Best Hiking Trails in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, with stunning peak forest scenes, is a world-class hiking destination, where hikers can observe the towering sandstone pillars up close, challenge thrilling stairs, relax in the canyon with lush vegetation and gurgling streams, encounter lively wild monkeys, and enjoy a quiet journey free of crowds.

However, the park covers a vast area; a well-planned itinerary based on your physical strength and schedule is thus necessary for a smooth and efficient trip.
 Before the hike, you need to make thorough preparations: research the touring route and distance as well as the difficulty of hiking trails, and familiarize yourself with the footpath conditions. Hiking gear, such as slip-resistant hiking shoes and walking sticks, is necessary. At the same time, check the weather forecast in time, and aim for sunny days whenever possible.
 Four classic one-day hiking itineraries are provided below for energetic visitors touring the park on foot. You can choose the one that suits you best, or combine two reasonably with sufficient physical strength. If you plan to spend more than one day here, just follow the two-day route for a thorough visit.
  Route A: Ten Miles Gallery - Tianzi Mountain – Yuanjiajie - Yangjiajie
Distance: 25 km (15.5 mi), nearly 40,000 steps 
Estimated Time: 10.5 h
Difficulty: Strenuous

1. Enter from the East Gate as early as the park opens, considering the long sightseeing time.
2. Take the eco-bus to Ten Miles Gallery. Remember to tell the driver where to drop you off, as it’s not a major station. About 20 minutes are needed on board. 
3. Walk through the valley in 30 minutes, which is 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long with stone pillars of various shapes standing on both sides. Three peaks rise in parallel at its end, serving as the beginning of the uphill path to Tianzi Mountain.
4. Trek along Crouching Dragon Ridge to reach the summit of Tianzi Mountain, Tianzi Pavilion, with a duration of 3 hours. Although it looks short on the map, only 2.2 km (1.4 mi), it’s the most laborious section in the park with more than 5,800 consecutive steep stairs. Some platforms are set on the way for viewing sandstone peaks, like Pagoda Peak, Arranging Battles Platform, etc. 
5. Visit around towering peak forests, with Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Dispersing Flowers, and Yunqing Rock as highlights. Recommended time: 1.5 hours
6. At Tianzi Mountain station, get on the eco-bus heading to Yangjiajie station. People who have a carsickness should better take medicine in advance for the 25-minute mountain road ride. 
7. Appreciate amazing sandstone walls, a 10-minute walk from the eco-bus station. 
8. Transfer to First Bridge station of Yuanjiajie by eco-bus in 10 minutes.
9. Admire First Bridge, a magical natural stone bridge connecting two peaks, Qiankun Column, the prototype of Floating Mountain in Avatar, and overlook hundreds of sandstone pillars on Enchanting Terrace. Recommended time: 2 hours
10. Return to Yangjiajie station by eco-bus from First Bridge station.
11. Find the downhill footpath leading to the lower station of Yangjiajie Cableway, with One Step to Heaven as a major stop, and then, walk to descend the mountain. It’s 6.8 km (4.2 mi) long, requiring at least 2 hours.
12. Ride the eco-bus to Dragon-phoenix Temple station in 10 minutes.
13. Go down 510 stairs to get to Dragon-phoenix Temple lower station.
14. Reach Big Oxygen Bar Square by eco-bus in 5 minutes.
15. Walk 1 km (0.6 mi) to the South Gate and exit.

 Route B: Yangjiajie – Yuanjiajie - Tianzi Mountain
Distance: 20 km (12.4 mi), 33,000 steps
Estimated Time: 9 h
Difficulty: Hard

1. Enter from South Gate, and then walk to Big Oxygen Bar Square. The two spots are 1 km (0.6 mi) apart. 
2. Hop on the eco-bus running to Dragon-phoenix Temple lower station. It takes 5 minutes on board.
3. Climb about 510 stairs to Dragon-phoenix Temple station.
4. Change to an eco-bus running towards the lower station of Yangjiajie Cableway in 10 minutes.
5. Hike along Bali Slope, which is 2.2 km (1.4 mi) long, to ascend Yangjiajie in at least 1.5 hours. With the fewest tourists, it is often covered with thick moss; be careful not to slip, particularly after the rain. The footpath ends at the upper station of Yangjiajie Cableway.
6. Walk to visit the spectacular Natural Great Wall and turn back to the cableway upper station, where eco-buses are available. This round trip takes 30 minutes in total.
7. Get to First Bridge station of Yuanjiajie in 10 minutes by eco-bus. 
8. Visit First Bridge, Floating Mountain, and Enchanting Terrace one after another. You can spend 2 hours at most in this area. 
9. Return to First Bridge station by the way you came, and continue the eco-bus trip to Tianzi Mountain. About 0.5 hours are needed.
10. Tour this area on foot, mainly containing Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Dispersing Flowers, and Yunqing Rock. Duration: 2 hours
11. Go down the path beside Tianzi Pavilion towards South Heaven Gate and arrive at Sansuo Junction station eventually. The 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long mountain road takes you about 1.5 hours.
12. Ride the eco-bus heading to East Gate for a duration of 15 minutes, and then leave the park.
 For experienced hiking enthusiasts who don’t want to rush through hot attractions but prefer places with both fewer visitors and beautiful scenery, Yangjiajie and Tianzi Mountain can meet your pursuit of hiking intensity and adventure experience.

 Yangjiajie hiking: Special recommendation for challengers
Unlike gentle Yuanjiajie and Golden Whip Stream, Yangjiajie is characterized by its rugged terrain with steep paths. Some sections are so narrow that only one person can pass sideways. Moreover, without excessive development, it preserves the most pristine sandstone landscapes within the park.

Distance: 16 km (9.9 mi), 24,000 steps
Estimated Time: 8 h
Difficulty: Hard

1. Choose the closer South Gate as the entrance.
2. At Big Oxygen Bar Square, 1 km (0.6 mi) away from the entrance, take the eco-bus to Dragon-phoenix Temple lower station.
3. Walk 510 stairs to Dragon-phoenix Temple station.
4. Transfer to the eco-bus heading towards the lower station of Yangjiajie Cableway with a duration of 10 minutes.
5. Start your uphill journey to Yangjiajie. It’s not an easy trip, actually. Upward and downward sections alternate on this 6.8 km-long (4.2 mi-long) mountain road, and the thrilling Skywalk, a corridor built in the cliffs, easily amazes people. So, be patient. 
6. After Skywalk, find the track to One Step to Heaven viewing platform, and climb up via an iron ladder. It is so steep that you need to hold the handrails on both sides. However, the expansive mountain view makes your hard work worthwhile. A round visit takes 1 - 1.5 hours.
7. Make your way back to the uphill path and go on walking for 1.8 km (1.1 mi). The destination is a crossroad 500 meters (547 yards) away from the upper station of Yangjiajie Cableway.
8. Embark on the mountaintop sightseeing. The first stop is Natural Great Wall, a 10-minute walk from the crossroad. 
9. Return to the crossroad and walk 1.25 km (0.8 mi) to Wulong Village, a former residence of bandits built on the cliff with narrow and steep paths. You need to bend down and move forward slowly for some sections. The roads are one-way; visitors enter from the right side and leave from the left.
10. Continue to walk 500 meters (547 yards) before passing through a wooden suspension bridge and an almost vertical iron ladder. Then, you come to Tianbo Mansion, a sightseeing platform for sandstone peaks. It’s no exaggeration that you can have the scene almost to yourself.
11. Return to the crossroad and go downhill along the 2.2 km-long (1.4 mi-long) Bali Slope with a duration of 1.5 hours. 
12. Follow the original route back to the South Gate from the lower station of Yangjiajie Cableway. It needs 0.5 hours in total.

 Tianzi Mountain hiking: Seeking less popular but sensational views
Several attractions for admiring breathtaking peak forests are hidden in Tianzi Mountain scenic area. Due to the location midway between eco-bus stations, they are not ideal for group visitors, but good choices for hikers. 

Distance: 21 km (13 mi), 35,000 steps
Estimated Time: 10 h
Difficulty: Strenuous

1. Enter the park via the East Gate.
2. Get on the eco-bus towards Ten Miles Gallery with a running time of 20 minutes. It’s necessary to inform the driver of your destination.
3. Spend 0.5 hours to pass through this 1.8 km-long (1.1 mi-long) valley, and then ascend the mountain via Crouching Dragon Ridge with more than 5,800 stairs with perseverance in approximately 3 hours. Be careful of cobwebs and slippery stone steps with thick moss and fallen leaves along the roads. Besides, many sightseeing platforms midway are independently located away from the trails. After admiring the scenes, you need to turn back on the uphill path.
4. Visit Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Dispersing Flowers, and West Sea Peak Forests, core spots of the mountain. It’s recommended to spend 2 hours there.
5. At Helong Park station, ride the eco-bus to Arranging Battles Platform in 5 minutes, considered the top 1 attraction in Tianzi Mountain by many hikers, to see hundreds of peaks standing high. You also need to tell the driver where to drop you off.
6. Walk around 900 meters (984 yards) to Shentang Gulf, a spot to admire stone peaks closely.
7. Get to the eco-bus station on the roadside for eco-bus to Grand Sightseeing Platform, and then embark on an adventure. There are about 600 stairs in total in this area. You can overlook unimaginable beauty from the top of an independent stone wall, connected to the main mountain body by wire netting. 
8. Wait for the eco-bus to Fork Road, where you can take a sightseeing bus to Sky Garden at CNY 64 for a round trip. Terraced farmlands on the cliff, vast peak forests, and Bailong Elevator in the distance are all incredible. After sightseeing, return to Fork Road by sightseeing bus. Time needed: 1.5 hours
9. Change to the eco-bus towards Helong Park with a duration of 15 minutes.
10. Descend the mountain along the footpath next to Tianzi Pavilion towards Sansuo Junction via South Heaven Gate, a giant natural stone gate. The trail is 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long, taking a minimum of 1.5 hours.
11. Wave to the passing eco-bus at the junction, and confirm its direction. Then, take it back to East Gate in 15 minutes.
 An energetic person can continue your journey the next day. In addition to covering more core areas, it maximizes the value of the entrance ticket that is valid for 4 days.

 Day 1: Choose any of the above routes.

 Day 2: Huangshi Village - Golden Whip Stream
Distance: 17 km (10.6 mi), 28,000 steps
Estimated Time: 7 h
Difficulty: Moderate

1. Enter from the South Gate.
2. Walk through Big Oxygen Bar Square, 1 km (0.6 mi) from the gate, to find the starting point of the footpath to Huangshi Village.
3. Hike up the mountain. About 4,600 stairs await, spanning a total length of 3.2 km (2 mi). It’s pleasing to view upright sandstone pillars at platforms midway, and exciting to go through the narrow path between two mountains, called Heavenly Southern Gate.
4. At the mountaintop of Huangshi Village, overlook towering peak forests along the Grand Circle. It takes about 1.5 – 2 hours.
5. Hike following the original route down the mountain in about 1.5 hours, 0.5 hours faster than the uphill climb. 
6. Walk at leisure across the 5.8 km-long (3.6 mi-long) Golden Whip Stream, a destination that hiking enthusiasts cannot miss. Along the flat path, you can immerse yourself in an oxygen-rich valley, admire goldfish in clear water, or even have water activities in the stream. Around 2.5 hours are required. 
7. Take the eco-bus at the east end, Streams Flowing Through Four Gates, to the East Gate in 25 minutes.
8. Leave the park.

Tip: It’s a monkey-themed day: you often meet monkey groups during the trip. Be sure to keep a safe distance from them, and avoid taking anything in your hands, especially plastic bags, for fear that they come to snatch.
 1. Choose an appropriate route for yourself, making physical condition a high priority. 

2. It is recommended to download the offline map in advance, considering weak mobile signal in mountainous areas with dense vegetation. Or prepare a paper map ahead of time.

3. Packing list
a. Necessities to protect your knees, as there are numerous stairs during a hiking trip.
b. Trekking pole to save energy and defend against possibly aggressive monkeys. Bamboo poles are sold at the east entrance of the park at about CNY 3.
c. Mosquito repellent spray, particularly advised for those with sensitive skin. Mosquitoes are active in lush forests on warm days.
 1. Plan your time. Hiking in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park takes at least 6 hours. It’s recommended to begin your hiking as early as possible, and the same goes for the return trip. It’s a little dangerous to be in the mountains after dark due to hidden snakes along mountain roads and poor light.

2. Do not hike alone in the park. Hikers are in the minority, resulting in many path sections without any people. It is somewhat challenging to face the deep mountains and wild monkey groups alone. 

3. Be careful when you occasionally meet collapsed steps.

4. If you are exhausted before the downhill trip, just choose a cable car or the elevator in advance. Footpaths in the mountains don’t lead to any cableway or elevator stations, meaning that you cannot give up hiking midway.

5. Record the service hotline of the park just in case. Emergency numbers are often displayed on direction boards.

 Read More:
Top FAQs about Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to Get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Top Things to Do in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park