Tour Overview
Day 1 Arrive at Zhangjiajie, Head to Wulingyuan | Airport or Train Station Transfers, Hotel Check-in Day 2 Zhangjiajie Tour | From Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve; Bailong Elevator, Hallelujah Mountains, Tianzi Mountain
Duration
3 Days / 2 Nights
Cities
zhangjiajie , ZhangjiajieNationalForestPark , TianmenMountain
Tour Type
Difficulty
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 Arrive at Zhangjiajie, Head to Wulingyuan | Airport or Train Station Transfers, Hotel Check-in
A warm welcome to Zhangjiajie City — the real-world home of the otherworldly Hallelujah Mountains featured in the blockbuster Avatar! As soon as you land, our local guide and private driver will wait for you at the airport arrival exit, then transfer you straight to your accommodation within Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The whole journey covers 35 kilometers and takes roughly one hour. After finishing hotel check-in, you’ll have ample free time to wander and relax at your own pace.
Make your way to Xibu Old Street to appreciate distinctive buildings steeped in traditional Tujia ethnic culture. The street takes its name from Xibu brocade, an intricate hand-woven textile craft unique to the Tujia people. This all-pedestrian block integrates multiple themed zones: a bar strip, a local food lane, a shopping avenue selling Western Hunan folk souvenirs, and artistic handicraft workshops. When lanterns light up the street after dark, treat your taste buds to authentic Hunan snacks including frog cake and Tujia fried rice. While enjoying local delicacies, you can browse an array of delicate Tujia ornaments, ethnic costumes and handmade crafts.
Useful Travel Information for Arrival
- Access to Zhangjiajie Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport operates abundant direct air routes linking major cities across China. You can take direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and many more. High-speed rail is another convenient alternative: it only takes 1 hour from Fenghuang Ancient Town, 2–4 hours from Changsha, 7 hours from Guilin, 9 hours from Shanghai and 11 hours from Beijing to reach Zhangjiajie.
- Introduction to Wulingyuan Scenic Area Located in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China, Wulingyuan holds dual global honors as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and World Geopark. Boasting an extremely rare quartz sandstone peak forest and canyon landform found nowhere else on earth, it ranks among China’s Top 10 must-see tourist resorts. Wulingyuan is divided into four core scenic zones: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area and Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve. Our tour itinerary focuses on the most classic and well-loved highlights: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.
Day 2
Day 2 Zhangjiajie Tour | From Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve; Bailong Elevator, Hallelujah Mountains, Tianzi Mountain
After breakfast, we will head into Wulingyuan’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to explore Yuanjiajie and witness the legendary Hallelujah Mountains (South Sky Pillar). Following lunch, we transfer to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve for a full sightseeing tour of Tianzi Mountain. Throughout the day, you will have ample time to soak in the jaw-dropping scenery of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a natural wonderland dotted with more than 3,000 slender quartz sandstone stone pillars.
Morning: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park & Yuanjiajie
Our first stop is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — China’s very first national forest park. It boasts one-of-a-kind terrain defined by oddly shaped towering stone peaks, dense primeval vegetation and grand mountain landscapes. You will board a park shuttle bus to reach Bailong Elevator, widely hailed as “the World’s No.1 Ladder”. This landmark holds three Guinness World Records as the tallest, fastest and heaviest open-air sightseeing elevator on the planet. It takes merely 66 seconds to lift you 326 meters vertically from the valley floor up to the peak of the stone forest.
Next, hike into Yuanjiajie, the mysterious real-world prototype of Pandora from the blockbuster Avatar and home to the iconic Hallelujah Floating Mountains. Don’t miss South Sky Pillar (also named Avatar Mountain), the famous Floating Mountain standing at an altitude of 1,074 meters. This colossal vertical stone column rises roughly 150 meters straight out of the deep canyon, looking like a giant stone monument standing tall beneath the sky.
Take your time wandering along the 3,500-meter cliffside sightseeing trail strung with fluttering red blessing ribbons. Along the path, you’ll encounter a string of world-famous natural masterpieces: Backyard Garden, Lost Soul Platform (widely regarded as Yuanjiajie’s top viewing deck), and the First Bridge Under Heaven — a natural stone arch that serves as Yuanjiajie’s symbolic landmark. As you marvel at the surreal vistas, you will also gain in-depth knowledge about Zhangjiajie’s sandstone peak forest landform. This extraordinary landscape was shaped by unique geological structures, crustal tectonic movements and long-term external erosion, forming an extremely rare geological spectacle unmatched worldwide.
Afternoon: Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve
We then take a shuttle bus to our second scenic spot, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. The mountain takes its name from Xiang Dakun (Xiang Tianzi), a chieftain of the local Tujia ethnic minority who proclaimed himself “Son of Heaven” in the early Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Dubbed the “King of Peaks”, Tianzi Mountain represents the mature evolutionary stage of peak forest landforms and rose to fame as a fairy-tale shooting location for the classic Chinese TV series Journey to the West. Standing at 1,262 meters above sea level, it is celebrated for its spectacular five seasonal views: sunrise, sea of clouds, red moon glow, winter snow and fiery autumn maple leaves, plus boundless clusters of stone peaks.
Walk to Dianjiangtai Viewing Platform to overlook the mist-shrouded West Sea Peak Forest, where jagged rock spires surge out of the foggy canyon. You cannot skip the iconic Imperial Writing Brush Peaks: six stone pillars each around 100 meters high arranged neatly in a square formation. The pillars vary in thickness from top to bottom, perfectly resembling ancient Chinese writing brushes. Legend says they are the paintbrushes once used by Xiang Tianzi himself.
Later, stroll to He Long Park to visit the bronze statue of Marshal He Long alongside his warhorse, then ascend to the 30-meter-tall Tianzi Pavilion. From the pavilion’s top floor, you can enjoy a full unobstructed panoramic view of endless rolling peaks stretching to the horizon — a truly breathtaking sight. Once the day’s sightseeing wraps up, we will head back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Important Note
During peak tourist seasons, your guide may reverse the visiting sequence of Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain to bypass massive tourist crowds and deliver a more relaxing sightseeing experience.
Day 3
Day 3 Zhangjiajie Tour | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Huangshizhai Village, Jinbianxi Stream
This morning, delve deeper into the stunning scenery of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and explore Huangshizhai. There is a well-known local saying: “A trip to Zhangjiajie without visiting Huangshizhai is a wasted journey.” In the afternoon, follow the trails along Jinbianxi Stream, spot wild macaques roaming the woods, and trace classic shooting spots of the timeless hit series Journey to the West.
Upon entering Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, proceed to the cable car station and ride uphill to Huangshizhai. The site gets its name from a legend: Huangshi Gong, mentor of the famed ancient strategist Zhang Liang (died 186 BC), once secluded himself here. Also nicknamed Huangshi Lion Village, the mountain massif bears a striking resemblance to a giant crouching lion.
Sitting at the heart of the forest park, Huangshizhai boasts a spacious flat summit at an altitude of 1,200 meters, covering 16.5 hectares. It is widely regarded as Wulingyuan’s largest and most spectacular viewing platform. Standing on this natural grand overlook, you will gaze out at endless tightly clustered stone pillars stretching far and wide, forming a boundless sea of peaks that instantly lift your spirits. If you chance upon swirling mist and clouds wrapping around the peaks, the stone summits fade in and out of fog, unfolding dreamlike, ever-shifting vistas. Wander leisurely between dozens of viewing decks and let your creativity craft vivid names for the unique rock formations around you.
After a light lunch, take the cable car downhill to Jinbianxi Stream, also called Golden Whip Valley. Stretching 5,710 meters in total, this serene natural waterway takes its name from Golden Whip Rock, one of Zhangjiajie’s Top Ten Scenic Wonders. As one of Wulingyuan’s earliest developed scenic zones, it earns the honorable title “the Most Beautiful Valley Under Heaven”.
As the most picturesque water landscape of Wulingyuan, Jinbianxi served as an important filming venue for Journey to the West. Along the trail, countless visitors hunt for iconic backdrops from the show, including Monkey King’s Flower and Fruit Mountain and Water Curtain Cave. As the old line describes: “Walk through the valley, while mountains escort you on both sides.” Crystal-clear water flows through the gorge with small fish darting about. Wild macaques dart between branches and splash by the stream. Lush flowers and green plants line the riverbank, accompanied by constant birdsong. Trekking alongside Jinbianxi feels like wandering inside an ink landscape painting.
Important Reminders
Keep a safe distance from wild monkeys. Do not carry plastic bags or exposed food in your hands, and never feed them, to avoid being scratched or having belongings snatched.
In summer, watch your step when wading by the stream; rocks are covered with slippery moss to prevent falls.
This sightseeing marks the end of your 3-Day In-Depth Wulingyuan & Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour. Our guide will transfer you to the airport or high-speed railway station to catch your flight or train onward to your next stop.
Brief itinerary
Have you ever seen the blockbuster Avatar and wondered where the legendary floating mountains came from? Are you curious about the real prototype of Monkey King’s Flower and Fruit Mountain from the timeless classic Journey to the West? The answer lies in Zhangjiajie, a top-tier must-visit destination in China. Sign up for our 3-Day Wulingyuan Tour centered on Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and witness these iconic fantasy landscapes with your own eyes. Wander into the otherworldly realm of Pandora, featuring grotesque stone pillars, secluded ravines, rolling sea of clouds, lush primeval woods and peaceful mountain waters.
When talking about Hunan’s Zhangjiajie, a string of glowing reputations immediately springs to mind: “Magnified Bonsai, Miniature Fairyland”, “Authentic Origin of Chinese Ink Landscape Paintings”, “One of China’s Top Ten Tourist Cities”, “Stunning National Business Card of China” and “National Forest City”. Yet Zhangjiajie itself refers to the city proper. The core scenic spot most travelers come to see is Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a short drive from downtown. It bears prestigious titles including World Natural Heritage and Global Geopark. Our 3-day classic tour covers all the unmissable highlights of Wulingyuan: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.
During this trip, set off on hiking trails to discover the ethereal Hallelujah Mountains of Avatar inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — China’s very first national forest park. You will also explore the dreamlike scenery of Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, a famous shooting site for the classic TV series Journey to the West. Reach out to us to book your immersive Zhangjiajie getaway, and roam Wulingyuan freely at your leisure. Your mountain adventure awaits!