Yangjiajie Scenic Area

Yangjiajie, the most precipitous core area in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is home to rare parallel sandstone walls around the world, an intermediate between mountains and rock pillars. The landscapes there remain pristine due to low tourist traffic, and long, steep slopes are the most common type of road. Stairs built along the cliffs bring an exciting experience: you need to climb with both hands and feet or go sideways. 

Major scenic spots in Yangjiajie are widely scattered and connected only by walking paths, which require considerable physical stamina. Therefore, they are recommended to hiking enthusiasts who want to beat the crowds during peak travel season and take an in-depth tour of the giant forest park. Those who travel with seniors or children or don’t exercise often can visit the most prominent Natural Great Wall, instead of going deep into remote attractions.

Yangjiajie can be reached by cable car from the foot of the mountain directly; in the mountaintop area, it also serves as a halfway station for the eco-bus running between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain.

Natural Great Wall

 

They are distributed in three areas centered around cableway upper station: Natural Great Wall, located just 500 meters (1,640.4 feet) away from the station, is the easiest, which gives people a visual impression of the stone wall landform; deep in the northwest is Wulong Village - Tianbo Mansion area, the most arduous section in Yangjiajie, with most narrow and steep roads; the southeast leads to One-step to Heaven - Skywalk, which are the highest points with the widest view and fewest tourists, but also the longest distance.
 

It refers to parallel stone walls, which look like the naturally formed Great Wall from afar, hence the name. They are all a few meters wide, but vary in height from tens to hundreds of meters. Not requiring a lot of energy, it’s the first choice in Yangjiajie area for visitors of all ages.

Busy Viewing Platform for Natural Great Wall

 

Wulong Village used to be an impregnable stronghold of bandits hidden on a cliff with dangerous terrain: on three sides are deep valleys surrounded by primitive peaks and forests. Inside the village, only one road along the edge of the cliff leads to the core area, with three challenging sections. Entering the village gate, you will find that the rock above extends so low that you need to bend over to pass through. What follows is a 30-centimetre-wide (11.8-inch) gap, where slightly overweight people have to walk sideways. Subsequently, on the steepest stone steps, one must climb carefully and tightly hold the handrails on both sides.

Narrow and Steep Path in Wulong Village

Tianbo Mansion is the highest point of Wulong Village. It is not a building but an isolated observation deck atop a stone peak, accessible only via an iron suspension bridge and a nearly vertical iron ladder. Upon reaching the viewing platform, you’ll suddenly see over a dozen stone walls standing side by side in layers, like an army arrayed for battle. The vantage here offers a broader view than the Natural Great Wall viewing platform, allowing people to see the distant forested peaks and valleys, and also serving as a prime spot for watching the sunset in Zhangjiajie Forest Park.

Gate of Wulong Village

Choose a Suitable Tour Route

 

One Step to Heaven ranks the highest of all peaks in Yangjiajie Scenic Area, standing at an elevation of 1,130 m (3,707.4 ft). To reach the summit, tourists need to climb a steep 32-step iron ladder. The flat peak surrounded by railings offers a panoramic view of Yangjiajie, and you can also see Yuanjiajie and Huangshizhai in the distance. The gentle breeze that always brushes against the face is strongly reminiscent of the scenes in Chinese films where protagonists achieve extraordinary mastery. According to legend, the wish made there is very likely to come true, so you can also hang your prayer strips.

Skywalk, a 320-meter-long (1,050-foot), one-meter-wide (3.3-foot) strip trail built along a cliff with a drop of 400 m (1,312.3 ft), requires a lot of courage and physical strength. At the end of the trail is a circular observation deck, where you can see rows of upright stone walls. It’s visited by only a few tourists, even if during high travel season, so you can enjoy all the scenery alone and shout to your heart’s content. 

A rugged mountain road made of piled stones connects the two, surrounded by primitive forests and gurgling springs. In hot summer, it’s the ideal choice to escape from the heat with complete shade.

Yangjiajie Map

 

Time needed: 1 hour

If you plan a limited time for Yangjiajie or travel with children and elderly people. It is a 10-minute walk from the eco-bus station and a 5-minute walk from the upper station of Yangjiajie cableway. 

 Circle routes of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park containing Natural Great Wall

Note: 
Be prepared for long slopes leading to the viewing platform from eco-bus station and cableway station.

Long Slope to Natural Great Wall

 

Time required: 6 – 8 hours

Suitable for tourists with sufficient energy. Scattered attractions connected only by footpath require a lot of time to hike between, so you need to reserve one day for in-depth sightseeing.

Route: Upper station of Yangjiajie cableway → Walk to Natural Great Wall in 5 minutes and visit the spot → Return to cableway station and continue hiking for half an hour to reach the gate of Wulong Village → Explore the village and enjoy the view on Tianbo Mansion before returning the same way you came, which takes 1.5 – 2 hours in total → Spend 1 hour to reach One Step to Heaven → Go to Skywalk with a duration of 15 minutes after sightseeing

In fact, One Step to Heaven and Skywalk are just located on the downhill trail of Yangjiajie. After the tour, tourists who want to take the cableway down the mountain to save effort need to return upward. If you still have energy, continue to hike 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) down the trail for descending.

 Hiking trail of Yangjiajie

Tips
1. Do not carry a big backpack to visit Wulong Village, considering its narrow roads.
2. Be careful of the steep iron ladders leading to Tianbo Mansion and One Step to Heaven. Their rungs are composed of two rods, rather than flattened horizontal pieces. Besides, it’s safer to go down with your back facing away. For tourists coming in winter, it is recommended to wear gloves because of the cold handrails.
3. Many ups and downs in Yangjiajie call for patience as well as hiking poles or knee pads.
4. It is not recommended to leave through West Gate after descending the mountain, as it is almost impossible to get a taxi there. Just take the eco-bus to South Gate and exit.

Take a Sedan Chair to Save Effort

 

Select the entrance first. East and South Gates of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which can be reached by tourist bus directly from Zhangjiajie West Railway Station and Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station in the city center, and operate many eco-buses, are the most commonly used entrances to Yangjiajie. 

Although West Gate is the closest to Yangjiajie, it cannot be reached by public transportation from downtown, so only some self-driving tourists choose it. At the same time, a few eco-buses serve, making it inconvenient to access other areas. 
 

If you arrange a mountain-top circular tour, Yangjiajie will be in the middle of the entire itinerary. The eco-bus can take you from Yuanjiajie or Tianzi Mountain to Yangjiajie, respectively.

Yangjiajie Eco-bus Station

Eco-bus at Big Oxygen Bar Square

 

If you plan a one-day tour of Yangjiajie, enter via South Gate. Then, hike 1 km (0.6 mi) to Big Oxygen Bar Square, where you can take the eco-bus heading towards the lower station of Dragon-phoenix Temple. Walk about 510 steps to Dragon-phoenix Temple station, then transfer to the eco-bus and get off at the lower station of Yangjiajie cableway.

After that, two ways are optional to reach the summit of Yangjiajie:

 By cable car
It takes 8 people at a time to reach the mountaintop in 7 - 10 minutes. Transparent walls allow you to enjoy the vast mountain scenery of Yangjiajie throughout the entire journey. If you are afraid of heights, rest with your eyes closed, particularly at the beginning and end of the cableway with a sharp rise or fall. 

Tips:
1. Yangjiajie cableway rarely sees a queue, except during peak tourism periods such as May Day holiday from May 1 to 5 and National Day holiday during October 1 – 7. Often, you have the cabin all by yourself.
2. Cableways are usually scheduled for maintenance during the off-season from November to March, so it would be better to check the notice on this page before setting off.

Upper Station of Yangjiajie Cableway

Flying Cable Car

 On foot
Two trails connect the lower and upper stations of the cableway. 

The short one along the straight Bali Slope has a total length of 2.2 km (1.4 mi), requiring about 1.5 hours in total. There are almost no scenic spots along this line; only primitive dense forests and towering peaks can be seen. 

The other winding mountain road passes through 7 scenic spots, including Skywalk and One Step to Heaven. However, it’s about 8 km (5 mi) long and takes at least 2.5 hours to reach the top.

You can hardly meet other tourists along the way; therefore, hiking up and down becomes a way to enjoy a peaceful trip in this popular park.

Interact with Cute Monkey

Quiet Footpath to Mountaintop

Notes:
1. Slow down to avoid falling, particularly on rainy days, as thick moss grows on the stone steps of both trails due to rare maintenance. 
2. Hike with your partner if possible for the sake of safety. If you travel alone, begin the downhill journey early.
3. Aggressive wild monkeys gather on the trail between Dragon-phoenix Temple and its lower station. Be sure not to eat or drink in front of them, and do not carry plastic bags in your hands.
 Chinese food and fast-food restaurants can be found at the eco-bus station, and the upper station of the cableway boasts snack and beverage stalls, where indoor rest areas are also set. Interestingly, sedan chairs are available at the eco-bus station and cableway station, serving tourists visiting the Natural Great Wall, Wulong Village, and One Step to Heaven.

Local Snacks

Fast-food Restaurant

Accessible passage leads to the eco-bus station, enabling people in wheelchairs and families with strollers to visit without worry.

Barrier-free Passage

 

Entrance ticket: No additional ticket is needed. Just buy an entrance ticket for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
Cable car: CNY 76/ride

 

7 am to about 5 pm/ 7 pm, consistent with that of the Forest Park

 Further Reading:
Top 10 Things to Do in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Top FAQs about Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Facts about Hiking in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Best Hiking Trails in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park