4 Days in Zhangjiajie: Things You Absolutely Must Do
This has got to be one of the most well-known natural wonders in China. It draws in many visitors as it is known to have inspired the landscapes in the movie Avatar. I was nervous that the fog would cover the mountains and we wouldn’t be able to see anything, but luck was on our side and the days were fairly clear. I really enjoyed the place where we stayed, and overall felt like I had the best time there out of my whole trip to China this time. To clarify, there’s the central area of Zhangjiajie, where the train station is located, but we chose to stay in the Wulingyuan area, which is much closer to one of the entrances to the national park. It’s about a 40-minute taxi ride from the city center.
Day 1
People’s Cafe 人民咖啡馆
On the first day, we traveled by train for approximately seven hours to get from Hong Kong to Zhangjiajie. After checking into our hotel, we discovered a café near the water. The café was playing great modern hits, and there were plenty of enticing drinks to choose from. My sister chose an iced chocolate drink, while I ordered the passionfruit and prune drink. After spending so many hours sitting on the train, it felt great to get outside, explore, and discover new places around Zhangjiajie.
Zuixiangqin Private Kitchen 醉湘亲私房菜
For dinner, we crossed the bridge and ate at a restaurant that had been recommended on social media. The décor had a very traditional Chinese kitchen theme, the waiter was incredibly helpful and kind, and the bold Hunan cuisine flavors were amazing. The dishes we ordered included hanging pot chicken (吊锅鸡), stir-fried yellow beef (小炒黄牛肉), and country-style stir-fried pork (农家小炒肉).
Address: 张家界市武陵源区军地坪武陵路武陵大道581号
Day 2
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 张家界国家森林公园
Exploring the park can be challenging, and the best way to navigate it depends on which entrance you use and which areas you want to explore. Looking at the map on the right (click to enlarge), we decided to enter through Entrance No. 4 near Wulingyuan and explore the park from there. We took the shuttle bus inside the park to the Bailong Elevator, then explored Yuanjiajie. After that, we caught another bus to Yangjiajie (ate lunch at one of the stalls) and finally took the cable car down from Tianzi Mountain. This was a fairly fast-paced way to see the park, and I would strongly recommend spending at least two days exploring the different areas. Since we were short on time, I focused on visiting many of the park’s most popular highlights so we could experience as much as possible in a limited amount of time. Note: Purchase tickets in advance to save time and avoid long queues, as you will need to buy separate tickets for park entry, the Bailong Elevator, and the various lifts and cable cars throughout the park.
Address: 张家界市武陵源区中国张家界世界地质公园
Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge 张家界大峡谷 & 张家界大峡谷玻璃桥
Another major attraction is the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon which is famous for the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. Located about 40–50 minutes by taxi from the Wulingyuan area, this scenic destination is known for its dramatic landscapes and thrilling outdoor activities, including bungee jumping and via ferrata routes.
Visitors can customize their experience with a variety of ticketed activities. In addition to admission, extra fees apply for adventure attractions and for crossing the glass bridge, where protective shoe covers are required. The canyon also features mountain slides, riverside walking trails, and optional boat rides along the water.
During our visit, we chose to walk across the glass bridge, ride the slide down the mountain, and then follow the scenic river path all the way to the exit.
Address: 张家界市慈利县三官寺乡
Good Taste Local Restaurant 好品味土菜馆
To end the day, we ate at a restaurant across from our hotel. It turned out to be such a great meal — probably because we were completely exhausted and starving after a full day of exploring. We ordered stir-fried cabbage (小白菜), tomato and egg soup (番茄鸡蛋汤), and stir-fried yellow beef (小炒黄牛肉). Everything was simple, comforting, and incredibly satisfying after such an active day.
Address: 张家界市武陵源区军邸路22号
Day 3
Tianmen Mountain 天门山
Tianmen Mountain is another major attraction located near downtown Zhangjiajie. The cable car station is right in the city center and carries visitors high into the mountains, ending near the base of the iconic Tianmen Cave, also known as Heaven’s Gate.
From there, visitors can choose to climb the 999 steps leading up to the cave or purchase an additional ticket to ride a series of escalators to the top. Once above the cave, there are scenic walking paths that continue further up the mountain, including the Glass Walkway and breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the winding road known as “99 Bends.”
The mountaintop also has several areas to browse for souvenirs or stop for food and drinks. Visiting later in the afternoon is especially worthwhile if you want to see the cave and staircase illuminated after dark, creating an even more dramatic atmosphere.
Address: 张家界市永定区天门路
We were exhausted from all the activity, so we returned to Renmin Cafe to relax. I ordered the hawthorne sparkling water this time around.
Xiangxi Diet Culture Museum 索溪山寨·湘西民土菜
This restaurant was decorated with traditional clothing and ornaments representing one of the local ethnic minority groups in the Zhangjiajie area, which gave the space a unique and cultural atmosphere. Ordering food as foreigners was a bit confusing, since the staff insisted that we scan a QR code and place the order through our phones instead of ordering directly with a server. Eventually, we managed to order a potato dish, a meat dish, rice, and a celtuce dish.
Address: 张家界市武陵源区吴家峪居委会七组驼峰路交叉口东南角
Day 4
Fenghuang Ancient City 凤凰古城
To explore more of Hunan Province, we took a day trip to Fenghuang Ancient City. Another popular destination in the region is Furong Town (芙蓉镇). From Zhangjiajie city center, it takes about an hour by train to reach Fenghuang.
The town has a calm and relaxing atmosphere, with beautiful riverside scenery and well-preserved traditional buildings. As you walk through the old streets, you will frequently be approached by photographers and rental shops encouraging visitors to dress in ethnic minority clothing for photo shoots. Throughout the area, there are countless options for food, drinks, and souvenirs, making it an enjoyable place to wander and soak in the atmosphere.
Address: 湘西土家族苗族自治州凤凰县豹子湾路
Yipinyuan Restaurant 壹品源餐厅
As it was our last night in Zhangjiajie, we decided to keep things simple and ate at another restaurant just down the block from our hotel. Since the day had been more relaxed, we were not as hungry as usual, so we ordered two meat dishes along with some white rice.
The weather was quite cold that evening, but the restaurant made the meal especially cozy. There was a heater placed underneath the table to keep our legs warm, and the tablecloth was made from a thick quilted material that helped trap the heat.
Address: 张家界市武陵源区军地坪街道军邸路397号
Day 5
Eat a local breakfast
Before checking out of our hotel, and heading to the train station. We stopped for some breakfast food at a restaurant down the block. Congee, dumplings, baozi, and noodles were ordered for the breakfast meal. It was a warm, comforting start to the day.
How to get around
The Wulingyuan area is very walkable, with plenty of eateries and attractions conveniently located close together. To travel from Zhangjiajie city center to the national park or other tourist sites, I highly recommend taking taxis. While buses do operate to some destinations, navigating the routes and waiting for arrivals can take up a significant amount of time. Taxis are relatively inexpensive, easy to find, and a convenient way to reach your destination.
If you’re arriving in Zhangjiajie from another city, both high-speed and regular trains frequently serve the area. For air travel, the main airport is Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport.
How long to stay
This really depends on how much time you want to spend at each attraction. When I was preparing for the trip, many of the posts I read recommended spending several days just exploring the national park. I ended up seeing it all in one day, so it ultimately comes down to your schedule, interests, and travel pace.
I would recommend at least two days for the national park and a few additional days for the other attractions. Overall, I’d say five or six days is a more ideal timeframe if you want to experience many of the sites without feeling too rushed.
When to go
We were extremely lucky because I was nervous about whether we would actually be able to see the mountain views since we visited in December. Late fall, winter, and spring are all very prone to fog and heavy cloud cover. Some people visit the national park and Tianmen Mountain and end up not being able to see anything at all.
Summer and early fall are generally more dependable and less risky if you want clear views, but those seasons also come with heavier crowds and hotter temperatures.
Where to stay
When I was browsing places to stay on Booking.com, I found plenty of foreigner-friendly accommodations. In the Wulingyuan area, there are hotels that cater to a wide range of budgets. I ended up choosing Zhangjiajie Ziyan Ningxiang Chinese Inn (https://www.trip.com/w/UrBOiWeykT2) since it was highly rated and conveniently located near the park entrance.
My siblings and I were very pleased with the hotel, and the staff were incredibly welcoming. They chatted with us, made sure everything was to our liking, gave us piping hot sweet potatoes, and encouraged us to come back again.