Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport

Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport, the only airport in Zhangjiajie, serves as an important transportation hub for tourists visiting this popular city. It is not very large in area, but handles a steady stream of passengers with both international flights to/from Seoul, Busan, Singapore, etc., and domestic flights to/from Beijing, Shanghai, HK, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Hangzhou, and so on. A short distance to the city proper and convenient external transportation make it possible to embark on a most efficient trip from here. 

Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport

  Airport Code: DYG
 Location: On Airport Road, Yongding District; 4.6 kilometers (2.9 miles) from the city center, 5 km (3.1 mi) from Tianmen Mountain, 35 km (21.7 mi) from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
 Area: 4.65 hectares
 Terminal: T2 only
 In the only terminal, all departures are handled on 3F, while arrivals are on 1F. With clear and separate tracks, they don’t bother each other and pose no challenge for any passenger, even a first-time comer. 

Besides, check-in, security check, and boarding gates are arranged very closely in the small building. Plus moderate passenger flow, the airport allows passengers to complete these procedures in a short period. City buses and taxis are also easily available outside the exit. 

Check-in Counters

 

Floor	Used for
3F	Departures: domestic and international departures, security check, check-in, China customs, China immigration inspection, waiting area, boarding gates A1 – A9
2F	Middle passage
1F	Arrivals: domestic and international arrivals, China customs, China immigration inspection, baggage claim, exits, transportation connection including taxi and city bus

Go through Security Check

 

Flight Type	Step	Open at	Close at
Domestic Flight	Check-in	2 h before departure	27 min before takeoff
	Boarding	/	15 min ahead of takeoff
International Flight	Check-in	2.5 h before takeoff	45 – 60 min prior to takeoff
	Luggage check-in	2 h prior to departure	/
	Customs clearance	/	45 min before takeoff
	Boarding	/	15 min ahead of departure

Giant Waiting Hall

 Zhangjiajie Airport currently serves passengers to/ from 11 international cities. Here is the flight schedule for 5 of them: 

From/To	Frequency	Time Needed
Seoul	1 – 2 flights daily	3 – 3.5 hours
Busan	1 – 2 flights every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday	3.5 hours
Cheongju	1 flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	3.5 hours
Daegu	1 flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	3.5 hours
Singapore	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	5 hours

Note: The flight operation is often changing, based on real-time tourist flow.

In addition to the 5 international cities above, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Hanoi, Penang, and Bangkok are also connected to Zhangjiajie by direct flights, but the specific schedules are not available at present; when they resume operations depends on tourist demand. 

In the near future, Zhangjiajie Airport will also operate flights to/from Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Kuching, and Macau.

Wait in Line for Boarding

 

From/To	Frequency	Time Required
Beijing	2 – 3 flights daily	2.5 hours
Shanghai	4 flights daily	2.5 hours
HK	1 flight every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	2 hours
Xi’an	2 – 3 flights daily	1.5 hours
Chengdu	1 flight every day	1.5 hours
Kunming	1 flight every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	1.5 hours
Hangzhou	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	2 hours
Nanning	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	2 hours
Guangzhou	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday	2 hours
Wuhan	1 flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	1 hour
Zhuhai	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	1.5 hours
Shenzhen	1 flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday	2 hours
Haikou	1 flight every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	2 hours
Tianjin	1 flight every day	2.5 hours
Nanjing	1 flight every day	2 hours

Note: Flight availability varies between travel high season and low season.

Ningbo, Dalian, Jinan, Fuzhou, Shenyang, Tianjin, Yangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Nantong, Taiyuan, Yancheng, Jieyang, Huizhou, Xuzhou, and Wuxi also boast flights to Zhangjiajie Airport.

Luggage Claim

 It’s the first choice for most travelers arriving in or leaving Zhangjiajie by plane, with high availability, short duration, and moderate cost. A lot of taxis wait at the exit of the terminal building, day or night. If you land late or early, press the button at the service corner to hail one. 

Online car-hailing services like Didi are also available, but you need to walk through two zebra crossings from the exit to reach the boarding point.

Below is the estimated taxi fare from the airport, for your reference:

Destination	Time Needed	Estimated Fare (CNY)
Zhangjiajie West Railway Station	20 min	25
Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station	15 min	16
Lower Station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway	15 min	15
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park East Gate	45 min	90
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon	70 min	190
Yellow Dragon Cave	50 min	120
72 Strange Buildings	15 min	16
Seven Star Mountain	24 min	50

Note: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Grand Canyon, and Yellow Dragon Cave are located in Wulingyuan District, about 34 km (21.1 mi) away from the airport and 33 km (20.5 mi) from the city center. Other than non-stop taxi, you can make a detour at downtown Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, where tourist buses heading towards Wulingyuan are available. 

You may need: How to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park from Zhangjiajie Airport
 The bus, with a long duration of 1 hour to downtown but a low cost at CNY 2, is suitable for tourists on a loose schedule but sensitive to budget.
 Major stops: Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, Lower Station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway
 Boarding point: The bus stop can be found after a 5-minute walk to the right from the exit.
 Operation time: 5:50 – 19:30
 Recommended for passengers whose destination is close to the stops of the shuttle bus and who are not in a hurry.
 Stops: Zhangjiajie Airport/ Post Office Building/ Zhangjiajie International Hotel
 Pick-up point: outside the Arrival Hall, 1F
 Operating hours: It’s available about 40 minutes after each plane lands.
 Ticket fare: Passengers can ride for free with their boarding pass or ticket for the current flight.

Further Reading: How to travel between Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang

Shuttle Bus

 Although it’s tiny, all necessary facilities and services are provided to deal with the continuous international passenger flow.
 Drinking water and toilets can be found on the way to boarding gates in the waiting hall after the security check. Accessible toilets and nursery rooms are also offered to passengers in need. Besides, considering the highly demanding physical trip in Zhangjiajie, where mountains dominate, the airport places dozens of massage armchairs and some card seat sofas for tiring visitors. Square charging bars are situated near the boarding gates, and there is also a row of long tables and high stools with scenic views by the window, equipped with power outlets.

Drinking Water

Nursery Room

Smoking area is located outside every entrance of the terminal building, while inside the waiting hall, a smoking room is set next to Boarding Gate A8.

Massage Armchairs

Smoking Area

 The broad transparent floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the airport terminal bring clear views of Tianmen Mountain on sunny days. Several telescopes are placed on the long table next to the glass wall, through which passengers can clearly see Tianmen Cave and the 999-step Sky Ladder. Plus high stools, it becomes a unique indoor observation deck for the charming mountain landscape.
 Two business areas can be seen before and after the security check, respectively, including Chinese food restaurants providing beef noodles and local snacks, KFC, cafes, and souvenir stores selling silver ornaments of the Tujia minority ethnic group and local tea. Foot massage parlors are available, too. 

Souvenir Store

 There is a 24-hour left luggage point on the right of the departure hall, charging from CNY 35 for a large piece of baggage. The airport also offers luggage packing at the south of the check-in counters. No baggage consignment is available at present, but you can ask for assistance at the inquiry desk if you need. They are likely to contact the courier for immediate service.

Luggage Packing

VIP Lounge

 Business class ticket holders enjoy separate security checkpoints and lounges near boarding gates, which provide soft sofas, showers, beverages, and hot Chinese food at mealtime. 
 Considering the increasing popularity of Zhangjiajie throughout the world, the airport sets an international service center on 1F of the terminal building, where foreign visitors can consult payment, activate a telephone card, exchange money, etc. Broadcasts and signboards are in Chinese, English, and Korean. At check-in counters, baggage claim, and security checks, language volunteers provide multilingual translation services.