The paradise of flora and fauna
Step into the fairy land of China, Zhangjiajie. A historical city located in the northwest of China, where humans settled around 100,000 years ago. The views are phenomenal here during spring and autumn seasons for all to experience its beauty. If this natural beauty alone does not wow you enough, try visiting the world’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge, which links the Avatar Mountains, named after the blockbuster movie ‘Avatar’. Thus, this is truly an unforgettable city that will welcome you with its lush mountains (e.g. Tianmen Mountain) beautiful lakes (e.g. Baofeng Lake), exquisite forests (e.g. Zhangajiajie National Forest Park), mystical caves (e.g. Yellow Dragon Cave), and exceptional cultures and customs.
Zhangjiajie experiences a temperate climate with temperatures ranging between 0 °C (32 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F). The average temperature is approximately 16 °C. July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 32 °C, while January is the coldest with an average temperature of 4.3 °C. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year in Zhangjiajie. When rain and fog appear, the quartz-sandstone pillars, forest, and streams in Zhangjiajie are covered with mist, forming a magical wonderland. It is difficult to determine the best time to visit Zhangjiajie, as its mountainous surroundings make it attractive in all seasons. To avoid the cold weather, it is recommended to visit between April and October.
Wulingyuan Scenic Area
In the scenic area, the spots are connected by the shuttle bus which makes it more convenient for your visit. Therefore if you are at the top of either Tanzi Mountain, Yangjiajie Scenic Area or Yuanjiajie Scenic Area you can easily get on the bus to reach another spot instead of hiking down and up.
Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
This is the most popular and famous spots among others. You can take the 326-meter high Bailong elevator which will only take you 88 seconds to arrive at the top of Yuanjiajie. If you prefer hiking you might need about one hour. If you look out carefully when taking the Bailong elevator, you can see the Tujia village far on the top of the mountain. Zhangjiajie is the home of Tujia ethnic group which is considered the 8th largest of China's 55 official minority classifications. Tujia's women are very good at weaving cloth as one of the three most famous Brocades in China.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
This place incorporates deep canyons, streams, waterfalls, caves, cliffs, and forest, providing you a strenuous hiking route. A granite slide is available for you to slide down to the bottom of the canyon. At the end of the hiking route, there is a reservoir where you can take a boat ride to the exit. The Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon being the longest (430m) and highest (300m) pedestrian glass bridge in the world.
Yangjiajie Scenic Area
Yangjiajie Scenic Area is the smallest of the four subsections of Wulingyuan so loved by backpackers. Wulong Village, Tianbo Mansion and the Natural Great Wall are in the northern part of Yangjiajie while the One Step to Heaven and the Air Corridor are in the southern part. The cable car is located in between. However, the most impressive site within Yangjiajie should be the Natural Great Wall located near the cable-way station. Looking ahead, visitors can find dozens of mountain walls standing out majestically.
Taimen Mountain
Since you are in Zhangjiajie, Taimen Mountain is the nearby attraction which we highly recommend. The cable car is the best way to start your trip, panning 7 kilometers, taking only 30 minutes to travel from the city of Zhangjiajie to the top of Tianmen Mountain. In the beginning, you will pass over over farmland, then about halfway of the journey 99 curves and Tianmen Mountain looms in front of you. For another thrill, walk the narrow glass paths which is a walkway that sits 1,400 meters off of the ground. You might find red ribbons hanging from the trees here, symbolizing the wishes of visitors.
Zhangjiajie is located in the northwest edge of Hunan Province, China. Hunan Cuisine, also known as Xiang Cuisine, is one of the eight famous cuisines of China. It is renowned for its fragrant, sour, and spicy flavours. Zhangjiajie Cuisine is also a type of Xiang Cuisine, but it incorporates more ethnic features due to Zhangjiajie being home to three major ethnic groups: the Tujia, Bai, and Miao. Most of the specialties in Zhangjiajie are prepared using fresh local ingredients, and if they are prepared elsewhere, the original local flavour may differ in taste.
Must-try: Zhangjiajie Mixed Pot, Tujia Minority Preserved Pork Dish, Loach Stewed with Tofu, Sour Fried Fish, Blood Tofu, Pueraria Lobata Starch.
Air
Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport is considered one of the most beautiful airports in China, with views of Tianmen Mountain and the famous Karst Tianmen Cave in the distance. Unlike airports in other cities that are built in the suburbs, Zhangjiajie Airport is only 5km away from downtown, making it convenient to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Taking a flight to Zhangjiajie is the quickest and most convenient way. There are approximately 60 domestic air routes from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities to Zhangjiajie. Additionally, there are over 10 international flights from cities such as Busan in South Korea and Bangkok in Thailand.
Train
Zhangjiajie is well-connected by high-speed trains to Chongqing (4 hours), Chengdu (7 hours), Guilin (7 hours), Beijing (10 hours), and Shanghai (9 hours). Normal trains are also available from Yichang (5 hours), Tongren (about 7 hours), Xian (15 hours), and Wuhan (10 hours) to Zhangjiajie. The trains will arrive at either Zhangjiajie West Railway Station or Zhangjiajie Railway Station, both of which are located in the downtown area. Tianmen Mountain is located 6 kilometers away and can be reached by car in approximately 15 minutes. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located 29 kilometers away and can be reached by car in approximately 40-50 minutes.