Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — East Gate One-Day Route That Actually Works

#falladventures If you’re heading to Zhangjiajie Forest Park and feel overwhelmed by the maps… same. We went in blindly, followed the flow, and ended up walking and backtracking a lot l. Here’s the exact path that we felt will the most effective — efficient, scenic, and saves time/energy. ✅ One-Day Route (East Gate Entry) East Gate ➜ Bailong Elevator ➜ Yuanjiajie ➜ Yangjiajie ➜ Tianzi Mountain ➜ Ten-Mile Gallery ➜ East Gate 🟦 1. Bailong Elevator Take the eco-bus directly to “Bailong Elevator.” The ¥65 ticket is totally worth it — fastest way up and avoids unnecessary climbing. 🟩 2. Yuanjiajie Get off at Mihun Terrace Station. A compact area packed with viewpoints — perfect for photos. 🟧 3. Yangjiajie See the “Natural Great Wall.” ⚠️ Its cableway descends to the mountain foot, so don’t use it if you plan to continue your mountain route. 🟥 4. Tianzi Mountain Get off at Helong Park Parking Lot. Must-see highlights: Helong Statue → Emperor Brush Peak → Fairy Presenting Flowers → Tianzi Pavilion ⚠️ Once you reach Tianzi Pavilion, do NOT walk downward. Take the bus back to the parking lot → cableway down. 🟪 5. Ten-Mile Gallery Return bus will pass here. Take the ¥38 mini-train one way and walk back down — great for photos. ⚠️ Watch out for monkeys. Smart, quick, and laser-focused on plastic bags! Perfect for first-timers who want a seamless Zhangjiajie day trip without backtracking or confusing detours.