Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is as large as 48.1 square km, equal to about 6,740 football courts. It is so large, making it impossible for tourists to explore every corner of it in one trip. Below are core attractions and must-try programs one should not miss.
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| Peak Forests in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park |
Which Gate to Use to Enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has 5 gates. Entering from different gates means one will tour along different routes. Given the traffic convenience and travelling experience, East Gate and South Gate are suggested:
East Gate:
It is also called Wulingyuan Gate. Entering from this gate, you can quickly take the eco-bus to reach Bailong Elevator lower station, then take the elevator to the mountain top in minutes. Outside the gate, there are abundant accommodation and dining choices.
How to get there: Take the long-distance bus from Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station or Zhangjiajie High Speed Bus Station to get there directly. The price is CNY 13 and duration is around 1 hour.
 | | East Gate of the Park | |  | | South Gate of the Park | |
South Gate:
South Gate is also called Forest Park Gate. Among the 5 entrances, it is the nearest to city center. South Gate is suitable for visitors planning to visit Golden Whip Stream and Huangshizhai in the start of their tours.
How to get there: You can get to the Gate directly by the long-distance buses from the 2 two long-distance bus stations mentioned above. It also costs CNY13 and takes around 1 hour.
Recommended Tour Routes in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
To have a thorough tour in the Forest Park, 2 days are needed.
1. Classic Route
This route is suitable even for children and seniors as it takes advantage of cable car and elevator as much as possible.
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| Bailong Elevator |
Day 1: enter from the East Gate – go to the lower station of Bailong Elevator – take Elevator to Yuanjiajie – go to Yangjiajie – to Tianzi Mountain – to mountain foot by Tianzi Mountain Cable Car – to East Gate and exit
Day 2: enter from the East Gate – go to Ten Miles Gallery – take the Gallery Sightseeing Train – Shuiraosimen – begin hiking along Golden Whip Stream – arrive at Big Oxygen Bar Square – go to Huangshizhai – take Huangshizhai Cable Car to summit – go down the mountain by the same cable car – exit from South Gate
2. Hiking Lovers' Route
This route is more energy-consuming.
Day 1: Enter from East Gate – go to Ten Miles Gallery and hike – go to the mountain foot of Tianzi Mountain – go to summit of Tianzi Mountain by hiking – Helong Park – Yangjiajie – Yuanjiajie – go to mountain foot from Luancuan Slope by hiking – Shuiraosimen – return to East Gate and exit
Day 2: enter from East Gate – Shuiraosimen – go to Golden Whip Stream and hike – Big Oxygen Bar Square – go to the mountain foot of Huangshizhai – hike to Huangshizhai summit – go down the mountain by Huangshizhai Cable Car or hiking – go to South Gate and exit
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| Hiking Trail in Golden Whip Stream |
Note: To arrive at next attraction or return to gate, eco-bus free of charge can be used. At the same time, for people wanting to enter the park early in the next morning, just stay around the Park the night before. You can click
Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie to learn more stay infor.
How to Return to Zhangjiajie Downtown after Exit the Park
Exit from East Gate:
Take Bus No.1, which costs CNY2, get off at Wulingyuan Bus Station, and then take the long-distance bus to return to city center within 1 hour, whose ticket price is CNY13
Exit from South Gate:
Walk for 4 minutes to the parking lot and take the long-distance to city center. The ticket is CNY 12 and travel time is about 40 minutes.
Visit Tips
How to Avoid Crowds in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
1. Arrive at the entrance and start exploration early at around 7:00, when the crowds have not arrived yet.
2. As most visitors would enter from East Gate, in peak season, crowds and queuing up for a long time are unavoidable. If you don’t mind, enter the Park from the South Gate.
3. May Day Holiday, summer holiday in July and August, and National Holiday in October are the super tourist peaks in China, so avoid it.
4. Arrange the top attractions, like Bailong Elevator and Hallelujah Mountain, in the afternoon, instead of in the morning like most visitors do.
5. Some less-touristy attractions may also surprise you, including Yangjiajie and Sky Garden.
6. In the afternoon at the end of the tour, there are always long queues waiting for taking the cable car or elevator to go down the mountain. If you still have strength, just hike.
Book Tickets in Advance in Peak Season
In off season November – February, entrance tickets are sufficient, thus no need to book in advance.
In peak season, booking ticket in advance is necessary. If you buy the ticket on the spot upon arrival, it is possible that the ticket for the day and even next 3 – 4 days have been sold out. Also, note that East Gate tickets are the most popular and often sold out quickly; if it is the case, buying a south gate ticket instead. In addition, 7:00 – 8:00 tickets and 8:00 – 9:00 tickets are more popular than those of other periods; if you want to enter during these 2 periods, also remember reserve it in advance.
Great Scenery but too Much Walking
Zhangjiajie's scenery is breathtaking but it requires a lot of walking. Even if taking cable car and elevator, you still need to walk about 40,000 steps to visit most attractions in 2 days. Therefore, please wear comfortable shoes and use a hiking stick in case of staircases.
For the combo ticket of 3 Cable Cars and 1 Elevator, the 4-ride ticket is totally enough for a 2-day trip in the Park.
- Last updated on Mar. 07, 2025 by Zoey Gong -