Zhangjiajie: A Natural Wonder in China

Zhangjiajie is a stunning prefecture-level city in northwestern Hunan Province, China, renowned worldwide for its otherworldly natural landscapes and unique geological formations. Nestled in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountains, it covers an area of about 9,533 square kilometers and administers two districts (Yongding and Wulingyuan) and two counties (Cili and Sangzhi). Formerly named Dayong, it was renamed Zhangjiajie in 1994 to highlight its world-famous scenic heritage.

Zhangjiajie Travel Guide Map

The crown jewel of Zhangjiajie is the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1992) and one of the world’s first Global Geoparks (2004). Spanning over 264 square kilometers, it features more than 3,000 towering quartz sandstone peaks, some rising over 200 meters high. This extraordinary “Zhangjiajie Landform,” shaped by millions of years of erosion and uplift, inspired the floating “Hallelujah Mountains” in James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar.

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Within Wulingyuan lies Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China’s first national forest park, established in 1982. It boasts dense subtropical forests, clear mountain streams, and breathtaking viewpoints like Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. The Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, carries visitors 326 meters up cliff sides for panoramic views of the sea of peaks.