Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

The floating peaks in Avatar were drawn from these ones. Zhangjiajie became China's first national forest park in 1982, and its forest of more than 3,000 quartz-sandstone pillars is the core of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. After the 2009 film, the park renamed its most photographed spire the "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain," and the crowds have not eased since. Expect the pillars to appear and vanish in mist through the day; that shifting view is part of what you came for.

What to see

The park is large, so most visitors circle a few clusters. Yuanjiajie holds the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and the widest platforms; the fastest way up is the Bailong Elevator, a 326 m glass lift bolted to a cliff that climbs the cliff face in about 66 seconds and is billed as the world's tallest outdoor elevator. Golden Whip Stream is a flat, shaded walk of roughly 7.5 km along a clear creek between the pillars, usually with wild macaques along the rail. The Tianzi and Yangjiajie areas add more viewpoints reached by cable car.

Getting around inside

Green shuttle buses link the gates and the main trailheads, so you rarely walk between areas unless you want to. The Bailong Elevator and the cable cars are separate paid rides on top of your entrance pass, and each runs one price up and another down. Ride the elevator early or late; midday queues can pass an hour, and the stairs and shuttles are the free way to reach the same viewpoints.

Booking and entry

Since June 2025 the park runs on dated, timed tickets, so you reserve a specific day and entry window before you arrive. Entry is by real-name face scan, so carry the passport you booked with. The entrance pass is valid for four consecutive days, but under the current rules you have to arrange each re-entry with staff on site after your first visit is scanned, rather than just walking back in, worth doing since mist can wipe out the views and a second day gives you another chance. You can reserve through a reseller such as Klook, which handles the passport booking in English, or the official Wulingyuan system if you can work through its Chinese real-name flow.

Getting there

Zhangjiajie is on the high-speed rail network and served by Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport. From the city or from Wulingyuan town, public buses and taxis reach the park's two main gates, the Forest Park Gate and the Wulingyuan Gate, in about 40 to 60 minutes.

When to go

April to June and September to October bring the clearest, mildest weather. Mist after rain creates the classic floating-peak effect but can hide the pillars completely, so keep your plans loose. Summer is green but busy; winter is quiet, with occasional snow dusting the columns.

On the day

Wear real walking shoes: even with the lift and cable cars you are on your feet for hours. Start early to reach the Bailong Elevator before the tour groups, and keep your ticket and passport handy for the shuttles and any re-entry.