Can I Visit Zhangjiajie on My Own?

Is a solo trip to Zhangjiajie possible? Yes, it is.

There are several reasons:
1. Zhangjiajie is a safe city. You don't have to worry about social unrest, stealing, etc. You can even go out for fun at night.

2. The public transportation in Zhangjiajie is complete. Taxis, city buses, and coaches link attractions, train stations, and airport.

3. In scenic spots like Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain, signs in English are everywhere, so you won’t get lost. 

4. Last, hotels are spread across the downtown area, around railway stations, and next to attractions and they support reservations online in advance. For dining, restaurants and food streets spread around attractions, let alone in downtown area.

However, 
1. Very few local people speak English. The language barrier may be a problem for solo travelers in Zhangjiajie.

2. A guided tour offers better traveling experience.
With a guide, you don’t have to do a lot of homework in advance, like selecting a hotel among the tons and making a reservation, planning the visit itinerary and buying entry tickets, and preparing for the transportation from one place to another.

Besides, a professional tour guide knows how to avoid crowds and save his or her guests’ time without queueing up a lot. In addition, Zhangjiajie’s weather is changeable especially in mountains, a guide would provide alternative places to go if it rains suddenly. But you need to choose a reliable and experienced travel agency.
To get to Zhangjiajie, train and flight are the 2 most convenient ways.
Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport operates many flights from many domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an, and some foreign countries like South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Zhangjiajie Railway Station and Zhangjiajie West Railway Station operate trains from Changsha, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Suzhou, and other cities all around China.

Zhangjiajie West Train Station

See more about Zhangjiajie Train Schedule

To travel to major attractions, the easiest way is to take the long-distance bus from the bus stations near Zhangjiajie Railway Station and Zhangjiajie West Railway Station.

Tip – Prepare both a paper map and a digital map of Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie’s major attractions are all in the mountains including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain (Heaven’s Gate), which means the phone signal is unstable in some areas, so a paper map and a digital offline map are useful. Usually, you can get a free map in scenic areas tourists’ centers and the counter of Zhangjiajia’s hotels.
 Most travelers to Zhangjiajie would spare at least 2 days: 1.5 days for the Forest Park and half a day for the Grand Canyon. With more days, they would include Tianmen Mountain and the nearby attractions like Fenghuang Ancient Town and Furong Ancient Town.

Must-go Places	What to Do
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park	see Hallelujah Mountain;  explore Yellow Dragon Cave; hike Golden Whip Stream
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon	Walk through the suspended glass bridge
Tianmen Mountain	Climb 999 staircases to make wishes in front of the Tianmen Cave; take the world’s highest sightseeing cable car

 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Tianmen Cave

See More: How Many Days Do You Need in Zhangjiajie
 For travelers to Zhangjiajie, there are 2 major areas to stay: the city area for visitors to visit Tianmen Mountain; and around the east gate and south gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Wulingyuan, which is especially for people planning to visit the Park the following day.

Zhangjiajie Downtown

Spicy Zhangjiajie Cuisine

As a hot tourist city, you don’t need to worry about that there is no place to feed yourself. But the dishes here are salty and spicy. If you are not used to it, inform waiters of your taste when making orders and ask them to add less salt, oil and chili. Or you can prepare some food in advance. Want to know the best food and top restaurants in Zhangjiajie? Feel free to click and read Best Food and Snacks in Zhangjiajie and Best Restaurants and Food Streets in Zhangjiajie.
 Few people in Zhangjiajie speak English, so you should better research and record the Chinese names of the attractions you plan to visit, your hotels to stay, and the streets they locate in. It makes it convenient to ask local people for directions. In addition, please download a voice and text translation app in advance.

Further Reading: What Should I Pack for Zhangjiajie Tour