Zhangjiajie Travel Guide

Zhangjiajie's peaks and forests are not karst, but quartz sandstone. The rock layers are cut by vertical joints, then sliced down by flowing water along the cracks, leaving behind thousands of stone pillars that are thicker on top and thinner at the bottom. This landform is extremely rare worldwide. If you stand on the viewing platform of Yuanjiajie and look down, you'll understand why it was used as a visual prototype for movies

Key highlights

Yuanjiajie and the world's number one bridge

Yuanjiajie is the densest and most photogenic area of peak forest. The Number One Bridge Under Heaven is a naturally formed stone bridge between two peaks, with a deep valley below. The elevator here (Bailong Ladder) itself is also a scenic spot, but during peak season, the queue time can exceed an hour, so be prepared

Tianzi Mountain and Helong Park

view is even wider than Yuanjiajie's, perfect for viewing the layered peaks. Both sunrise and sunset have their own fans, but the sea of clouds depends on luck—the chance of clear mornings after rain is the highest

Golden Whip Creek

The valley floor is a flat path along the stream, about 7 kilometers long, flanked by stone peaks rising and falling straight up. The view here is completely opposite to the mountaintop: from the top you look down, in the valley you are surrounded by stone pillars. Monkeys roam freely, so please keep your food safe

Tianmen Mountain

It and Forest Park are two separate scenic spots, so tickets must be purchased separately and queues separately. Tianmen Cave, the 99 winding mountain road, and the glass boardwalk are the three main highlights. The cable car is very long, and during strong winds or peak visitor flows, speed limits or long queues may occur. The glass boardwalk has shoe covers and limits on the number of people, so those who fear heights should choose carefully

Phoenix Ancient City

Zhangjiajie is about a 4-hour drive southwest, with stilted houses and ancient city walls along both banks of the Tuo River. It often forms a six-day route with Zhangjiajie. The lights look great at night, while the daytime is crowded

Recommended stops and flow routes

• 4 days: Two days at Forest Park (one day on the mountain, one day at Jinbian Creek), one day at Tianmen Mountain, urban area
• 6 days: Plus two days in Phoenix Ancient City
• Staying on the mountain is convenient for watching the sunrise, but conditions and options are limited, so be prepared

The best season

April–June and September–November. April–May brings more rain and a high chance of sea of clouds, making it the mountain flower season; September to November brings stable weather and best visibility; July to August is hot and crowded; December to March may freeze, and cable cars and boardwalks may be closed, but peaks and forests after snow are extremely rare

Local reminder

• The scenic area is huge, so be sure to buy a pass that includes eco-friendly vehicles. It's impossible to walk all together
• During peak season, cable cars and the sky ladder can have queues of over an hour; entering the park early is the only solution.
• The weather in the mountains is changeable, raincoats are more useful than umbrellas; boardwalks can be slippery.
• Monkeys will snatch food, do not hold food or plastic bags in front of them.

Province

This entry belongs to Hunan (2 available routes). You can compare all routes in the province from the province page.