You'll regret it if you don't visit Zhangjiajie in your lifetime
by NoraMcAllister39
Apr 25, 2025
Located in northwestern Hunan, Zhangjiajie is one of China's most important tourist cities. It boasts a rare quartz sandstone peak forest canyon landscape, offering extremely rich tourism resources.
Here's a Zhangjiajie travel guide to help you have a wonderful journey:
Attraction Recommendations
- Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park: Features the world's longest high-altitude passenger cableway, the 99-bend "Heaven-Linking Avenue," the Tianmen Cave wonder, and glass walkways, making it a holy land for extreme sports.
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: China's first national forest park, renowned for its "majestic mountains, beautiful waters, peculiar peaks, secluded gorges, and exquisite caves," praised as an "expanded bonsai and a miniature fairyland."
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area: Famous for its stunning canyon views and the glass bridge that holds ten world records. The area also offers glass slides, high-altitude zip lines, Rainbow Lake, VR flying experiences, sculptural elevators, 260-meter bungee jumping, and rock climbing.
- Qixing Mountain: As high as Tianmen Mountain, it features karst isolated peak tableland terrain. The vast mountaintop hangs over the city, with huge elevation differences creating alpine canyons, resembling a "City in the Sky."
- Seventy-Two Strange Towers: A Tujia-style stilted building standing 109.9 meters tall, recognized as the "world's tallest stilted building structure" and a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption hub.
Transportation Guide
- External Transportation: You can fly to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, take a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West Station, or drive there.
- Internal Transportation: Eco-friendly buses are available within the scenic area. The Wulingyuan ticket includes 4 days of free eco-bus rides, but note the last bus time (18:00 in summer). You can also take cable cars or elevators, such as the Bailong Elevator (72 RMB one-way), Tianzi Mountain Cableway (72 RMB), or the Tianmen Mountain Cableway (included in the ticket).
Accommodation Suggestions
- Downtown: Hotels are concentrated near the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, offering convenient access and a wide price range, suitable for budget-conscious travelers or those catching early flights/trains. Recommended: Atour Hotel Tianmen Mountain, a 5-minute walk to the cableway station with modern facilities and excellent service.
- Wulingyuan District: The preferred area for visiting Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, and Huanglong Cave, with diverse lodging options and abundant dining. Recommended: Noble Crown Plaza Hotel, a high-end local hotel with complete facilities, including a pool and family-friendly amenities.
Food Recommendations
- Sanxiaguo: A dry pot with bacon, tofu, and pork intestines, a local specialty.
- Tujia Smoked Bacon: Rich smoky flavor, best stir-fried with fern vegetables.
- Sour Fish Soup: Made with mountain spring water and wild tomatoes, spicy and appetizing.
- Wormwood Cakes: Pan-fried glutinous rice mixed with Qingming grass, 5 RMB each.
- Cold Noodles: "Sisters Cold Noodles" at South Gate, served with secret spicy sauce, a perfect summer treat.
Itinerary Suggestions
- 3-Day Tour
- Day 1: Take the Tianmen Mountain Cableway in the morning to explore mountaintop attractions like the glass walkway and Ghost Valley Plank Road. In the afternoon, descend via escalator to Tianmen Cave and take the cable car down.
- Day 2: Spend the day at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Take the Bailong Elevator up in the morning to visit Yuanjiajie and Yangjiajie, then take the Tianzi Mountain Cableway down in the afternoon and explore Golden Whip Stream.
- Day 3: Visit the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in the morning and Huanglong Cave in the afternoon.
- 4-Day Tour
- Day 1: Same as Day 1 of the 3-day tour.
- Day 2: Same as Day 2 of the 3-day tour.
- Day 3: Visit Baofeng Lake in the morning and the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in the afternoon.
- Day 4: Explore Qixing Mountain in the morning and return to downtown in the afternoon.
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