Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan province is a protected area of towering quartz-sandstone pillars and dense subtropical forest, designated as China’s first national forest park in 1982 and part of the Wulingyuan UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is known for its hundreds to thousands of vertical pillars that create a distinctive, cliff-dominated landscape.

Viewpoints and walking trails give access to clusters of pillars, narrow ravines and forested ridges; notable visitor areas include Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, the Golden Whip Stream valley and cliffside observation decks. The Bailong Elevator provides rapid vertical access from the valley floor to higher viewpoints and is a common transit option for visitors.

The park’s landforms formed through long-term erosion of quartz-sandstone; the area has been managed for tourism since the late 20th century with paths, cableways and viewing platforms added to improve access while protecting key areas. It is part of a larger scenic region that includes adjacent reserves and scenic corridors.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in northwestern Hunan province near the city of Zhangjiajie; the park’s main entrances are within a short drive of Zhangjiajie city and Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, set among steep, forested mountains.

• Access options: The park has several cable cars and the cliff-side Bailong Elevator, which is the fastest way to gain elevation for panoramic viewpoints.
• Terrain: Many of the sandstone pillars rise over 200 metres; expect steep trails and frequent viewpoints when planning time in the park.

What to See#

• Yuanjiajie: A scenic area within the park known for its pillar-like quartz-sandstone rock formations and for the platform called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, which was promoted as the inspiration for the film’s floating mountains.
• Tianzi Mountain: A ridge and protected area dominated by towering sandstone pillars and dense forest, with several viewpoints offering panoramic views over the park; named after a local Tujia leader.
• Bailong Elevator: A steep glass-and-steel lift built onto a cliff face that provides rapid vertical access from the valley floor to observation decks, reducing a long climb to minutes.
• Golden Whip Stream: A long, narrow valley with a clear stream that runs between pillars and is commonly used for walking trails that pass waterfalls, pools and rock pillars.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is accessed via Zhangjiajie city/Wulingyuan. Fly into Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport or arrive by train to Zhangjiajie, then take a shuttle bus or taxi to the Wulingyuan scenic-area entrances (the drive from Zhangjiajie city to Wulingyuan typically takes around 30-60 minutes). Once in Wulingyuan there are park buses, cable cars and walking trails to reach the main park entrances and scenic spots.

• Start at dawn at Yuanjiajie or Tianzi Mountain to experience the pillars in soft morning light and to avoid the mid‑day crush; sunrise and sunset viewpoints fill fast so arrive early.
• Use the park's cable cars and the internal shuttle-bus system to move between major viewpoints (Hallelujah/Avatar area, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi) rather than trying to hike between them-the transport saves time and reduces exposure to crowded trails.
• Plan routes around the busiest spots by visiting popular platforms (e.g., Yuanjiajie) early, then moving to less-frequented trails or viewpoints later in the day when tour groups concentrate on the central attractions.