3 Days In-depth Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour in Wulingyuan

Welcome to Zhangjiajie City, an incredible destination where you can experience the reality of Hallelujah Mountain from the Movie Avatar! Upon your arrival in Zhangjiajie, the local guide and driver will meet you at the airport exit and accompany you to your hotel in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area (35km, 1 hour drive). After checking in at the hotel, you will have some free time to explore the area at your leisure.

You can visit Xibu Old Street (溪布街) to admire the architecture influenced by the local Tujia ethnic group culture. “Xibu” refers to a type of exquisite handwoven brocade created by the Tujia minority people, which is the origin of the name “Xibu Old Street”. It is a pedestrian street that encompasses a bar street, a local snack street, a West Hunan folk culture souvenir shopping street, and creative workshops. When the street comes alive in the evenings, you can satisfy your hunger with Hunan’s local snacks such as “Frog Cake” and “Tujia Fried Rice” while appreciating various Tujia-style accessories, clothing, and handicrafts.

Arrival Ideas:

1. Transportation to Zhangjiajie: There are numerous flights connecting to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport. You have the option to fly to Zhangjiajie from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and more. Additionally, you can also take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie from Changsha (2-4 hours), Guilin (7 hours), Shanghai (9 hours), Beijing (11 hours), Fenghuang Ancient Town (1 hour) and other destinations.

2. Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源景区), situated in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China, is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and World Geological Park. As the rare quartz sandstone peak forest canyon landform in the world, Wulingyuan is widely recognized as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in China. Wulingyuan consists of four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Yangjiajie Scenic Area, and Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve. Our trip will cover the most popular and iconic sections, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve.

Wulingyuan Xibu Old Street, Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie Airport

Zhangjiajie Airport

Wulingyuan Xibu Old Street, Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, you will visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan, where you will explore Yuanjiajie and behold the awe-inspiring Hallelujah Mountains (乾坤柱). Following lunch, you will be transferred to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve in Wulingyuan, where you will have the opportunity to explore Tianzi Mountain (天子山). Throughout the day, you will have ample time to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a captivating haven of nature adorned with over 3,000 slender quartz sandstone pillars.

In the morning, your first destination will be Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is the first national forest park in China. This park showcases a unique landform characterized by towering stone peaks in various shapes, abundant vegetation, and a majestic landscape. You will board a sightseeing bus to reach the Bailong Elevator, widely known as the “World’s No.1 Ladder“. This elevator holds the Guinness World Records for being the tallest, fastest, and heaviest outdoor elevator for sightseeing. In just 66 seconds, you will ascend 326 meters from the valley bottom to the pinnacle of the pillar. Next, you will hike into a mysterious Pandora World – Yuanjiajie (袁家界), the actual filming location of the movie “Avatar” and the renowned Hallelujah Mountains (哈利路亚山) in reality. Don’t miss the chance to capture the South Sky Pillar (南天一柱; Avatar Mountain), the Floating Mountain (1,074m;悬浮山), a towering vertical peak standing approximately 150 meters high from the deep valley, resembling a giant standing upright under the heavens. Take your time to walk along the Yuanjiajie Scenic Trail, which spans 3,500 meters and is built on the edge of a precipice. The trail is adorned with red prayer ribbons, and as you journey, you will be able to admire breathtaking natural wonders such as the Backyard Garden (后花园), Lost Soul Platform (迷魂台; The Best Natural Viewing Platform in Yuanjiajie), and the First Bridge Under Heaven (天下第一桥, a natural stone bridge and the landmark of Yuanjiajie). While immersing yourself in the extraordinary beauty, you will also deepen your understanding of Zhangjiajie’s sandstone peaks and forest landform. This unique landscape is the result of specific geological structures, tectonic movements, and external forces, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable phenomenon.

Next, board the sightseeing bus to reach the second tourist site – Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, which derives its name from Xiang Dakun (Xiang Tianzi), the leader of the local Tujia ethnic group who referred to himself as “Tianzi” (天子), meaning the Son of Heaven or the emperor in Chinese, during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Tianzi Mountain (天子山) is currently in the prime stage of its peak forest evolution and is renowned as the “King of Peaks”. It gained fame as a fairyland in the popular Chinese TV Series – Journey to The West. Tianzi Mountain (1,262m) is well-known for its magnificent sunrise, the sea of clouds, red moon, winter snow, red leaves, and grand forest of peaks. You can proceed to Dianjiangtai Platform (点将台) to overlook the West Sea Peaks Forest (西海峰林), where rugged rocks rise from the depths of a misty canyon. You will not like to miss a view of the Imperial Writing Brush Peaks (御笔峰) which are a row of six stone pillars, each standing approximately a hundred meters tall. They are arranged in a square shape, intricately connected, and exhibit varying thicknesses from top to bottom, resembling the shape of a pen. According to legend, it is believed to be the pen used by Xiang Tianzi. Afterward, hike to He Long Park (贺龙公园) to visit the bronze statue of Marshal He Long and his warhorse, as well as the Tianzige Pavilion(天子阁). The Tianzige Pavilion, standing at 30 meters, offers a panoramic view of Tianzi Mountain, with its peaks and mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. The scene is truly spectacular. After the tour, return to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Notes: If you are traveling during the peak season, your guide may consider reversing the itinerary to avoid the largest crowds of tourists.

Tianzi Mountain Yubi Mountain in Summer, Zhangjiajie

Floating Avatar Mountains in Yuanjiajie, Zhangjiajie

Take the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie, Zhangjiajie

Yuanjiajie Mountains, Zhangjiajie

This morning, you will continue your journey by immersing yourself in the breathtaking Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where you will explore Huangshizhai Village (黄石寨). As the saying goes, “Not visiting Huangshizhai Village, it would be a waste to come to Zhangjiajie”. In the afternoon, you will hike along Jinbianxi Stream (金鞭溪) and encounter the monkeys that inhabit the area, while also discovering more stories related to the famous Chinese TV series “Journey to The West” (Monkey King) that was filmed here.

After entering Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, you will head to the cable car station, then transfer to Huangshizhai Village by cable car. According to legend, Huangshi Gong, master of Zhang Liang (? – 186 BC, a prominent strategist well-known by Chinese people), once lived here, and the name Huangshizhai originated from this. Huangshizhai, also known as Huangshi Lion Village (黄狮寨), is named so because the entire mountain resembles a mighty lion. Huangshizhai is located in the middle of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, occupying a vast flat mountaintop with an elevation of 1,200 meters. The mountaintop covers an area of 16.5 hectares and is considered the biggest and the most beautiful observation deck in Wulingyuan. Standing in this natural grand observatory, when you look around, countless towering stone peaks and pillars emerge, densely distributed, forming a vast forest of peaks. It fills one’s heart with a sense of openness and joy. If you encounter rolling clouds and mist, with peaks draped in white veils, they appear and disappear, creating a surreal and ever-changing scene. Take your time to hike in Huangshizhai from one viewing platform to another viewing platform, and use your imagination to name the peaks and scenery you see with a interesting name.

After a simple lunch, you can take the cable car down to our next destination – Jinbianxi Stream (Golden Whip Stream). Jinbianxi Stream, with a total length of 5,710 meters, is a naturally formed beautiful stream named after one of the “Top Ten Scenic Spots of Zhangjiajie” – Jinbian Rock. Also known as Jinbian Valley, a winding and deep valley, it was one of the earliest developed areas in the Wulinyuan Scenic Area. It is renowned as “one of the most beautiful valleys in the world”. As the most picturesque boundary of Wulingyuan, Jinbianxi Stream was one of the filming locations for the classic TV series “Journey to the West” (西游记). Along the way, you will encounter many Chinese fans excitedly searching for the classic scenes from the TV series, such as the Monkey King’s Huaguoshan (Flower and Fruit Mountain) and Shuilian Dong (Water Curtain Cave). “Man walks in the valley, mountains passing on both sides”. When you wander through the peaks and valleys, the stream is clear and vibrant, with playful little fish swimming in it. Wild macaques shuttle through the trees and play in the water. The riverside is adorned with beautiful flowers and plants, and the air is filled with the songs of birds. You will find that hiking along the clear stream of Jinbianxi feels like strolling in a painting.

Notes:

1. Please maintain a certain distance from mischievous monkeys. Do not hold plastic bags or food in your hands, and avoid feeding the monkeys to prevent being snatched or scratched.

2. When playing in the water of Jinbianxi Stream during summer, be cautious of the moss on the rocks to avoid slipping.

After the tour, it is time to end your 3 Days In-depth Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour in Wulingyuan. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high-speed train to your next destination. Thank you for choosing Majestic China Trips for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.

Huangshizhai Village, Zhangjiajie

Mountains around Huangshizhai Village, Zhangjiajie

Huangshizhai Cable Car, Zhangjiajie

Jinbianxi Stream, Zhangjiajie