Zhangjiajie is well-known for its quite unique quartz sandstone mountain peaks, the first national forest park of its kind in China. Also it inspired the movie “Avatar” filmed here. Now it’s becoming one of the most popular travel destinations in China.
1-What to see in Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, It’s the main attraction here, and it’s huge, just like a big city. There are many different part of areas, like Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi mountain, yellow stone village, golden whip stream, ten-mile gallery etc. But most popular areas are Tianzi mountain which is called the king of all mountains, the highest area among the whole park, and Yuanjiajie where is Avatar mountain located, it’s the shooting place for the movie Avatar. To visit this two places, you can take a elevator which is built on the cliff side of the mountain, and take cable car in Tianzi mountain.
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, measures 430 meters long and 6 meter wide, and 300 meter depth to the bottom stream. Walking on the bridge, just like walking on the clouds, and it allows 800 people walking at the same time. If you like hiking, at the end point of glass bridge, you can walk down to the bottom grand canyon from a wooden plank which built on the cliff side of mountain, It’s a stream in the grand canyon, the long walking is energy-consuming, but you will enjoy its beautiful views like waterfall, lush green plants, and taking boat in its peaceful lake.
Yellow Dragon Cave, is a karst cave with lots of fantastic stalagmites, peculiar limestone formations and underground rivers. among those stalagmites, there is a most famous one, 19.2 meters high, shaped like a needle, called heaven’s needle. It’s still growing, 1cm in hundred years, estimated reach the top in 60 thousand of years.
Tianmen Mountain, it’s the highest mountain in Zhangjiajie area, well known by the hole which called heaven’s gate. This gate was created by cliff rocks collapsing in ancient time, it’s 131 meters height, 57 meters width and 60 meters long. In 1999 the local government launched an activity that airplane flying through this gate, it was really a amazing activity. In front of this gate, there is a walking stairs, 999 steep and narrow steps which called the stairway to heaven. In recent years there is another activity called skyflying launched in Tianmen mountain, The professional sportsman who wear wingsuit, jump down from Tianmen mountain, flying through the heaven’s gate, and landing in somewhere.
2-What time to visit Zhangjiajie?
Generally speaking there are four seasons here, each season has its own featured views. but comparatively April to October are the most popular times.
Spring from March to May, the weather becoming warm, the forest and plant becoming green and flowers blossom, average temperature is about 15–25 degrees. normally fog raising up and floating after rain.
Summer from June to August, the weather could be very hot, average temperature is about 25- 38 degrees, It’s a peak season because of summer vacation for students, especially August.
Autumn from September to November, the weather is becoming cold, but it’s comfortable, not to hot, not too cold. And the forests becoming yellow and red color. So beautiful.
Winter from December to February, the weather becoming too cold with snow, the average temperature is about 10- 3 minus degrees. but if you like taking picture, don’t miss the snow view.
3-How to get to Zhangjiajie?
Nowadays Zhangjiajie as a tourism city, is becoming a very popular destination around the China, so the transportation is convenient as well.
By airplane, to Zhangjiajie there are direct flight from China’s major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha etc. normally takes about 1- 3 hours.
By train, At the moment our bullet train station is still on construction, but normal train is also an option when you need to take it.
By bus, you can take flight or bullet train to Changsha which is the capital city of Hunan province, then take bus to Zhangjiajie driving about 5 hours.
4-Where to stay in Zhangjiajie?
Most hotels are in two areas, downtown zhangjiajie and wulingyuan town, comparatively live in wulingyuan is better, as it’s the closed to the national forest park, and convenient to visit other scenic areas like yellow dragon cave, baofeng lake, glass
bridge etc. There are many different hotels, family hostels and featured inns can be optional.
But sometimes If you are arriving too late , or if you need to catch up the earlier flight, then you can choose the hotels in downtown Zhangjiajie.
5-What’s the best Zhangjiajie tour itinerary?
Day 1: Zhangjiajie national forest park, as it’s a huge park, it’s better to go Avatar mountain area and Tianzi mountain area. you can take mountain elevator and cable car.
Day 2: Yellow dragon cave and Glass bridge, to explore the world’s most beautiful karst cave, and walking on the world’s №1 glass-bottomed bridge.
Day 3: Tianmen mountain, taking world’s longest cable way to the top, to see heaven’s gate hole, ancient temple etc.
Also you can extend extra 2 days for a Zhangjiajie Fenghuang Tour
Day 4: Visit Lotus town which is ancient local king’s living place, and explore the dragon gorge, if you like hiking.
Day 5: Visit Fenghuang ancient town, enjoy their Miao minority cultural and life style etc.
After finished, you can be departing from Tongren airport which is closed to Fenghuang. You don’t need to get back to Zhangjiajie.