Zhangjiajie Helicopter Tour to Fly over Avatar Mountains

Tired of long queues and craving a peaceful view of Zhangjiajie’s karst mountains? Glide above the sea of clouds and take in a stunning panoramic view from the sky! Our Zhangjiajie helicopter tour features professional aircraft, expert crew members, and certified safety trainers, along with seamless round-trip transfers and a dedicated private guide to accompany you throughout the day. In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to Sanguansi Airport, where you’ll board your helicopter for an unforgettable aerial adventure.

While we offer six distinct flight routes as follows, Routes C and D are the most highly recommended options.

Route C: 

Sanguansi Airport - Baofeng Lake - Baizhang Gorge - Eternal Love - Baihutang Valley - One-Line Sky - Chashuihe - Cliff Flower Campsite- Sanguansi Airport
● Distance: 35 km (22 mi)
● Duration: About 16 minutes

After a brief sense of weightlessness, the once‑towering peaks shrink to miniature size. As the helicopter drifts away from the town, the landscape transforms into a sea of karst mountains. Dense vegetation drapes over the brown rocks like a soft green velvet carpet wrapped around the earth. Skimming past the mountaintops, you’ll spot Baofeng Lake nestled among the peaks. From above, the karst mountains resemble a giant wall separating the town from the lake. As an artificially dammed body of water, the lake appears to rise from the mountainside, creating a striking height contrast with the low‑lying town, bringing a magical visual experience. Continuing toward Baizhang Gorge, you’ll see a canyon split open as if by an axe. A silvery‑grey road winds along the stream on the valley floor, embedded into the landscape like a ribbon. 

Flying over the real‑landscape theater of Eternal Love, you'll reach Baihutang Valley. Lacking the man‑made traces, the entirely natural cliff faces here appear sharp‑edged from above, with streams cascading down like silver chains hanging on the rock walls. Next, you'll overfly One‑Line Sky, a narrow passage carved by the earth itself, with the widest point no more than 10 meters across. From the helicopter, it looks like a needle dropped onto the ground. Before returning to the airport, enjoy a bird's‑eye view of the Cliff Flower Campsite, perched on a mountaintop with white tents neatly arranged on the wooded slopes, like flowers blooming in the jungle. The campsite commands an exceptionally open view: as the helicopter flies over it, you can see karst peaks on the opposite side fading in and out of the mist. Finally, return to the airport.

Route D: 

Sanguansi Airport - Baofeng Lake - Baizhang Gorge - Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge - Baihutang Valley - One-Line Sky - Eternal Love -Racecourse - Hetianju Valley - Jiuge Mountain Ghost Scenic Area - Suoshui River - Cliff Blossom Campsite - Sanguansi Township - Sanguansi Airport
● Distance: 45 km (27 mi)
● Duration: About 20 minutes

This flight route includes all the spots of Route C and will show you one of Zhangjiajie's iconic landmarks, the Grand Canyon. From the air, you can overlook its unspoiled natural beauty: clear streams wind through the valley floor, and waterfalls cascade down the cliffs, adding vitality to the landscape and offering countless photo opportunities. Beyond the magnificent views, keep your eyes open and try to spot the world's highest and longest Glass Bridge suspended between two cliffs. Built entirely of glass, it is nearly invisible from afar. As you approach, a silver ribbon comes into view, gradually revealing this glass colossus. Take the opportunity to capture a panoramic photo from the air.

In addition, we'll fly over the Racecourse. Pass through Hetianju Valley to look down on colorful container‑style hotels scattered among the mountains, traditional Tujia stilt houses, and terraced fields unfolding on the hillsides. You'll overlook the Jiuge Mountain Ghost Scenic Area, where vast primeval forests are embedded like jade on the ground, forming a striking contrast with the distant karst peak forest. Among the trees, round or oval sky holes appear, like marks left by the gods striking the earth. Several natural caves connect these scattered sinkholes into a network; seen from above, their veins faintly resemble the hidden blood vessels of the earth. The Suoshui River flows as Zhangjiajie's main artery, linking the quartz‑sandstone pillars and the primeval forest. It passes through Tujia villages, where you can see white‑walled, black‑tiled houses lining its banks. Finally, you'll circle above Sanguansi Township, take in its panoramic view, and land back at the airport.

For travelers on a budget, Routes A and B are recommended. Both cover selected parts of the above Route D, offering shorter flight times and lower prices.

Route A: 

Sanguansi Airport - Cliff Blossom Campsite - Jiuge Mountain Ghost Scenic Area - Suoshui River - Sanguansi Airport
● Distance: 10 km (6 mi)
● Duration: 5 to 6 minutes

Route B: 

Sanguansi Airport - Sanguansi Township - Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge -Racecourse - Cliff Blossom Campsite - Sanguansi Airport
● Distance: 20 km (12 mi)
● Duration: 10 to 12 minutes

None of the above four routes passes over Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. If you wish to see the real‑world floating mountains from the movie “Avatar” with your own eyes, we also offer a 38‑minute charter flight. Moreover, a one‑hour customized flight to the attractions that interest you is available, but it costs more. Please contact your travel consultant for further details.

1. We recommend reserving at least one day in advance to secure your flight slot. However, we cannot guarantee an on‑time departure, and queuing on a first‑come, first‑served basis is still required. 
2. Each helicopter carries up to 3 passengers. Shared flights will only take off when all seats are filled. 
3. For safety reasons, pregnant women, as well as those with high blood pressure, heart disease, vertigo, or other serious medical conditions, are not permitted to ride the helicopter. Passengers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the flight. 
4. Please avoid eating too much before the flight to prevent discomfort.
5. When taking photos, please hold your camera and phone securely to prevent them from falling. 
6. In the event of rain, fog, thunderstorms, or other unsuitable weather conditions, your flight may be delayed, rescheduled, or canceled with a full refund.

► FYI: The route over Yellow Dragon Cave is not yet available. Please wait for an official announcement from the scenic area for updates.