How to Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park covers an area of 4,810 hectares with five entrances. Taking the park as a square, it takes at least 2 hours to walk from the southernmost point to the northernmost in a straight line. Scenic spots are scattered across six core areas, connected by eco-buses, cable cars, and hiking trails. Even so, visitors typically walk over 25,000 steps per day on average.
A two-day tour is the most common choice, as it allows visitors to cover all major attractions, while one day is suitable for those with a tight schedule to conduct an essence tour.
Tourists are advised to determine suitable internal transportation ways and plan travel routes early based on their own physical condition and expectations, in case of missing must-visit attractions or compromising travel experience due to exhaustion.
The park is divided into six core scenic areas, including Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Huangshi Village, Ten Miles Gallery, and Golden Whip Stream. The first four are mountains with viewing platforms located on the mountaintop, and the last two are valleys in the foothill area. Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain are connected by winding mountain roads, while Huangshi Village is independent.
The large area and rugged terrain make it almost impossible to travel solely on foot, so eco-buses play an important role, whose cost is included in the entrance ticket.
They operate separately in the mountaintop sightseeing area and the foothill area. Those on the mountaintop connect Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain, as well as some major spots within each area, and the rest take passengers from the park entrance to mainly Ten Miles Gallery and Golden Whip Stream at the foot of the mountains. No eco-buses are available on the mountaintop of Huangshi Village.
However, the eco-bus cannot directly transport tourists from the foot of the mountains to the top, and vice versa. Although trails are available for hiking up and down, it requires sufficient physical strength and time, and tourists need to walk at least 30,000 steps in a day in this way. For most people, it can be quite challenging, especially those traveling with the elderly and children.
To help tourists quickly reach or leave the sightseeing areas on the mountaintop, the park provides labor-saving cableways and elevator: Bailong Elevator to/from Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie Cableway to/from Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain Cableway to/from Tianzi Mountain, and Huangshi Village Cableway to/from Huangshi Village. An additional fee is needed for each.
Bailong Elevator set a Guinness World Record as the “tallest outdoor elevator” with a running height of 326 meters (1,070 feet). In addition to saving effort, it also brings you a unique, exciting sightseeing experience.
The peak areas of Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain are formed into a circle by the eco-bus. Although they each have their own elevator or cable car, tourists can directly take the eco-bus to the next destination after visiting one area without going down and up the summit area again, until they complete the circular visiting line.
Note: Eco-buses, cableways, and the elevator are in service when there are tourists in the park, normally 7:00 – 20:00 in high season.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has 5 gates: east, west, south, north, and southeast gates. The North and West gates are both quite far from the city center, while the Southeast Gate doesn’t see any core attractions nearby. Given the traffic convenience and travelling experience, East Gate and South Gate are suggested.
Also known as Wulingyuan Sign Gate. With facilitated transportation, it serves as the main entrance of the park. Entering from East Gate, you can easily take the eco-bus to reach Bailong Elevator or Tianzi Mountain Cableway lower station, and then arrive at highlight mountaintop area in minutes by elevator or cable car. Ten Miles Gallery is also located near the East Gate. Outside the entrance, abundant accommodation and dining choices are provided.
Also called Forest Park Gate. Among the 5 entrances, South Gate is the nearest to Zhangjiajie city center. It is closer to Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Stream inside the park, both of which are good choices for hikers. Besides, for tourists who hate crowds, this entrance with fewer visitors would be better in high season.
There are over 90 scenic spots in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in total. To fully explore them all, at least 3 days are needed. If only 1 - 2 days are available, you can select some core attractions; on this occasion, a well-planned itinerary is necessary to ensure a smooth and efficient tour.
What’s more, you need to choose from eco-bus route A to Tianzi Mountain Cableway and route B to Bailong Elevator as soon as you enter the East Gate. The two are not interconnected, meaning that you should better decide in advance in case of wasting time.
1. Enter the park through East Gate.
2. Take an eco-bus to the lower station of Bailong Elevator.
3. Reach the summit of Yuanjiajie in 1.5 minutes by elevator, saving 2 hours compared to hiking.
4. Transfer to the eco-bus heading to Enchanting Terrace station.
5. Walk around to visit Enchanting Terrace, Hallelujah Mountain, which is the prototype of Avatar Floating Mountain, and First Bridge one after another in about 2.5 – 3 hours.
6. Ride the eco-bus at First Bridge station to Yangjiajie station.
7. Visit Natural Great Wall with a duration of 1.5 hours.
8. Go back to Yangjiajie station and get on the eco-bus bound for Tianzi Mountain.
9. Appreciate Yunqing Rock, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Dispersing Flowers in around 2 hours.
10. Get to Helong Park station, and take the eco-bus to the upper station of Tianzi Mountain Cableway.
11. Go downhill by cable car. Duration for one-way trip: 10 minutes; Saved time for hiking: 3 hours
12. Return to the East Gate by eco-bus and exit the park.
Tips:
1. It’s Route B at the East Gate, which is more popular among visitors. If you prefer a quiet itinerary, choose Route A: just reverse Route B.
2. Bailong Elevator runs stably and doesn’t cause strong weightlessness. However, the cabin can be crowded in high season, particularly the upward ones in the morning and downward ones in the afternoon.
3. You can rent local outfits near Avatar Floating Mountain and take unique photos as a record of your Zhangjiajie trip.
4. Many sandstone formations have their own stories or legends. For example, Fairy Dispersing Flowers in Tianzi Mountain is like pretty girls strewing petals. You can visit with imagination to get a more interesting experience.
5. Start the downhill journey early as it’s not safe in mountainous areas after nightfall.
Day 1: Bailong Elevator – Yuanjiajie/Floating Mountain – Yangjiajie – Tianzi Mountain
The same route as the above one-day tour
Day 2: Huangshi Village - Golden Whip Stream - Ten Miles Gallery
1. Enter through the South Gate.
2. Walk to Big Oxygen Bar Square station for eco-bus to the lower station of Huangshi Village Cableway.
3. Take the cable car up the mountaintop. It takes about 5 minutes and saves around 1.5 hours for hiking.
4. Tour along the circle line of Huangshi Village in around 2 hours to appreciate Immortal’s Peak, Star Picking Stand, Five Finger Peak, etc.
5. Return to the cableway upper station and go downhill by the cable car.
6. Hop on the eco-bus bound for Big Oxygen Bar Square station.
7. Hike through Golden Whip Stream and look up to towering peaks. It takes about 2 - 2.5 hours to complete this 5.7-kilometer journey.
8. At the end Streams Flowing Through Four Gates station, take an eco-bus to Ten Miles Gallery station.
9. Visit the Ten Miles Gallery scenic spot on foot or by sightseeing train (additional fee).
10. Go back to the eco-bus station after a round-trip.
11. Ride the eco-bus over to the East Gate and leave.
Tips:
1. The visit to Huangshi Village on the mountaintop is advised to be set at the beginning of a day-trip, as it needs sufficient physical strength. In this case, it’s better to enter through the South Gate, which is closer and has direct eco-buses to the lower station of the cableway. If you enter through the East Gate, you have to hike through Golden Whip Stream first.
2. From East Gate to South Gate, you can walk to Wulingyuan Bus Station for the direct tourist bus at CNY 8 or take a taxi, which costs CNY 40 – 50.
3. Golden Whip Stream can only be crossed on foot, and eco-buses are only offered at its two ends. It’s flat and well-maintained, without pressure on the elderly or children.
4. Ten Miles Gallery is not 10 miles long, but only 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers).
5. You will encounter active and lovely wild monkeys in Golden Whip Stream and Ten Miles Gallery areas. But please note:
a. Keep a distance from the monkeys, especially those with their baby, and don’t feed them.
b. Do not carry plastic bags in your hands, and don’t take anything out of your bag in front of them. Just zip up your backpack in case they attack.
Ten attractions inside the park are filming locations of Avatar. If you are a fan of the movie, just follow the route to embark on a fantastic trip.
1. Enter through the East Gate of the park.
2. Get on the eco-bus to Ten Miles Gallery station.
3. Hike or take a sightseeing train along Ten Miles Gallery to find Prince Xiang Reading Books.
4. After a round trip, take the eco-bus at Ten Miles Gallery station to the lower station of Bailong Elevator. At the nearby middle viewing platform, you will see Generals In Formation.
5. Get to Yuanjiajie peaks by Bailong Elevator.
6. Switch to eco-bus to Enchanting Terrace station.
7. Admire Floating Mountain before walking to First Bridge station.
8. Take an eco-bus to reach Tianzi Mountain.
9. Visit Yunqing Rock, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Dispersing Flowers.
10. At Helong Park station, ride an eco-bus heading to the upper station of Tianzi Mountain Cableway.
11. Take the cableway down the mountain.
12. Go back to the East Gate by eco-bus and exit.
One day covers most of the filming locations of the movie. With sufficient time, you can continue your trip on the next day.
1. Re-enter through East Gate.
2. Take the eco-bus to arrive at Streams Flowing Through Four Gates station and visit the sights around.
3. Hike through Golden Whip Stream.
4. Get on the eco-bus at Big Oxygen Bar Square to get to the lower station of Huangshi Village Cableway.
5. Take the cableway up.
6. Visit Star Picking Stand, Nine Layers of Fairy Palace, and Relic Piers of the Heaven Bridge.
7. Return to the upper station of Huangshi Village Cableway and go down the mountain by cable car.
8. Catch an eco-bus back to Big Oxygen Bar Square.
9. Walk to leave from South Gate.
Tips:
1. You can prepare some movie clips in advance and compare them while visiting to get a deeper impression.
2. It is recommended to take at least one cableway to traverse the mountain peaks from a high vantage point, as if flying in the Avatar world.
It’s worth noting that the above itineraries are recommended to most visitors planning to tour with the help of Bailong Elevator and three cableways. For hiking enthusiasts who want to walk throughout their journey, it’s feasible to travel along Hiking Trails for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
(1) Book a ticket and make appointments
a. Ticket is available on the official WeChat mini program and at ticket centers near all gates. During the high season, it’s necessary to buy in advance. Particularly in peak times like May Day holiday and National Day holiday in October, it’s almost impossible to get one on site, and even those for the next 3 – 4 days are sold out.
b. If you plan a multi-day travel, it’s necessary to make a new appointment for the gate, date, and time slot before each re-entry.
c. East Gate tickets often sell out quickly, and you can buy a South Gate one instead. Additionally, tickets for 7:00 – 8:00 and 8:00 – 9:00 are more popular than those for other periods.
d. You need to pass through the gate machine during the time slot you have appointed. If you arrive early or late, visit the ticket center to attempt to reschedule, but the outcome is uncertain, especially during high season.
(2) Packing list
a. Passport, which is needed to enter the park and take cableways as well as the elevator on the first day.
b. Clothes: Click Zhangjiajie Weather for specific information.
c. Food & Water: Food and water stalls are conveniently placed near major eco-bus stations, but their price is usually higher than those outside; restaurants also double their food price. You can prepare some in your backpack to save costs.
d. Medicine for motion sickness: Eco-buses often run fast on serpentine roads. If you have a carsickness, remember to take pills in advance.
e. Toilet paper and soap, which are not offered.
(3) Pay attention to weather conditions
a. Real-time weather can be seen through the living camera on the official WeChat mini app of the park. Sunny weather with high visibility is ideal, but if you encounter rain, don’t be disappointed. It may clear up in 1 - 2 hours, and the sea of clouds that appears the next day after the rain is also a highlight. Just avoid heavily foggy weather.
b. Best viewing points for sea of clouds: Imperial Brush Peak and West Sea Peak Forests in Tianzi Mountain scenic area
c. Be prepared for extremely popular cableways on rainy days.
(4) Check the operation of three cableways and one elevator
In off-season January to March and December, three cableways and the elevator may undergo maintenance, lasting roughly 1 - 15 days, during which you need to find alternatives.
Bailong Elevator, Yangjiajie Cableway, and Tianzi Mountain Cableway lead to an interconnected mountaintop area, meaning that you can replace one of them with the other two when needed.
If Huangshi Village cableway is under maintenance, you have to climb up and down Huangshi Village on foot.
The tourist season of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park spans a long period from April to November, when long queues can always be seen, especially for hot Bailong Elevator and Yuanjiajie.
1. Avoid super tourist peaks in China like May Day Holiday, summer holiday in July and August, National Holiday in October, and winter vacation around Chinese New Year.
2. Arrive at the entrance and start exploration early at around 7:00, when the crowds have not arrived yet.
3. Enter via the South Gate. Numerous visitors choose the East Gate, including tour groups and individuals.
4. If time permits, arrange top attractions like Bailong Elevator and Hallelujah Mountain in the afternoon, instead of in the morning as most visitors do.
5. Golden Whip Stream and Yangjiajie boast less crowded vistas.
6. In the afternoon, there are always long queues for riding the cable car or elevator to get downhill at the end of the tour. If you still have strength, just hike instead.
1. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and private sellers at park entrances may all promote tickets to you. It is recommended to choose the official WeChat mini program or on-site ticketing center, as well as reliable third-party sales agents.
2. Be vigilant when purchasing local products in and around the park, as the price often doubles. Similarly, if you want to relax in a nearby foot massage center after visiting, be cautious about the sales of medicinal liquor.
1. Left luggage service: Luggage lockers can be found at the entrance of the East and South Gates. Some hotels and nearby stores offer storage services.
2. It’s best to bring a paper map during the visit. Most likely, your hotel will offer.
3. There are multilingual services at the entrance, but relatively few staff serve along the way, maybe 1 - 2 at major eco-bus stations. If you get lost, seek help from tourists around.
Further Reading:
Top FAQs about Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Top things to do in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Facts about Hiking in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
A two-day tour is the most common choice, as it allows visitors to cover all major attractions, while one day is suitable for those with a tight schedule to conduct an essence tour.
Tourists are advised to determine suitable internal transportation ways and plan travel routes early based on their own physical condition and expectations, in case of missing must-visit attractions or compromising travel experience due to exhaustion.
 |
| Peak Forests in Tianzi Mountain |
Overall layout & How to shuttle within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
 |
| Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Map |
Eco-bus
They operate separately in the mountaintop sightseeing area and the foothill area. Those on the mountaintop connect Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain, as well as some major spots within each area, and the rest take passengers from the park entrance to mainly Ten Miles Gallery and Golden Whip Stream at the foot of the mountains. No eco-buses are available on the mountaintop of Huangshi Village.
 |
| Eco-bus at Upper Station of Bailong Elevator |
However, the eco-bus cannot directly transport tourists from the foot of the mountains to the top, and vice versa. Although trails are available for hiking up and down, it requires sufficient physical strength and time, and tourists need to walk at least 30,000 steps in a day in this way. For most people, it can be quite challenging, especially those traveling with the elderly and children.
Three cableways and one elevator
|
|
Bailong Elevator set a Guinness World Record as the “tallest outdoor elevator” with a running height of 326 meters (1,070 feet). In addition to saving effort, it also brings you a unique, exciting sightseeing experience.
The peak areas of Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain are formed into a circle by the eco-bus. Although they each have their own elevator or cable car, tourists can directly take the eco-bus to the next destination after visiting one area without going down and up the summit area again, until they complete the circular visiting line.
Note: Eco-buses, cableways, and the elevator are in service when there are tourists in the park, normally 7:00 – 20:00 in high season. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has 5 gates: east, west, south, north, and southeast gates. The North and West gates are both quite far from the city center, while the Southeast Gate doesn’t see any core attractions nearby. Given the traffic convenience and travelling experience, East Gate and South Gate are suggested.
East Gate: Quick access to highlight areas
South Gate: Best starting point for hiking
|
|
What’s more, you need to choose from eco-bus route A to Tianzi Mountain Cableway and route B to Bailong Elevator as soon as you enter the East Gate. The two are not interconnected, meaning that you should better decide in advance in case of wasting time.
One-day Essence Tour: Bailong Elevator – Yuanjiajie/Floating Mountain – Yangjiajie – Tianzi Mountain
1. Enter the park through East Gate.
2. Take an eco-bus to the lower station of Bailong Elevator.
3. Reach the summit of Yuanjiajie in 1.5 minutes by elevator, saving 2 hours compared to hiking.
4. Transfer to the eco-bus heading to Enchanting Terrace station.
5. Walk around to visit Enchanting Terrace, Hallelujah Mountain, which is the prototype of Avatar Floating Mountain, and First Bridge one after another in about 2.5 – 3 hours.
6. Ride the eco-bus at First Bridge station to Yangjiajie station.
7. Visit Natural Great Wall with a duration of 1.5 hours.
8. Go back to Yangjiajie station and get on the eco-bus bound for Tianzi Mountain.
|
|
9. Appreciate Yunqing Rock, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Dispersing Flowers in around 2 hours.
10. Get to Helong Park station, and take the eco-bus to the upper station of Tianzi Mountain Cableway.
11. Go downhill by cable car. Duration for one-way trip: 10 minutes; Saved time for hiking: 3 hours
12. Return to the East Gate by eco-bus and exit the park.
 |
| One-day Tour Route |
Tips:
1. It’s Route B at the East Gate, which is more popular among visitors. If you prefer a quiet itinerary, choose Route A: just reverse Route B.
2. Bailong Elevator runs stably and doesn’t cause strong weightlessness. However, the cabin can be crowded in high season, particularly the upward ones in the morning and downward ones in the afternoon.
3. You can rent local outfits near Avatar Floating Mountain and take unique photos as a record of your Zhangjiajie trip.
4. Many sandstone formations have their own stories or legends. For example, Fairy Dispersing Flowers in Tianzi Mountain is like pretty girls strewing petals. You can visit with imagination to get a more interesting experience.
5. Start the downhill journey early as it’s not safe in mountainous areas after nightfall.
Two-day Classical Thorough Tour
Day 1: Bailong Elevator – Yuanjiajie/Floating Mountain – Yangjiajie – Tianzi MountainThe same route as the above one-day tour
Day 2: Huangshi Village - Golden Whip Stream - Ten Miles Gallery1. Enter through the South Gate.
2. Walk to Big Oxygen Bar Square station for eco-bus to the lower station of Huangshi Village Cableway.
3. Take the cable car up the mountaintop. It takes about 5 minutes and saves around 1.5 hours for hiking.
4. Tour along the circle line of Huangshi Village in around 2 hours to appreciate Immortal’s Peak, Star Picking Stand, Five Finger Peak, etc.
5. Return to the cableway upper station and go downhill by the cable car.
6. Hop on the eco-bus bound for Big Oxygen Bar Square station.
7. Hike through Golden Whip Stream and look up to towering peaks. It takes about 2 - 2.5 hours to complete this 5.7-kilometer journey.
 |
| Hike along Golden Whip Stream |
8. At the end Streams Flowing Through Four Gates station, take an eco-bus to Ten Miles Gallery station.
9. Visit the Ten Miles Gallery scenic spot on foot or by sightseeing train (additional fee).
10. Go back to the eco-bus station after a round-trip.
11. Ride the eco-bus over to the East Gate and leave.
 |
| Two-day Tour Route |
Tips:
1. The visit to Huangshi Village on the mountaintop is advised to be set at the beginning of a day-trip, as it needs sufficient physical strength. In this case, it’s better to enter through the South Gate, which is closer and has direct eco-buses to the lower station of the cableway. If you enter through the East Gate, you have to hike through Golden Whip Stream first.
2. From East Gate to South Gate, you can walk to Wulingyuan Bus Station for the direct tourist bus at CNY 8 or take a taxi, which costs CNY 40 – 50.
3. Golden Whip Stream can only be crossed on foot, and eco-buses are only offered at its two ends. It’s flat and well-maintained, without pressure on the elderly or children.
4. Ten Miles Gallery is not 10 miles long, but only 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers).
|
|
5. You will encounter active and lovely wild monkeys in Golden Whip Stream and Ten Miles Gallery areas. But please note:
a. Keep a distance from the monkeys, especially those with their baby, and don’t feed them.
b. Do not carry plastic bags in your hands, and don’t take anything out of your bag in front of them. Just zip up your backpack in case they attack.
One-day Avatar Theme Tour: Ten Miles Gallery - Bailong Elevator – Yuanjiajie/Floating Mountain – Tianzi Mountain
1. Enter through the East Gate of the park.
2. Get on the eco-bus to Ten Miles Gallery station.
3. Hike or take a sightseeing train along Ten Miles Gallery to find Prince Xiang Reading Books.
4. After a round trip, take the eco-bus at Ten Miles Gallery station to the lower station of Bailong Elevator. At the nearby middle viewing platform, you will see Generals In Formation.
5. Get to Yuanjiajie peaks by Bailong Elevator.
6. Switch to eco-bus to Enchanting Terrace station.
7. Admire Floating Mountain before walking to First Bridge station.
|
|
8. Take an eco-bus to reach Tianzi Mountain.
9. Visit Yunqing Rock, Imperial Brush Peak, and Fairy Dispersing Flowers.
10. At Helong Park station, ride an eco-bus heading to the upper station of Tianzi Mountain Cableway.
11. Take the cableway down the mountain.
12. Go back to the East Gate by eco-bus and exit.
One day covers most of the filming locations of the movie. With sufficient time, you can continue your trip on the next day.
1. Re-enter through East Gate.
2. Take the eco-bus to arrive at Streams Flowing Through Four Gates station and visit the sights around.
3. Hike through Golden Whip Stream.
4. Get on the eco-bus at Big Oxygen Bar Square to get to the lower station of Huangshi Village Cableway.
5. Take the cableway up.
6. Visit Star Picking Stand, Nine Layers of Fairy Palace, and Relic Piers of the Heaven Bridge.
7. Return to the upper station of Huangshi Village Cableway and go down the mountain by cable car.
8. Catch an eco-bus back to Big Oxygen Bar Square.
9. Walk to leave from South Gate.
 |
| Avatar Tour Route |
Tips:
1. You can prepare some movie clips in advance and compare them while visiting to get a deeper impression.
2. It is recommended to take at least one cableway to traverse the mountain peaks from a high vantage point, as if flying in the Avatar world.
It’s worth noting that the above itineraries are recommended to most visitors planning to tour with the help of Bailong Elevator and three cableways. For hiking enthusiasts who want to walk throughout their journey, it’s feasible to travel along Hiking Trails for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.Tips and advice for visiting Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Preparations before visit
a. Ticket is available on the official WeChat mini program and at ticket centers near all gates. During the high season, it’s necessary to buy in advance. Particularly in peak times like May Day holiday and National Day holiday in October, it’s almost impossible to get one on site, and even those for the next 3 – 4 days are sold out.
b. If you plan a multi-day travel, it’s necessary to make a new appointment for the gate, date, and time slot before each re-entry.
c. East Gate tickets often sell out quickly, and you can buy a South Gate one instead. Additionally, tickets for 7:00 – 8:00 and 8:00 – 9:00 are more popular than those for other periods.
d. You need to pass through the gate machine during the time slot you have appointed. If you arrive early or late, visit the ticket center to attempt to reschedule, but the outcome is uncertain, especially during high season.
 |
| Quiet Park in Low Season |
(2) Packing list
a. Passport, which is needed to enter the park and take cableways as well as the elevator on the first day.
b. Clothes: Click Zhangjiajie Weather for specific information.
c. Food & Water: Food and water stalls are conveniently placed near major eco-bus stations, but their price is usually higher than those outside; restaurants also double their food price. You can prepare some in your backpack to save costs.
d. Medicine for motion sickness: Eco-buses often run fast on serpentine roads. If you have a carsickness, remember to take pills in advance.
e. Toilet paper and soap, which are not offered.
 |
| Stalls at Yuanjiajie |
(3) Pay attention to weather conditions
a. Real-time weather can be seen through the living camera on the official WeChat mini app of the park. Sunny weather with high visibility is ideal, but if you encounter rain, don’t be disappointed. It may clear up in 1 - 2 hours, and the sea of clouds that appears the next day after the rain is also a highlight. Just avoid heavily foggy weather.
b. Best viewing points for sea of clouds: Imperial Brush Peak and West Sea Peak Forests in Tianzi Mountain scenic area
c. Be prepared for extremely popular cableways on rainy days.
(4) Check the operation of three cableways and one elevator
In off-season January to March and December, three cableways and the elevator may undergo maintenance, lasting roughly 1 - 15 days, during which you need to find alternatives.
Bailong Elevator, Yangjiajie Cableway, and Tianzi Mountain Cableway lead to an interconnected mountaintop area, meaning that you can replace one of them with the other two when needed.
If Huangshi Village cableway is under maintenance, you have to climb up and down Huangshi Village on foot.
 |
| Tianzi Mountain Cableway in Operation |
1. Avoid super tourist peaks in China like May Day Holiday, summer holiday in July and August, National Holiday in October, and winter vacation around Chinese New Year.
2. Arrive at the entrance and start exploration early at around 7:00, when the crowds have not arrived yet.
3. Enter via the South Gate. Numerous visitors choose the East Gate, including tour groups and individuals.
4. If time permits, arrange top attractions like Bailong Elevator and Hallelujah Mountain in the afternoon, instead of in the morning as most visitors do.
5. Golden Whip Stream and Yangjiajie boast less crowded vistas.
6. In the afternoon, there are always long queues for riding the cable car or elevator to get downhill at the end of the tour. If you still have strength, just hike instead.
 |
| Long Queue in High Season |
Traps to avoid when visiting
2. Be vigilant when purchasing local products in and around the park, as the price often doubles. Similarly, if you want to relax in a nearby foot massage center after visiting, be cautious about the sales of medicinal liquor.
Other tips
2. It’s best to bring a paper map during the visit. Most likely, your hotel will offer.
3. There are multilingual services at the entrance, but relatively few staff serve along the way, maybe 1 - 2 at major eco-bus stations. If you get lost, seek help from tourists around.
|
|
Further Reading:Top FAQs about Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Top things to do in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
How to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Facts about Hiking in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Recommended Tours
- Last updated on Mar. 06, 2026 by Grace Yang -