Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - China's First National Park

1. Zhangjiaije National Forest Park is the main part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992;

2. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first national forest park in China. It is noted for more than 3000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks with striking beauty of landscape.

3. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations which can be seen through the park.

4. Inspiration for the Movie AVATAR, the well-known Hallelujah Mountain. It shows the real Pandora on earth.

5. Travelers can try a lot of featured activities like walking, hiking, photography to catch the best scenery of Zhangjiajie.

Main Attractions of Zhangjiajie Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the most beautiful place on earth, has been described differently, such as, majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild. It is known for its odd-shaped peaks and rocks, exquisite forests, tranquil water, beautiful canyons, limestone caves and breathtaking views. It mainly includes Yellow Stone Village (Huangshi Village), Golden Whip Stream and so on. Taking a visit to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, you won’t miss Golden Whip Stream and Huanshi Village.

Location: northeast part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, connected with Golden Whip Stream
Recommended Visiting Time: 2-2.5 hours
Hiking Time: about 1-2 hours to get up and 1 hour to get down Huangshi Village
Physical Needs: Moderate (It is suggested to take cable car to get up and down to save energy and time. Only 10 minutes is needed on the cableway.)

A saying goes “He who does not reach Huangshi Village does not pay a true visit to Zhangjiajie”. With an elevation of 1080 meters, Huangshi Village (Yellow Stone Village) presents the largest collection of marvelous spectacles and also provides the largest sightseeing platform in Zhangjiajie. From here, travelers can overlook the Precious Box for Hiding Sealed Book, the Magic Needle, South-Heaven Pillar, South-Heaven Gate, The Platform of Snatching Stars, Six Wonder Pavilion, the Ruin Piers and so on.

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

Golden Whip Stream （金鞭溪）

Location: 500 m from the Entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-3 hours
Fitness Needed: relaxing pace, easy to walk

With a length of 7.5 kilometers, Golden Whip Stream (Jinbian Stream) is famous for its tranquil water, its verdant mountains, its steep cliffs and its serene valley. It is called “the most poetic valley in China”. Hence, Golden Whip Stream is suitable for 2-3 hours’ hiking. When walking along the pathway, you’ll appreciate flowers, trees and grasses, many green hills and colorful flora, hear song of the birds, and of course, pass many splendid scenery: Mother and Child Peak, Bajie Carrying His Wife on the Back, Golden Whip Crag, Magical Hawk Protecting the Whip, Journey to the West, Drunk Arhat, etc.

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

Location: in the north of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
Fitness Needed: Moderate (It is suggested to take Bailong Elevator to get up and down Yuanjiajie.)

You must know the movie AVATAR. "Avatar makes its mark on China’s Zhangjiajie, floating Hallelujah Mountain featured in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar". The surreal world is Yuanjiajie. With an elevation of 1074 meters, Yuanjiajie is connected Golden Whip Stream in the east, Huangshi Village in the south, Tianzi Mountain in the west and Suoxiyu in the north. Yuanjiajie is a naturally formed platform mountain, surrounded by higher summits which are divided by deep valleys. The famous sights in this scenic area include: the First Bridge under Heaven, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Lost Soul Platform, Back Garden, Overlooking Bridge Terrace, etc.

There are two routes leading you to the top of Yuanjiajie. One is by Bailong Elevator. Take the sightseeing bus from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to the Elevator, only 15 minutes needed. By Elevator, you’ll get up in 2 minutes with grand scenery on the way. On the top, you can explore Yuanjiajie by visiting Back Garden, Lost Soul Platform, Hallelujah Mountain, First Bridge under Heaven and more sights which takes about 2 hours. The other way is by hiking from Luanchuan Slope in the middle of Golden Whip Stream to Back Garden which takes about 80 minutes along the way. It is very changeling your physical condition. It is suggested to visit Yuanjiajieby Bailong Elevator to save time and energy.

Learn more about Yuanjiaije Scenic Area >>

Tianzi Mountain（天子山）

Location: north of Wulingyuan Scenic Area
Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
Fitness Needed: Moderate

Tianzi Mountain is the one of the four scenic spots in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Tianzi Mountain has four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter. Travelers can view different scenery in different seasons and even in different time of the day.

Tianzi Mountain takes the name from Xiang Dakun who was the leader of the Tu ethnic group during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Xiang led a revolution and avowed himself as Tianzi (Son of Heaven). Paying visit to Tainzi Mountain, traveler will find many sites related with Xiang Dakun. Among them, the most impressive sights are the Yu Bi Peaks, the Xian Nv San Hua and Shen Bing Ju Hui.

Usually, many travelers put Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie in a day. You can take sightseeing bus from Yuanjiajie to Tianzi Mountain which takes about 1 hour. If time permits, you can stop at Shentang Bay and Nod-to-the-General Platform to have fantastic view, and then continue to visit Helong Park, Platform, Imperial Writing Brush Peaks, Fairy Maid Scattering Flowers (Xian Nv San HuA) Tainzi Ge (Son of Heaven Pavilion), the Mid-Air Farmers’ Cottage (Kong Zhong Tian Yuan), Heavenly Warriors Gathering, etc.

Ten Miles Gallery

Take mini train to travel through the gorgeous 5 kilometers scenic area. You won’t miss the sights Three Lady Peaks, Old Man Peak, Monkey Slope and so on.

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

Location: northwest of Wulingyuan Scenic Area
Recommended Visiting Time: about 3 hours
Fitness Needed: Moderate

Yangjiajie is a newly developed area of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. It is the least crowed area, with peaks, cliffs, waterfalls, streams, gullies and other natural landscape. The area is also abundant with plants and animals, such as white cranes, macaques, ancient trees and rare flowers.

Travelers can visit Yangjiajie after Yuanjiajie. Sightseeing bus from Yuanjiajie can transfer visitors to Yangjiajie with 10 minutes. Or you can visit Yangjiajie separately by cableway to get up and down. There are two routes for you to continue your visit. Try the right route first which you can visit Gate of Oolong Village, Tianbo Mansion (General Yang’s Family House), and then try the left route by visiting One Step to the Heaven, Corridor the Cliffs, Hawk Beak Peak, etc. Be careful when you are hiking the Yangjiajie for the road is narrow and slippery.

Baofeng Lake

Named Water Paradise, Baofeng Lake is typical scenery of Wulingyuan. Grotesque green peaks turn around clean water and water turn around peaks. There are two elegant small islands in the lake. Taking a boat in the lake is the wonderful experience where you could encounter the One Line Gorge, Hawk Nest Village, Guanyin Temple and Baofeng Waterfall.

Yellow Dragon Cave

Yellow Dragon Cave, also Huanglong Cave , is the underground-lost palace which praised as the most beautiful cave in the world by UNESCO Experts. With an area of 100,000 square meters, length of 7.6 kilometers, height of 140 meters, two underground rivers, four waterfalls, 13 caverns and 10,000 stalagmites and stalactites, it is a huge limestone cave. The Magic Needle and Chair of Dragon King are famous sights in the cave.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located north of Zhangjiajie, 35 km from downtown area. It belongs to one of the four parts of Wulingyuan Scenic Area which is situated in the northwest of Wulingyuan District.

Distance from Other Attraction in Zhangjiajie

• About 23.2 km from Tianmen Mountain
• About 30 km from Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Transfer to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

China Discovery offers worry free private car service to transfer you to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, as well as surrounding Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie, Suoxiyu. If you are independent travelers, you can take taxi or take bus to Zhangjiajie Forest Park.

• By Taxi: from Zhangjiajie Airport to the Park: around 100 Yuan; from Zhangjiajie Railway Station to the Park: 80-100 Yuan; from Zhangjiajie Downtown area to the Park: around 80 Yuan. It takes about 40 minutes.
• By Bus: Zhangjiajie Bus Station provides short-distance buses to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It takes about 40 minutes, start every 15 minutes. For those want to stop at Tianzi Mountain, it takes about an hour, start every 20 minutes; for those who want to stop at Suoxiyu, it takes about an hour, start every 20 minutes for 34 km.

▶ Related Reading:

>> Zhangjiajie Airport to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

>> Zhangjiajie Railway Station to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

For more detailed transfer info, please feel free to contact our experienced travel consultants who are here ready to help and give useful suggestions.

Zhangjiajie is an incredible place with absolutely beautiful landscape under heaven. Travelers usually spend 3 to 5 days in and around Zhangjiajie. There is no doubt that Wulingyuan National Forest Park is the highlight of all the stunning attractions which needs to spend 2 days inside. If you have one more day, you should add Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge Experience or Tianmen Mountain into the trip. Some travelers choose to visit Yellow Dragon Cave or Baofeng Lake for one day.

If you want to enjoy the antique beauty of ancient town, Fenghuang Ancient Town is the best choice for one to two days' escape. And, you can also consider of Fanjingshan Mountain to see the mushroom stone and odd mountains.

Most travelers would add Zhangjiajie into their longer China trip and you can go with Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Yangtze River Cruise, Guilin, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing and more. To customize your China tour with Zhangjiajie, just feel free to tell us your likes and demands, and we are here ready to help you at any time! Tailor make your China tour with China Discovery now!

Travel Zhangjiajie with China Discovery

To help you enjoy a worry-free trip to Zhangjiajie and the whole China, we suggest you travel with China Discovery. Our experienced travel expert will help you arrange the accommodation, transportation and everything well to let you spend all your effort and time on the sightseeing. If you have any other ideas or questions about your Zhangjiajie tour, please feel free to contact us. We will help you plan your enjoyable trip with sincerity and professionalism!

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Zhangjiajie for the past few years. Among them Mr. Elie & his wife from Belgium enjoyed 5 days in Zhangjiajie during their 69 days China trip customized with us and shared us their travel story. Travel with China Discovery to create your wonderful Zhangjiajie trip memories!