Zhangjiajie Attractions - Top 14 Attractions in & around Zhangjiajie

No.1: Wulingyuan Scenic Area

Type: Forests, Scenic/ Historic Walking Areas

Sites: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, located in the northwest of Zhangjiajie City, was listed into the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is noted for more than 3000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks across most of the site, many over 200 meters in height, along with many ravines and gorges with attractive streams, pools, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. This 391-suqare-km Wulingyuan Scenic Area covers four spots, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Stream), Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and Yangjiajie.

Wulingyuan contains over 500 species of trees including the dawn redwood. It is also a heaven for fauna, including giant salamanders, rhesus monkeys, and a wide variety of birds. The area is often cloaked in fog, adding atmosphere but obscuring most views. The whole area usually needs to spend two to three days. You can explore accordingly: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (First Huangshi Village and then Golden Whip Stream) - Yuanjiajie - Yangjiajie - Tianzi Mountain - Ten-mile Natural Gallery.

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.2: Zhangajiajie National Forest Park

Type: Forests, Scenic/ Historic Walking Areas

Sites: Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the core area of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It is not only the first national forest park in China but also listed as a UNESCO global geopark. The words such as majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild could hard to describe the park. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is known for its exquisite forests, odd-shaped peaks and rocks, the beautiful canyons, the limestone caves, and the breathtaking panoramic views. It consists of several main tourist routes: Huangshi Village, Golden Whip Stream, Yaozi Village, Pipa Stream and so on. It needs one whole day to explore the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Huangshi Village:It is the biggest natural sightseeing platform in the national park. A saying goes “He who does not reach Huangshi Village does not pay a true visit to Zhangjiajie.” If you have enough time, watch the marvelous sunrise here. Learn more about Huangshi Village >>

Golden Whip Stream: It is famous for its pristine water, its verdant mountains, its steep cliffs and its serene valley. As a veritable "paradise" for plants, its pathways are adorned by an abundance of flowers, trees, and grasses. It takes about 3-4 hours to hike along the 7-kilometer stream. Learn more about Golden Whip Stream >>

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.3: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge

Type: Canyons, Nature & Park, Mountains, Natural Sightseeing

Recommended Length of Visit: 3-4 hours

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is very popular for its world highest and largest glass bridge of 430 m long and about 400 m high above the valley. This great construction has gained more than 10 prizes and has been regarded as one of the "12 Most Spectacular Bridges in the World" by CNN, so you can go to walk on the transparent glass bridge to get the excitement and appreciate the full view of verdant trees and running waters below. Besides, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon enjoys extremely beautiful sightseeing of waterfalls, streams, flowers, skyway, etc.

You can enjoy the every second in this wonderland and have a risk on the record-breaking glass bridge simultaneously. That’s to say, travelers can choose to only experience glass bridge or combine Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with glass bridge experience in one trip. The prices are different and you can decide based on your likes.

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Exciting Adventure with Glass Bridge

No.4: Tianmen Mountain

Type: Mountains

Recommended Length of Visit: 3-4 hours

Referred to as the “Soul of Zhangjiajie”, Tianmen Mountain, standing 1,500 meters above sea level, boasts a primitive forest, numerous rare tree species, medicinal herbs and an abundance of fauna.

The spectacular wonder of nature to admire in Tianmen Mountain:
1) Tianmen Cave: a natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world.
2) Cable car: as the cable car goes up with the steep cable it's beautiful to shout and have the happiest moments;
3) An aerial view of road;
4) Glass Walk: from the 3-km glass walk, you can actually see down through glass as you walk feels spectacular and scary;
5) Hanging bridge…these all the awesome attractions must visit at least once in life.

>> 5 Days Zhangjiajie Ultimate Tour with Glass Bridge & Tianmen Mountain

No.5: Fenghuang Ancient Town (Phoenix Ancient Town)

Type: Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: half day

Praised as the most beautiful tiny city in China, Fenghuang Ancient Town is located near the Tuojiang River, about 200 kilometers from Zhangjiajie City which needs about3-3.5 hours’ driving. Hemmed in by rolling mountains and watered by a smoothly flowing river, flagstone streets, rows of traditional wooden houses built on stilts, towers, bridges everywhere, small boats rowed down the river, that's a portrait of Fenghuang Ancient Town.

Besides the beautiful scenery, Fenghuang Ancient Town is also a famous historic and cultural city and home to minority groups (Tujia & Miao). A visit to Fenghuang Ancient Town will give you an idea of what life was like years ago. Highlights in the ancient city are: Miaozhai, the bonfire party, the Southern Great Wall, the natural wonders Qiliang Dong, the Simon Gorge rafting. This ancient city has been waiting for you for a thousand years. What are you waiting for?

>> 5 Days Amazing Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Ancient Town Tour

No.6: Tianzi Mountain

Type: Mountains, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 Hours

Tianzi Mountain, located at the north of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is the must-see part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Tianzi Mountain has distinctive feature: the mountains and peaks look like the bamboo shoot rising above the ground that resemble skyscrapers more than a city landscape. There are four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter. Reaching the top of the mountain, you could see the whole and complete majestic views of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. These Avatar Mountains give a feeling that you are in the movie.

Tianzi Mountain is not only known for its spectacular scene, but also for the beautiful history. It is named after the farmer Xiang Dakun of the Tujia ethnic group, who led successful local farmers’ revolt during the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty and called himself “Tianzi”. There are many sites about his story like the Yu Bi Peaks (Emperor’s Writing Brush Peak), the Xian Nv San Hua, and the Shen Bing Ju Hui. Most of travelers would put Tianzi Mountain after their Yuanjiajie visit on the same day. Know more about Tianzi Mountain.

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.7: Yuanjiajie

Type: Mountains, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 Hours

You are familiar with the movie “Avatar” and you must know the “Hallelujah Mountain” floating in the air. Yuanjiajie is shooting location for the scene where you can have a look at the Avatar mountain in person. Praised as the mysterious “Pandora World”, Yuanjiajie gives you a chance to catch the enchanting sightseeing of thousands of peculiar mountains standing spectacularly with distinct shapes and postures from the deep valley in front your eyes.

Located between Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie is also the must-see site of Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The highlights here including Bailong elevator, South Sky Pillar (Pillar between Heaven and Earth) (南天一柱), the Peculiar Stone Bridge (天下第一桥), the Puzzling Crag (迷魂台) and the Backyard Garden (后花园). Travelers usually put Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain in one day after their Zhangjiajie National Forest Park visit.

>> 3 Days Classic Zhangjiajie Natural Wonders Tour

No.8: Yellow Dragon Cave

Type: Nature & Parks, Geologic Formations

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 Hours

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. The exploration in Yellow Dragon Cave is a combination of hiking and boat experience, taking about 2 to 3 hours. Know more about Yellow Dragon Cave.

>> 4 Days Leisure Zhangjiajie Nature Discovery

No.9: Baofeng Lake

Type: Nature & Parks, Bodies of Water

Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 Hours

Baofeng Lake, located in Wulingyuan Town, is about 34 kilometers from Zhangjiajie downtown and close to Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. 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 on the beautiful lake is the wonderful relaxing experience that you could encounter the One Line Gorge, Hawk Nest Village, Guanyin Temple and Baofeng Waterfall. The boat experience lasts about 25 minutes and the whole visiting in the area needs about 2 hours. Know more about Baofeng Lake

>> 4 Days Leisure Zhangjiajie Nature Discovery

No.10: Yangjiajie

Type: Mountains, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 Hours

Yangjiajie is the newly-developed scenic area of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area. It is linking with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the east and Tianzi Mountain in the north. According to the legend, the Yang Warriors in Northern Song Dynasty camped here to suppress the King of Xiang and they were going to bread offspring on this piece of land and hence called “Yang Jia Jie”. Yangjiajie is comprised of peaks, cliffs, waterfalls, streams, gullies and other natural landscape. There are altogether 110 scenic spots in total that can be viewed in this area. A visit to Yangjiajie, you’ll not only appreciate breathtaking natural landscape, but also seek for the root of Yang families. Know more about Yangjiajie.

>> 5 Days Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountains Photography Tour

No.11: Ten-mile Natural Gallery

Type: Mountains, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 Hours

Ten-mile Natural Gallery is a part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, located on the way between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. Different from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Yuanjiajie, the best way to explore Ten-mile Natural Gallery is taking the train through the tranquil valley surrounded by forests and peculiar mountains alongside. With the slowly-moving train, you are like opening a beautiful Chinese painting scroll at your own pace. There are many vivid mountains with distinctive postures, like Herb Collecting Old Man (采药老人), the Star of Longevity Welcome the Guests (寿星迎宾), Three Sisters Peaks (三姐妹峰), etc. Know more about Ten-Mile Natural Gallery.

>> 4 Days Zhangjiajie Highlights Tour with Fantastic Hiking Experience

No.12: Tujia Folk Customs Park

Type: Minority, Landmarks/ Points of Interest

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 Hours

Tujia Folk Custom Park is a large-scale cultural tourist attraction which is mainly built to demonstrate Tujia people’s folk custom. In this area of 5 hectares, you could see various aspects of Tujia folk customs such as architecture, food, agriculture, military art etc. The buildings here are constructed with wood and stone with the characteristics of carved girder and painted columns, upturned eaves. Besides, there are several performances such as the bridal weeping and folk singing to see, helping you get to know more Tujia culture and customs.

No.13: Xibu Street

Type: Points of Interest, Historic Area

Recommended Length of Visit: 0.5-1 Hour

To kill some time at night when stay in Wulingyuan Town, it is a good choice to pay a visit to Xibu Street. This street is located at the opposite of Wulingyuan Government and close to Baofeng Lake. Xibu Street is the comprehensive place for entertainment, dining, shopping, accommodation and creativity. With the style of Tujia ethnic minority, the architecture in Xibu Street is romantic, modern and simple. When night falls, you can take a relaxing walk from your hotel to the street to have a bite of some Zhangjiajie snack as well as feel the hospitality of Tujia minority. Know more about Night Life at Xibu Street.

No.14: Yongshun Laosicheng Tusi Site

Type: Minority, Historic Site

Recommended Length of Visit: 0.5-1 Day

Yongshun Laosicheng Tusi Site, together with Tangya Tusi Site in Hubei and Hailongtun Site in Guizhou was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Among the three, Laosicheng Tusi Site is the largest, oldest and best preserved one. It is about 84 kilometers from Zhangjiajie City which needs about 2 hours’ driving.

Honored as the Machu Picchu spot in China, Laosicheng Tusi Site shows a great historical value and significance. It effectively filled the vacancy of Tusi system in archeology and showed the generation, development and extinction and Tusi system. The highlights to explore including Patriarch Palace, Peng’s Ancestral Temple, Ancient Tomb Complex, Tusi Dezheng Monument and Laosicheng Museum.