Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is renowned for its unique quartz-sandstone peak forest landscape—a rare geological phenomenon found in few places on Earth.
It is Hunan’s natural crown jewel and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
The area’s iconic quartz sandstone peaks formed over 380 million years ago through geological forces such as erosion.
It boasts over 3,000 jagged sandstone peaks, some towering 1,300 meters high; no two peaks share the exact same shape, each carved uniquely by millions of years of weathering.
Director James Cameron drew inspiration from the Yuanjiajie Mountains in Zhangjiajie for the "Hallelujah Mountains" in his film Avatar, which helped construct its magical world.
All tickets are valid for 4 days, and it is recommended to allocate 3-4 days for an in-depth visit.
All visitors must make a real-name reservation in advance.
Using passport(s) to enter at the Entrance.
No need to wait in queue to collect ticket(s) at the ticketing office.
Each time you enter the park, you need to make a new appointment.
Select Date & Time: Choose your preferred visit date and entry time.
Enter Visitor Information: Provide the full name and passport number for each visitor.
Review & Pay: Complete the payment to confirm your booking.
Confirmation: Upon successful booking, you will receive a confirmation email containing your QR code ticket(s) and booking details.
The ticket(s) is only valid for the visit date/time you’ve chosen.
The visual impact of three thousand peaks:Looking up, you see quartz sandstone pillars piercing the clouds. Iconic sights like the Imperial Brush Peak and the Qiankun Pillar are majestic up close and ethereal from afar, resembling a fairyland when shrouded in mist.
An adrenaline rush from the heights: The Bailong Elevator takes you directly to the summit in 1 minute and 28 seconds. Looking down, you see a sheer drop; looking up, you see blue skies and white clouds—this aerial perspective is definitely worth experiencing.
The Tianzi Mountain Cableway, known as the "Sky Corridor," is 2,084 meters long and traverses layers of mountains—thrilling yet safe, with a sheer drop below.
Some interesting facts about It:
- China's first national forest park: China's first national forest park: Officially established on September 25, 1982, filling the gap of China's lack of national forest parks. It was about 100 years later than Yellowstone National Park in the United States, but its geological landscape is no less impressive.
- Origin of the name: "Zhangjiajie" originates from the Ming Dynasty. The imperial court bestowed this mountain forest upon the meritorious general Zhang Wancong as a hereditary territory, hence the name "Zhangjiajie," meaning "Zhang family's territory" or "Zhang family's mountain forest."
- Yuanjiajie's Qiankun Pillar Was Renamed Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain.This 1074-meter-high stone pillar is the real-life prototype of the floating mountains in the film. This effective promotion rapidly spread the mountain's fame across the globe.
- Tianzi Mountain's Fairy Scattering Flowers, this stone peak is about 80 meters high and resembles a fairy holding a flower basket. When surrounded by clouds and mist, it looks as if she is really scattering flower petals, hence the name.
- The cute and playful macaques are delightful.They move freely along the viewing platform railings and are accomplished beggars, expertly soliciting snacks from tourists with their innocent expressions.
7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Recommended visit time
For a classic view – pillars of clouds – the best time to see the mist-shrouded peaks is from April to June or September to November, a day or two after rain. The chances of seeing mist are much lower in July and August. The mist lasts for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on wind, temperature, and other factors. It is strongly recommended to avoid the May Day and National Day holidays (the first few weeks of May and October).
Autumn (September to November) is recommended for its weather and scenery: a visual feast of vibrant forests and clear skies. The sky is high and clear, with visibility at its best for the year, and the leaves begin to change color. Later, the hillsides turn fiery red, creating a striking contrast against the greyish-white peaks.
Price Details
Valid for 4 days: an entrance ticket, shuttle bus service, and unlimited use of the "Three Cable Cars and One Elevator" pass.
Each time you enter the scenic area, you need to make a new reservation and enter according to the reserved time.
Adult(s) |
Price |
1-4 |
$84 |
>4 |
$83 |
Child ( age under 14 ) |
Free |
The scenic area does not charge admission fees for children under 14 years old, but for safety reasons, insurance for $2 per person is required. We will contact you to make up the difference.
We recommend starting your tour at the East Gate (Wujiayu Ticket Office). The two loop routes below cover the same areas but in different directions and each takes about a day to complete. This scenic area requires a lot of hiking, and you'll need good physical fitness no matter which route you choose. If necessary, you'll need to bring a wheelchair. Here are two suggested loop routes:
Route A : takes you to the Tianzi Mountain Cableway, offering breathtaking scenery. This route is suitable for tourists with average physical fitness or those who wish to experience the highlights first.
Enter the park from the East Gate → Take the eco-friendly bus to the lower station of the Tianzi Mountain Cableway → Take the cableway up the mountain → Helong Park (Tianzi Mountain) → Yangjiajie → Yuanjiajie → Bailong Elevator (downward) → Take the eco-friendly bus back to the East Gate.
Route B : offers a quicker route to the stunning Bailong Elevator,the highest outdoor elevator.
The Bailong Elevator in this route offers a superior experience and is suitable for tourists who prefer efficient sightseeing. On the way down the mountain, you can enjoy the aerial views from the Tianzi Mountain cableway.
Enter the park from the East Gate → Take the eco-friendly shuttle bus to the Ten-Mile Gallery (mini train optional) → Water Surrounds Four Gates → Take the eco-friendly shuttle bus to the lower station of the Bailong Elevator → Take the Bailong Elevator up the mountain → Yuanjiajie → Yangjiajie → Helong Park (Tianzi Mountain) → Take the Tianzi Mountain cable car down the mountain → Take the eco-friendly shuttle bus back to the East Gate.
The main ticket allows entry from five ticket stations: East Gate (Wujia Yu Ticket Station), South Gate (Forest Park Ticket Station), West Gate (Yangjiajie Ticket Station), North Gate (Tianzi Mountain Ticket Station), and Middle Gate (Zimugang Ticket Station).
The Zhangjiajie national park guide view: click to enlargeFlight: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport → take a taxi (approximately 30mins) or take a bus route 4 to the city central bus station → take a shuttle bus to your destination.
High-speed Train: Zhangjiajie Station → Walk 330 meters to the city center bus station (next to the train station) → Take the tourist shuttle bus (15 RMB/person, 50 mins);
Zhangjiajie West Station → Direct Transfer from the bus to the tourist shuttle bus(from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, every 20 minutes, 13 RMB/person) or take a taxi (30-40 mins).
Driving: Navigate to "Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate." The scenic area parking lot charges approximately 20 RMB/day.
Things You Should Know:
- All visitors must make an appointment with the real names.
- ALL visitors must bring valid identification to enter the scenic area.
- The park may be fully booked during major holidays, or closed due to special circumstances. In these cases, we will refund the full amount.
- If you meet any questions or difficulties, please contact us through the in-app chat feature.
- Scenic Area Service Hotline: 0744-5712345 (24 hours)