Famed for its otherworldly peaks, unique rock formations, and dramatic landscapes, Zhangjiajie is a celebrated travel city in Hunan Province, China. Zhangjiajie offers an abundance of sights, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, and Huanglong Cave. In Yuanjiajie, the Qian Kun Pillar (Hallelujah Mountain) became a must-see after its appearance in the movie Avatar. Beyond the popular attractions, you can also savor authentic Hunan cuisine in Zhangjiajie to enrich your journey. Trip.com has put together 8 must-visit Zhangjiajie attractions, ticket deals, transportation tips, must-try foods, and hotel recommendations—this guide is a must-read before planning your trip to Zhangjiajie, helping you arrange your itinerary with ease.
Zhangjiajie Travel Essentials
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Getting from Hong Kong to Zhangjiajie
#1 By Plane
Flying from Hong Kong to Zhangjiajie is easy: hop on Greater Bay Airlines (HB) between Hong Kong International Airport and Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG), and you’ll be there in about 2 hours.
#2 By High-Speed Train
There’s one daily round-trip high-speed train between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Zhangjiajie West Station, with a journey time of about 6 hours 23 minutes—an alternative way to travel from Hong Kong to Zhangjiajie. You can also take the high-speed rail from West Kowloon Station to Shenzhen North Station and transfer to a mainland high-speed train, which offers more frequent departures to and from Zhangjiajie.
Zhangjiajie Attractions
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #1 Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is home to Zhangjiajie’s highest peak, with its main summit at 1,518.6 meters, and the park is famed for the “Tianmen Cave”! Tianmen Cave is a natural karst cave that cuts through the mountain, and local legend says it leads straight to the heavenly realm. To tour Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, you can take the mountain cable car within the park; after reaching the summit, you can visit and experience attractions such as the Glass Skywalk, the Guigu Plank Road, and Yunmeng Fairy Summit. It’s one of Zhangjiajie’s can’t‑miss attractions.
- Address: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Lower Station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Dayong Road, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Getting there: From downtown, hop on bus No. 4, 6, or 14 to go directly to the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park cable car station.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #2 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is renowned for its magnificent quartz-sandstone pillar landscape and has earned both inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List and designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The park features more than 3,000 fantastically shaped peaks; hop on the Bailong Elevator and the Tianzi Mountain Cableway to reach highlights like Golden Whip Stream, Huangshizhai, Yuanjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain. Avatar filmed at Yuanjiajie’s Qian Kun Pillar (Hallelujah Mountain), which has become a must-visit check-in spot in Zhangjiajie.
- Address: No. 279, Jinbian Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 7:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Getting there: Take the direct bus from the city center to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #3 Yellow Dragon Cave
Yellow Dragon Cave has been named China’s most beautiful karst cave. Inside, the vertical height reaches up to 140 meters, and it’s divided into two levels of dry caves and two levels of water caves. The scenery is truly spectacular, featuring the Dragon Palace, Echoing River, Fairy Waterfall, Heavenly Pillar Street, and the Sea-Stabilizing Needle—the latter is hailed as the cave’s landmark. You can also take a boat inside the cave to admire its stunning interiors and the wonders of its karst formations, making it a Zhangjiajie attraction full of surprises.
- Address: Hekou Village, Suoxiyu Town, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 7:00 AM–5:30 PM
- Getting there: Take the express bus from downtown to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. After arriving in Wulingyuan Town, transfer to Bus No. 3 for a direct ride to Huanglong Cave Station.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #4 Zhangjiajie 72 Wonder Towers
Zhangjiajie Seventy-Two Qilou is a cultural landmark of Zhangjiajie. The scenic area is divided into Tiangong Qilou, Yanhuo Old Street, and Seventy-Two Qizhai, bringing together cultural performances and food and drink all in one place. Every evening after nightfall, when the lights come on, Zhangjiajie Seventy-Two Qilou comes alive, making it one of Zhangjiajie’s must-visit nighttime attractions.
- Address: No. 1 Wulingshan Avenue, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM-10:00 PM
- Getting there: From the city center, take bus 7, 16, or 17 and get off at Zhangjiajie Aviation Technical College; it’s a 5-minute walk from there.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #5 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to take in towering peaks and secluded valleys, remarkable rock caves, and mountain streams, springs, and lakes, and experience nature’s awe-inspiring craftsmanship. The canyon also offers plenty of extreme thrills; among them, the Yuntiandu Glass Bridge—430 meters long and about 300 meters above the canyon floor—stretches between two sheer cliffs and has become a nerve-testing Zhangjiajie attraction for anyone with a fear of heights.
- Address: National Highway 241, Sanguansi Tujia Ethnic Township, Cili County, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
- Transportation: Take the direct bus from downtown to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, then transfer to the tourist shuttle to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #6 Baofeng Lake
Baofeng Lake covers about 30 hectares and reaches a depth of 72 meters. Its waters are crystal clear, and with mountains encircling it, the scenery is spectacular. It’s also a real-life filming location for many TV dramas and movies. When you visit Baofeng Lake, we recommend taking a boat ride, where you can listen to the mountain songs sung by Tujia girls—making it a Zhangjiajie spot perfect for experiencing ethnic minority culture.
- Address: No. 3 Baofeng Road, Jundiping Subdistrict, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
- Transportation: Take the direct bus from downtown to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, then transfer to the No. 6 bus to the Baofeng Lake Scenic Area.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #7 Zhangjiajie Eternal Love
"Eternal Love of Zhangjiajie" is a large-scale song-and-dance spectacle that harnesses cutting-edge sound, lighting, and multimedia technology. Through chapters such as "Through the Ages," "Wuling Fairyland," "Legend of Tianzi Mountain," "Small Town Memories," "The Masang Tree," and "Love in Xiangxi," it immerses you in Zhangjiajie’s historical legends and vibrant ethnic culture—making it a truly spectacular Zhangjiajie attraction.
- Address: Intersection of Chaoyang Road and Wenfeng Road, Yujiazui Subdistrict, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 2:00 PM–10:10 PM
- Transportation: Take the direct bus from downtown to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, then walk 15 minutes to reach the theater.
Zhangjiajie Attractions | #8 Tujia Folk Customs Park
Tujia Folk Customs Park is a themed scenic area that blends Tujia culture, architecture, and folk customs. Tusi Castle, Baishou Hall, the Tujia mountain village, and Houwang Palace, all built in the local Xiangxi architectural style, showcase the look and feel of Tujia stockaded villages. You can also enjoy traditional performances such as the Maogusi Dance and Baishou Dance, making it a Zhangjiajie spot for getting to know the character of China’s ethnic minority cultures.
- Address: Nanzhuangping, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
- Getting there: From downtown, take bus 5 or 10 and get off at Tujia Folk Customs Park—you’ll arrive.
Zhangjiajie Cuisine
Zhangjiajie Cuisine | #1 Ye Hua Xiang · Signature Dishes
Yehua Xiang · Specialty Dishes is a restaurant that focuses on authentic Hunan cuisine, beloved by both local residents and travelers. Each dish excels in color, aroma, and taste, with a unique flavor that’s unforgettable from the first bite. The restaurant is spacious and bright, with elegant, tasteful décor that creates a refined and comfortable dining atmosphere, making it a must-try for experiencing Zhangjiajie’s cuisine.
- Address: 98 Guihua Road, Zhangjiajie
- Opening hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
- Getting there: After taking the direct bus from the city center to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, it’s just a 5-minute walk to get there.
- Signature dishes: Tujia Sanxia Hotpot, Xiangxi Drum Bun, and Stone Pot Fish, etc.
- Average price per person: RMB 100-150
- Do I need to book in advance: Advance booking is recommended.
Zhangjiajie Food | #2 Impression Old Stove Sanxia Pot
Impression Lao Zaotai Sanxia Pot is a restaurant specializing in authentic Hunan cuisine. Its signature “Sanxia Pot” lets you mix and match ingredients to suit your taste—cured pork, pig’s trotters, ribs, frozen tofu, fried dough sticks, Chinese cabbage, and more. Full of flavor and reasonably priced, it serves up rich, home-style goodness and is one of the must-try foods in Zhangjiajie.
- Address: Opposite Baixi Garden Residential Community, Jundi Road, Zhangjiajie
- Opening hours: 10:30 AM–10:00 PM
- Getting there: Take the direct shuttle bus from the city center to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area; from there, it’s just a 5-minute walk.
- Signature dishes: Sanxia Pot, Signature Free-Range Chicken, Century Eggs with Chili, and more
- Average price per person: RMB 80–100
- Do I need to book in advance: We recommend booking in advance.
Zhangjiajie Food | #3 Master Gong's Local Cuisine Restaurant
Gong Shifu Tu Cai Guan is a specialty restaurant spotlighting authentic Hunan cuisine. The team strives for perfection in every dish, insisting on fresh ingredients every day to ensure distinctive flavors. The space is clean and comfortable, with a warm, natural ambiance that feels like a chef’s private kitchen. It’s a must-try in Zhangjiajie for anyone seeking the true taste of Hunan cuisine.
- Address: Next to Expert Village Hotel, Wuling Avenue, Zhangjiajie
- Opening hours: 10:00 AM–10:30 PM
- Getting there: After taking the direct bus from the city center to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, it’s just a 5-minute walk to get there.
- Signature dishes: Bandit Chicken and more.
- Average price per person: RMB 100–150
- Do I need to book in advance: No—no advance booking is required.
Zhangjiajie Hotel Recommendations
More Zhangjiajie travel guides
Zhangjiajie | FAQs
1. What are the main attractions in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?
It includes core scenic areas such as Huangshizhai, Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain.
2. How many days are recommended for a trip to Zhangjiajie?
A stay of 3 to 5 days is recommended.
3. When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie?
The best seasons are spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) for pleasant weather and stunning scenery. Summer is scenic but hot; winter has fewer crowds, but some facilities may be closed.