Just returned from Zhangjiajie, really don't recommend visiting June-August

Zhangjiajie during June-August is absolutely a fairyland on earth, but without proper planning, I wouldn't suggest visiting during this time😭

Must-know before you go: Climate & Transportation
🌈Climate features: June-August is summer in Zhangjiajie with temperatures 25-35℃, frequent thunderstorms. Pack sunscreen, raincoats, and anti-slip shoes. Large temperature differences between day and night in mountains - bring light jackets.
🚗🚄🚌Transportation tips:
►External transport: Direct shuttle buses available from Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport and high-speed rail station to scenic areas. Private cars (~300-400 RMB/vehicle) more convenient.
►City transport: Bus 2 RMB/ride, taxi starting fare 6 RMB (daytime), ride-hailing apps available. Free eco-buses within scenic areas, cable cars/elevators require additional fees.

🗺️Recommended classic routes
📍Day1: In-depth Tianmen Mountain tour
✅Morning: Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area
Take world's longest alpine cable car (7,455m) to summit, challenge the 99-bend road wonder.
Visit Tianmen Cave, Guigu Plank Road, Glass Walkway - experience breathtaking views in clouds.

✅Afternoon: Tianmen Mountain Temple
Explore thousand-year-old temple, experience fusion of religious culture and natural landscapes.

🏨Accommodation: Mountain-top inns or city hotels, recommend Wyndham Garden Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain (with 2,000㎡ garden terrace).

📍Day2: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
🔶Morning: Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
Visit "Hallelujah Mountain" (Avatar filming location), First Bridge Under Heaven, Soul-Taking Terrace.

🔶Afternoon: Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area
Climb Helong Park, view Imperial Writing Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, descend via Tianzi Mountain cable car.

🏨Accommodation: In-park inns (near Yuanjiajie/Tianzi Mountain), or Wulingyuan town hotels.

📍Day3: Grand Canyon & Phoenix Ancient Town
🔶Morning: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Experience Glass Bridge (430m long, 300m high), challenge high-altitude zip line and cliff bungee.

🔶Afternoon: Phoenix Ancient Town
Boat ride on Tuo River, stroll North Gate Wharf, Shen Congwen's Former Residence, enjoy ancient town night views.

🌿Must-visit attraction guides
►Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Ticket: 248 RMB (includes insurance & eco-bus), valid for 4 days.
🗺️Recommended route: Golden Whip Stream→Yangjiajie→Yuanjiajie→Tianzi Mountain→Ten-Mile Gallery.
►Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area
Tickets: Book 3 days in advance, routes A/B/C available, cable car ~28 minutes one way.
►Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
Tickets: Require separate booking, recommend advance planning during peak season.
►Phoenix Ancient Town
Free attractions: North Gate Wharf, Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Rainbow Bridge.

🗺️Food map: Taste of Western Hunan
🔥Must-try dishes
Sanxiaguo: Stewed pork tripe, beef tripe, etc. Recommend Hu Shifu Sanxiaguo.
Rock Ear Stewed Free-range Chicken: Wulingyuan specialty, wild rock ears from cliffs with free-range chicken.
Blood Tofu Duck: Phoenix Ancient Town must-try, slow-stewed duck with glutinous rice blood tofu.

✅Recommended restaurants
Lekoufu Home-style Restaurant: Taro ribs, spicy fish head, braised pork.
Chef Tang's Western Hunan Cuisine: Rock ear chicken soup, signature cured pork.

🏨Accommodation recommendations: Nature meets comfort
📍In-park accommodation
Yuanjiajie/Tianzi Mountain inns: Convenient for sunrise viewing, 100-200 RMB/night.

📍Wulingyuan town hotels
Hampton by Hilton: Offers butler service and customized tour routes.

📍City hotels
Wyndham Garden Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain: Near Tianmen Mountain cable car, features garden terrace.

👉🏻Practical tips
1⃣️Ticket discounts:
Student/senior citizen discounts available, combo tickets more economical.
2⃣️Safety notes:
Many slippery steps in scenic areas - wear anti-slip shoes; don't feed wild macaques.
3⃣️Summer essentials:
Raincoats, shoe covers, mosquito repellent - mountain areas have many insects.

📸Best photography times:
Yuanjiajie's Qiankun Pillar, Tianmen Cave sea of clouds, Phoenix night views.

🤗Extended itinerary suggestions
In-depth tour: Add Huanglong Cave (one of Asia's largest karst caves), Jiutian Xuannu Cave exploration.
Family-friendly: Baofeng Lake boat ride, mountain song duets on lake island.
Cultural experience: Tusi Castle for Tujia history, Furong Ancient Town - "millennium town hanging on waterfall".

🌿Zhangjiajie - a city famous for its bizarre peaks, canyons and caves. June-August, avoid crowds and experience summer coolness and awe on glass walkways, Golden Whip Stream, and Tianmen Cave.