Zhangjiajie Travel Guide

Complete travel guide to Zhangjiajie. How to get there, where to go, what to see, where to eat and sleep.

Source: wikivoyage·Updated: 2026-05-21
Table of Contents

Zhangjiajie

Be careful with the taxi drivers in the airport parking lot. They are likely unwilling to use the meter. They may claim that your destination is very far and attempt to charge you a "parking lot fee". Call your hotel or hostel to find out how much the trip should cost and ask them to speak with a taxi driver for you. It should cost only ¥20-40 total for a trip from the airport to Zhangjiajie city. Alternatively, you may take a local public bus (service number 4) to the city. The Airport Bus, or Bus 4, is a circular route that reaches the city or bus station. The fare is ¥1. It runs from 06:00 to 19:00 and the departure station is 100m (330ft) before the airport gate. Divided into two lines, the routes are as follows. Line A, in the direction of Nanzhuangping, reaches the Airport Hotel, Ziwu Road, Beizheng Street, the department store, the bus station, the pedestrian street, the railway station, and then back to the airport via Guanliping. Line B, the direction of Guanliping, goes through the railway station, the pedestrian street, the bus station, the department store, Xianglong International Hotel, Beizheng Street, Ziwu Road, the airport hotel, and back to the airport via Nanzhuangping.

By train

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  • 29.107184110.4816342 Zhangjiajie StationYou can take a train from Changsha, about 4 hours, or Huaihua, about 4 hours. Train from Shenzhen West (K0964) to Zhangjiajie, 17 hours, overnight, about ¥480.
  • 29.17136110.4578443 Zhangjiajie West StationA new high-speed rail link opened in December 2019, cutting travel time from Changsha to about 3 hours. However, this new line stops at Zhangjiajie West Station, which is slightly outside Zhangjiajie City.

By bus

add listing Intercity buses from Changsha take 5 hours and are boarded at the Changsha West bus terminal (a fancy new building that resembles a shopping mall, next to the Wangchengpo subway stop). These buses run approximately hourly with the last bus departing around 19:00. Fare is about ¥120.

Get around

add listing Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station operates minibusses that will take you next to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park's entrance. You do not need to buy a ticket at the Central Bus Station ticket window, simply go through security, keep to the left and make your way outside through Exit 1. The bus fare to the park is ¥12, and you pay the driver directly. Keep in mind that these are older minibusses that are used primarily by local commuters to their job sites. Many stops will be made to pick up and drop off people along the route. The terminus appears to be a partially constructed hotel or apartment complex about five minutes on foot from the park entrance. The trip is about 1hr 20min, and the roads are substandard as of Jan 2018. Once you are done in the park, return to the location you were dropped off at. Busses will be waiting to return you to the Central Bus Station. The minibusses depart in both directions about every 20–30 minutes. The first bus leaves the Central Bus Station at 06:30 the last one returns from the park around 18:00. [## See add listing

Zhangjiajie urban area

add listing Puguang Chan Temple普光禅寺, 普光寺 Puguang Temple),70 Jiefang Road, Yongding District (永定区解放路70号)bus nos. 6, 7 and 8),☏ +86 744 8292697.08:00-18:00.An old Chan Buddhist temple dating from the 15th century.¥40.Zhangjiajie Museum张家界市博物馆),Intersection of Dayong Road and Ziwu Road, Yongding District (永定区大庸路与子午路交叉口)bus nos. 1A, 1B, 2, 11, 15, 101, and 102; the Bamenxi-City (八门溪-市内) and Maoxi-City (茅溪-市内) buses also stop here),☏ +86 744 8209899.09:00-16:30, no tickets issued after 15:30, no entry after 16:00, closed on Mondays.Free.Tujiafengqingyuan08:30-17:00.Zhangjiajie Tujiafengqingyuan is in Zhangjiajie, a scenic pearl. The transportation is very convenient, only ten minutes' drive from the airport and railway station. The park covers an area of more than 809 acres and has a total investment of 75 million yuan. It is a large-scale comprehensive tourism service enterprise integrating cultural and natural landscapes, integrating tourism, cultural performances, rare exhibitions, accommodation, catering, entertainment and shopping.80. on Wikidata")updated Nov 2022 | )

Rural Zhangjiajie

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  • 29.345556110.4666674 Wulingyuan武陵源),Wulingyuan District (武陵源区)take a bus from either Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station or the bus station at the Zhangjiajie West Railway Station),☏ +86 744 5611109.The natural scenery of Wulingyuan is magical with mountain peaks. Among them, there are more than 3,000 strange peaks, with vivid images, and magnificent momentum. The main scenic spots in Wulingyuan are Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and the Yangjiajie Scenic Area. See the Wulingyuan article for further details.¥224.MaoyanhejiutiandongZhangjiajie Maoyan River Jiutian Cave AAAA Tourist Scenic Spot, starting from Jiutian Cave in Sangzhi County in the west, passing through Kuzhu Village, a thousand-year-old town, to Kuzhu River Grand Canyon known as the mysterious canyon and Maoyan River drifting known as Baili Gallery. The Jade Emperor Grottoes, a group of grottoes ending in the south, are more than 100 km long.updated Oct 2022 | )

Do

add listing Zhangjiajie National Forest Park☏ +86 744 8305599.The general admission ticket for Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area is valid for three days. If you want to play more fully, you can refer to the following route.updated Nov 2022 | )

  • 29.330695110.4293132 Huangshizhai Scenic Area08:30-17:00.Famous attractions: Boudoir Gate welcoming guests, Five Finger Peak, Front Garden.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.239538110.5228653 Yuanjiajie07:00-18:00.Famous attractions: the first bridge under the sky.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.337094110.4391734 Golden Whip Stream07:00-18:00.Famous attractions: Divine Eagle protecting the whip, Golden Whip Rock, Huaguo Mountain, Waterfall Cave.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.367528110.4079865 Yangjiajie08:30-16:00.Famous attractions: the world's first wonder waterfall Longquan Waterfall.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.402685110.423476 Tianzi Mountain08:00-16:00.Famous attractions: Tianzi Peak, Tianzi Cave.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.472174110.530737 Wulongzhai08:00-17:00.Wulongzhai, formerly known as "Black Dragon", is a newly developed attraction in Yangjiajie, which is only 20% developed in Yangjiajie. The original name of Wulongzhai is "Black Dragon Walled City", which used to be a place where bandits lived.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.124711110.4901548 People’s Square Commercial Pedestrian StreetA more famous snack street with many specialties and local snacks. The People's Cinema is nearby.updated Nov 2022 | )
  • 29.345697110.5527729 Tianzi Street Ethnic Tourism Mall10:00-22：00.Shopping plaza. It mainly sells specialty products, and there are many stores where you can compare before buying. There are supermarkets, movie theaters, and restaurants inside.updated Nov 2022 | )

Route

The general ticket of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area is valid for three days. If you want to have a more complete experience, you can refer to the following route:

  • Day 1 , take a bus from the central bus station in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie to the Forest Park Ticket Station in the morning. In the peak tourist season, since most tourists choose this entrance, the entrance is usually crowded at 8 or 9 in the morning. Buy a ticket to enter, walk a flat road for about 6 minutes, and come to the Big Oxygen Bar Square , where many tour groups and tourists gather, and it is also the first scenic spot after entering the park. At this time, you can choose to take an environmentally friendly car at the station on the west side (left) of the square for about 4 minutes to Huangshizhai for sightseeing, or you can go directly to Jinbianxi or Yaozizhai. To get to the Huangshizhai , you usually take the cable car (sit next to the place where you get off, and you can get a map of Huangshizhai at the cable car station) to the top of the village (the top of the village is relatively flat), and you will reach the top of the village after seven minutes. The tour route to the top of the village is circular, and you can go left or right when you exit the station. It takes about 100 minutes to go around the top of the village. It is basically a flat road with occasional ups and downs. Across the valley to the east of Huangshi Village is Yuanjiajie, and the valley below is Jinbian Creek. In the distance to the north is the southern edge of Yangjiajie. There are many tourists in Huangshi Village, with the most tourists in Liuqi Pavilion. If you choose to walk down the mountain, there are two lines, the front mountain and the back mountain. It takes about 1 hour to go down the back mountain and reach the lower station of the cableway; the front mountain is the route most people choose. It takes about 1 hour to go down the mountain, and go down the steps all the way to the big oxygen bar square. There are some kiosks selling things near the big oxygen bar square, but there are no restaurants. After that, you can continue to visit Jinbian Creek or Yaozi Village. Most people choose the former because the latter requires climbing, which is very far and steep, suitable for mountaineering enthusiasts. The "Golden Whip Creek" tour line is more than 4km long, and the whole journey is very pleasant. The stream next to it is very clear, and you can experience it by the water. The walk usually ends at around 4:00 p.m. on the first day. There is a fork called Shadaogou in the second half of the walk. You can reach the roadside west of Yuanjiajie by going up the mountain. The whole journey takes more than 1 hour. There is a rest area at Zicaotan, and another fork is separated from the river, namely "Luanchuanpo". "Luanchuanpo" also goes up all the way, with more than 2,000 steps, and you can reach the "back garden" scenic spot at the end of the Yuanjiajie tourist line. Travelers can choose to go to Yuanjiajie for sightseeing or take a sightseeing bus by Luanchuanpo, or continue to walk through Jinbianxi to "Shuirao Simen". Shuirao Simen has a great scenery. Zhang Liang's Tomb and the Geological Museum are located here, as well as shops and bus stops. There are two options after arriving at Shuirao Simen: take a bus out of the park from Shuirao Simen or take a bus to Bailong Tianti. If you live on the mountain and do not choose to take a bus in Yuanjiajie by Luanchuanpo, you can take the Bailong Tianti to the top of the mountain and then take a bus to your accommodation. There are many people queuing up at the peak time of the "Bailong Elevator", but there are few people taking the Bailong Elevator up at 16:00 or 17:00, and there is almost no need to queue. There is an observation deck next to the upper station of the ladder, and the view is similar to that seen on the Bailong Elevator. Walk west for 6 minutes to reach the Bailong Elevator Station, and you can only take a bus to the Mihuntai Station near Yuanjiajie. Walk along the road for 10 minutes to reach the Tianqiao Station, where you can continue to take the bus. The hotels on the mountain are all on the side of the road and can be reached by car. When taking the bus, just wave and it will stop as long as there is a vacant seat.

  • The next day , it is best to go to Yuanjiajie and Yangjiajie. Many people go directly down the mountain after visiting Tianzi Mountain. It is best to leave at around 08:00. It is very convenient to take a bus if you stay in Dingxiangrong Village. It takes more than ten minutes to take a bus from Sanchalukou Station to the Wulongzhai Station of Yangjiajie. There are vendors on both sides of the road next to it. Continue walking to reach the Yangjiajie Cableway Station. You can take the cable car down the mountain to the Yangjiajie ticket station. There is a road behind the cable car station to the "Natural Great Wall", which is recommended to be visited. The Natural Great Wall has the same scenery as the Tianbo Mansion, the highlight of Wulong Village (slightly different angles), which is very spectacular, and unlike Tianbo Mansion, the road is narrow and crowded. The viewing platform of the Natural Great Wall is large, with many photo locations. Back to the Yangjiajie cable car station, there will be a sign pointing to the road to Wulong Village, all the way down the mountain, there are many people here in the peak season. After the Golden Rooster Crowing (slanting above the woods on the side of the road, you may not notice it) go down to the Wulong Village rest stop, where there are restaurants and shops. Next to it is a T-junction. According to the sign, one road leads to Wulong Village and the other to One Step to Heaven. You can go to the main attraction - "Wulong Village" first, walk 10 minutes to the gate of Wulong Village, and then a long section of the road is carved out of the cliff, the road is narrow and thrilling. A short section of the road is located between two large rocks. It is very narrow. People who are slightly fat must squeeze through and risk being stuck. This section of the road is very easy to be blocked during the peak season. After that, there are two forks. You can choose either one. After 15-20 minutes, the two roads merge. Go up for 2-3 minutes to reach the "top of Wulong Village", which is a unique courtyard where you can rest. A road behind the courtyard leads to Tianbo Mansion. After walking for 2 minutes, there is a small viewing platform where you can see the "Tianbo Mansion" on the opposite side. Tianbo Mansion is a natural stone pillar next to the cliff. In front of it is an extremely broad and magnificent valley and stone peaks: the natural Great Wall. Go down the fork road next to the small viewing platform and walk up and down a semi-suspended steel frame ladder to reach the top of Tianbo Mansion. Halfway through, there is a small fork road that is not easy to detect, which leads to the cliff viewing platform slightly below the top of Tianbo Mansion. The road to Tianbo Mansion is very steep, about 80°. The top of Tianbo Mansion is very small, with a snapshot point, which is often crowded and there is no place to take photos (so some people choose to look at it opposite Tianbo Mansion and leave). There are several viewing platforms on the way back from the top of Wulong Village, all on the cliff, with magnificent scenery. Finally, we returned to the previous Wulong Village rest stop. Most people choose to return to Yangjiajie by the same route. Travelers can also choose to continue to Yibu Dengtian, which is a longer road and needs to plan their time. The way to Yibu Dengtian: Walk on the flat road for 4 minutes, then walk up the mountain for about 15-20 minutes to a fork road. Turn in and you can see "Wulang worshiping Buddha". From the fork road, go up and down the main road for 35 minutes to reach Yibu Dengtian. To get to "Yibu Dengtian", you need to climb a very steep hanging ladder, the scenery above is magnificent, and there are wide valleys all around. After the tour, continue walking forward, go down for 7 minutes, follow the signs, and go up the cliff plank road for 10 minutes to the "Sky Corridor" viewing platform. In front of you is the vast back mountain of Yangjiajie. Return by the original route. If you continue to go down the mountain from the fork road, you can reach the "Lingshi Yaoshu", and finally reach the Yangjiajie Cableway Lower Station and the "Yangjiajie Ticket Station" (it takes a very long way). Most people return by the original route. Next to the third commercial pavilion, the small fork road on the left can lead directly to the Wulongzhai Station on the highway. It is a shortcut (about 10 minutes walk). It is recommended to take this road when returning. There are several Tujia restaurants on the road, and the price of dishes is not cheap. You can take a bus to "Yuanjiajie" at the Wulongzhai intersection. There are many small shops next to the Yuanjiajie Tianqiao Station, including a McDonald's dessert station! The tour time of Yuanjiajie will not be too long. There is only one tour line, so you don't have to go back. During the peak season, the trails are often packed. The tour line of Yuanjiajie is located on the edge of the cliff, with many viewing platforms along the way. Scenic spots such as the No. 1 Bridge in the World, Qiankun Pillar (the prototype of the floating mountain in the movie Avatar), and Mihun Terrace are well-known. It takes less than an hour to visit Yuanjiajie. The downhill road at the west end is Luancuanggou, and you can also reach the back garden; there is also a branch road down the mountain between Wulongzhai Station and Tianqiao Station - Shadaogou, which is much longer than Luancuanggou.

  • 29.36296110.6149496 Huanglong CaveHekou Village, Suoxiyu Town, Provincial Road 306, Wulingyuan District),☏ +86 744 561 8489.

  • 29.327349110.5488947 Baofeng LakeBaofeng Road, Wulingyuan District,☏ +86 744 562 9888.

Tianmen Mountain

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  • 29.111464110.4833631 Tianmen MountainTianmen Mountain Cableway Station: Dayong Road, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie CitySouth of Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City),☏ +86 0744-8366081.Peak season (March 1st to November 30th) 07:3016:00; off-season (December 1st to February 28th) 08:0016:30.Yunmeng Mountain, known as Yunmeng Mountain in ancient times, is the highest mountain in Yongding District. It is very close to the urban area and is named after the natural wonder Tianmen Cave. The top of the mountain is relatively flat. The entire Tianmen Mountain and more than ten peaks nearby are peculiar in shape, steep and magnificent. They are praised by the world as the most beautiful sky garden and heavenly fairyland in the world. The entire Tianmen Mountain’s tourist scope is mainly the top of Tianmen Mountain and the vicinity of Tianmen Cave. It is divided into four scenic spots: Tianmen Cave Opening Scenic Area, Biye Yaotai Scenic Area, Mixian Wonderland Scenic Area, and Tianjie Buddha Kingdom Scenic Area. Almost all tourists who go to Tianmen Mountain buy tickets at the "Tianmen Mountain Cableway Station" on Dayong Road (not far from Zhangjiajie Station and the Bus Terminal) and take the Tianmen Mountain Cableway directly to the top of Tianmen Mountain for sightseeing. Tianmen Mountain Cableway is the world's longest alpine passenger cableway.Year-round￥278.00 (including insurance, round-trip cableway, and eco-friendly shuttle).updated Aug 2025 | )

Cultural relics

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  • Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary BaseNational Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Puguang Temple Ancient BuildingsNational Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Tian Family CourtyardNational Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Shiyanping Ancient BuildingsNational Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Yuhuangdong Grottoes (including Fengquan Cave)Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Liu Mingdeng Tomb Stone Sculpture GroupHunan Province Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Old CourtyardHunan Province Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Longfeng TempleWulingyuan District Zhonghu Township.Hunan Province Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Tianluo Mountain Ancient CastleYongding District Shuangxi Bridge Township.Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Bei Community Soviet Government SiteXinqiao Town, Yongding District.Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • He Long Tomb (including He Long Bronze Statue)Wulingyuan District Tianzi Mountain He Long Park.Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit
  • Sanjiawan Village, Wangjiaping Town, Yongding DistrictTraditional Chinese Villages
  • Miaogang Village, Siduping Township, Yongding DistrictTraditional Chinese Villages

Eat

add listing There are limited food options in the park, and what is available is offered at highly inflated prices. It is advised that you bring food and water with you to the park. Here is a selection of food in the city, which can be visited after a scenic tour.

  • 29.115955110.4823691 Qindama08:30-01:30.The oil is fragrant and crispy.Now there are several branches in Zhangjiajie. The environment is good. After eating, you can just walk along the river and enjoy the night view of Zhangjiajie.¥60.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • 29.123346110.489442 Yinmandou restaurantThe classic dishes are sauerkraut beef and spicy roasted yellow beef, but Sanxiaguo is also delicious: although it is a small shop, the taste is really good, the price is reasonable, and you can bring your own drink.¥58.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • 29.137854110.4952313 Hushifu restaurant10:00-21:00.The popularity is very strong, and the ingredients are also abundant. One small pot is enough for two people, and it is very tasty. The signature three-time pot is the most powerful and cost-effective.However, it is not suitable for those who like light flavors.¥56.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • 29.1698110.46294 Dazhangjie Noodle Shop大张姐面馆)diagonally opposite of the southeast corner of Zhangjiajie West Railway Station across the highway; the location is wrong on Amap).Good noodles and dumplings.¥15-20.updated Apr 2026 | )
  • 29.1293110.4765 Jiawang Snacks家旺小吃),313 Jiefang Rd.Extremely tender beef noodles. Excellent price.¥10.updated Apr 2026 | )

Drink

add listing Zhangjiajie berry tea is a specialty of Zhangjiajie's Yongding District.

  • 29.13886110.4554781 Maoyan meichaYou can buy it in-store on site or choose online delivery.updated Mar 2023 | )

Learn

  • 29.154759110.454712 Jishou university Zhangjiajie college吉首大学张家界学院),Wulingshan Avenue, Yongding District,☏ +86 0744-2200500.Founded in September 2002, it is an independent college approved by the Hunan Provincial People's Government, organized by Jishou University, a comprehensive university in Hunan Province, and confirmed by the Ministry of Education.

Stay healthy

Hospitals

  • 29.128234110.4841083 Zhangjiajie People's Hospital张家界市人民医院),140 Tianmen Street, Guyong Road, Yongding District,☏ +86 7448227836.Zhangjiajie People's Hospital is a tertiary general hospital integrating medical treatment, prevention, health care, teaching, scientific research and emergency treatment.
    • 29.123103110.4848594 Zhangjiajie Hospital of Tcm张家界市中医院),Huilong Road, Yongding District,☏ +86 0744-8266005.Zhangjiajie Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, founded in 1958. It is located in the city of Zhangjiajie, a World Natural Heritage Site. It is the only comprehensive "Grade IIIA" Chinese medicine hospital in the city.

Sleep

add listing Accommodation in Zhangjiajie is typically around ¥170. There are many options within walking distance surrounding the train/bus station. There are many hotels and shops outside the Forest Park Ticket Station, which are very lively. Some tourists choose to live here, but it is not as convenient as living in the park.

Connect

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  • Zhangjiajie City Public Security Bureau☏ +86 0744-8222151.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Park Police Station☏ +86 0744-5712381.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Tourism Magazine☏ +86 0744-8380192.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Travel Complaints☏ +86 0744-8380139.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Consumer Protection☏ +86 0744-12315.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Price Report☏ +86 0744-12358.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Price Inspection Institute☏ +86 0744-8233754.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Railway Station Master Office☏ +86 0744-8512112.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Airport Office☏ +86 0744-8238211.updated Oct 2022 | )
  • Zhangjiajie Aviation Inquiry☏ +86 0744-8238294.updated Oct 2022 | )

Cope

Though Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan are major tourist attractions, perhaps 99% of their visitors are native Chinese. So you will find it surprisingly difficult to change foreign currency. There appear to be no currency exchange stores. Perhaps the only place to change money is a bank, such as the Bank of China (follow the main road north of the bus/train station area, it is at the first major intersection north of the river, about a 15-minute walk from the bus/train stations). Wulingyuan, however, is rumored to have currency exchange stores.

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  • Changsha
    • Fenghuang

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