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Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China
A famous to admire the beautiful natural scenery of grand canyon, various peaks and forest
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the southern part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Zone. The several thousand mountain peaks of quartz rise abruptly from the ground. Streams flow through the Jinbian (Gold Whip) Stream Grand Canyon which is flanked by sheer cliffs. The sightseeing platform at Huangshi Village is shrouded in mist. Wild animals (especially the macaque monkeys) play freely in the primeval forests. The scenic zone is like a fairy land with the beauty of wild nature.
The Wulingyuan Scenic Area is a comprehensive World Natural Heritage site that encompasses four major scenic areas: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Suoxi Valley (including Ten-mile Gallery), and Yangjiajie Scenic Area.
Its landforms feature a blend of karst caves (such as the Huanglong Cave) and quartz sandstone peak forests. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, as the core component of Wulingyuan (accounting for approximately 12.3% of Wulingyuan's area), is China's first national forest park (established in 1982), focusing on quartz sandstone peak forest landforms and featuring original forest landscapes such as Huangshizhai and Jinbianxi Gorge (with a forest coverage rate of 88%).
⚠️ Note: Visitors need to purchase a unified Wulingyuan pass to enter, and there is no separate ticket for the national forest park. If you are short on time, priority can be given to visiting the highlights within the forest park, such as Yuanjiajie and Jinbianxi Gorge.
The National Forest Park had been given the name of Zhangjiajie after the name of a small village located within its bounds, and now a popular tourist attraction within the park. The three-character name can be interpreted as follows: Zhang is a common surname in China; Jia can be translated as family; and Jie can be translated as homeland, giving the completed translation of Zhang family homeland. It has been reported that at least one tourist guide has said that the name may have been chosen to convey the idea or impression of Open the family door to welcome the world, but this is not the locally-accepted and directly translated meaning of the name.
The famous Avatar Hallelujah mountain was originally named the South Celestial Pillar or Qiankun Column. It is located on the Huangshi Villiage sightseeing route, inside the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, north of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
One of the highlight attractions in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, ‘the No. 1 Bridge in the world’ is a masterpiece of the nature. A 5-meter-thick flagstone connects two peaks, stretching over the deep valley. It is said that the two peaks used to be one, but has been divided to two, because of rock weathering and collapse.
Located in the east of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and named after the 380-meter high Golden Whip Rock, Golden Whip stream meanders 15 Li. Flowing from Laomo Gully first to Confluence of Four Rivers then to Suoxi Stream, it finally joins Li River, one of the four rivers in Hunan Province. It flows between steep grotesque peaks and luxuriant trees. Here, the meandering streams, the crystal-clear waterfalls, exotic plants and rare animals co-exist and constitute the extraordinarily beautiful, tranquil and natural ecological environment. No wonder it is called "the most beautiful valley in the world" and "the most poetic stream". The major scenic spots include Rock of Welcoming Guests, Golden Whip Rock, Reunion Rock and the Purple Grass Pond.
Huangshi Fort, named after a hermit Huangshi, is 1080m above sea level. It is higher on the south and elevated by stiff cliffs, covering an area of 16.5 hectors. It provides the largest collection of marvelous spectacles and also provides the larges sightseeing terrace above sea level in Zhangjiajie. The chief scenic spots include Treasure Box of Heavenly Books, the Magic Sea-suppressing Needle, the South Pillar of Heaven, the Golden Tortoise Watching the Sea and so on.
Getting to the Park
Obviously, you need to get to Zhangjiajie city first. You can choose to take a flight, a train, or a long-distance bus. After arriving at Zhangjiajie Airport or Train Station, if you do not have a private transfer you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
By Taxi: From the airport or train station, a taxi to the Forest Park South Gate (about 30 km) or Wujiayu Ticket Gate (about 35 km) takes around 45 minutes, costing around RMB 80–130.
By Shuttle Bus: You need to go to the Downtown Bus Station (next to the train station) to catch a shuttle bus.
✅ Travel Tip:
While it is possible to travel independently, Zhangjiajie is not as easy to navigate as major cities like Beijing or Shanghai. Due to language barriers, dispersed scenic zones, and limited in-park signage, many travelers find it beneficial to book a guided tour.
Professional guides offer valuable advantages: they speak fluent English or other languages, provide in-depth explanations of the region’s unique quartz-sandstone formations and local Tujia culture, and help optimize routes to avoid long queues at major attractions such as the Bailong Elevator. Moreover, local guides are trained to handle safety risks during rainy seasons and are familiar with park rules regarding wildlife encounters. In case of emergencies—such as health issues or lost documents—they can efficiently coordinate with on-site police or medical stations, ensuring a smoother and safer journey.
Getting Around Inside the Park
The transportation system within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park mainly consists of the following options: Free eco-friendly buses connect the park’s five main ticket gates (East Gate/South Gate/North Gate/Central Gate/West Gate) and its core scenic spots, covering lower-altitude areas such as Golden Whip Stream and Ten-Mile Gallery, as well as high-altitude loop routes like Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain.
Paid transportation options include "Three Cable Cars and One Elevator" - the Bailong Elevator provides a quick direct access to Yuanjiajie, while the Tianzishan Gondola, Huangshizhai Gondola and Yangjiajie Gondola offer efficient up and down mountain transportation. Additionally, the Ten-Mile Gallery has a sightseeing tram for tourists to enjoy the canyon scenery with ease.
Yangjiajie Scenic Area
To reach Yangjiajie, you can enter the park via the West Gate at Wulingyuan. From there, take the eco-bus for about 5 minutes to the lower station of the Yangjiajie Cableway. Riding the cable car up the mountain, you’ll enjoy views of the "Eight Sights of Yangjiajie" along the way.
Alternatively, you can enter through the South Gate and get off at Longfeng An Station. A short 10-minute walk will take you to Longfeng Temple, the only temple in the park built with quartz sandstone. From there, take the eco-bus to the cableway station and ascend to the mountaintop.
Golden Whip Stream (Jinbianxi)
From the main entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, walk straight for about 10 minutes (approximately 500 meters) to reach the entrance to Golden Whip Stream, one of the park’s most serene and scenic trails.
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
There are two main ways to get to Yuanjiajie. The first is by hiking from Golden Whip Stream: take a left at Zicaotan and climb up the Luancuanpo trail through Shandaogou to reach the “Back Garden” scenic area.
The more popular and convenient option is to take the Bailong Elevator, known as the “World’s Highest Outdoor Elevator,” which brings you directly to the Yuanjiajie mountaintop area.
Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang)
Located within the park, this area is easily accessible on foot. For a more leisurely experience, visitors can also take a sightseeing mini train that runs along the scenic route, offering close-up views of rock formations resembling people, animals, and stories from Chinese legends.
Huangshizhai (Yellow Stone Village)
From the main entrance of the park, walk about 5 minutes to Oxygen Square. From there, you can either hike up the stone steps to the top or take the eco-bus to the lower station of the Huangshizhai Cableway and ride up the mountain.
Insider Tip:
If you’re planning to travel between different mountaintop scenic areas, it’s helpful to know when eco-buses are more readily available. Between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, there tend to be more vacant buses traveling from Tianzi Mountain to Yuanjiajie, making it an ideal time to transfer from Yangjiajie’s Wulong Village to Yuanjiajie. Likewise, around 4:00 PM, there are more empty buses going from Yuanjiajie back to Tianzi Mountain, making it a good time for the return trip.
The entrance ticket you get allows visits to the four parts of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream and Yuanjiajie), Yangjiajie Natural Reserve (Wulong Village and Longquan Waterfall), Tianzi Mountain (Daguan Platform, Helong Park and Laowu Chang), Suoxi Valley (Ten-mile Gallery).
Standard All-Inclusive Ticket (entrance + eco-bus): RMB 224 per person; Optional Insurance: RMB 3 (recommended)
Note: ①This ticket includes unlimited access to all four scenic areas and the eco-bus network, but does not cover cableways, elevators, or sightseeing trains, which must be paid separately. ②Ticket prices may vary slightly depending on season, so it’s advisable to check the official website or visitor center for updates before traveling.
Ticket validity: As of January 1, 2025, the Wulingyuan Scenic Area has implemented a simplified ticketing system valid for 4 consecutive days.
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