Zhangjiajie to Beijing Tour Plans - How to Travel from Zhangjiajie to Beijing

Zhangjiajie, the inspiration of Avatar, and Beijing, the capital of China, are two popular tourist destinations among visitors from home and abroad. They are two typical representatives of natural and cultural landscapes of China. Here we have illustrated how to travel from Zhangjiajie to Beijing, including the reasons, transportation means, and recommended travel plans.

Zhangjiajie to Beijing Map

Why Travel from Zhangjiajie to Beijing

1. More and More Convenient Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Beijing

Currently, there are two ways to get to Beijing from Zhangjiajie: by flight and by normal train. Considering the long distance of 1600km (994mi), the 2-hour flight is more recommended. If you have a not-so-tight schedule, you can also take the overnight normal train.

2. Appreciate Natural and Man-made Wonders in Zhangjiajie and Beijing

The mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are really a natural wonder that one must see in a lifetime. Unlike other rolling mountains, the ones in Zhangjiajie are like giant pillars rising abruptly from the ground all the way to the clouds. No wonder it provides inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar. Beijing is a place full of historic figures and cultural heritages, all of which can not be done without the diligence and wisdom of ancient Chinese people. Here you can see many man-made wonders such as the splendid Forbidden City, solemn Temple of Heaven, and one of the seven wonders the Great Wall.

3. Try Different Chinese Cuisines in the South and North

Zhangjiajie food combines the characteristics of Hunan cuisine (also known as Xiang cuisine, one of the eight cuisines of China) and Tujia minority dishes, featuring in spicy and sour flavor. Dishes like hot and spicy chicken (ma la ji ding), Smoked pork with dried long green beans (gan dou jiao zheng la rou), red-roasted fish fins (hong wei yu chi), steamed hams (la wei he zheng), Sanxiaguo (a kind of Tujia ethnic hotpot) are all worth a try. While in Beijing, apart from the local food like the roasted Duck, Cooked Beef or Sheep Tripe (bao du), Fried Liver (chao gan), Lǘdagunr, Yellow Pea Cake (wan dou huang), other cuisines such as Japanese sushi, Korean barbecue, Vietnam salad roll, etc. are also available.

Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

How to Get to Beijing from Zhangjiajie

Beijing and Zhangjiajie are 1600km (994mi) away. Flights and normal trains are the most-chosen ways to get to Beijing from Zhangjiajie. You will only need about 2 hours to finish the transfer by flight, and by taking a train, it will take about 23 hours.

Flights from Zhangjiajie to Beijing

The flights schedule is often more changeable than trains. There are usually two flights from Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport. CA1360 is a non-stop flight and CZ 6599 will stop by at Changsha.

Note: The above flight schedule is listed for reference only. The accurate timetable and price is subject to change based on seasonally adjustment of air companies. Please feel free to contact us to double check.

Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (IATA: DYG)

Location: Hehua Village, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province (湖南省张家界市永定区荷花村)

Being able to see Tianmen Mountain and the famous Karst Tianmen Cave in the distance, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport is considers as one of the most beautiful airports in China. Unlike the airports in other cities built in the suburb, Zhangjiajie Airport is only 5km away from downtown, where you can get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park conveniently. As of April 2019, Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport serves 42 domestic and foreign routes linking 42 destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Shenzhen in China, Busan in South Korea, Bangkok in Thailand, etc.

From downtown: only 5km away, 15 minutes’ drive

From Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: about 32km, 1 hour’s drive

Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK)

Location: West Airport Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China (北京市朝阳区机场西路)

Built in 1958, the largest airport in China offers international flights to major cities in all continents (except sub-Saharan Africa and sub-USA American), and domestic flights to every provincial capital and major cities in China. It is China's air portal and an important window for foreign exchanges. Nearly 1700 flights per day from over 90 Airlines link Beijing closely with 244 cities and regions in 54 countries around the world. Since December 28th, 2017, Beijing Capital International Airport is available for the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit policy, which makes it more convenient for foreign visitors coming to Beijing.

To Tian’anmen Square (downtown): about 30km, 1 hour’s drive

To Temple of Heaven: about 35km, 70 minutes’ drive

Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK)

Location:Location: Daxing District, Beijing, China (北京市大兴区)

Opened in September 2019, Beijing Daxing International Airport is a major international aviation hub in Northern China. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it features a distinctive starfish-shaped terminal. With a capacity to handle 72 million passengers annually, it's set to become one of the busiest airports globally. Daxing Airport operates numerous international flights, connecting Beijing to key destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. It plays a vital role in easing air traffic for Beijing Capital International Airport and enhancing Beijing's global connectivity.

To Tian'anmen Square (downtown): approximately 46km, 1.5 hours' drive
To the Great Wall of China (Badaling section): about 60km, 80 minutes' drive

Trains from Zhangjiajie to Beijing

Till 2023, there are 4 daily trains from Zhangjiajie to Beijing, including 1 high speed train and 3 normal trains. The high speed train takes about 10 hours, while the normal trains take 18-24 hours. As the long duration, you are recommended to buy a first class ticket for high speed trains, or a hard or soft sleeper ticket for normal trains so that you can see the scene along the railway during the day and get some sleep at night. >>Real-time Zhangjiajie to Beijing Train Schedules

Zhangjiajie Railway Station (张家界站)

Location: Guanliping, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province (湖南省张家界市永定区官黎坪)

Zhangjiajie Railway Station is located in the downtown area with convenient transfer to the attractions and the airport. At present, there are about 30 trains running to or passing through Zhangjiajie from many tourist cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha, Shenzhen, Kunming, etc. All of the trains are K (up to 120 km/h) or T (up to 140 km/h) trains. High speed rail and railway station are under construction and are planned to be put into use in 2021.

From Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: about 30km, I hour’s drive

From Tianmen Mountain: about 7km, 20 minutes’ drive, but it is only 1km away from the Tianmen Mountain cable car station.

From Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport: about 6km, 15 minutes’ drive

Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站)

Location: No.118, East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District, Beijing (北京市丰台区莲花池东路118号)

Beijing West Railway Station is one of the main train stations of Beijing, which runs both high speed trains and normal trains. Besides, it is the starting point of Beijing Guangzhou (High Speed) Railway and Beijing Kowloon (Hong Kong) Railway. If you want to take a Tibet train, you need to go to Beijing West Railway Station. Every day, it delivers 273 daily trains to other cities, and about 200 of them are high speed trains (G trains) to Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Taiyuan, Kunming, Lanzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Changsha and couples of D trains to Shenzhen.

To downtown (Tian’anmen Square): about 8km, 30 minutes’ drive

To Beijing Capital International Airport: about 40km, 1.5 hours’ drive

>>Read More About Beijing Train Stations

How to travel from Zhangjiaije to Beijing

Having known so much about these two cities, what exactly should we do while in Zhangjiajie and Beijing so as to fully explore them? Here are some suggestions on how to plan your trip in Zhangjiajie and Beijing.

How to Plan a Zhangjiajie Tour

The main highlights of Zhangjiajie are Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain and the Glass Bridge. Generally speaking, it needs at least 3 days to explore Zhangjiajie. If you have a tight schedule, then you can try this 3 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour. It is a classic route that covers the famous Golden Whip Brook, Avatar-inspiring Yuanjiajie, and the stunning Tianzi Mountain. If you want to see Tianmen Mountain as well, the 4 Days Zhangjiajie Tour adds an extra day for you to fully explore both scenic areas. At Tianmen Mountain, you can experience the longest cableway in Asia with a length of 7200 meters and visit the natural mountain-penetrating Karst cave - Tianmen Cave. If you feel like walking on the largest and highest glass bridge hanging above the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, the 4 Days Zhangjiajie Exciting Adventure with Glass Bridge will take you not only to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, but also the Glass Bridge.

Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon

How to Plan a Beijing Tour

Generally speak, 2 - 4 days are sufficient to explore the best highlights of Beijing. You can visit Tiananmen Square, now the largest city plaza in the world, Forbidden City, one of the world’s five most important palaces, and Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China on the first day. Then spend another day hiking the famous Mutianyu Great Wall and having a walk at the Sacred Way on your way back to central Beijing. On the third day, you can have some leisure time at the Temple of Heaven and hop on a rickshaw to experience the typical Beijing Hutongs. If you have more days, you can go for an in-depth Great Wall hiking or photography tour, and explore more hidden attractions in Beijing city.

>>3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour

>>4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

Forbidden City

Zhangjiajie to Beijing or Beijing to Zhangjiajie?

For most travellers, mega-cities and transportation hubs like Beijing and Shanghai are usually their first destination of a China tour. If you come to Shanghai first, it is recommended to travel from Zhangjiajie to Beijing as both Shanghai and Zhangjiajie are southern cities. But if you get to Beijing first, there is no doubt a Beijing-Zhangjiajie tour is more reasonable.

>>14 Days Best China Zhangjiajie Landscape Tour with Yangtze Cruise and Beijing

>>6 Days Beijing to Zhangjiajie Fantastic Adventure Tour

Travel with China Discovery

If you have other ideas or questions about a Zhangjiajie Beijing Tour, please feel free to contact us. We are also specialized in tailor-made tours that fit you best according to your own interests, requirements, traveling time, etc. We will provide you with reliable drivers, professional guides and comfortable vehicles. You don’t need to worry about the tickets, transportation, meals, accommodation or any other problem; all you need to do is just enjoying your trip!