Top 10 Famous Tourist Attraction and Best Sightseeings in Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, located in Hunan Province, is renowned for its stunning natural attractions, including the towering sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the serene Golden Whip Stream, the breathtaking Tianmen Mountain with its natural arch and cableway, and the picturesque Yuanjiajie, famous for its unique rock formations and the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.

Top 1: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. It consists of scenic areas such as Huangshizhai, Golden Whip Stream, and Yuanjiajie, covering a total area of 5,000 hectares.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is situated in the Qingyan Mountain branch of the Wuling Mountains, with an altitude of 1,334 meters. The soil is mainly yellow soil, and the park belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate zone. The forest coverage rate is 97.7%, with vegetation primarily consisting of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests. There are 93 families and 517 species of woody plants, 41 species of birds across 6 orders and 13 families, and 27 species of mammals.

In 1982, the State Council authorized the National Planning Commission to establish Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, making it China's first national forest park.

• Distance: 40 minutes' drive from the city center
• Address: No. 1, Ludi Road, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 3 days

Top 2: Yuanjiajie Scenic Area

Yuanjiajie covers an area of approximately 1,200 hectares, with an average altitude of 1,074 meters. It borders Golden Whip Stream to the east, with a distant view of Yaozizhai. To the south, it overlooks Huangshizhai and connects to Tianbo Mansion. To the west, it connects to Tianzi Mountain, and to the north, it is close to Suoxiyu. Located in the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is situated on the northern slope of Shandaogou and is a large and relatively flat mountain primarily composed of quartzite. It is one of the concentrated scenic spots in Zhangjiajie Park. The Southern Sky Column in Yuanjiajie was the prototype of Hallelujah Mountain in the movie Avatar,. Originally called Southern Sky Column (Nan Tian Yi Zhu), it was renamed to “Hallelujah Mountain” Now, the Avatar Mountain has been listed on the top of Zhangjiajie attractions that you should never miss in Zhangjiajie tour.

It takes about 2 hours to hike from the vicinity of the Golden Whip Stream Grand Canyon to Yuanjiajie, while taking the elevator takes only 2 minutes. The elevator has a vertical height difference of 335 meters and an operating height of 326 meters, with each elevator made entirely of transparent glass. The Bailong Elevator is listed in the Guinness World Records for being the "world's highest, fastest, and largest load capacity elevator.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 3: Tianzi Mountain

Tianzi Mountain

Located within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, it is one of the four major scenic spots in Wulingyuan District. It attracts countless tourists with its steep peaks, sheer cliffs, and unique stone pillar formations. The highest elevation reaches 1,262.5 meters, while the lowest is 534 meters, covering a total area of 67 square kilometers.

The mountain tour route is 45 kilometers long. The geological landscape here is mainly composed of quartz sandstone, belonging to the sandstone peak forest landform, It is formed from sedimentary rock that gradually sank from a vast ocean 318 million years ago.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 4: Golden Whip Stream

Golden Whip Stream is 6.5 kilometers long and serves as a corridor of natural oxygen bar .it is running from west to east through the forest park. Flanked by strange and majestic peaks, the scenery is picturesque. Playful birds and animals, ancient and unique trees, and leisurely swimming fish contribute to the exceptionally tranquil environment.

The area traversed by Golden Whip Stream is acclaimed as "the most beautiful canyon in the world." It is a must-visit place for travelers seeking tranquility and beauty. This stunning canyon is perfect for hiking enthusiasts to explore.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 5: Tianmen Mountain

Tian Men Mountain

Tianmen Mountain, formerly known as Songliang Mountain, is located in Yong ding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, with an elevation of 1,518.6 meters. The uplift of Tianmen Mountain began with the Yanshan Movement and continued through the Himalayan orogeny, forming the main structure of Tianmen Mountain. Intense erosion and dissolution have shaped the present karst mountain landscape.

Tian men Cave, which cuts through the mountain from north to south, is 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep, standing tall like a gateway to the heavens, thus giving Tianmen Mountain its name. It has a history of 1,754 years. The sea of clouds at Tianmen Mountain is another unique feature, offering a different kind of beauty. Tianmen Mountain is also renowned as the most beautiful aerial garden and heavenly realm, and it boasts the world's longest cableway.

The main attractions in Tianmen Mountain include Tianmen Cave, Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Heaven-Linking Avenue, Bonsai Garden and Ghost-valley Plank Path with nearly 60-meter glass skywalk. The geopark is the classic Karst landform.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 6: The Ten Miles Gallery

The Ten-Mile Gallery is approximately five kilometers long, flanked by lush trees and fragrant wildflowers. The area is filled with bizarre peaks and stones of various shapes, resembling giant landscape paintings hanging side by side on sheer cliffs. This magnificent natural wonder blends seamlessly with the artistry of master painters. Along this ten-mile-long valley, the abundant natural scenery makes you feel as though you are walking through a painting. You can also take a small train to travel through this picturesque landscape.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 7: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

The canyon is lush with vegetation, the air is fresh, cool, and comfortable. A thin mist hovers over the stream, making it feel like a paradise and instantly relieving any worries. The glass bridge is located in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area and is the world's highest and longest glass bridge. The bridge is built on the peaks on both sides of the canyon, spanning the gorge with a relative height of about 400 meters from the valley floor and a total length of about 370 meters. The bridge surface is entirely paved with transparent glass, and it features the highest bungee jump in the world. Standing on the bridge, you can take in the full view of the valley floor 400 meters below your feet.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 8: Yellow Stone Village

Yellow Stone Village

Huangshizhai, also known as Huangshi Village, is named after Huang Shigong, the master of Zhang Liang, who is said to have come here to practice alchemy. Located in the central part of the forest park, it is a massive square mountain plateau with an elevation of 1,080 meters, serving as a majestic and lofty viewing platform.

The top of the village covers an area of 16.5 hectares, with the southwest being slightly higher and the northeast slightly lower. Surrounded by sheer cliffs and lush trees, many suspended viewing platforms extend outward. Walking around the village, you can see all the peaks below and take in the distant and nearby scenic wonders, giving rise to the saying, "If you don't visit Huangshizhai, you've wasted your trip to Zhangjiajie."

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 07:00-18:00
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 9: Fenghuang Ancient Town

Fenghuang Ancient Town

The Fenghuang Ancient City Scenic Area is located in Tuojiang Town, Fenghuang County. It is a charming small mountain town that still retains the style and features of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Fenghuang is a cultural convergence point for the Miao, Tujia, and Han ethnic groups. The local customs are simple and traditional folk activities and folk arts blend harmoniously, earning it the reputation of the "Hometown of Paintings." The ancient city is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with lush green peaks, and the clear Tuo River flows from west to east through the city.

In the 1.8 square kilometers of the ancient town area, the traditional layout and appearance of the ancient city have been well preserved. There are over 120 residential buildings with Ming and Qing characteristics and more than 20 ancient streets that have maintained their historical appearance. The streets are paved with bluestone slabs, and dark brown wooden shops and residences line the streets, rising and falling with the terrain in a crisscross pattern. Along the banks of the Tuo River, stilted wooden houses stand in rows with flower lattice windows that allow light to pass through, tall fireproof brick walls, and impressive dragon and phoenix carvings, all showcasing rich local and ethnic characteristics.

• Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: Access all day
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Top 10: Yellow Dragon Cave

Huanglong Cave is renowned for its vast chambers, deep underground rivers, and dense clusters of stalagmites. The highest point inside the cave reaches a vertical height of over 100 meters. The cave features interconnected chambers and rivers within it.

The iconic attraction is the "Dinghai Shenzhen," a 20-meter-tall stalagmite that has been growing for 200,000 years, with its thinnest part only 10 centimeters in diameter. The cave offers a "land and water" tour route: visitors first walk a segment, then board a boat at the dock on the underground river to enjoy the river scenery and stalagmite wonders.

• Address: Hekou Village, Suoxiyu Town, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
• Opening hours: 08:00-17:30 (all day); Last entry at 17:30 (January 1 - May 4)
• 08:30-16:30 (all day); Last entry at 16:30 (May 6 - December 31)
• Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

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