Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountains: How to Visit, Where to Stay, How Many Days

Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars rise hundreds of metres above the forest and often float in cloud. They inspired the floating mountains in Avatar, and in person they are even more dramatic. Here's how to plan a visit to Zhangjiajie.

The main areas

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Wulingyuan): the heart of it all, China's first national forest park. A park pass usually covers several days, with free eco-buses between areas.
• Yuanjiajie: the classic "Avatar" viewpoints with the most famous pillars.
• Tianzi Mountain: wide panoramic views over a sea of peaks, best at sunrise or after rain.
• Golden Whip Stream: an easy, flat walk along the valley floor, looking up at the pillars.
• Bailong Elevator: a glass lift built into the cliff, rising over 300 m in under two minutes.

Tianmen Mountain and the glass bridge

Separate from the forest park and closer to the city, Tianmen Mountain has one of the world's longest cable cars, cliff-side glass walkways and the famous "Heaven's Gate" arch. The Grand Canyon glass bridge is another option for those with a head for heights.

How many days?

• 2 days: the forest park highlights.
• 3 days: the forest park plus Tianmen Mountain, at a comfortable pace.
• 4 days: add the glass bridge, a quieter area and time for the weather to clear.

Where to stay

Stay in Wulingyuan, right by the forest park entrance, to be inside early. Stay in the city for Tianmen Mountain. Many travellers split the stay.

Best time to go

April to June and September to November bring mild weather and the best chance of clouds drifting between the peaks. Summer is green but busy; winter is quiet and sometimes snowy. Avoid Chinese holiday weeks.

How we help

The park is huge and the best viewpoints depend on the weather that morning. Your private guide picks the route each day and gets you in early, and your driver handles the transfers. Ask us on WhatsApp.

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