张家界 · Travel Guide
Avatar Mountains, Tianmen Sky Gate, and the sandstone pillars that inspired a Hollywood blockbuster.
Zhangjiajie is a 481-sq-km national park in northwestern Hunan province, 300 km west of Changsha. The park's signature feature: 3,000+ vertical sandstone pillars, some 200 m tall, shrouded in mist — the landscape that inspired James Cameron's floating 'Hallelujah Mountains' in Avatar (2009). The pillars are made of quartz sandstone, eroded over 380 million years; the highest, Yuanjiajie Peak, stands 1,074 m. The park was the first UNESCO Global Geopark in China (2004) and is now one of the country's most-visited natural sites. The city itself is a small transport hub at the base of the park; most travelers stay 2-3 nights and use it as a base for Wulingyuan (the pillar zone), Tianmen Mountain (the iconic 99-bend road and the natural arch), and the Yellow Dragon Cave (China's largest cave). Best visited April-October; November-March can have road closures on the Tianmen summit road due to ice.
The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.
The core 397-sq-km pillar zone. Tianzi Mountain (天子山), Yuanjiajie (袁家界, the Avatar filming site), and Golden Whip Stream (金鞭溪) make up the three main sub-areas. 4-day unlimited ticket ¥225; allow 2-3 days minimum.
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The 1,518-m mountain with the famous 99-bend road, glass skywalk, and the Tianmen Cave natural arch (131 m tall). Cable car to summit ¥261; the 99-bend road bus is the most dramatic part of any visit. Allow 1 full day.
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A 7-km-long, 100-m-tall karst cave system — China's largest cave, with 13 halls and underground rivers. ¥100 entry; allow 2-3 hours. Combine with Wulingyuan as a half-day.
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A serene alpine lake in the Wulingyuan area, surrounded by pillars. Boat cruise ¥96; the 1-hour ride gives a unique water-level view of the sandstone columns. Allow 2-3 hours.
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A 600-m-deep canyon with a glass-bottom bridge (the world's longest at 430 m) and a 1.2-km glass elevator. ¥259 entry including bridge; allow half-day. Not for those afraid of heights.
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We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.
Trip.com
From $30/night hostels in Wulingyuan town to $300+/night luxury at the Pullman Forest Hotel and cliff-side Avvin Hotel near Tianmen Mountain — plus 500+ more across the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan, and Tianmen cable-car base. Filter by district and tier on Trip.com.
$30 – $300+/night
Plan your Zhangjiajie trip on Trip.com — the only platform we've verified for mainland China. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.
Trip.com
The best platform for mainland-China hotels and high-speed rail tickets. English interface, accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard.
Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7
Search Zhangjiajie on Trip.com →April-May and September-October for clear skies and lush vegetation. Avoid Chinese National Day (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year (huge crowds). The 99-bend road at Tianmen closes 1-2 days per month in winter for ice.
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A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.
