Zhangjiajie is beautiful, but not recommended to visit in June! Because.....
Zhangjiajie In-Depth Travel Guide: Explore the Wonderland of Unique Peaks and Unlock Tujia Culture
(Includes a five-day panoramic route + pitfall avoidance guide + specialty cuisine, enjoy the World Natural Heritage site for about 1000 RMB per person)
📍 Core Highlights: World Geological Wonder + Cloud Glass Walkway + Millennium Ancient City Night Charm
🏞 Must-Visit Attractions: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Entrance Fee: 227 RMB): Yuanjiajie: The original model of the floating mountains "Hallelujah Mountains" in the movie Avatar, with mysterious platforms and the Qian Kun Pillar among many unique peaks.
Yangjiajie: Natural Great Wall peak wall landform, with thrilling trails like Wulong Village and Tianbo Mansion.
Golden Whip Stream: A 7.5 km canyon stream where macaques appear, suitable for hiking or taking the Bailong Elevator (66 seconds to the summit).
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (Entrance Fee: 278 RMB): Tianmen Cave: 999-step stairway straight to the clouds, the world’s highest altitude natural karst cave.
Glass Walkway: A 60-meter suspended transparent walkway with a bottomless abyss beneath your feet, heart-pounding experience.
Tianmen Mountain Cableway: The world’s longest high-altitude passenger cableway at 7,455 meters, crossing from city to mountaintop in 28 minutes.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge (Entrance Fee: 178 RMB): Yuntian Crossing Glass Bridge: A 536-meter transparent bridge spanning the canyon, with extreme challenges like 260-meter high bungee jumping and via ferrata.
Fenghuang Ancient Town (Free): Tuojiang River Boating: Night tour of stilt houses lit up, showcasing the "Border Town" charm from Shen Congwen’s writings.
Xiangxi Miao Village: Experience making glutinous rice cakes and batik, and enjoy Miao silver jewelry and song and dance culture.
🌸 Seasonal Activities: Spring: Wild cherry blossoms along Golden Whip Stream, sea of clouds rolling over Tianmen Mountain.
Summer: Roaring waterfalls in the Grand Canyon, a perfect summer retreat.
Autumn: Red leaves covering Tianzi Mountain, picturesque autumn views from Tianmen Mountain cableway.
Winter: Ice crystals on the glass walkway, snowy scenery of Tianmen Cave like a fairyland.
🚗 Complete Transportation Guide: 3 ways to reach core scenic spots
✈ External Transport: Flight: Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, airport shuttle bus 15 RMB to city, or taxi 30-50 RMB.
Train/High-speed Rail: Zhangjiajie West Station, High-speed Rail Station, South Station, with buses to city or scenic area shuttle buses.
Bus: Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station (Guanli Road, Yongding District), buses to Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain, and other scenic spots.
🚌 Scenic Area Transport: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: City → Wulingyuan ticket station: shuttle bus 12 RMB, 60 minutes.
City → Forest Park ticket station: shuttle bus 13 RMB, 40 minutes.
Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area: 6 km from West Train Station, about 10 minutes by taxi.
Grand Canyon Scenic Area: 65 km from city, shuttle bus 25 RMB, 60 minutes.
🚡 Internal Transport: Cableways/Elevators: Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Bailong Elevator, Huangshizhai Cableway save energy and reach core spots quickly.
Eco-friendly buses: Free shuttle within the forest park connecting Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, and other areas.
🗺 Five-Day Panoramic Route: Classic + In-depth + Leisure coverage
📅 Five-Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Zhangjiajie → City food tour → Night tour of Seventy-two Wonders
Afternoon: Check in at a hotel near Tianmen Mountain Cableway station, recommended Vienna 3 Good Hotel (with breakfast, close to Tianmen Mountain).
Evening: Taste Hu’s Three Pot Stew (Ziwulu main store, about 58 RMB per person), night tour of Seventy-two Wonders (light show + Nuo opera performance).
Day 2: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park day tour
Morning: Take Tianmen Mountain Cableway up, walk the Glass Walkway and Ghost Valley Walkway, climb Tianmen Cave.
Afternoon: Experience the 999-step stairway, take cableway down, return to city.
Day 3: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Huangshizhai + Yuanjiajie + Yangjiajie)
Morning: Take Huangshizhai Cableway up, visit Dinghai Divine Needle and Five Finger Peak.
Afternoon: Yuanjiajie’s Mysterious Platform, Qian Kun Pillar, Yangjiajie’s Wulong Village, Tianbo Mansion.
Stay: Hilton Hampton Hotel near Wulingyuan ticket station (with butler service, customized travel routes).
Day 4: Golden Whip Stream + Ten-Mile Gallery + Fenghuang Ancient Town
Morning: Stroll along Golden Whip Stream, feed macaques, take Bailong Elevator down.
Afternoon: Ten-Mile Gallery small train, then head to Fenghuang Ancient Town after returning to city.
Evening: Night tour of Tuojiang River, stay in a characteristic guesthouse in the ancient town.
Day 5: Fenghuang Ancient Town + Xiangxi Miao Village return trip
Morning: Walk the ancient town’s stone paths, visit Shen Congwen’s former residence and Rainbow Bridge.
Afternoon: Head to Xiangxi Miao Village, experience making glutinous rice cakes and batik, then return.
Food Map: Spicy Jianghu + Mountain Delicacies and Wild Flavors
🔥 Must-Try List: Three Pot Stew: cured meat, pork intestines, pig stomach dry pot, recommended Hu’s Three Pot Stew (Ziwulu main store).
Rock Ear Stewed Chicken: Zhangjiajie mountain delicacy rock ear fungus and native chicken slow-cooked, fresh and delicious soup.
Tujia Mixed Dishes: Stir-fried with various ingredients, rich layers of flavor.
Pig Brain Cold Noodles: Sour and spicy appetizer, found in street stalls.
🍜 Late Night Snack Recommendation: Gong Grandma’s Tujia Kitchen (Cableway store): about 51 RMB per person, 50 meters from Tianmen Mountain Cableway station, recommended Tujia cured meat and sour fish.
🏨 Accommodation Recommendations: Near scenic spots + high-end experience + characteristic guesthouses
🏯 City Accommodation: Tianmen Mountain Wyndham Garden Hotel: near Tianmen Mountain Cableway, enjoy a 2000㎡ garden terrace with views of Tianmen Mountain.
Qilou Hotel (Seventy-two Wonders High-speed Rail Station branch): near 72 Wonders cultural tourism town, free pick-up service.
🌲 Scenic Area Accommodation: Hilton Hampton Hotel (Wulingyuan landmark store): near Forest Park, with butler service and customized travel routes.
Tianchong Yunhai Resort Hotel (Wulingyuan branch): natural wood aesthetic design, private Tianmen Mountain views, home theater, pet-friendly.
🎫 Tickets and Pitfall Avoidance Guide
🎫 Ticket Policy: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: 227 RMB (valid for 4 days), half price for students/seniors.
Tianmen Mountain: 278 RMB (choose A/B/C line), book 3 days in advance.
Grand Canyon Glass Bridge: 178 RMB, timed ticket booking required to avoid sold-out on site.
💡 Pitfall Tips: Avoid peak times: long queues at Tianmen Mountain Cableway, recommend 7:00-8:00 time slot.
Monkey Safety: Macaques at Golden Whip Stream may snatch food, do not carry plastic bags or feed them.
Transport Warning: Many unlicensed taxis outside scenic areas, choose official buses or shuttle buses.
Weather Tips: Large temperature difference between day and night, bring a light jacket even in summer; prepare rain gear in rainy season.
(Zhangjiajie, a city of mountains and waters that amazed Xu Xiake with "thousands of peaks competing in beauty," awaits you to uncover its mysterious veil!)
✨ Leave the code word "Zhangjiajie Secret Realm" to get a high-definition hand-drawn map of Zhangjiajie + hiking route guide ✨
🏞 May you feel the shock of a "miniature wonderland, an enlarged bonsai" among the unique peaks and sea of clouds!
Unique peaks, streams, glass walkways—here lies all your imagination of mountains and waters. 🌄