Facts about Hiking in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

It’s a challenging but rewarding activity to hike in the huge Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. To ensure a smooth trip, you need to learn the following facts beforehand.
 Whether hiking or not, people need to use eco-buses to reduce repetitive walking and avoid sections without any views. They connect major scenic areas at the top of the mountains and those at the foot, respectively. In this context, hiking refers to going up and down mountains and walking around in certain scenic area. No additional fee is required for the eco-bus, and you can get on and off countless times.

 Read more: How to Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
 The uphill and downhill paths are often steep stone stairs built along the mountain terrain, most of which are well maintained. Those leading to Yangjiajie along the Bali Slope always see thick moss without many visitors. 

The viewing platforms on the mountaintop area built on the cliff are all made of stone slabs, linked by wooden or stone roads. Accessible wooden walkways can be found in Huangshi Village area and cover the whole way of Golden Whip Stream. Interestingly, you will also step on some metal trails, such as the Heart to Heart Bridge, a viewing point for Floating Mountain in Yuanjiajie, and the iron ladder to One Step to Heaven in Yangjiajie.

 You may need: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park FAQs
 Zhangjiajie Forest Park is characterized by vertical mountain landscapes, with long steps on steep terrain. Hikers need to spend most of their time climbing up and down the mountains. For example, 5,800 steps await on the footpath to Tianzi Mountain, with a length of about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) and an elevation of 700 meters (2,297 feet). For people with moderate physical strength, the climb consumes energy for consecutive 2 - 3 hours, posing a great challenge to their legs and lungs. 

 Special recommendation: Hiking Trails of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
 Hiking offers opportunities to appreciate different scenes and brings a unique experience during the journey. You can freely control your visit pace and immerse yourself in every detail: appreciate the primitive mountain peaks, stroke the textures on the stone pillars, observe ancient trees of various shapes…It’s really exciting to shout into the valley and hear the echoing sound clearly, and move forward tightly against the cliff. On the hiking trails, taking a turn reveals a new picture. Stepping on stairs covered in moss also makes the trip a jungle adventure.
 The majority of the tourists ride cable cars and the elevator to shuttle between the foot and the top of the mountains. As a result, there are almost no tourists on the trails, making it so quiet that only bird calls can be heard. If you pursue an undisturbed trip, just choose hiking; then, you can avoid tourism congestion and have exclusive access to the scenery. 

In addition, during the peak season, queueing up for a cable car ride not only takes up a lot of travel time but also easily makes visitors frustrated; hiking even takes a shorter period.
 Hikers don’t need to pay for the cable car or escalator, which costs CNY 65 – 76 for a single ride and CNY 238 – 298 for a combined ticket. In other words, you can explore the entire park with only an entrance ticket. For people with a limited budget, hiking is an ideal option to reduce expenses.

 Booking Entrance Ticket of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
 Prioritize sunny days for outings and avoid rainy days as much as possible. June to July is the rainy season in Zhangjiajie, when short-term showers often occur. Stone steps and wooden boardwalks on mountain roads can be slippery after rain, and continuous rainfall may cause the temporary closure of some trails. What’s more, it’s challenging to find directions without clear trail markings in thick fog on rainy days.

April to May and September to October, with clear skies, favorable temperatures, and stained forests, are the best times for hiking.

 FYI: Zhangjiajie Weather
 As original residents of the scenic area, monkeys, in large numbers, add a lot of fun to your hiking journey. You can see them throughout the trip along Golden Whip Stream; the trails in Huangshi Village and Yangjiajie are also their activity centers. Monkeys often squat on steps and guardrails, or jump between branches; sometimes, they even actively enter your camera frame. 

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