China
Zhangjiajie is where China's sandstone forests meet the clouds.
In the Wulingyuan area of northern Hunan, thousands of slender quartzite pillars rise from forested valleys, and one of them, now called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, lent its look to a film about floating peaks. This guide books the headline sights properly: a multi-day pass for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Bailong Elevator up the cliff to Yuanjiajie, the high viewpoints of Tianzi Mountain, the long valley walk along the Golden Whip Stream to Yellow Stone Village, Tianmen Mountain with its Heaven's Gate arch and glass skywalks, the Grand Canyon glass bridge, the green gorge of Baofeng Lake, the underground river of Huanglong Cave and a bullet-train day to Fenghuang Ancient Town. It then matches you to a base, from a full-service resort at the park gate to a quiet valley lodge, because in a landscape this spread out, where you sleep decides how early you start.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Wulingyuan)
China's first national forest park and the heart of the Wulingyuan UNESCO area: thousands of sandstone pillars rising out of cloud, with trails, shuttle buses, cable cars and an elevator to thread them together. A multi-day ticket is the smart way to see it without rushing.
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and Yuanjiajie
The floating-mountain view that inspired a film: Yuanjiajie's cluster of towering pillars, including the peak renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. Arrive early, walk the short viewpoint loops and give the clouds time to open.
Tianmen Mountain and the Glass Skywalks
A separate mountain near Zhangjiajie city with a natural stone arch called Heaven's Gate, cliffside glass walkways and a long cable car. Cableway works can change the route up, so check which way is running before you go.
Bailong Elevator (Hundred Dragons Elevator)
A glass-sided lift bolted to a sandstone cliff, 326 metres high and among the tallest outdoor elevators in the world. It lifts you in about two minutes from the valley to the Yuanjiajie plateau, with the pillars filling the window the whole way.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
China's first national forest park and the heart of the Wulingyuan UNESCO area: thousands of sandstone pillars rising out of cloud, with trails, shuttle buses, cable cars and an elevator to thread them together. A multi-day ticket is the smart way to see it without rushing.
The floating-mountain view that inspired a film: Yuanjiajie's cluster of towering pillars, including the peak renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. Arrive early, walk the short viewpoint loops and give the clouds time to open.
A glass-sided lift bolted to a sandstone cliff, 326 metres high and among the tallest outdoor elevators in the world. It lifts you in about two minutes from the valley to the Yuanjiajie plateau, with the pillars filling the window the whole way.
The highest viewpoints in Wulingyuan, reached by cable car, with a sea of pillars below. A day tour pairs it with Laowuchang, a village of rice terraces, so you see both the summit and the countryside.
The park's best long walk: a flat, shaded valley trail beside the Golden Whip Stream, then a climb to Yellow Stone Village for sweeping views. A guided 13-kilometre day takes the logistics out of it.
A separate mountain near Zhangjiajie city with a natural stone arch called Heaven's Gate, cliffside glass walkways and a long cable car. Cableway works can change the route up, so check which way is running before you go.
A glass-floored bridge strung 430 metres across a deep canyon, a short drive from Wulingyuan. Add the canyon trail, boats and cliffs, and allow half a day, with a slot booked and the weather in mind.
A deep-green reservoir ringed by cliffs and waterfalls near Wulingyuan, best seen from a boat with folk songs echoing off the rock. Easy walking, a relaxed pace and a good contrast to the park's stair-climbing days.
One of China's largest karst caves, with several storeys of chambers, an underground river boat ride and towering stone columns. A cool, dry retreat that suits wet-weather days and travellers who want a break from stairs.
A river town of stilted wooden houses, stone bridges and lantern-lit lanes, reached from Zhangjiajie by bullet train for a full day trip. A change of scene from the mountains, best with a few hours to wander after dark.
A large open-air musical drama staged in a valley below Tianmen Mountain, telling a folk love story between a fox fairy and a human woodsman with hundreds of performers, folk songs and the cliffs as a backdrop. The best evening option in Zhangjiajie city.
A 90-minute song-and-dance spectacle of western Hunan's Tujia and Miao customs, staged in a theatre close to the Wulingyuan gate. The easiest evening outing for anyone staying in town after a day on the mountain.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Wulingyuan
The big-name international resort hotel of Wulingyuan: 456 rooms, three restaurants, a bar, a seasonal outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym, with the park gate a short walk away. The comfortable splurge for a trip built around the mountains.
Check rates →Wulingyuan (Bao Feng Road)
A modern mid-range hotel on Bao Feng Road with free parking, a restaurant, a fitness centre and a playground, handy for Tianzi Mountain and Baofeng Lake. Family suites and easy logistics make it a practical pick.
Check rates →Wulingyuan (East Gate)
A value-minded hotel half a kilometre from the Wulingyuan East Gate, with free hot breakfast, free parking and mountain-view rooms. Close to the Charming Xiangxi theatre and a good budget-minded base for park days.
Check rates →Wulingyuan (Wuling Road)
A Tujia-style hotel with blue-brick walls and tiled roofs, about five minutes on foot from the core scenic area and close to the Charming Xiangxi theatre. Free breakfast, a fitness centre and some balcony mountain views at a sensible price.
Check rates →Yangjiajie
A hillside resort-style lodge near Yangjiajie with two outdoor pools, swim-up bars, five restaurants and 19 room types, many with mountain or valley views. Quiet and scenic, with an excellent guest score and a remote feel.
Check rates →Wulingyuan (Banli Mountain)
A luxury bed and breakfast in the hills of Wulingyuan with garden, hill and mountain-view rooms, a free local breakfast, an outdoor pool and free shuttles from the airport and station. Small, scenic and unusually well reviewed.
Check rates →Yongding (Tianmen Mountain)
A 202-room value hotel in the city district of Yongding, beside the Tianmen Mountain cable car, with free breakfast buffet, free parking and a 24-hour gym. The practical base for a Tianmen day, an early train or an evening show.
Check rates →Wulingyuan
A full-service chain hotel in Wulingyuan with two restaurants, a lobby bar, an outdoor pool with a separate children's pool, a kids' club and free parking. A comfortable, family-friendly base minutes from the scenic area.
Check rates →The practical primer for a first trip: the park pass, timed entry at Tianmen Mountain, how many days to allow and how the headline sights fit together.
Which part of Zhangjiajie to base yourself in, with our seven hotel picks from a full-service resort to a quiet valley lodge and a city base beside the Tianmen cable car.
A practical three-day plan covering the national forest park, Tianmen Mountain and the glass bridge, with an evening show, a longer fourth day and tips on pacing.
How each season changes the mountains, waterfalls and rice terraces, when the crowds peak and which months suit hiking, photography and evening shows.
The best evenings in and around Zhangjiajie: the Fox Fairy Show, the Charming Xiangxi theatre, the lit stilted towers and the lantern-lit river towns.
How to enjoy Zhangjiajie with children, grandparents or anyone who prefers gentle walking: lifts, boats, caves, shows and where to stay.
