Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Nadia Halfway
📜 Introduction.
Visiting Zhangjiajie feels like walking through the clouds. Misty mountains, glass bridges, and dizzying trails make it one of those places that seem from another planet.
After the chaos of Chongqing, my one-month trip across China continued right here, in Zhangjiajie, famous for its Avatar Mountains and the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate. Here I found breathtaking views, peaceful trails, and a slower, more authentic side of China.
Follow my 3-day Zhangjiajie itinerary below to make the most of your journey through the clouds.
⚠️Disclaimer: Some of the websites below are affiliate links or require a promo code for receiving a discount. If you book through them or use my personal promo code at the time of subscription or reservation, I’ll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and you’ll get a discount or a special promotion too. It’s a win–win!
Please be aware that affiliate links may expire and promo codes may reach their usage limit. If you find that a link or code no longer works, kindly let me know. I’ll be happy to share an updated one (if available) directly with you.
🧭 Geography of Zhangjiajie.
Before you start planning your trip to the famous “Avatar Mountains”, let me clear up a common misconception about how the area is actually organised.
Zhangjiajie is not just one massive park with a single entrance! It actually consists of three distinct scenic areas: each one with its own access points, separate tickets, and a totally unique vibe.
A lot of online guides just lump them all together without any real explanation or reliable map. This might leave you completely confused when trying to plan an itinerary in Zhangjiajie.
For this reason, I recently published a more comprehensive guide to the three Zhangjiajie National Parks, where you can find all the details and further explanations. In this post, however, I want to focus purely on my experience in Zhangjiajie and suggest an ideal itinerary (the exact one I followed during my own journey).
To make it easier for you to plan your trip to Zhangjiajie, I’ve summarised the most distinctive landmarks of the three parks and where to find them.
Wulingyuan Area.
Wulingyuan is the centrepiece of Zhangjiajie and covers approximately 369 km². Among all the beautiful spots, here you will find the famous Avatar Mountain, Bailong Elevator, Tianzi Mountain and Huanglong Cave.
A single ticket grants access to all the scenic zones within it, along with the shuttle buses that connect them, The ticket is valid for four consecutive days giving enough time to explore at a relaxed pace without rushing all the main landmarks listed below.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
It is the oldest and most famous section of Wulingyuan where most visitors enter the area. It gives access to both the valley floor trails and the upper plateaus. Main points of interest are:
- Yuanjiajie. It’s the high plateau of the park, sitting at around 1,000 metres above sea level. If you explore this part, you must visit the Hallelujah Mountain (basically the famous Avatar Mountain), and the First Bridge Under Heaven (a natural rock bridge spanning two cliff faces high above the valley).
- Golden Whip Stream. It’s a flat, 7.5 km trail that winds along a clear mountain stream through towering rock formations.
- Huangshizhai. It’s a historic scenic area with its own cable car, offering sweeping panoramas across the forest of peaks below.
Tianzi Mountain.
It’s the northernmost scenic area of Wulingyuan, renowned for its sea-of-clouds views and its cable car (not included in the ticket) riding across ridgelines dotted with jagged peaks. It is considered one of the most atmospheric spots in the entire park.
Suoxi Valley.
This is the eastern section of Wulingyuan, home to a cluster of very different natural landscapes. Here you can visit the canyon of Ten-Mile Gallery via a small train, take a boat cruise on Baofeng Lake and explore Huanglong Cave, one of the largest karst caves in Asia.
Yangjiajie.
Recently included as the fourth National Park, This is the quietest and less touristic zone of the park, with spectacular vertical cliff faces and waterfalls. It’s a good choice if you want to avoid the largest crowds.
Bailong Elevator.
This is probably one of the most popular spots in Zhangjiajie today. Located at Shui Rao Si Men, the Bailong Elevator is the tallest outdoor elevator in the world. It shoots you 326 metres up the sheer cliff face in under 90 seconds! Keep in mind that you need to buy a separate ticket for this one.
Tianmen Mountain.
Of the three areas, Tianmen Mountain is the closest to the city of Zhangjiajie and the most self-contained. Home to Heaven’s Gate and the famous 999 steps, Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is a protected area encompassing the mountain, its summit plateau, and a whole network of trails and viewpoints.
The full experience (the cable car up, the steps, the cliffside walk, and the bus down) is all included in a single entrance ticket. Tianmen Mountain operates on a one-way system: you usually go up by cable car and come down by bus (or vice versa). During the bus ride, you will also get to experience the famous 99 Hairpin Road.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
This area is completely separate from Wulingyuan and Tianmen Mountain. Sadly, due to a lack of time during my trip, I actually had to skip it!
However, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is absolutely incredible. It offers beautiful gorge walks and dramatic scenery. Suspended right above it is the famous Glass Bridge, which was once the longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge in the world.
You should budget at least half a day for this park. Make sure to book your Glass Bridge tickets in advance, as daily capacity is strictly limited! Once you are on-site, you can also book plenty of adrenaline-fuelled experiences, such as bungee jumping, a giant slide, and a thrilling zip-line route.
🗺️ My Map of Zhangjiajie.
This is a map of the main landmarks of Zhangjiajie. It encompasses the Wulingyuan Area, Tianmen Mountain, and the Grand Canyon, and includes their main viewpoints and attractions. For more details regarding the places highlighted in this map, take a look at my article The Ultimate Guide to Zhangjiajie National Parks.
Nevertheless, always refer to the official on-site maps and signs to reach your points of interest.
Day 1: Pizza and Relax.
My three days in Zhangjiajie were slow and peaceful. Even though I walked around 10-12 km daily, escaping the city chaos to visit forest and mountains felt refreshing.
I arrived in the late afternoon at Zhangjiajiexi (West) Station. After checking in, I took a short stroll around the hotel area and sorted out some laundry. After so many days of Chinese food, I spotted a tiny pizzeria, and yes, I actually gave it a try! My standards are pretty high, and while it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece straight from back home in Italy, I’ve definitely had much worse (even in Europe!).
- h 17.56 – Arrival at Zhangjiajiexi (West)
- h 20.00 – Pizza
Day 2: A Stairway to Heaven.
I woke up early and took a DiDi (Chinese taxi app) to Tianmen Mountain at 7:00 a.m. After about 20 minutes, I arrived at the entrance and bought my ticket, which included the cable car ride to the start of the 999 steps leading to the Heaven’s Gate and the bus back.
The stairs are steep but doable. Along the way there are resting areas with benches where you can stop and enjoy the view. Even early in the morning, it was already crowded.
At the top, the view was absolutely stunning. Inside the cave, the Heaven’s Gate arch reflects beautifully in a small pool of water.
Back in the city, I had lunch in a local restaurant and then tried a foot massage, a local tradition and a true treat after so many stairs.
- h 07.00 – Drive to Tianmen Mountain
- h 08.00 – Cable car ride
- h 09.30 – Visit Heaven’s Gate
- h 13.00 – Scenic bus down the 99 Hairpin Road
- h 14.00 – Lunch
- h 16.00 – Foot massage
Day 3: Avatar Mountain and Crazy Buildings.
I spent the whole day surrounded by the mountains that inspired the setting of the film Avatar.
With a Didi, I reached Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, in about 35 minutes, entering via the Wulingyuan (East Gate). I then took the shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator, going up to the top until I reached the Yuanjiajie area.
From there, I walked to the Mihun Tai viewing platform and found myself right in front of the famous Hallelujah Mountain! After continuing on to the Bridge of Immortals, I decided to turn back and take the lift down (I had to pay for the ticket again). Once back down in the valley, I walked along the beautiful Golden Whip Stream trail for about three and a half hours, reaching the main entrance to the National Park (South Gate).
Back in town, I explored the 72 Strange Building, a fascinating complex of illuminated towers with a giant hole in the center. Here you’ll find small shops, stalls, little restaurants and shows featuring lights, music and fire-eaters.
- h 08.00 – Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Bailong Elevator, Hallelujah Mountain, Bridge of Immortals)
- h 13.00 – Lunch
- h 14.00 – Golden Whip Stream trail
- h 18.00 – Evening at 72 Strange Building
🛏️ Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie.
I stayed three nights in Zhangjiajie before catching my early-morning train to Guilin.
My hotel, Tianmen Mountain Yuyuan Theme Hotel, cost only €55 with breakfast. The hotel is nice, affordable and centrally located for visiting both Zhangjiajie National Park and Tianmen Mountain, with spacious and clean rooms. The only downside? The breakfast was a bit too local for my taste, featuring mostly spicy dishes and absolutely no milk or coffee in sight!
🎁 Use the referral code below or register via Trip.com to unlock your €10 discount 🎁
U51IZ5
🔽 If you are looking for another type of accommodation, you can explore plenty of options in Zhangjiajie using the map below 🔽
🍜 What to Eat in Zhangjiajie.
Zhangjiajie’s cuisine features bold, smoky and very spicy flavours, with recipes that reflect the culture of the Tujia ethnic minority. The signature dish is Sanxiaguo, a spicy stew made with smoked meat, tofu and wild vegetables. There are also unique specialities such as chicken with ‘rock tripe’, a mushroom that grows on sheer cliffs.
Most dishes in Zhangjiajie are spicy, which I am not a big fan of. Near my hotel, though, I found a small restaurant that made non-spicy noodles just for me. And yes, I also tasted that Chinese pizza I mentioned earlier.
At the 72 Strange Building, I tried all kinds of Chinese snacks and street food, and loved them all!
🎫 Where to Buy Tickets.
I bought the entrance tickets to the National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain and 72 Strange Building directly on site. Since the first two are huge natural parks, they rarely sell out.
Keep in mind that some spots are not included in the ticket price (such as the Bailong Elevator) but you can buy them directly on site. However, if you prefer to avoid the queues and want the peace of mind of booking everything in advance, Trip.com sells individual tickets for the majority of the add-ons.
Below, you will find a summary list with the most famous spots, along with direct links to book your ticketsin advance. Here, on the other hand, you’ll find the full list of park and attraction admission fees not included in the individual tickets.
- Wulingyuan Area = €31
- Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park = €37
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge = €23
- 72 Strange Buildings = €11
Also Klook offers a wide range of tickets and even guided tours for the most famous landmarks in Zhangjiajie.
Klook.com🎁Subscribe via Klook to receive €5 off your next booking 🎁
💡 Travel Tips.
The Wulingyuan area, which also includes Zhangjiajie National Park, is immense, which is why the ticket entrance lasts 4 days. As my itinerary in China was very packed and I was starting to feel tired from the long journey, I had to make some compromises. I’d recommend setting aside at least two (if not three) days for Wulingyuan.
If you’re still planning which path to explore, I’d suggest you don’t turn back to walk along the Golden Whip Stream, as I did. Once you reach the Bridge of Immortals, carry on along the trail, choosing either Yangjiajie or Tianzi Mountain. To help you visualise it better, I’ve found this handy map on Asia Odyssey showing the main routes and connections.
There’s no need to buy National Park tickets in advance unless you want to save time queuing. However, some attractions have limited capacity, so it’s essential to book the Bailong Elevator and the Glass Bridge in advance.
For the 72 Strange Building, I advise you to go in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset framed by the giant hole in the structure.
Lastly, if your Zhangjiajie itinerary is longer than three days, I suggest exploring some of the stunning nearby spots like the towns of Fenghuang and Furong, as well as the Huanglong Cave. You can find plenty of excellent guided tours on GetYourGuide that will take you straight from Zhangjiajie city to these breathtaking locations.
❓ FAQ.
Three full days are the ideal minimum. Dedicate one full day to Tianmen Mountain and the 999 steps, two to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park so that you can explore more parts of the park and visit more attractions.
Absolutely. There is genuinely nowhere else on earth that looks like Zhangjiajie. The floating sandstone pillars, the cloud-covered ridges and the sheer scale of the landscape make it one of the most visually extraordinary destinations in China.
It is a challenge, but a manageable one. The steps are steep and uneven in places, and the altitude makes the climb feel harder than it looks. Take your time, stop whenever you need to and bring water. The view from the top is more than worth the effort.
Yes, entirely. The Glass Walkway is included in the Tianmen Mountain ticket but is not compulsory. If heights are not your thing the rest of the mountain offers more than enough to fill the day.
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal thanks to mild temperatures and frequent mist that drifts between the peaks, making the scenery feel almost cinematic. Avoid Chinese national holidays: crowds at the Bailong Elevator and cable cars can be extreme.
🎈 Conclusion.
Zhangjiajie reconnects you with nature and makes you feel small in front of such vast beauty.
WIth its misty peaks, hanging bridges, and surreal landscapes, it is probably one of the most thrilling destinations I have ever seen. If you love breathtaking views and a touch of adventure, you must take this journey through the clouds in Zhangjiajie.
After leaving these cinematic landscapes, I continued my journey to another destination that looks like it’s straight out of an animated movie: Guilin, immersed in rice fields, bamboo and manga scenery.
💬 And you? Would you climb all 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate or take the shortcut? Tell me in the comments!
☕ Did you find this post helpful? If you’d like, you can support my blog by treating me to a virtual coffee!
Are you dreaming of your next trip but not sure where to start?
Book a 1:1 travel consultation or request a personalised itinerary and I will design the trip of your dreams!
✨Click the button below for my Travel Services✨
