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 Day 3 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tour | Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Baofeng Lake Day 4 Zhangjiajie Departure | Tianmenshan National Forest Park, Tianmenshan Cable Car, Tianmen Cave, Glass Walkway
Duration
4 Days / 3 Nights
Cities
zhangjiajie
Tour Type
Private Tour
Difficulty
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 Arrive at Zhangjiajie, Head to Wulingyuan | Airport or Train Station Transfers, Hotel Check-in
We extend a warm welcome to Zhangjiajie! To kick off your trip without any hassle, our staff will greet you right at the airport and transfer you straight to your accommodation located in Wulingyuan. After checking in and unpacking, the rest of the day is entirely yours to relax and explore at your own leisure.
Stroll through Xibu Old Street to appreciate authentic Tujia ancient architecture and rich ethnic culture. This lively pedestrian block takes its name from local hand-woven Xibu brocade, featuring folk craft studios, casual bars and distinctive boutique shops. When lanterns light up the whole street after dark, sample classic western Hunan snacks including frog cake, and browse an array of handcrafted ethnic ornaments and traditional Tujia costumes.
Travel Guide to Zhangjiajie
Travelling to Zhangjiajie is highly accessible. Hehua Airport operates direct air routes connecting major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Guangzhou. High-speed trains serve as another practical travel option: it only takes 1 hour from Fenghuang, 2 to 4 hours from Changsha, while the journey lasts around 9 hours from Shanghai and 11 hours from Beijing.
中文翻译
Day 2
Day 2 Zhangjiajie Tour | From Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve; Bailong Elevator, Hallelujah Mountains, Tianzi Mountain
Itinerary Route
Depart from downtown Zhangjiajie by car to Wulingyuan Town → Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie Scenic Area → Tianzi Mountain → Descend via mountain cable car
Trip Data
Total Elevation Gain: +326 m
Altitude Range: 1,074 m – 1,262.5 m
Physical Level: ☆☆ Easy. Elevators, cable cars and shuttle buses cover most climbing sections; suitable for seniors and children
Total Walking Distance: Approximately 6–9 km
Full Tour Time (including rest stops): 7–9 hours
Listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area is globally renowned for its rare quartz sandstone peak forest landform. Composed of four distinct scenic zones, it ranks among China’s most iconic natural destinations. This day’s tour focuses on two core highlights: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.
In the morning, head into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to experience the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing lift. Ride up to Yuanjiajie’s mountaintop and capture postcard-perfect shots of the legendary Hallelujah Mountains featured in Avatar.
Route Tip: Stand at the far right side of the elevator cabin for unobstructed panoramic views. If this prime spot is occupied, simply wait for the next carriage.
Follow the winding cliffside trail to Lost Soul Platform and Backyard Garden. Here you’ll be surrounded by towering vertical stone pillars and ancient natural stone bridges, immersed in grand primitive mountain scenery.
Route Tip: Keep an eye out for prehistoric fossils scattered along the trail. If you feel uneasy with heights, cross the hollow iron bridge quickly without lingering.
Afterwards, venture into Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, named after a revered legendary Tujia tribal leader. Hailed as the “King of All Peaks”, this fairy-tale mountain range served as a classic filming location for the TV series Journey to the West. Admire the iconic Imperial Writing Brush Peaks and mist-shrouded West Sea Peak Forest from Dianjiangtai Viewing Platform. Wrap up your sightseeing at He Long Park and the 30-meter-tall Tianzi Pavilion, where you can gaze over the vast sea of sandstone peaks in one sweeping panorama. Then transfer back to your hotel for a relaxing night’s rest.
Travel Reminder: The mountain road between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain features countless sharp bends. If you suffer from motion sickness, carry motion sickness patches with you.
Important Note
During peak tourist seasons, your guide may reverse the sightseeing sequence to cut down queuing time and avoid crowds.
Upgrade Service: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park VIP Package
Take advantage of our exclusive preferential VIP rates and skip endless queues with premium privileges:
VIP fast-track direct entry at the main park gate
Priority boarding or exclusive chartered eco-shuttle buses within the scenic area
Private dedicated carriage for the famous Bailong Elevator
VIP fast-lane access for Tianzi Mountain Cable Car
Get in touch with our team to customize a crowd-free premium mountain tour.
Day 3
Day 3 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tour | Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Baofeng Lake
Itinerary Route
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Footbridge → Baofeng Lake
(The visiting sequence can be adjusted flexibly on site)
Trip Profile
Elevation Change: Approx. 300 meters downhill. The glass bridge sits at around 700m above sea level, while the canyon bottom stands at roughly 400m.
Physical Difficulty: ☆☆☆ Moderate. The canyon trail is largely flat with scattered staircases. Walking across the glass bridge brings an exciting experience without heavy physical strain. Not suitable for visitors with severe acrophobia.
Total Walking Distance: About 4–6 kilometers
Full Tour Length (including breaks): Around 6 hours
We will transfer you to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in the morning to wander across the iconic glass bridge. Afterwards, you will take a relaxing boat cruise on Baofeng Lake, hailed as a mountain water wonderland, before heading back to downtown Zhangjiajie in the late afternoon.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is home to one of the world’s most famous glass-bottom bridges. This stunning architectural marvel stretches 375 meters long and hangs 300 meters above the valley. Its transparent surface lets you overlook mist-wreathed green canyon scenery directly beneath your feet. It is a bucket-list spot for thrill-seekers, and it also hosts the world’s highest optional bungee jumping platform. When you step onto the glass deck, you will feel as if you are floating in midair, with unobstructed bird’s-eye views of the lush mountain forest.
Thrill-Seeker Full Route (after Glass Bridge)
VR Flight Experience → Canyon Zip Line → One-Line Sky Slide → Rainbow Lake Boat Trip → Light Canyon Hiking → Shenquan Lake Cruise
You can sign up for the entire set of recreational items, or pick only your favorite activities to join.
After crossing the glass bridge, immerse yourself in a virtual flight over Zhangjiajie via VR equipment. Then challenge the 358-meter zip line suspended 302 meters above the canyon valley, followed by a fun ride down the One-Line Sky Slide. Next, unwind on a 10-minute gentle cruise across Rainbow Lake. Conclude your exciting adventure with an easy walk along the canyon bottom and a smooth boat ride leading toward the scenic exit.
Leisure Standard Route
VR Experience → Downhill Elevator → Rainbow Lake Cruise
This route skips all intense high-altitude activities. Visitors can take the mountain elevator straight down to the canyon floor in a relaxed manner.
Once you finish exploring the grand canyon and glass bridge, head to Baofeng Lake to calm your senses. A short shuttle ride takes you to this crystal-clear mountain reservoir, which reaches a maximum depth of 72 meters and is surrounded by dense green woods. Board a traditional wooden sightseeing boat to appreciate mirror-like reflections of jagged peaks and distinctive rock formations on the water surface. While cruising, you can also listen to melodic folk ballads sung by local ethnic villagers, adding a peaceful cultural touch to your trip.
Travel Tip: The second deck of the wooden boat offers the finest panoramic angle for landscape photography.
When the day’s sightseeing wraps up, we will drive back to Zhangjiajie City. The whole journey covers 35 kilometers and takes roughly one hour, where you will check into your hotel for the night.
Day 4
Day 4 Zhangjiajie Departure | Tianmenshan National Forest Park, Tianmenshan Cable Car, Tianmen Cave, Glass Walkway
Notice
The Middle Station – Summit section of Tianmen Mountain Cableway is closed for maintenance. We have prepared an alternative sightseeing route for you.
Route Arrangement
Cableway Lower Station → Middle Station → Eco Bus on 99-Bend Road → Tianmen Cave → Glass Skywalk → Tianmen Cave Lower Plaza → Express Cable Car to Exit
Half cable car ride: 10–12 mins
Altitude: around 1,300 m; Cave size: 131.5 m high, 50 m wide
Difficulty: ☆ Easy, fully supported by cable cars and escalators. Difficulty becomes ☆☆☆ Moderate if climbing the 999 stone steps under Tianmen Cave.
Take a half-day trip to Tianmen Mountain, the Soul of Zhangjiajie. Only 8 km from the city center, it holds the world’s longest cableway (7,455m) for easy mountain access. Suitable for all ages, the scenic spot requires little walking uphill, and an elevator can bypass the Tianmen Cave stone steps.
Start at downtown Cableway Lower Station, take the 4,613m cable car for 10–12 minutes to Middle Station, and overlook amazing bonsai-like peak forest scenery on the way.
At Middle Station, transfer to an eco-bus traveling along the steep, winding 99-Bend cliff road.
Ride escalators up to Tianmen Cave, a 131.5m huge natural mountain arch. With misty and constantly changing views, it is perfect for photography.
Tip: You can climb the 999 steps as a physical challenge if you wish.
After the cave, walk the exciting glass skywalk 1,430 meters above the valley, then follow the cliff hanging path to enjoy wide mountain views.
You can optionally visit quiet Tianmen Temple surrounded by dense trees, then climb to Yunmenxianding Peak (1,518m), the highest point of the mountain with full panoramic scenery.
Brief itinerary
All Top Attractions of Zhangjiajie
This 4-Day Zhangjiajie Tour is tailor-made for nature enthusiasts, allowing you to discover every facet of Zhangjiajie’s stunning scenery instead of merely visiting a few famous spots. We have carefully selected every worthwhile scenic spot to build this well-rounded trip.
During your journey, you’ll wander through the Hallelujah Mountains that inspired Avatar, take a ride on the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing elevator — the 326-meter Bailong Elevator, step onto the heart-stopping glass bridge spanning Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, and glide up Tianmen Mountain by cable car.
Exclusive Private Travel Services from Asia Odyssey Travel
Over 16 Years Specializing in Zhangjiajie Tours
We are a local travel agency rooted in Zhangjiajie with more than 16 years of professional experience. We master every prime viewing platform, secluded hiking trail, and the folk legends hidden behind each unique stone peak.
Customized Schedules to Avoid Tourist Crowds
Drawing on our profound local insights, we design your travel plan according to the daily flow of visitors, so you can stay away from bustling crowds effortlessly.
Premium Private VIP Fast-Track Services
We supply a full set of priority privileges, including quick entry to scenic areas, exclusive chartered eco-shuttle buses, fast boarding for Bailong Elevator, and priority access to Tianzi Mountain Cable Car.
Embark on this classic in-depth tour and uncover all the breathtaking wonders Zhangjiajie has to offer!