One of the most popular films in recent years is James Cameron's sci-fi drama Avatar. The mountains in China where this film was filmed actually exist. This is not computer graphics, but nature, which anyone can see on planet Earth with their own eyes.
National Park
They are located in which they have now even begun to call Avatar Park. The mountains in China where the filming took place are located in the southwest of the country; they are a truly unique natural wonder. They are located in Hunan Province, which is approximately three hundred kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha. Where Avatar was filmed, the mountains in China belong to the Wulingshan system.
The main asset of this national park is the rocks. Bizarre mountains in the form of peculiar pillars rise to the sky, creating an amazing natural landscape, which is formed as a result of leaching of rocks and prolonged weathering.
Many admit that this place becomes a favorite place to visit as soon as they learn about its existence. It is worth noting that even living in China, going to the mountains (Avatar impressed many viewers) is not so easy. You need to figure out the time and weather, calculate your finances.
Tourist boom
It is said that Cameron was inspired to create the famous floating mountains on the fictional planet Pandora in Avatar by photographs of mountains in China. This became the most powerful advertisement for the national park in its entire history, because after the film was released, the flow of tourists here increased significantly. In gratitude for this, the Chinese even renamed one of the mountains “Avatar-Hallelujah”, installing several figures of “avatars” in the park, near which they now constantly line up long queues those who want to take a memorable photo.
While walking around the Avatar filming locations in China, through the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, you really get the impression that you are on some other distant planet - such incredible landscapes open before your eyes.
Features of Zhangjiajie
It is worth noting that it is not only the mountains that attract so many tourists to this national park. A certain role is played by the diverse fauna and flora, amazingly beautiful and picturesque landscapes. For example, certain species of birds, plants and animals that are found in these places are so rare that they are listed in the Red Book. These include the civet, giant salamander, clouded leopard, pangolin, rhesus macaque and many others.
All nature lovers will find many amazing things here; they will especially like the local landscapes.
When to go on a trip?
To get the full experience of visiting a mountain park in China, you need to choose the right time at which you plan your trip. Of course, the national park is open to visitors all year round, but the weather does not always allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the local nature. Therefore, when planning a trip, you need to decide what you expect from this visit, what landscapes you want to see.
The optimal time to visit the mountains in China, where Avatar was filmed, is considered to be autumn. The best period is from mid-September to early November. During these months, the weather here is almost always exceptionally warm and sunny, and the temperature is comfortable enough to spend the whole day in the national park. At the same time, experienced travelers claim that it is in the fall that these mountains can be seen best.
Other seasons
If you go here in winter, be prepared that it will be too cold. In addition, due to bad weather, some trails may be closed for safety reasons, and fog and snowfall can cause poor visibility, so it will be very difficult to see anything.
But even this does not stop tourists; many go to take photos of mountains in China in winter, trying to see fantastic snow-covered landscapes and admire these views almost completely alone. An undoubted advantage of winter travel is the fact that tickets at this time of year are much cheaper.
In spring, the rainy season begins in these places, which lasts from March to June. Agree, it is unpleasant and uncomfortable to go along the trails and explore the mountains when the sky is constantly dripping. True, it is at this time that fogs cover the entire valley; many people go to enjoy the effect of the soaring peaks. At moments when the fog hides the bases of the mountains, it seems that the mountains are simply hanging in the air. However, there is a possibility that you won’t be able to see anything at all behind the veil of fog.
But the amount of time you need to allocate for visiting the park is strictly individual. It's best to still allow an extra day to visit the Avatar filming location in China, the mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park, in case the weather turns bad.
If you're lucky, you'll be able to visit other local attractions. Among them are Huanglong Cave, Baofen Lake, and Tianmen Mountain. In order to enjoy the beauty of the mountains themselves, one day is enough for some, while others need at least two to explore the main beauties without haste, and another couple of days to travel to other remarkable places that also deserve the attention of travelers, since they we've come this far.
If you want to avoid large cluster people, it is better not to plan a trip for the first week of May and October (at this time a lot of people come to the park local tourists because of the holidays), during the summer holidays there is no crowd due to vacations and holidays.
Route options
How to get to the mountains in China? "Avatar" has inspired many travelers to visit this unique place. To visit the national park in which they are located, you first need to come to the city, which is called Zhangjiajie. After this, you should get to one of the villages directly at the entrance to the park.
There are several options to get to Zhangjiajie. You can take a plane, bus or train.
By plane
First, let's look at how to get there by plane. If you are faced with the task of spending minimal time on a trip, then this perfect option. The easiest way to get here is by plane from some other Chinese city.
The local airport is located five kilometers from the city center. It receives daily flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Changsha, Qingdao, Wuhan, Tianjin and other cities. There are also several international flights. Airplanes from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, and the South Korean city of Busan land at this airport.
The fastest way to fly is from Xi'an or Guangzhou - about an hour and a half. A ticket will cost approximately 70-80 dollars (5-5.5 thousand rubles). It takes about two and a half hours to fly here from Shanghai, you’ll have to pay $115, and from Beijing it’s almost three hours. A ticket will cost from 110 to 130 dollars (7.5-9 thousand rubles).
From the airport to the city itself you can take a bus or taxi. However, public transport is extremely rare. A taxi will cost from two and a half to five dollars, depending on where exactly you have to go. For a taxi to the entrance to the national park you will need to pay about 15 dollars (1000 rubles).
The main thing is not to forget to bargain with taxi drivers, since the distances here are relatively short, and drivers take advantage of the fact that tourists do not know the area and can ask for too much.
Train
Now, knowing where Avatar was filmed in China, where the mountains are located, you can get to your destination by train. Train service is established between Zhangjiajie and many major cities in the country. It’s worth noting right away that this method is suitable only for patient travelers, which is a lot of time.
The journey from Beijing will take between 22 and 26 hours, depending on which train you choose. At the same time, a ticket for a reserved seat costs 60 dollars (4,200 rubles), and for a compartment - 100 (7,000 rubles). The train from Shanghai takes from 20 to 22 hours, ticket prices are 60 and 80 dollars, respectively (4-5.5 thousand rubles). You can get there from Guangzhou in 13-17 hours, paying 50 dollars (3.5 thousand rubles) for a reserved seat car and 77 (5500 rubles) for a compartment car. The closest is Changsha, which is only five hours away by train.
It is worth noting that the railway station in Zhangjiajie is located as conveniently as possible. It is close to both the airport and the city center. Within walking distance is the cable car station to Tianmen Mountain, which is considered another must-see place. From the central bus station you can get to the national park.
Bus
Another option is the bus. There are several bus stations in the city, which are regularly served by regular flights from neighboring major cities.
For example, from the central station buses go to Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhuhai and several other smaller cities. Buses run quite often.
Path to the national park
The last leg of the journey to the treasured mountains will be from the city of Zhangjiajie to the national park of the same name. To get to the territory of the reserve itself, you will need to go to one of the entrances, near which there are small villages. You can stay in one of them for the night so as not to waste time returning to the city if you have allocated several days for this attraction.
The closest entrance to the city is located 32 kilometers away. The local village is also called Zhangjiajie. 40 kilometers from it there is an entrance in the Wulingyuan area, and 50 kilometers away there is an entrance directly at Tianzi Mountain.
Where to stay?
Once you reach your destination, you need to decide where you will stay for the night. The first option is to rent a room in one of the hotels in Zhangjiajie. There are quite a lot of hotels and restaurants here. There are options on how to spend your leisure time fun and usefully. But if you stay in the city, you will have to spend about two hours traveling to the park and back every day.
By stopping in one of the villages at the entrance to the park, you will save significantly more time. There are also hotels and cafes here. For example, in Wulingyuan there is a hostel just 10 minutes walk from the park entrance. Within walking distance is a market with souvenirs and fruits, several shops, a decent cafe and an ATM. In addition to hostels, there are also quite expensive hotels.
It is better to book accommodation in advance, as during high season all rooms are occupied. Housing is sold out in about a month.
Park opening hours
The park officially opens at 6:30 am. As a rule, the entrance opens around seven o’clock in the morning, by which time a fairly large crowd of tourists, mostly Chinese, has already accumulated.
In summer, the park is open until 19:00, and in winter - from 7:30 to 17:00. At the entrance you can purchase two types of tickets: for four days for 38 dollars/2700 rubles. and for a week for 46 dollars/3200 rubles. In the winter season, the cost of visiting will be only 22 dollars/1500 rubles.
You will have to pay separately for the Bailong elevator ($11/800 rubles), the cable car to Mount Tianzi ($10/700 rubles), the cable car to Huangshinzhai ($11/800 rubles), the cable car to Yangjiajie ($12/850 rubles). rub.), tourist mini-train (from six to eight dollars/400-550 rub.).
For children up to 120 centimeters tall, admission is free; for children up to 150 centimeters tall, only half the price is paid. With an entrance ticket to the national park, you can travel by bus between parking lots.
There is quite strict control at the entrance - fingerprints are attached to tickets. So do not buy tickets secondhand, even if their price turns out to be very favorable, and do not lose, otherwise you will have to buy new ones.
Experienced travelers advise coming to the park early to enjoy these beautiful views while there are very few people.
If you want to use the Bailong elevator, then it is better to go on it in the morning and go down around 15-16 hours, otherwise you may end up in a queue that will last at least an hour.
Keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot, so make sure you have comfortable shoes that won’t rub, comfortable clothes, and bring an adhesive plaster with you just in case.
Since the distances are large, it is better to combine walking with cable cars. If you rely only on yourself, you may simply not have time to see a lot. The most convenient way is to go up by cable car and go down on foot. Be prepared to encounter wild monkeys on some trails. Some can be aggressive, so you shouldn't tease them.
In China, in the north of Hunan province, Zhangjiajie National Park is located, which was one of the first in the country. It included the protected natural areas of Tianzishan, Zhangjiajie, Sanzhi, Xuoxiu, Yangjiajie, as well as Lake Baofeng.
Zhangjiajie National Park (Hunan Province) can be visited throughout the year. Spring gives this unique nature reserve the aromas of tropical flowers and magnificent greenery, summer - stunning vegetation and mountain coolness, autumn fascinates with a riot of colors, winter wraps you in a fluffy snow cover, turning the park into a fairy tale.
Zhangjiajie: history
Thanks to several photographs in popular publications and paintings by artists that were painted in Wulingyuan, the world learned that there was a natural pearl located in the mountains of China. The Chinese government has officially recognized the forested part of the Wulingyuan region as Zhangjiajie National Park. It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992.
Ten years later, the Ministry significantly expanded this territory, and in 2004 the huge natural geopark entered the worldwide network of national parks.
Description
Zhangjiajie is a national forest park, the territory of which is divided into several large zones, each of which has its own characteristics and picturesque landscape. The park consists of huge sandstone pillars located above the tropical forest, a labyrinth of karst caves, majestic waterfalls, amazing travertines, a picturesque lake, and powerful rivers.
Mount Tianmenshan
Locals more often call it Tianmen. Its height is one and a half thousand meters. This mountain is famous for the “Heavenly Gate” cave located very high. Its height is one hundred thirty-two meters, length - sixty meters, width - fifty-seven. The cave was created as a result of erosion. During the collapse, a huge block of rock broke off from the mountain. Sometimes this cave is called fabulous due to the belief that it is connected with the sky.
"Yellow Dragon"
Zhangjiajie National Park, a photo of which you can see in this article, is famous for its caves. The four-tiered karst cave “Yellow Dragon” is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its height is more than 140 meters, and its depth is about fifteen kilometers.
Inside there are thirteen halls, more than a hundred galleries, four waterfalls, two underground rivers and three lakes, thousands of stalagmites, stalactites, and stalagmates. The rarest stalagmite reaches twenty meters in height and only ten centimeters in diameter.
Yangjiajie
In the northeast, Zhangjiajie National Park neighbors this protected area. It includes the Xiangzhi Stream, the Longquan and Baihou valleys. These places are famous for the sheer steep cliffs and the Dragon Spring waterfall. It throws streams of water from a high cliff, which is very picturesquely entwined with ivy and amazingly beautiful flowers.
Elevator Bailung
Every year, more and more tourists are interested in Zhangjiajie National Park. We will tell you how to get here a little later, but for now we will continue to get acquainted with its sights.
For tourists, the park has all the conditions for a comfortable exploration of the unique reserve. Most tourist routes are connected by funiculars and cable cars, which greatly facilitate the ascent to the peaks.
The glass elevator “Hundred Dragons” (Bailong Elevator) was created to transport tourists to the three-hundred-meter mountain. It is located in the very center of the park and connects the upper and lower levels of the reserve. Before his appearance, tourists were forced to climb the stairs. The road was quite tiring and long. Today, most travelers prefer to quickly take a glass elevator. If you are lucky, you will be able to sit in the front row of passengers, allowing you to admire the stunning views that open up from the observation window of the lift.
It should be noted that this elevator is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest, highest, with an open view and also the most powerful - it can lift fifty people at the same time.
Glass Bridge
This unique structure was opened in the park in August 2016. Zhangjiajie National Park, whose photos are mesmerizing, has become the owner of the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. The author of the unusual project was the architect Chaim Dotan. The cost of development and then implementation of the project amounted to almost three and a half million dollars.
The structure is located at an altitude of three hundred meters above a deep abyss. The length of the bridge is four hundred and thirty meters and the width is six meters. The glass bridge in Zhangjiajie National Park connects two cliffs and is made of highly durable steel structures and ninety-nine slabs of triple-layer glass. This structure can support eight hundred people at a time.
Interestingly, on the day of its grand opening the number of people wishing to see the building with their own eyes was a record figure - eight thousand people. Everyone who was lucky enough to visit Zhangjiajie National Park that day left rave reviews. Nothing can compare to a walk over a bottomless abyss, which can be viewed through glass slabs.
Due to the huge influx of visitors, just two weeks later the park administration temporarily closed the bridge for reconstruction. However, management assured that this was not associated with any damage. After carrying out preventive work to strengthen the structure, the bridge was reopened to the public.
Golden Whip Creek
This area is considered the easiest to explore, as it is located at the foot of the mountains in a valley and does not have steep climbs. Along the stream, a walking trail stretches for almost eight kilometers. From this area you can climb to Yuanjiajie or walk to the Yellow Stone Village.
Tourists note that a walk here is very pleasant - one feels the much-desired unity with nature. Crowds of tourists are found only in some areas, so you can enjoy the sound of water in the stream, the cheerful chirping of birds, and picturesque views of the mountains to your heart’s content.
In this area, at one of the stops, very insidious monkeys live. Tourists try to treat them with all sorts of sweets. Do not do that. These cute, at first glance, animals are very cunning and dexterous - they can completely unnoticed leave you without wallets, phones and other valuables. In addition, they often show aggression towards humans.
Vegetation
China's Zhangjiajie National Park amazes tourists with its diversity of flora and its beauty. Scientists believe that the tropical, humid climate and varied topography contributed to the appearance of dense forests in Wulingyuan. Vegetation here is developing much faster than in neighboring provinces of the country.
More than seven hundred and seventy species of plants grow in the park. Among them there are very rare samples. These include gingko biloba, chestnut (Chinese), pigeon tree, and on the plains travelers can see compact tangerine groves.
But visitors to the park are especially impressed by the large white stipules of the pigeon tree swaying in the wind, which resemble a huge flock of white doves.
Animals in the park
Zhangjiajie National Park is home to more than five hundred species of different animals. Twenty-eight of them are rare and therefore are under constant protection. These include:
- gigantic salamander;
- big panda;
- golden snub-nosed monkey;
- leopard
- In the 20th century, a waterfall unexpectedly collapsed into the gorge from the top of Mount Tianmen. This happened four times. The flow of water broke down for fifteen minutes, and then just as suddenly stopped.
- The staircase, numbering 999 wide steps, leads to the Heaven's Gate Cave.
- Along the top of the massif, at an altitude of 1500 m, there is a pedestrian path. Above particularly picturesque and steep cliffs, it was made of high-strength glass.
China, Zhangjiajie National Park: how to get there?
If you want to see incredibly beautiful landscapes, then you need to visit this unique place. To see Zhangjiajie National Park, you first need to get to the city of the same name, and then get to the small villages located at the entrances to the park. There are several ways to get to the city: by plane, train, bus. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
By plane
If you are planning to visit Zhangjiajie National Park and spend as little time on the road as possible, then this option is more suitable for you than others. You can fly by plane from other major cities in the country. The airport is located five kilometers from the city center. There are flights here every day aircraft from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin and other cities in the country.
From the airport to the city you can take a bus or taxi, which will take you to the park entrance for 100 yuan ($15).
By train
Zhangjiajie National Park is of great interest to all tourists coming to the country, so many trains go here. We would like to warn you that this option is suitable for those who have a supply of free time and patience. A little information: the road from Beijing to your destination takes about twenty-six hours, and a ticket will cost sixty dollars (reserved seat) and one hundred (compartment). Zhangjiajie Railway Station is conveniently located, close to the city center and the airport.
By bus
There are several bus stations in the city. They receive flights from different cities in China. The departure schedule, cost of travel, travel time must be checked at bus stations.
When you arrive in the city in a way convenient for you, all that remains is to find Zhangjiajie National Park (China). How to get to the territory of the reserve? You need to go to one of the entrances, where small villages are located. You can stay there for the night.
The closest entrance to the city is 32 km away, and is called Zhangjiajie Village. Forty kilometers from the city there is an entrance in the Wulingyuan area. The third is the furthest from the city. It is located near Tianzi Mountain and is not very popular among tourists.
Where to live?
The city of Zhangjiajie offers a good selection of hotels, but if you stay here, you will have to spend money and time on the road every day. And this is about two hours a day. It is more advisable to stay in a village at the entrance to the park - you will save time on the road.
In almost all of these villages there are several comfortable hotels. If you wish, you can stay in a hotel on the territory of the park, unless, of course, you are not afraid of the spartan living conditions: there are frequent interruptions in electricity, water, and Internet outages. After the park is closed, resident tourists are not allowed to leave its territory, which, you see, is not very convenient.
Opening hours and cost of visiting
Zhangjiajie National Park can be visited throughout the year. Opening hours depend on the season:
- in summer - from 7.00 to 19.00;
- in winter - from 7.30 to 17.00.
In summer it is not at all hot here, and in winter there are no severe frosts.
Entrance tickets can be purchased in two types:
- for seven days - 298 yuan;
- 4 days - 245 yuan.
- It is better to come to the park early, then you will have the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty in relative silence.
- If you want to use the Bailong elevator, it is also better to do this in the morning and go down before 16:00. Otherwise, you can spend about four hours in line.
- You will have to walk a lot in the park, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes to prevent chafing. The same can be said about clothes: they should be comfortable.
- To save energy for exploring the park longer, combine walking with the use of cable cars and a ski lift.
- When going to the park, be sure to take a map (you can buy it at the entrance), sunscreen, cash, water and food. You can buy food in the park, but the prices are excessively high. The most affordable items in these shops are fruits, corn, and fried potatoes (about 10 yuan).
- Chinese and international students studying in China can purchase tickets at half price. But this applies to young people under 24 years of age. When purchasing discounted tickets, you must present your passport.
- Keep purchased tickets separate from those of friends or family. The fact is that each of them has a number stamped on it, to which fingerprints are attached. If you take the ticket of your husband or friend, the system will refuse to let you through the turnstile.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, or Avatar Park as it is often called, is a unique natural wonder in southwest China. It is located in Hunan Province (湖南省húnánshěng) more than 300 km from the provincial capital - Changsha (长沙chángshā) and belongs to mountain system Wulingshan.
The main asset of the park is the bizarre rocks that rise into the sky in pillars. Such an amazing landscape was formed as a result of prolonged weathering and washing out of rocks.
This was one of those places that I dreamed of visiting from the moment I first learned about its existence. Even living in China, going on this trip was not easy; it was necessary to figure out the timing and calculate the finances. But in the fall of this year, what I had been waiting for so long happened: my husband gave me a trip to amazing world"floating rocks" Such a gift will truly be remembered for a lifetime.
It is said that the local landscapes were among those that inspired the director of the film "Avatar" to create the floating mountains of the planet Pandora. This served as a kind of advertising for the park, and after the film was released, the flow of tourists to Zhangjiajie increased significantly. The grateful Chinese even renamed one of the mountains “Avatar Hallelujah” and placed several “avatars” in the park, near which people usually line up for photos. And indeed, while walking around the park, I got the impression that I was somewhere on another planet, such incredible landscapes sometimes opened up before my eyes.
In addition to picturesque landscapes, there is rich flora and fauna. Some species of plants, birds and animals found in these mountains are listed in the Red Book, for example, the giant salamander, civet, pangolin, clouded leopard, rhesus macaque and many others.
I was 100% satisfied with my visit to Zhangjiajie. Despite the fatigue and “wobbly” legs, I received so many impressions that it’s difficult to even describe. All lovers of nature and unusual landscapes will definitely like this park. In my personal list of natural beauties, it took an honorable third place after the Bolaven plateau () and the park.
When to plan a visit
Zhangjiajie National Park is open to visitors all year round, but the weather is not always suitable for enjoying nature to the fullest. Therefore, when planning a trip, you need to decide what landscapes you want to see and what you expect from your visit.
The optimal season for visiting the park is autumn, especially the period from September to early November. At this time of year, the weather is almost always sunny and the temperature is comfortable enough to be in the park from morning to evening. They say that mountains are best seen in autumn.
In winter, the park is too cold for long walks. In addition, due to bad weather, some trails are closed for safety reasons, and snowfall and fog can cause poor visibility. But this does not stop tourists who want to see snow-covered landscapes and admire the views almost alone. Another plus is that tickets are cheaper at this time of year.
In spring, the rainy season begins in Zhangjiajie, which lasts from March to June. Of course, it is unpleasant to inspect the mountains when the sky is constantly dripping, but it is at this time that fogs cover the valley and many people come here to enjoy the effect of the “floating peaks”. When the fog hides the base of the mountains, it really seems like the mountains are hanging in the air. But here it depends. Maybe you won’t be able to see anything at all behind the veil of fog.
I was in the park on the 20th of October 2015. Although the weather was sunny and warm, visibility was still not absolute, at any time of the day there was a haze that more or less hid the outlines of the mountains, nothing was visible in the distance .
On the day of our departure, it rained for the whole day, but by that time I had already managed to see everything I wanted. Therefore, when planning a trip, it is better to take one “extra” day in case the weather lets you down. If there are no problems with the weather, you can visit neighboring attractions, for example, Baofen Lake, Huanglong Cave or Tianmen Mountain.
As for the time required to visit the park, this is individual. Some people say that they watched everything in one day, while for others even a week is not enough. It seems to me that you need at least 2 days to explore the main beauties without haste, plus a couple more days to go to nearby tourist spots that also deserve attention.
If you want to avoid large crowds, I do not recommend planning a trip to Zhangjiajie in the first week of May and October due to holidays, as well as during the summer holidays (July-August).
How to get there
To visit Zhangjiajie National Park, you must first come to the city of the same name, and then go directly to the villages at the entrance to the park. Let's start in order.
How to get to Zhangjiajie city
There are several ways to get to Zhangjiajie: by plane, train, bus.
By plane
If your goal is to visit Zhangjiajie Park and spend minimal time on the road, the easiest way would be to fly from other cities in China. The local airport is located just 5 km from the city center. The full name of the airport in Chinese is 张家界荷花机场 (zhāngjiājiè héhuā jīchǎng) in English - Zhangjiajie Hehua (Lotus) Airport. It receives daily flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Changsha, Tianjin, Wuhan and other cities in China. Among international flights, only flights to Busan (Korea) and Bangkok () are available. Approximate prices for flights within China are listed below:
- from Beijing – $110-130 (2 hours 45 minutes on the way),
- from Shanghai – $115 (2.5 hours),
- from Guangzhou – $70-80 (1.5 hours),
- from Xi'an - $70-80 (1.5 hours).
You can get from the airport to the city by taxi or bus, but although the latter is written about on the Internet, in reality it is rare. A taxi to the station costs about 15 yuan ($2.5), to the city 20-30 ($3-5) depending on where you need to go. A taxi directly to the park entrance will cost 100 yuan ($15). Be sure to bargain, because the distance is minimal, and taxi drivers, taking advantage of tourists’ ignorance, began to charge astronomical prices - 200 yuan ($30) to the city.
By train
Trains to Zhangjiajie run from many major cities, but this method is suitable for those who have a lot of free time and patience. For reference: the road from Beijing takes 22-26 hours, and a ticket will cost 60 dollars (reserved seat) or 100 (compartment). From Shanghai the train takes 20-22 hours and costs $60/80. By train from Guangzhou you can get there in 13-17 hours, paying $50/77, and from the provincial capital, Changsha, in just 5 hours and $30/40.
Zhangjiajie Railway Station has a very convenient location. It's close to the city center and airport, and is also within walking distance of the cable car start station for Tianmen Mountain (another must-see), as well as the central bus station for Zhangjiajie National Park. The map shows the route from the airport to the train station (distance 4.9 km), and also shows the location of the airport, railway station and central bus station.
By bus
The city has several bus stations with regular services from other major cities. I was at the central bus station (张家界中心汽车站zhāngjiājiè zhōngxīn qìchēzhàn), which is indicated on the map above and I know that from there there are buses to Shanghai, Changsha, Wuhan, Zhuhai and several other cities, which means it is also possible to come to Zhangjiajie by bus. Departure schedules, travel times and ticket prices must be found directly at the bus stations.
How to get to Zhangjiajie National Park
After you get to the city in a way convenient for you, the question will arise: where next? To get to the park, you need to go to one of the entrances to the reserve, where small villages are located. You can also stay there for the night. Judging by the map, there are only three of them:
- the closest entrance to the city is 32 km from the city, and many people call it the village of Zhangjiajie after the name of the entrance to the park (张家界国家森林公园门票站 zhāngjiājiè guójiā sēnlín gōngyuán ménpiào zhàn), conditionally on the map marked as INPUT #1;
- 40 km from the city there is an entrance in the Wulingyuan area (武陵源门票站 wǔlíngyuánménpiào zhàn) designated as ENTRANCE No. 2;
- The farthest entrance is located at Mount Tianzi (天子山门票站 tiānzǐshān ménpiào zhàn) - 50 km from the city, ENTRANCE No. 3 on the map.
As far as I understand, entrance No. 3 is not particularly popular, because I did not see any buses to this place, and when preparing for the trip I did not see any information about it.
Taxi
If you choose a taxi, you need to know that the distances here are short, and the approximate price from the airport is 100 yuan ($15.5), from the city or railway station it is a little cheaper, 70-80 yuan ($10-12). Local drivers are very reluctant to use a taximeter and quote exorbitant prices in an attempt to scam tourists, so you need to bargain persistently. Most taxi drivers do not speak English, although they sometimes understand simple phrases like “how much?” But most likely you will have to explain yourself using gestures, a map and notes on paper. Be sure to prepare the names of the places you need in hieroglyphs, because the English names mean nothing to them; you can even print out pictures for clarity. Also, to avoid misunderstandings, do not forget to agree on the cost in advance before getting into the car. In China, I never booked a taxi in advance. Usually you can catch a car on any street, and besides, they are always “on duty” for everyone tourist places.
Bus
Unlike taxis, bus fares are very cheap; getting to Wulingyuan costs only 12 yuan ($2). I decided to choose a budget option and, having saved a decent amount, was satisfied.
Starting at 6 am, buses depart from the Central Bus Station (张家界中心汽车站 zhāngjiājiè zhōngxīn qìchēzhàn), which is located next to railway station. During the season, the last flight departs at 19:30, and in winter an hour earlier. The journey takes just under an hour.
Since I came to Zhangjiaqie by train, I found the bus station easily. If you walk to the end of the station square and stand with your back to the station building, you will see MacDonald’s on the left side and the entrance to the station is located right next to it. In the screenshot you can see what the desired building looks like.
Then you need to go through the waiting room to the area with buses and find a minibus with the hieroglyphs 武陵源. Usually there are several of them, the drivers will tell you which one will go faster. There is no need to buy tickets in advance at the ticket office; everything is paid for on the bus. Along the way, the driver will make several stops, picking up and dropping off locals. If you are going to the village of Zhangjiajie (entrance 1), then you need to inform the driver about this in advance, but he does not stop there, he will only drop you off at the turn to it. If you are going to Wulingyuan (entrance 2), then the stop you need is the final one, and you don’t have to worry about missing it. In Wulingyuan, the bus arrives at the station, from which you can walk or take a taxi to the hotel or park entrance.
Where to stay
When it comes to housing, there are again several options. The first is to check into a hotel in the city of Zhangjiajie, the second is to drive to any entrance to the park and stay there, the third is to stay on the territory of the park itself.
- The city of Zhangjiajie has a good selection of hotels, restaurants, and many ways to spend your leisure time. But having settled in the city, you will have to spend time and money every day on the road to the park and back, which is about two hours a day. Not very convenient, would you agree?
- By stopping in a village at the entrance to the park, you can save time on travel and at the same time not be as cut off from the world as inside the park. The villages also have a good selection of hotels and cafes.
- You can stay in the park itself, but, as I understand from hotel reviews, living conditions inside the park are spartan: there may be interruptions in the supply of light, water, and problems with the Internet. You cannot leave the park after closing, and the choice of food and products is limited. Money must be withdrawn in advance, since it is not possible to withdraw money or pay by card within the park.
Before the trip, I studied the option for a long time and chose the village of Wulingyuan. I can say that I didn’t regret it at all. My hostel was a 10-minute walk from the park, in addition, there were a sufficient number of shops nearby, a market with fruits and souvenirs, an ATM and a cafe with decent food. There are many accommodation options to suit every taste and budget: there are both budget hostels and expensive hotels.
I stayed at Wulingyuan Tuniu Youth Hostel. I booked my accommodation in advance on a well-known website and realized that I had done the right thing when, upon arriving at the place, I saw the inscription “full” on almost every door. When talking with the guy from the reception, we managed to find out that during the high season, all housing is sold out a month in advance. At the hostel they gave me a map of the park and drew up a visiting route, for which a special thank you! In principle, I can say that I was satisfied with the accommodation, considering the price-quality ratio, I got what I paid for: a clean and tidy room, breakfast with decent food in a nearby cafe, convenient location. I had dinner at the establishment that provided us with breakfast, because of all the places on our street it was the cleanest and most attractive. Almost all the foreigners I met in the park and village also ate there. But I didn’t remember the name, unfortunately.
Park opening hours and entrance fees
When I first visited the park, I was guided by the opening time, which was indicated on the map obtained from the hotel. It said that the park opens at 6:30, so at the beginning of seven I was already at the entrance gate. But it was still closed and there were no people wanting to get into the park except me and my companion. After 15-20 minutes, Chinese groups began to arrive. The park opened at 7 o'clock, but by this time the crowd was simply huge. So see for yourself what is more convenient, but I recommend coming at opening time or even earlier. Approximate opening hours:
- In summer from 6:30 (7:00) – 19:00
- In winter from 7:30 – 17:00
Entrance fees
You can purchase 2 types of tickets:
- 4-day ticket for 245 yuan ($38),
- 7-day ticket for 298 ($46).
Prices are for high season; in winter, a ticket costs 145 yuan ($22).
Paid separately:
Chinese and international students studying in China have the option of buying a half-price ticket, but this was more difficult than other places I've visited in the past. When purchasing discounted tickets, an age restriction was introduced: students over 24 years old pay the full price. At the same time, simply correcting the student’s date of birth will not work, because when purchasing a discount ticket, you also need to present your passport. Children under 120 cm tall have free admission, from 120 to 150 cm half the price, as well as people of retirement age from 60 to 69, those over 70 are even cheaper, but I don’t know whether this applies to people of all nationalities or only Chinese.
The price includes transportation by bus between park stops.
The check at the entrance is quite strict. Embossed on each ticket serial number, to which fingerprints are attached when entering the territory for the first time. I had this story: I visited the park with my husband, and our tickets were kept in one place, the next day we simply took them, without knowing which was whose, and went through the turnstile, but the system refused to let us through. It turned out that we had mixed up our cards, and you can’t use someone else’s.
As a conclusion, do not buy tickets second-hand, even if the offer seems tempting, and keep your ticket in a safe place, because if you lose it, you will have to buy a new one.
It’s better to come to the park early, then you have a chance to enjoy the views in relative silence. If you plan to use the Bailong elevator, it is best to go on it in the morning, as soon as the park opens, and go down before 3-4 pm, otherwise you can spend about 4 hours in line. Or avoid this method of climbing altogether.
I was lucky, as I already said, on the first day of visiting the park we came even before it opened, so we were among the first to buy tickets and go sightseeing. When we arrived at the elevator, there was still no line, and we managed to get up without any problems.
Keep in mind that you will be walking a lot, so make sure your shoes are comfortable and do not chafe. Clothing should also be comfortable. It won't hurt to take a band-aid with you.
The distances in the park are very large, and climbing uphill is difficult and often takes a long time, so it is better to combine the use of cable cars with walking routes. If you rely only on your legs, you may not meet the time limit and miss out on some of the sights. The most convenient way is to go up by cable car and go down on foot.
There are a lot of wild monkeys on some trails.
Some of them can be aggressive towards people, so do not tease them, hold your valuables, camera, phone tightly. In places where monkeys gather, it is better not to carry anything in your hands at all, but to hide everything in a bag or backpack. Before my eyes, monkeys snatched bags from people’s hands as they walked and climbed a tree with them or ran away into the forest. And don’t think that they don’t know how to stand up for themselves, a monkey can bite, after which you have to go to the hospital and get injections, such cases have also happened. Therefore, be careful with wild animals.
When going to the park, bring a map, cash, sunscreen, rain gear, water and food. The prices for food in the park itself are very high, so it is better to take something with you, but inside you can buy fruits, fried potatoes, corn (about 10 yuan - $1.5).
But in the cafes located in the park, the prices are simply astronomical, so apart from McDonald’s, which also came here, we didn’t eat anywhere else.
What to see in Zhangjiajie National Park
The photo shows the map that they gave me at my hostel, and which I used to navigate when visiting the park. In my opinion, this is the most understandable and convenient map possible. Despite the fact that it distorts the scale, it is still possible to get an idea of the structure of the park. Having scoured the Internet, I couldn’t find anything more sensible.
It is important to know that there are two main planes of movement in the park: lower (in the valley) and upper (in the mountains). There are also two lines of free buses, some of them run at the foot of the mountains (marked in purple on the map, the buses themselves are also purple), others at the top of the mountains (red line on the map, beige buses). Accordingly, the P stop icon is also marked either red or purple, and its color indicates which route the stop belongs to. Hiking trails are marked in green. What I like about this map is that it shows the approximate travel time from one point to another, although this is not always true. Depending on the number of days allocated to explore the park, you can plan different routes.
In general, the park’s territory is divided into several zones, each of which is special and picturesque in its own way. I was unable to figure out the exact number of these same zones. Information on this matter is controversial; some guidebooks write that the park is divided into 6 separate sections, but on my map there are 7 of them. At the same time, another important part of the park on my map is not allocated to a separate zone, which is why there was such confusion. On the map below I tried to symbolize all these zones with different colors, and I came up with 8 of them.
- Red - Tianzi Mountain;
- Blue - Yuanjiajie;
- Yellow - Yangjiajie;
- Orange - Golden Whip Brook;
- White - Huangshizhai, or Yellow Stone Village;
- Lime - Yaotsizhai, Hawk Village;
- Pink - Daguandai;
- Purple - Laowuchang.
Yuanjiajie (袁家界 yuánjiājiè)
The Yuanjiajie area is one of the most visited and popular areas of the park, and it is its landscapes that are most often compared to the “Avatar Mountains”. If you don’t climb to the top on foot, but use the Baylong elevator or get there by bus from other park areas, then it’s quite easy to get through.
This part of the park is famous for the “First Heavenly Bridge” (天下第一桥 tiān xià dì yī qiáo) and the column, which has recently been called “Hallelujah” (哈里路亚山 hālǐlùyà shān).
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After listening to rave reviews, it was decided to immediately go here. You could say that this part of the park was the first thing I saw in Zhangjiajie after the Bailong elevator, so I was shocked by the views. But after walking around the park for several days, I can’t say that this place is the most worthy. Nature has really done its best here, but the impression is spoiled by the large influx of tourists. In order to take a photo, you first need to stand in line, and then, when your turn comes, everyone around you will rush you or simply unceremoniously push you away from the shooting location. But at least to see the lonely floating pillar, it’s worth coming here.
Yangjiajie (杨家界 yángjiājiè)
The Yangjiajie zone was opened later than the others, and has not yet gained such popularity as Yuanjiajie. In terms of its development, it also loses. On the map below, the yellow circle conventionally indicates the territory of Yangjiajie, and the orange part inside it is the part that I went through.
From the map it seems that the distance is short, but it is not easy to pass. To examine even part of it, you will have to be pretty exhausted and sweaty. As on other trails, here you can hire porters for an additional fee to help you cover the route. Their prices are fixed from one stop to another, but you can try to bargain. On the one hand, this is hard work, which is paid for by poor health, and I would not want to use people as “slaves” like this, but on the other hand, how else will they earn their bread? The Chinese, apparently, take this easier, because they use such services everywhere, but it’s somehow strange to me.
In this part of the park, tourists can expect steep steps and narrow passages between rocks, shaky iron stairs and cliffs. This is what one of the peaks looks like, which is called Tianbo Mansion (天波府 tiān bōfǔ).
And in the photo below is the view that opens from it. If it weren’t for the haze, it would be absolutely wonderful, but it is what it is.
I liked this part of the park, there weren’t too many tourists, the views were pleasant, and the visibility was relatively good.
Mount Tianzi (天子山 tiānzǐ shān)
At the time of my visit to the park, the cable car to Mount Tianzi was not working, and the hostel employee did not advise climbing on foot. Later I understood why. Even after walking down the mountain, I couldn’t feel my legs, let alone climb it. Such a feat is possible either for athletes or for the Chinese, for whom climbing stairs is both a favorite hobby and national tradition:). And I still had many sights planned ahead, and I decided to take care of my only means of transportation. To visit Tianzi, I arrived at the end point of this part of the park by bus from Yangjiajie. To our great joy, there is a McDonald's at the top, so it was decided to have lunch there, given that we couldn't get a decent meal anywhere else in the park. And having refreshed myself, I went down and inspected the landscapes along the way. The rocks here are a little different from those we were able to see before. Along the way there is a pagoda called the Emperor's Palace (天子阁 tiānzǐ gé), you can climb it and explore the surrounding area.
This is the view from the top - sharp peaks in the midday haze.
Flimsy structures made of chairs tied to bamboo sticks stand waiting for their passengers; this picture is found on almost every flight.
Another beautiful lookout, unfortunately I didn’t remember the name.
There are beautiful landscapes everywhere, but the road is very exhausting.
Golden Whip Brook (金鞭溪 jīn biān xī)
The Golden Knut stream is one of the easiest areas for walking, since it is located in a valley at the foot of the mountains and does not involve steep climbs. The walking trail along the stream stretches for almost 8 km. If you wish, you can start climbing from this area to Yuanjiajie or Yellow Stone Village. I really enjoyed the walk in this part of the park. It was here that I was able to feel the desired unity with nature.
Noisy crowds of tourists are found only in some areas, and the rest of the time you can enjoy the singing of birds, the splashing of water in the stream and views of the mountains.
At one of the stops there live monkeys, which we tried to feed, but almost lost all our things. This was the first meeting with these seemingly cute animals in Zhangjiajie, and we did not yet know about their impudence and possible aggression.
For walks below you need to take warm clothes; in the morning it is very cold near the water, and during the day the air does not have time to warm up everywhere.
Yellow Stone Village, or Huangshizhai (黄石寨huángshí zhài)
You can enter this part of the park from Entrance No. 1 or come from Entrance No. 2 along the creek, which is what I did. As it turned out later, it was possible to go up by cable car, but I lost sight of this and climbed on foot. At the beginning of the road to the mountain it is written: “Whoever has not been to Huangshizhai has not seen Zhangjiajie,” or something like that, from which I concluded that this is a popular place, a must-see, although I had never heard of it before. There were surprisingly few tourists on the trail; mostly there were groups going down, who apparently climbed up using the cable car.
Here I met a huge number of cute and not so cute monkeys, which distracted me from heavy thoughts and entertained me along the way. Their screams were heard throughout the forest and trees shook. Many monkeys are not at all afraid of people, going out onto hiking trails, begging, rummaging through trash cans and posing for photos. It is very interesting to watch them, but a little scary, because they are the owners of these places, not us. Some adult males behave aggressively, attack people, take things from them and simply scare tourists. But it’s a pleasure to watch the kids: they frolic, play and willingly take pictures.
Somewhere I saw that the path to the top consists of 3800 steps, but I myself did not count them. I can say one thing - the climb on foot is not easy, especially when your legs are aching from the previous two days, but we managed it. It took us about 3 hours to get to the top. But at the top, as a reward for the hard journey, tourists are treated to magnificent landscapes. In the photo below, one of the local attractions is Five Fingers Mountain (五指峰 wǔzhǐ fēng).
And another mountain whose name I don’t know.
In addition, there are also areas in the park that I did not visit - these are Daguangdai (大观台 dàguān tái), Laowuchang (老屋场 lǎowū chǎng) and Yaozi Village (鹞子寨 yàozi zhài). I didn’t initially plan to examine them, because I didn’t find anything about them interesting information on the Internet, and I didn’t have time to do it.
Nearby Attractions
Except National Park Zhangjiajie, there are several other natural attractions in this area that are worthy of tourists' attention.
Tianmen Mountain (天门山 tiānmén shān)
This attraction is located almost in the city of Zhangjiajie, and it is very easy to get to it - walk to the starting station of the cable car, which is located next to the railway station. The cable car leading up the mountain is one of the longest in the world, and it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area, including the mountain serpentine of 99 turns.
This mountain road is also one of the features of Tianmen Park. You can take a special bus along it to the Heaven's Gate arch. To get to the arch, you need to overcome a difficult climb of 999 steps.
In addition, many tourists come here specifically to tickle their nerves by walking along the glass path on the edge of the cliff.
The cost of visiting the park includes a trip by cable car and bus along the serpentine road (if desired) and is 258 yuan ($40). For a walk along the glass section of the road you need to pay separately 5-10 yuan ($0.8 - 1.5). One day is enough for the inspection.
I was not as impressed by my visit to Tianmen Mountain as I was by my visit to Zhangjiajie Park. The impression was spoiled by the fact that at first we had to stand in line for more than 2 hours for the funicular. And the fact that it was very noisy and crowded at the top, the surrounding landscapes were obscured by haze. By the way, the “path of fear”, from which I expected special sensations, did not seem scary or exciting at all, but this is my personal opinion. In the photo there is a queue of tourists wanting to walk along glass bridge.
But I still don’t regret visiting Tianmen Mountain, another Chinese landmark has been conquered, and I can tick it off my list.
Fenghuang Ancient City (凤凰古城 fènghuáng gǔchéng)
Ancient city Fenghuang, also known as Phoenix, sits on the river and attracts tourists with its architecture and antique atmosphere. The city is given a special flavor by its wooden houses on stilts along the river, bridges, narrow streets and old boats. In the evening, all this is beautifully illuminated and looks no less impressive.
The route to Fenghuang is not close, so it is advisable to go overnight. The distance from Zhangjiajie is about 240 km, and the journey by bus takes all of 5 hours. Not long ago, visiting the city became paid, 148 yuan ($23) per person, but you can try to contact the hotel where you plan to stay and perhaps they will help you get in for free.
Lake Baofeng (宝峰湖 bǎofēnghú)
Lake Baofeng is a reservoir that was formed not long ago as a result of the construction of a dam. Being there, it’s hard to believe that this is the work of human hands, and not a miracle of nature, it fits so organically into the local landscape.
From Wulingyuan village you can take a taxi for 10-15 yuan ($1.5 - 2.5) or walk, which takes about 40 minutes.
Entrance ticket per person costs 96 yuan ($15) and includes a short walk around the lake. She passes on a carved wooden boat to the songs of locals dressed in National costumes, which makes it even more exciting and colorful. Here you can see rocks growing straight out of the water and beautiful waterfall. The place is worth a visit.
Cave of the Yellow Dragon, or Huanglong (黄龙洞 huánglóngdòng)
Not far from the village of Wulingyuan there is one of the most beautiful caves in China, the Yellow Dragon Cave. It is perfectly equipped for tourists and is striking in its size. Inside, in addition to many halls and corridors, there are several ponds and even rivers, and stalactites and stalagmites, which are illuminated in different colors, create extraordinary beauty kinds.
You can get there by city bus or taxi for 20 yuan ($3). The entrance ticket costs 100 yuan ($15) and includes a boat ride inside the cave.
In general, going to Zhangjiajie is really worth it; although this trip will not be cheap, it will delight you with unique landscapes and attractions, and will leave a lot of pleasant memories.
September 15 - 22, 2019
(stay in China 7 nights
)
They are three meters tall, have blue skin, and have cat-like faces. Their planet is Pandora,
located several light years from Earth. Most of it is covered with jungle,
mountains hang in the air, plants glow in the dark...
To experience Pandora, you need to go to James Cameron's Avatar, which was inspired by the Wulingyuan Mountains.
To see the “flying” mountains in reality, to break out of everyday life and feel like the heroes of “Avatar”, you need to fly to China.
The program includes: panoramic routes - serpentines, various cable cars(among which is the longest in the world). The rocks are surrounded by routes made of stones and even glass, connected by giant bridges. The world's tallest open-air elevator was built, taking it to the top. Landscapes of unreal beauty, as if straight from the paintings of Chinese painters, became available thanks to the miracle of human genius and hard work.
Combines well with tours:
Want to see the floating Avatar Mountains with your own eyes? Then go to China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The amazing rocks of this unique park have become real prototypes of the world famous “floating Hallelujah Mountains”. We can talk about this park endlessly. The beauty and uniqueness of nature is simply incredible. Mountains, streams and parks calm, inspire, delight and make you think about the eternal. No photographs can convey all the splendor and grandeur of this place.
Read also about other places in Zhangjiajie:
Formation of mountains
The world-famous Zhangjiajie Park, or rather the wider Wulingyuan Scenic Area, is the first Chinese park to receive World Heritage Site status. natural heritage UNESCO.
As a result of the weathering of sandstones and limestones, as well as the erosion of soil, about 3,000 peaks and cliffs of the most bizarre shapes were formed. The mountains are covered with dense vegetation and are separated by deep gorges with rivers, lakes and waterfalls. These distinctive mountain formations are a distinctive feature of the Chinese landscape, depicted in numerous ancient paintings.
Geography of Zhangjiajie Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, known as “Avatar Park”, is located in the northwest of Hunan Province in China and is part of the huge Wulingyuan Nature Reserve(Wulingyuan Scenic Area). The nearest airport and train station are located in Zhangjiajie (张家界市). However, The park is located 50 km from Zhangjiajie city, so staying in city hotels to visit the park is not recommended. Near the park there is the town of Wulingyuan, also known as Zhangjiajie Village, with all the necessary infrastructure, including hotels and restaurants.
In China it is always difficult with names. They are duplicated and nested inside each other like nesting dolls. I will try to explain a little about the situation with parks near Zhangjiajie.
Wulingyuan Nature Reserve(Wulingyuan Scenic Area, 武陵源) consists of four parts:
- Zhangjiajie National Park(Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, 张家界国家森林公园),
- Mount Tianji| Tianzi Mountain Natural Resource Reserve, 天子山,
- Yangjiajie Region(Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, 袁家界),
- Suosi Valley(Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve, 索溪峪).
The Zhangjiajie Park ticket allows you to enter all of the above areas.
However, there are attractions in Wulingyuan Scenic Area that require separate tickets:
- Yellow Dragon Cave (黄龙洞) – 100 RMB
- Cave of the Dragon King Longwang Dong (龙王洞) – 81 RMB
- Baofang Artificial Lake – 98 RMB
- Museums, river rafting, etc.
Also near the city of Zhangjiajie there is (Tianmenshan National Forest Park, 天门山森林区). It is located in a completely different direction from Zhangjiajie and is not included in the Wulingyuan Nature Reserve. This is an absolutely beautiful, majestic and unique place. With a completely different atmosphere from Zhangjiajie Park.
Main areas of Zhangjiajie Park
Yuanjiajie
View from the elevator of 100 dragons
The most picturesque, but crowded with tourists area of the park. In this zone are located (the same one that is the main attraction of the entire park and renamed the “Avatar Mountains” in honor of the well-known film), The First Bridge under Heaven(natural bridge between two rocks), Lost Souls Platform, Bailong Elevator(the world's tallest elevator).
Bailong Elevator - the world's tallest elevator
Bailong Glass Elevator | Hundred Dragon Elevator
Hundred Dragons Elevator – highest outdoor lift in the world. It takes tourists to the top of a 330-meter sheer slope in the heart of Zhangjiajie Park. A ride in the glass elevator will give you stunning views of the plain. The main thing is to get closer to the window, because 50 people can fit in a booth, and not everyone will be able to enjoy the beauty opening from above.
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
1080 meter mountain The Southern Sky Column was renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in honor of the landmark film Avatar. The mountain is located in the Yuanjiajie region.
Natural Bridge No. 1 (The First Bridge under Heaven)
Natural Bridge No. 1 (The First Bridge under Heaven | Tianxia Diyi Qiao) or “Bridge over Heaven” is a kind of unique natural creation in the world. At an altitude of 357 meters it connects the peaks of two rocks. Its length is 50 meters, width – 4 meters, thickness – 5 meters. This is the highest natural bridge in the world.
Tianzishan | Mountain of the Son of Heaven | Emperor's Mountain (Tianzi Mountain)
Forest of rocks | Stone Peaks Forest
The most important advantage of this area is its height. The height of 1182 meters gives a great opportunity to see the famous mountains in the clouds. Here the mountains really seem to float. The area is popular with photographers. In this area you can see Dian Jiang Tai, Yubi Feng, Ten-Li Gallery.
Emperor's Pavilion | Tianzi Pavilion
Ten Li Gallery | Ten-Li Gallery
Yellow Stone Village
Five Finger Peak | Five Fingers Peak
The area is just north of the Golden Whip stream. In this part of the park there is the famous Five-Fingers Peak. The area is equally scenic but less popular than Yuanjiajie. Many people go to the main observation deck, which offers views of Five-Fingers Peak on foot, without using the expensive lifts.
Yangjiajie Scenic Area
This area for real researchers. Here you will have to walk not along paved paths, but along dangerous and slippery paths. No infrastructure, but also no tourists or queues. Real nature.
Laowuchang Area
One of the most “wild” areas of the park. You will have to walk on dirt paths. But this best area for photographers. Here are located rice fields Paddies in the Sky and Spirit Soldiers' Gathering'.
Golden Whip Stream
A pleasant walk along a beautiful stream surrounded by incredible mountains is the park's most popular route. The path is quite long - 7 km, but not at all difficult. Everything is fine, except that there are always a lot of people here.
How much does a ticket to Zhangjiajie cost?
The park ticket is worth it 248 R.M.B. for 4 days or 298 RMB for a week. Prices for students, seniors and children are 160 RMB and 193 RMB respectively. Children under 1.2 meters tall are free. The price is far from low, but it's definitely worth it! You won't regret a penny.
The ticket price includes all the areas listed above and observation decks, as well as all movements by bus within the park. However, trips on cable cars, trams and elevators require a separate fee.
Prices for ski lifts and trams:
- Bailong Glass Elevator | 100 dragon elevator (Bailong elevator) - 72 RMB.
- Tianzishan Cable Car - 67 RMB one way / 134 RMB round trip.
- Huangshi Zhai Cable Car (Yellow Stone Village Cable Car) - 65 RMB one way / 118 RMB round trip.
- Tram in the Ten Li Gorge (Tenli Gallery’s Mini Train) - 38 RMB one way / 52 RMB round trip.
Main entrances to the park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has two main entrances. A park ticket allows you to visit all attractions located inside.
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Gate (on map A): southwest entrance, convenient if you want to follow the Gold Whip Stream.
- Wulingyuan Gate (on map B) : Closest to hotels in Wulingyuan Town. It has convenient access to Bailong Elevator, Tianzi Mountain Cable Way and Ten-Li Gallery Train.
How long does it take to visit the park?
We only had 3 days to do everything about everything, and even during the Chinese holidays. We walked quite a lot and in one and a half days we managed to see all the interesting things in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. We went to the Yellow Dragon Cave for half a day, and on the last day we visited Tianmenshan National Forest Park.
When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie Park?
- Avoid Chinese holidays(May 1-3, October 1-7) and the Chinese holiday period (July and August). There will be not just a lot of tourists, but an awful lot. You may have to stand in line for hours at the lifts.
- It's very cold in winter, and in February, the park may be closed for reconstruction.
- From April to June good time but high humidity and a high probability of rain and fog. But if this doesn’t scare you (and I advise you not to be afraid of a little rain), then this is a great time.
- From May to October high season. Accordingly, prices are higher, and on average there are more tourists.
- September and October - best time to visit the park. It's still quite warm, but it's already low season, and therefore there are no queues and prices do not bite.
Where to stop to eat?
The restaurants in the park are small and very authentic. The most European place is McDonald's on Tianzi Mountain. But on every corner there are street vendors with sausages, stinky tofu, fruit, water and other snacks. Everything is quite expensive and not particularly tasty. So I recommend taking sandwiches, nuts or fruits with you. You can eat well in the town of Wulingyuan or near attractions outside the park, such as Yellow Dragon Cave.
Hotels in Zhangjiajie
I recommend staying in Wulingyuan Town, also called Zhangjiajie Village, or inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You definitely shouldn't stop in the city of Zhangjiajie, because it is located quite far (50 km or an hour's drive) from the park.
Hotels in Wulingyuan Town
Walking distance to the entrance to the park. You can come early in the morning and return late in the evening. The infrastructure of the village is much better than inside the park. Restaurants, shops, everything is there. Hotel level from hostels to 5 stars.
Hotels inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Hotels inside Zhangjiajie Park do not differ in comfort and quality. But you don’t need to stand in lines at the entrance and you can come to the most interesting places before others, and also watch sunrises and sunsets in the park. In terms of infrastructure, you will have to rely on the hotel and what you brought with you.
How to get to the Avatar Mountains?
Getting to the famous Avatar Park is not at all difficult:
- Fly to Hunan Airport. Airplanes fly to Zhangjiajie from any major city in China.
- Take a taxi or bus to the park or hotel.
I recommend a taxi, since the journey is not close, taxis in China are not expensive, and there are always plenty of cars near the airport. The price to get to the park and to the village of Wulingyuan will be about 300 RMB, but in fact they can take you there for 100 (these prices are offered to the Chinese). They don't like to turn on the meters, especially at night, so bargain fiercely.
If you want to get there to the park by bus then go to bus station(next to the train station and McDonald's). You need a bus that goes to the main entrance to the park. The stop is called Wulingyuan Menpiaozhan (武陵源门票站). The fare costs 12 yuan, the controller takes money during the trip.
The entrance to the park is marked by a huge pagoda, it can be seen from afar.
- Queues. There are a lot of Chinese. And during the holidays there are even more of them. You can spend 2-4 hours (as we did on May 1) in line for an elevator or an hour in line for a bus. Therefore, more walking, less transport.
- Get to the park early. It's better to sleep early in the evening. The bulk of tourists arrive after 10, and the park opens at 7.
- If you are traveling on your own, then learn the most important phrases in Chinese better. In China, almost no one speaks English.
- Must be able to pronounce the hotel name and address, taxi drivers often cannot read and do not always know the area well.
- Cash money (yuan, of course) will save you always and everywhere. Currency and Visa, Master Card may not be accepted. Don’t be surprised, China uses its own banking system.
- If you take map park at the entrance, choose English-Chinese. It is most similar to the truth.
basic information
- Place: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园).
- Nearest city: Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, China.
- Location: Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源).
- Size: 48 sq. km
- Ticket price: 248 / 298 RMB
- Opening hours: 7.00-18.00
- Time for inspection: 2-4 days
- Number of visitors: a lot of
- Best time to visit: September, October.
- A must visit: Yuanjiajie, Yellow Stone Village, Tianzi Mountain areas.
- We were in Park: May 1-2, 2014
