Zhangjiajie Travelers Recommend

Three days in Zhangjiajie is enough time to give you a decent taste of what the area has to offer. You can enjoy a day in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, brave a glass bridge and glass skywalks, explore a cave, and ride one of the world’s longest cable cars. Read on to find out how.

Day 1: Peak Performance

The focus of your first day in Zhangjiajie should be the rock pinnacles and spires of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s worth exploring with a guide who knows the lines, the best viewpoints, the shuttle schedules, and a good eatery for lunch. Highlights include Golden Whip Brook, a natural stone bridge set high above a canyon, and the 1,070-foot (326-meter) Bailong Elevator, an outdoor glass elevator that races up a sheer cliff. Back in town, stop by the Zhangjiajie Junsheng Painting Institute to see art made with natural materials, then round off the day with a dinner of hearty, spicy Hunan food.

Day 2: Canyons and Caves

Many 2-day Zhangjiajie tours cover just the park, but many travelers will want to head farther afield, to the notorious glass bridge suspended 984 feet (300 meters) above the Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie. Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave) is a 119-acre (48-hectare) cavern network full of underground lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, with stalactites and stalagmites decked out in colored lights. Alternatively, enjoy a cruise on tranquil Baofeng Lake. Back in Zhangjiajie, discover the food of the Tujia people who live in the mountainous region nearby. Try dishes from sanxiaguo hot pot to “bandit duck” or smoky bacon.

Day 3: Skywalks and Shows

Spend your third day in Zhangjiajie discovering Tianmen Mountain, the peak that overhangs the town. A 4-mile (7-kilometer) cable car, one of Asia’s longest, runs to the summit, where the vast natural arch known as Heaven’s Door forms a dramatic keyhole. Brave the terrifying glass skywalks set into the side of a sheer cliff, explore historic Tianmen Temple, stroll through mountain meadows, and ride the winding 99-Bend Road. Some tours include visits to other Zhangjiajie town attractions, such as the Tujia Customs Park, dedicated to traditional lifestyles. Round off your stay with The Tianmen Fox Fairy Show, where a cast of hundreds perform a song-and-dance extravaganza in a valley on Tianmen Mountain. Subtitles mean even foreigners can follow the action.

Some believe the soaring spires of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired James Cameron’s Avatar, and the surreal beauty of this extraordinary landscape has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the area has many other natural attractions, with one day in Zhangjiajie, the national park will be your focal point. Here’s what to see.

Day: Dreaming Spires

You won’t be able to see the whole of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in one day, so don’t try. But do take advantage of the network of shuttle buses and cable cars that connect the park’s different areas. Enter from the Zhangjiajie gate, and start with a leisurely hike along Golden Whip Brook, a stream that runs through a natural canyon lined with striking rock formations. Lines for the 1,070-foot (326-meter) Bailong Elevator, known as the highest outdoor elevator in the world, can stretch back over an hour. But it’s still an amazing way to reach the Yuanjiajie scenic area, which is home to a spectacular natural arched bridge, forests of striking pillars, and the tower known as the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. Grab a bite to eat at one of a range of eateries, then pick up a shuttle bus to the Tianzi Mountain (Tianzishan) scenic area, where magical views include the Imperial Writing Brush Peaks, the Cloud Sea, and Fields in the Air, a cluster of rice fields apparently suspended in the sky. A private guide can help you beat the crowds and find unspoiled back routes where you can hike in solitude—or maximize your time in the park and get the best shots.

Night: Show Time

Head back to Zhangjiajie town for a hearty dinner of Hunan specialties, such as “smoky flavors steamed together,” spicy shredded pork, or even stinky tofu. Then make your way out to a valley near Tianmen Mountain for one of those outdoor spectaculars with a cast of hundreds that China does so well. The Fox Fairy Show, with subtitles in English, Japanese, and Korean, tells a tale from Hunan folklore in an extravaganza of song, dance, acrobatics, and lighting against a spectacular natural backdrop. Bring a jacket, as it can get cold at night, and an umbrella in case of rain.

It would be easy to spend two days in Zhangjiajie just exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that some believe inspired James Cameron’s film Avatar. But most will opt to spend one day in the national park and one day farther afield, braving a glass bridge, exploring caves, or scaling a mountain. Here’s how.

Day 1: Pinnacles and Peaks

Day: Spend your first day in Zhangjiajie discovering the highlights of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It’s well worth traveling with a guide to maximize your time. One classic itinerary, which works well at less busy times of year, starts with a stroll through a canyon along Golden Whip Brook. From there, ride the 1,070-foot (326-meter) Bailong Elevator, one of the world’s highest outdoor elevators, to the Yuanjiajie scenic area, home to an extraordinary natural arch suspended hundreds of feet above the ground. Shuttle buses link to the Tianzi Mountain (Tianzishan) area, known for its sea of clouds and “floating” rice fields.

Night: The Tujia people who live among the mountains around Zhangjiajie (and beyond) have their own indigenous cuisine. Discover its bold, spicy flavors at an authentic Tujia eatery. Savor bold flavors such as sanxiaguo, a hot pot made with meat including offal, or more accessible dishes such as smoky bacon and rich duck.

Day 2: Canyons and Caves

Morning: Some travelers will choose to spend a second day exploring Zhangjiajie National Park, but others will opt for Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a dramatic gorge spanned by a notorious 1,411-foot-long (430-meter-long) glass bridge. You can spend a full day hiking here, but with limited time it’s best to bag the bridge and move on.

Afternoon: Break for lunch at one of the area’s cave restaurants, then explore Yellow Dragon Cave, a 119-acre (48-hectare) network of caverns. Winding walkways and a series of steps run between underground rivers, waterfalls, and lakes, all lit up in colored lights. Tours include a short boat ride.

Night: Wrap up your stay in Zhangjiajie with an outdoor, song-and-dance spectacular: The Fox Fairy Show. A cast of hundreds perform in the open air, in a valley on Tianmen Mountain, telling the story of the love between a fox spirit and a humble peasant. There are subtitles in several languages.