Thinking about visiting the Avatar mountains of China but no idea where to start, or how many days you actually need there? Look no further: this guide is all you need to plan your trip and make sure you hit all the main spots, without losing your mind in the process.
Before travelling to ZJJ, I was very much struggling to make sense of the different tourist spots, as everything seemed to be far away from one another, and I couldn’t figure out where to even start. In case you’ve heard of Zhangjiajie before but, just like I was, you’re not familiar with what it actually means, let’s start from the very basics: Zhangjiajie isn’t a single place. It’s a whole region, which means there’s no one spot where you can stay and be right next to everything you wanna see.
As a solo traveller who rarely plans in advance, I found it extremely confusing to navigate the area and move around, so I thought I’d save someone else’s time and sanity and put together the guide I wish I’d had: what each park is actually like, how long to spend there, what the tickets cost, how the buses work, and what to expect once you’re there.
Note:
If you’re in a rush and cannot be bothered reading through this detailed post (sad face), you can also dowload my free PDF guide with the essential info on navigating the region.
Just click this link here to get it now: https://the-unstable-element.kit.com/59ec7d79ab
Prices and timetables below are the 2026 rates. They do change, so give them a quick double-check before you go!
Ready? Then let’s give in!
Zhangjiajie at a glance
There are three places you really don’t wanna miss, and you’ve probably seen them on social media time and again already: Tianzi Shan (aka the Avatar mountains, inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park), Tianmen Shan (aka the Stairway to Heaven) and the Grand Canyon (aka the glass bridge). For each of these, you will have to purchase a specific ticket: while it seemed like you could purchase them on the spot, I was advised by my hostel owner to book in advance via the online system. If possible for you, ask your host or guesthouse for help and do the same, to avoid any bad surprises in case tickets sell out.
For visual clarity, here’s the quick summary:
| Place | Famous for | Time needed | Ticket (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Wulingyuan) | The Avatar pillars, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream | 2 to 3 days | ¥240, valid 4 days, eco-buses included |
| Tianmen Mountain | Heaven’s Gate cave, the 999 steps, glass skywalk | Half a day to a full day | ¥288, cable car included |
| Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge | The 430 m glass bridge over the canyon | 4 to 5 hours | about ¥178 for canyon + bridge |
There is actually a lot more to uncover in the region, of course, but these are the sights that made ZJJ famous, and they’ll easily fill four or five days of your trip without making you feel like you’re missing out on any major experience.
Getting to Zhangjiajie
Now, let’s get to the nitty and gritty of this whole ordeal: how you actually get to these places. If you’re travelling by land, your best bet is the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West (张家界西), the new station about 9 km from the city and 26 km from Wulingyuan. Closest cities to travel from are Changsha and Chongqing, but of course that depends on your departure point at the end of the day.
Note: make sure that’s the station on your ticket: the old Zhangjiajie Central station only has slow conventional trains.
| From | Fastest train | Second class | Trains per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changsha | about 2 hours | about ¥166 | around 33 |
| Chongqing | about 2 hours | about ¥190 | around 24 |
Alternatively, you can also fly into Zhangjiajie Hehua airport, which is only 35 to 40 minutes by taxi from Wulingyuan.
Where to stay
Many people stay in Zhangjiajie city because, well, the name kinda suggests that’s where you should be. This was my original plan, until I read online that many people were suggesting otherwise. In fact, I’d argue Wulingyuan is your best bet. Not only is it a LOT prettier, it also sits right at the feet of the National Forest Park (Tianzi Shan, for reference): the east gate is walkable from most hotels, so on your park days you won’t need any transport at all and you’ll be able to explore without stressing out about the bus schedules. As an additional, the buses to the Grand Canyon leave from both Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan, so again there is no reason for you to book ZJJ instead.
The only hiccup? Getting there late. There’s a direct bus from Zhangjiajie West to Wulingyuan, but it stops running around 7pm. If you arrive later than this time, like I did, you’ll have to grab a taxi or a DiDi (about ¥50 to 80) – however, finding other travellers can help you bring the cost down by sharing the ride.
The one place that’s easier from Zhangjiajie instead of Wulingyuan is Tianmen Mountain, as its cable car leaves from downtown. However, in my opinion it’s not worth switching your stay because of this, as buses leave from Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie and barely take any time. My trick: do Tianmen on your last day, on the way to the train station.
How to move around the Zhangjiajie region
Depending on where you’re going, your options are local buses (most common and super cheap), taxis or DiDi (China’s Uber). Here’s everything I wish someone had told me:
| Route | How | Time | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie West station → Wulingyuan | Direct coach from the high-speed rail coach station (turn right as you leave the station) | 30 to 40 min | ¥13 | About every 10 min, last one around 7pm |
| Zhangjiajie Central bus station → Wulingyuan | Coach | 40 to 50 min | ¥13 | Every 10 to 30 min, roughly 6am to 7 or 8pm |
| Wulingyuan → Grand Canyon | Dedicated line from Wulingyuan bus station | 30 to 40 min | about ¥15 to 30 | Frequent during the day |
| Grand Canyon → Zhangjiajie city / West station | Coach from the exit | about 1 hour | about ¥22 | Daytime |
| Zhangjiajie West → Tianmen cable car | City bus 17 to the old central station, then walk | about 20 min | ¥2 | Daytime |
| West station → Wulingyuan | Taxi or DiDi | about 30 min | ¥50 to 80 | Any time |
| Wulingyuan → Grand Canyon | Taxi or DiDi | about 30 min | ¥45 to 50 | Any time |
A few things that will save you some stress:
- Paying: coach stations and ticket windows take Alipay and WeChat Pay, but local city buses often want cash, so keep some small notes and coins on you.
- DiDi works great in the city and Wulingyuan and has an English version, but it doesn’t operate inside the national park.
1. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Wulingyuan)
This is the big one: the sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. The park is HUGE, so think of it as a few different areas linked by free eco-buses, cable cars and one very famous lift.
| Area | What’s there | Time to spend |
|---|---|---|
| Yuanjiajie | The Avatar “Hallelujah” mountain and paved cliffside paths with the classic views | 2 to 3 hours |
| Tianzi Mountain (Tianzi Shan) | The Imperial Brush peaks and, on a lucky day, a sea of clouds | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Golden Whip Stream | A flat 7.5 km walk along a crystal-clear stream at the bottom of the pillars (watch out for the cheeky monkeys!) | 2 to 3 hours |
| Yangjiajie | The quieter side: the “Natural Great Wall” and the One Step to Heaven trail | 1.5 to 3 hours |
| Ten-Mile Gallery | A canyon full of rock formations with funny names, done by little train | 30 to 40 min |
Tickets: ¥240 for a 4-day pass, which includes all the eco-buses. Bring your passport: it IS your ticket, and the gates check your face against it every time you go in.
Paid extras (one way / return):
- Bailong Elevator (the glass lift built into the cliff): ¥65 / ¥130
- Tianzi Mountain cable car: ¥72 / ¥144
- Yangjiajie cable car: ¥76 / ¥152
- Yellow Stone Village cable car: ¥65 / ¥130
- Ten-Mile Gallery train: ¥38 / ¥76
Opening hours: gates open around 6:30 to 7am and stop letting people in around 5pm.
Gates: there are five. The east gate (Wulingyuan) is the most convenient if you stay in town, but also the busiest. The south gate (Forest Park gate) is less crowded and the start of Golden Whip Stream. Yangjiajie (west) is the quietest, and the north gate takes you straight up to Tianzi Mountain.
A couple things to note:
- Inside the Forest Park, free eco-buses (included in your ticket) connect the different areas. They don’t run between the gates, though, so if you exit from a different gate you’ll need a local bus (about ¥8) or taxi back.
- Eco-buses stop early. The last ones up on the plateau leave around 5:30pm, and down in the valley around 6pm. Don’t get stuck at the top!
How long for the park: give it 2 days, 3 if you want to hike more. One day is doable, but you’ll be rushing.
My 2-day route:
- Day 1: East gate → eco-bus → Bailong Elevator up → Yuanjiajie → Tianzi Mountain → cable car down → back to Wulingyuan.
- Day 2: South gate → Golden Whip Stream walk → Yellow Stone Village or Yangjiajie for the views from the top.
Lastly, the mosts important thing: GO EARLY. Get to the gate around 7am, because by mid-morning the queues for the elevator and the eco-buses can easily be 45 minutes to an hour. Take it from a lazy traveller who didn’t do this, and got stuck in a seemingly never-ending queue for much longer than desirable…
2. Tianmen Mountain (Tianmen Shan)
Aka the Stairway to Heaven, and honestly, it lives up to the name. The adventure starts right in downtown Zhangjiajie, where you hop on a cable car that floats over the rooftops and up the mountain for around 7.5 km (one of the longest in the world, and about half an hour of jaw-on-the-floor views).
What’s there:
- Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate): a huge natural arch, 131 m high, right through the mountain. On misty days it looks unreal.
- The 999 steps leading up to the cave. You can climb them, or skip them with the escalators tunnelled through the mountain (¥32 one way).
- The glass skywalks clinging to the cliff edge. You’ll need shoe covers (¥5).
- Tongtian Avenue, the road with 99 hairpin bends you’ll see from the bus.
- Tianmen Temple at the top, reachable with a small extra cable car (¥25).
Tickets: ¥288, and that includes the cable car. You’ll choose a route when you book:
| Route | Up | Down | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Cable car | Bus | Most people. You get the cable car views first thing |
| B | Bus | Cable car | Afternoon visits and sunset on the way down |
| C | Bus | Bus | Only if A and B are sold out |
Opening hours: roughly 7:30am to 6pm (they shift a bit with the seasons).
How long: 4 to 6 hours, so half a day if you’re quick, a full day if you like to take your time.
Getting there: the cable car station is right in the city, next to the old central railway station. From Zhangjiajie West, take city bus 17 (¥2, about 20 minutes). The coach back to Wulingyuan also stops at the cable car exit.
Tips: book 3 to 5 days ahead around Chinese holidays, as it’s a real-name system and tickets sell out (you’ll need your passport details). For this, like I said, asking your guesthouse or host is your best bet as they will most likely know how to navigate the bookings page a lot easier than you. Also, check the weather: in thick fog you might see absolutely nothing from the top, so if your dates are flexible, pick the clearest day.
If you can, you might also be able to catch the Fox Fairy Show – or at least, I did when I went. They air it every night around 8pm and, with a backdrop of the majestic Stairway to Heaven, it is truly one of the most memorable images I kept from the trip!
3. Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge
Aka the glass bridge, and yes, you walk on it. It’s 430 m long and hangs 300 m above the canyon floor, so if you’re scared of heights… good luck, my friend.
What’s there:
- The glass bridge itself, with the most dramatic views over the gorge (misty days give you a proper “walking on clouds” effect).
- The canyon floor: a walk past streams, waterfalls and limestone walls, including a super narrow slot called “One Line Sky”.
- A boat ride on the lake at the bottom.
- For the brave: a zipline across the gorge and a 260 m bungee jump off the bridge (about ¥1,998, if you’re into that kind of thing).
Tickets: about ¥178 for the canyon + glass bridge (¥175 plus ¥3 insurance), or ¥63 for the canyon only. Packages that add the boat and the elevator go for around ¥219.
Book ahead! It’s a timed, real-name ticket, so book 1 to 3 days before on Trip.com or Klook and bring your passport, as it’s your entry ticket. There’s a daily cap of 8,000 visitors.
Opening hours: around 7 or 7:30am to 4pm from March to November (from 8 or 8:30am in winter). Aim to arrive by 2pm at the latest.
How long: 4 to 5 hours if you do the whole thing.
Getting there: take the dedicated bus from Wulingyuan bus station (about ¥15 to 30, 30 to 40 minutes), or a taxi (¥45 to 50). The bus drops you at a visitor centre, and a free 15-minute shuttle takes you to the entrance.
Good to know: no selfie sticks, lighters, drones or insulated cups on the bridge. There are free lockers at the entrance for about 3 hours. Wear shoes with grip, as the stone paths get slippery when wet. And it closes in strong wind or heavy rain, so have a plan B.
Got an extra day? Two easy add-ons
Both of these are in the Wulingyuan area, so they’re perfect for a rainy day or a slower afternoon:
| Spot | What it is | Time | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baofeng Lake | A calm lake between the cliffs, with a waterfall at the entrance and a boat ride | 1.5 to 2 hours | ¥121 |
| Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave) | A massive karst cave with lit-up rock formations and a boat on the underground river | about 2 hours | about ¥121 to 125 |
Putting it all together: my 5-day itinerary
- Day 1, arrive: train to Zhangjiajie West, then bus or taxi to Wulingyuan. Check in, wander around town and have an early night (trust me).
- Day 2, Forest Park part 1: east gate at 7am, Bailong Elevator up, Yuanjiajie and the Avatar mountain, Tianzi Mountain, cable car down.
- Day 3, Forest Park part 2: south gate, Golden Whip Stream, then up to Yellow Stone Village or Yangjiajie. Same ticket, so no extra cost besides the cable cars.
- Day 4, Grand Canyon: early bus from Wulingyuan, glass bridge and canyon walk in the morning, back for Baofeng Lake or Yellow Dragon Cave in the afternoon if you still have the energy.
- Day 5, Tianmen Mountain: check out, take the coach to the city, store your bags, cable car up, and head to Zhangjiajie West for your evening train.
Only have 3 days? Do not fret – I actually did the same, and still managed to enjoy it: do one big Forest Park day (Day 2), the Grand Canyon in the morning of Day 3 and Tianmen in the afternoon (route B, so you get the cable car on the way down).
What to expect
Crowds. Lots of them, especially in summer (July and August) and during Chinese holidays like early May and the first week of October. If you can, go in spring (April to May) or autumn (September to November), and always start early, as you might get stuck in never-ending queues for hours otherwise. Believe me – I’ve been through it. 😛
Weather. Mist is part of the magic here, and some days the pillars poke out of the clouds like something out of a dream. Other days, you’ll see a wall of white. Keep a flexible day in your plan if you can, and pack a rain jacket whatever the forecast says, and even if you do get the rain, relax and enjoy the show!
Your passport, everywhere. Tickets are real-name, so your passport is basically your ticket at every gate, and you’ll need it to book online too. Do not, under any circumstances, forget it!!!
You won’t need to hike (unless you want to). You are in China, which means nothing is ever complicated: there’s always a lift, a cable car or a funicular to get you where you wanna go. For all my convenience lovers out there, this is your place. Personally, I did find this a bit disappointing as there was absolutely no challenge; however, I do appreciate the accessibility for all people who might be unable to hike, but still wish to see and appreciate these incredible views.
Food is everywhere. The towns are bustling with incredible restaurants, and even on top of the mountains there are plenty of places to eat, drink and relax. There’s even a Burger King on top of the Stairway to Heaven! It really is heaven, isn’t it?
Apps to download before you go: Alipay and WeChat Pay (both work with foreign cards), Trip.com for trains and park tickets, and DiDi for taxis. Keep a little cash on you too, for local buses and small stalls.
Get your free Zhangjiajie travel guide
Wanna keep all of this in your pocket? My free guide to the region has the bus routes, a map, all the spots and the apps you’ll need, ready to save on your phone.
All set? Have an amazing trip, and come back here to tell me how it went in the comments!
Hope you’re having a great day,
Nina
