Zhangjiajie National Forest Park张家界国家森林公园
The sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan: how to plan two days inside the park, and which lifts and trails to use.
Photo: JL Cogburn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Time needed
- 2 days
- Best time
- April–May and September–October; weekday mornings.
- Nearest base
- —
About Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, established in 1982 as China’s first national forest park, forms part of the Wulingyuan World Heritage site. The quartz-sandstone pillars rise from forested valleys, many over 200 metres tall.
The park is large and served by internal buses, the Bailong outdoor lift and cable cars. A multi-day ticket covers the core areas — Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream and Yangjiajie.
Tickets and getting there
- Booking
- Buy the multi-day park ticket online or at the gate with your passport (fingerprint registration is used at gates). Lifts and cable cars are separate tickets.
- How to get there
- Stay in Wulingyuan; the Wulingyuan and Zhangjiajie Forest Park gates are close by.
Almost every major sight in China books by passport number. See what to set up before you fly.
Highlights
- Yuanjiajie — Home of the “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”.
- Golden Whip Stream — Flat 7 km walk along the valley floor.
- Tianzi Mountain — Panoramic views over the pillar forest.
- Bailong Elevator — Glass lift on a cliff face — long queues on holidays.
Field notes
- Start at the furthest point by early bus and walk back towards the gates to avoid queues.
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FAQ
Is Tianmen Mountain inside the national forest park?
No. Tianmen Mountain is a separate site near Zhangjiajie city, about an hour from Wulingyuan.
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