China

Zhangjiajie

Sandstone pillars in the clouds

Best season
April to October — mild and green
Nearest airport
Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG), ~40 min to the park

East Asia · China

Zhangjiajie, China

Sandstone pillars in the clouds

Plan this trip

Getting there

By air

Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG), ~40 min to the park

Best time to visit

April to October — mild and green

Don't miss

The 'Avatar' Hallelujah Mountain

Tianzi Mountain

Tianmen Mountain

The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Things to do

The Bailong elevator
The glass bridge
Tianmen Mountain's cable car

Where to eat

Tujia smoked meats

Sources: Photo: Yoo Chung · CC BY-SA 2.5

What to pack

Hiking shoes, rain gear

A quieter corner

The Golden Whip Stream walk along the valley floor

Questions travellers ask

When should I visit Zhangjiajie?

April to October, when it's mild and green. Bring hiking shoes and rain gear.

How do I get to Zhangjiajie's park?

Fly into Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG); the park is about 40 minutes away.

What should I see in Zhangjiajie?

The 'Avatar' Hallelujah Mountain and Tianzi Mountain, then ride the Bailong elevator, cross the glass bridge and take Tianmen Mountain's cable car.

Is there a valley walk in Zhangjiajie?

Yes — the Golden Whip Stream walk runs along the valley floor.

About Zhangjiajie

  • Mountains
  • Forest

Where it is

Zhangjiajie is a city in north-western Hunan Province, China, in the Wuling Mountains, where the Wulingyuan scenic area packs countless sandstone pillars into forested valleys.

History

These mountains have long been home to Tujia, Bai and Miao farming communities, and in 1982 Zhangjiajie became China's first national forest park. The wider Wulingyuan Scenic Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and in 1994 the city of Dayong was renamed Zhangjiajie after the park.

People

The region is home to Tujia, Bai and Miao communities, who speak Mandarin and local languages and dialects. Tujia traditions include stilted wooden houses called diaojiaolou, the hand-waving dance and the woven brocade known as xilankapu.

Known for

  • The sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan
  • The Bailong Elevator on a cliff face
  • Tianmen Mountain and its cable car
  • The glass bridge over the Grand Canyon
  • Tujia songs, dances and villages

Did you know?

The Bailong Elevator, built into a cliff face in Wulingyuan, rises about 326 m and is often billed as the highest outdoor elevator in the world.

Ready when you are

Your Zhangjiajie trip, planned around you.

Tell Seenary who's coming and how long you have. It plans the days around where you sleep, not around a checklist.

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