10 Best Things to Do in Zhangjiajie

What is Zhangjiajie in your mind? Real Pandora on Earth? Outdoor activities paradise? Yes, all you think can be true - Zhangjiajie can satisfy different travelers to the fullest with different but amazing experience. Zhangjiajie should be listed into your travel list 2024/2025 no matter you want to get back to nature for relaxation or look for seeing something different and doing something adventurous. It is famous for its marvelous pillar-like rocks like Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the well-known glass bridge over Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Beyond these, Zhangjiajie will impress you with much more things. Here is an ultimate guide about the 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN ZHANGJIAJIE. Get inspired now!

No.1: Explore Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Hallelujah Mountain in Yuanjiajie

You must know the famous movie “AVATAR”, you may remember the incredible “floating mountains” called “Hallelujah Mountain”...the movie was inspired by a quartz-sandstone pillar in Yuanjiajie, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Now, the Avatar Mountain has been listed on the top of Zhangjiajie attractions that you should never miss in Zhangjiajie tour.

Originally called Southern Sky Column (Nan Tian Yi Zhu), it was renamed to “Hallelujah Mountain”, a peculiar column at an altitude of 1074 meters above sea level and a vertical height of about 150 meters. To see the Hallelujah Mountain, you must come to Yuanjiajie, located between Huangshi Village and Tianzi Mountain. Of course, you won’t miss “the First Bridge Under the Heaven” and “Back Garden” along the way.

Location: Yuanjiajie, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:00~18:00
Visiting Time: 1 Hour
Ticket Price: Included in the Forest Park (CNY248)
Fitness Needed: **

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.2: Challenge Yourselves over Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

How about challenging yourselves over the longest and highest glass bridge in the world? Regarded as “12 Most Spectacular Bridges in the World” by CNN, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is with the full length of 430 meters and a height of about 400 meters above the valley bottom. A walk through the glass bridge can be compared to a skywalk - you have a feeling there is nothing under your feet and it seems you are flying above the ground.

Different from the glass bridge built along the edge of the cliff of Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is more exciting, breathtaking and adventurous. You can experience it alone or you can visit it together with Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.

Location: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Wulingyuan Area, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:30-17:00 (during 16:20-17:00 for visiting glass bridge only)
Visiting Time: 2 hours
Ticket Price: CNY141 (inclued CNY3 insurance fee)
Fitness Needed: **

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Exciting Adventure with Glass Bridge

No.3: Pay a Visit to Tianmen Mountain with Fantastic Thrilling Experience

Tianmen Mountain Cableway Experience

Tianmen Mountain, about 6 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie downtown area, is the highest mountain of Zhangjiajie City. Different from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain will impress you with not only towering mountains but also thrilling experience from the longest cable car experience to the cliff-side glass walkway.

◆ Try the World’s Longest Cable Car: The 7455-meter cable car takes you from the downtown area to the top of Tianmen Mountain. Sitting in the cable car, you can catch a view of Tianmen Cave and beautiful view of the winding road below. The cable car ride takes about 30 minutes.

◆ Experience Terrifying Glass Skywalks: Hold your breath to challenge the 60 meters glass skywalk on the west trail. Stand on the crystal clear walkway, you can enjoy the cool fresh air and breathtaking view of the great high mountains.

◆ 999 Steps to Tianmen Cave: Tianmen Cave called Heaven’s Gate Cave, is the world’s highest cave of its kind. There are 999 steep and narrow steps up to the heaven with the meaning of eternal peace.

◆ Take the World’s Longest Escalator Through Mountain: To save much time and energy, travelers can reach down to Tianmen Cave through the escalator from the top of the mountain.

◆ Avenue Leading to the Sky with 99 Bends: If your physical demands, you can try the bus over the road “Avenue Leading to the Sky” with 99 sharp curves. Spanning about 11 kilometers, the road is the most impressive mountain roads rising rapidly from 200 meters to 1300 meters.

Learn more about Tianmen Mountain >>

Location: Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
Visiting Time: 3-4 hours
Ticket Price: CNY 258
Fitness Needed: ***

>> 5 Days Zhangjiajie Ultimate Tour with Glass Bridge & Tianmen Mountain

No.4: Capture Best View of Ever-changing Mysterious Tianzi Mountain

Tianzi Mountain Landscape

Tianzi Mountain is located in the northwestern part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which boasts rocky peaks in grotesque shapes and shrouded in drifting mist. There are four wonders of Tianzi Mountain - cloud sea, sunrise, winter snow and peak forest. The landscape in Tianzi Mountain varies in different seasons and also in one day. If time permits, it is a good idea to watch sunrise over the mountain at Grand Sightseeing Platform. And it will be great to capture the gorgeous panoramic view of the misty Tianzi Mountain.

There are five main scenic zones and over ten scenic spots in the Tianzi Mountain area, including Helong Park, West Sea Stone Forests, Divine shrine and Immortal Bridge, the Fairy Scattering Flowers, etc. A visit to Tianzi Mountain you’ll truly feel the extremely craftsmanship of nature.

Location: Tianzi Mountain, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:00~18:00
Visiting Time: 3 hours
Ticket Price: Included in the Forest Park (CNY248)
Fitness Needed: ***

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.5: Hike along the Tranquil Golden Whip Stream

Monkeys at Golden Whip Stream

Located in the east of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Golden Whip Stream is a 7.5-kilometer-long stream flowing between steep grotesque peaks and luxuriant trees. It is called the most poetic stream in the world with many scenic spots scattered along the stream.

Most travelers would like to hike along the Golden Whip Stream to appreciate the different beauty of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You’ll begin from the Big Oxygen Bar Square and end your trip at Water Winding around Four Gates (Shuirao Simen). The whole length lasts for 2.5-3 hours. Along the road, you’ll have chance to play with the naughty wild monkeys, listen to birds singing and enjoy the legendary stories. You won’t miss Chupajie Carries His Wife (猪八戒背媳妇), Mother and Child Peak (母子峰), Golden Whip Rock (金鞭岩), Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother (劈山救母), Two Tortoises Visiting the Stream (双龟探溪), etc.

Location: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:00~18:00
Visiting Time: 3 hours
Ticket Price: Included in the Forest Park (CNY248)
Fitness Needed: ***

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

No.6: Enjoy Leisurely Boat Experience on Baofeng Lake

Boat Experience on Baofeng Lake

To totally relax yourselves among the beautiful water and gorgeous mountains, you are highly recommended to take a boat sailing leisurely on the Baofeng Lake. Baofeng Lake, about 20 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is a man-made alpine lake surrounded by mountains with green trees. The highlight of Baofeng Lake is the 20-minute boat experience offering a great chance to view elegant mountains. It will be great to do the boat tour after Zhangjiajie National Forest Park visit or Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Hiking. Learn more about Baofeng Lake >>

Location: Wulingyuan Area, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:30-17:00
Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
Ticket Price: CNY141
Fitness Needed: *

>> 4 Days Leisure Zhangjiajie Nature Discovery

No.7: Shoot Panoramic View of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park at Huangshi Village

Panoramic View of Huangshi Village

Huangshi Village, at an altitude of 1092 meters, is located at the west side of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park closely linking with Golden Whip Stream. A popular saying is “It is just waste your time if you do not visit Huangshi Village when you are in Zhangjiajie”. It is characterized by the overhanging cliffs, high staking platforms, jagged rocks and elegant apexes. It is reputed as the enlarged potted landscape and miniature fairyland. Huangshi Village is largest natural viewing platform to capture the panoramic view of the numerous towering stone peaks standing side by side.

There are two ways to reach up Huangshi Village, one is taking the cable car and the other is hiking. If you take cable car up, it only takes about 10 minutes. If by hiking, it needs about 1.5-2 hours. When getting on the top of Huangshi Village, you can choose the small circle (about 1-1.5 hours) or the big circle (about 2.5 hours) to explore the fantastic mountain scenery. Learn more about Huangshi Village >>

Location: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:00~18:00
Visiting Time: 1.5-2.5 hour
Ticket Price: Included in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (CNY248)
Fitness Needed: **

No.8: Discover the Awe-inspiring Underground Palace - Yellow Dragon Cave

Yellow Dragon Cave

Yellow Dragon Cave, also called Huanglong Cave, is located between Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Known as “A Wonder of Cave on Earth”, “the Most Beautiful Cave in China”, Yellow Dragon Cave is a typical Karst cave which consists of a large number of naturally-formed stone chambers, subterranean pools, lakes and falls, all illuminated in fancy colors.

Yellow Dragon Cave is indeed a precious underground palace with more than 100 scenic spots inside. In this cave, you can not only hike to catch a glimpse of these stones with over thousands of years’ old, but also take a boat along the river to explore the beauty of this mysterious cave. Along the way, you won’t miss Dragon Palace, Xiangshui River, Tianxian Waterfall, Sky Column Street, Labyrinth. The whole visiting length is around 2 hours. Learn more about Yellow Dragon Cave >>

Location: Wulingyuan Area, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00
Visiting Time: 2-3 hour
Ticket Price: CNY100
Fitness Needed: **

>> 4 Days Leisure Zhangjiajie Nature Discovery

No.9: Hike in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to Return Back to Nature

Hike in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to Enjoy Fresh Air

Most travelers coming to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is for the longest and highest glass bridge over the canyon. However, many of them would like to stay longer in this canyon to free their body and soul. It needs about 2-3 hours to do the hike. Free of crowds and noise, you will enjoy beautiful sceneries from overhanging cliffs, the lush green forest, waterfalls to the running stream.

There are two routes recommended for you. One is glass bridge experience plus hiking - you’ll first walk through the 430-meter-long glass bridge with courage and then begin your hiking from Suspension Plank Road, pass through Tianhe Waterfall and Zhuxian Spring, Butterfly Waterfall, enjoy a boat experience on Shenquan Lake. If you only do hiking in the canyon, you’ll start from Yixian Tian to reach Rainbow Square, and then pass through Tianhe Waterfall and followed with a boat experience on Shenquan Lake. If you energy permits, you can take the slide to save some walking distance. Learn more about Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon >>

Location: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Wulingyuan Area, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 07:30-17:00
Visiting Time: 2-3 hour
Ticket Price: CNY256 (glass bridge experience included)
Fitness Needed: ***

>> 5 Days Zhangjiajie Ultimate Adventure Tour with Glass Bridge & Tianmen Mountain

No.10: Take the Train to Travel through Ten-Mile Natural Gallery

Panorama View of Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie Ten-mile Natural Gallery is located in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area on the way between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. If you have more extra time, you can take an exploration in Ten-mile Natural Gallery before/after your Tianzi Mountain visit.

The end of Golden Whip Stream is the beginning of Ten-mile Natural Gallery where you can take the train to travel through the peaceful valley and mountains. Many vivid mountains standing alongside and say hello to you, including Herb Collecting Old Man (采药老人), Monkey Slope (猴园), Three Sister Peaks (三姐妹峰) and so on. Different from mountain landscape over Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, Ten-mile Natural Gallery gives you a chance to look up to the peculiar peaks and fully appreciate their beauty made by nature.

Location: Tianzi Mountain, Wulingyuan Area, Zhangjiajie
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
Visiting Time: 2 hour
Train Price: CNY38 (single way), CNY52 (round trip)
Fitness Needed: **

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

How to Plan a Zhangjiajie Tour

Zhangjiajie is an incredible place with absolutely beautiful landscape under heaven. Travelers usually spend 3 to 5 days in and around Zhangjiajie. There is no doubt that Wulingyuan National Forest Park is the highlight of all the stunning attractions which needs to spend 2 days inside. If you have one more day, you should add Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge Experience or Tianmen Mountain into the trip. Some travelers choose to visit Yellow Dragon Cave or Baofeng Lake for one day.

If you want to enjoy the antique beauty of ancient town, Fenghuang Ancient Town is the best choice for one to two days' escape. And, you can also consider of Fanjingshan Mountain to see the mushroom stone and odd mountains.

Most travelers would add Zhangjiajie into their longer China trip and you can go with Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Yangtze River Cruise, Guilin, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing and more. To customize your China tour with Zhangjiajie, just feel free to tell us your likes and demands, and we are here ready to help you at any time! Tailor make your China tour with China Discovery now!

Travel Zhangjiajie with China Discovery

To help you enjoy a worry-free trip to Zhangjiajie and the whole China, we suggest you travel with China Discovery. Our experienced travel expert will help you arrange the accommodation, transportation and everything well to let you spend all your effort and time on the sightseeing. If you have any other ideas or questions about your Zhangjiajie tour, please feel free to contact us. We will help you plan your enjoyable trip with sincerity and professionalism!

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Zhangjiajie for the past few years. Among them Mr. Elie & his wife from Belgium enjoyed 5 days in Zhangjiajie during their 69 days China trip customized with us and shared us their travel story. Travel with China Discovery to create your wonderful Zhangjiajie trip memories!

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