and when I was seeing them in person I was blown away with how amazing they are ad how many there are! You should definitely add Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to your China itinerary, it is so worth it!

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1. Book Your Flights

We will always book our China flights through Trip.com they have great deals!

2. Book Your Accommodations

We always use Trip.com. They all have great deals and sometimes are better in different continents, for example we used Trip exclusively in China and much of Asia.

3. Buy your E-sim!

E-sims have changed the game in communication while travelling. They are cheap and easy to use, we never go without them. Our current favourite is Yesim!

4. Book Your Tours & Experiences

I usually use and recommend Get Your Guide, Klook and Viator to book tours and activities. They also have shuttle options to and from airports which is great. I love the real reviews you can check and we have never had a problem with them! However for China we recommend Trip for ALL bookings – Hotels, attractions planes and trains!

5. Book Your Rental Car

Self-driving is my favourite way to explore most destinations, we use Rental Cars.

6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must, Mike travelled for years without it but now we see that was a little crazy! We feel so much better knowing we have a backstop for cancelled flights, delayed luggage, sickness on the road and wouldn’t be without it! Safety Wing is great, especially for frequent travellers.

7. Airport Lounge Access is a must!

Use Priority Pass to access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide.