Yangjiajie — Quiet Hiking in Zhangjiajie Forest Park

What is Yangjiajie?

Yangjiajie is the western core area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a steep, forested ridge system where the sandstone forms long, parallel walls instead of free-standing pillars. It sees far fewer visitors than Yuanjiajie next door, and much of it can only be reached on foot.

It is the area to choose if you want to hike, avoid crowds and see a less familiar side of Zhangjiajie. On the plateau it is a stop on the eco-bus road between Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain.

What will you see at Yangjiajie?

The sights spread out in three directions from the Yangjiajie cable car’s upper station.

• Natural Great Wall: parallel stone walls that look like a fortified wall from a distance, about 500 m from the upper station. This is the easy highlight.
• Wulong Village and Tianbo Mansion: a former bandit stronghold on a cliff, reached by a path with a low overhang, a gap about 30 cm wide and very steep steps, then an iron bridge and ladder up to a lone viewing deck.
• One Step to Heaven and the Skywalk: the highest point in Yangjiajie, at about 1130 m, reached by a short iron ladder, plus a cliff path about 320 m long.

How long do you need at Yangjiajie?

Allow about 1 hour for the Natural Great Wall alone, or 6–8 hours to hike all the highlights. The choice depends on your legs and your interest in hiking more than on the scenery.

The descent trail is about 4 km (2 mi) of steps. If you would rather ride, note that One Step to Heaven and the Skywalk lie downhill from the cable car, so returning to it means climbing back up.

How do you get to Yangjiajie?

You reach Yangjiajie either by the Yangjiajie cable car from the valley or by eco-bus along the plateau.

• From the plateau: the eco-bus from Yuanjiajie takes about 10 minutes and is free with your ticket. This is the usual way if you went up by the Bailong Elevator or Tianzi cable car.
• From below: enter at the South Gate, walk to Big Oxygen Bar Square and take eco-buses to the Yangjiajie cable car’s lower station. The cable car is about 1876 m long and takes around five minutes.
• West Gate: closest on the map, but with no public transport from downtown and few eco-buses inside. It only makes sense with a private car.

How does Yangjiajie compare with the rest of the park?

Yangjiajie trades easy access for solitude. Compared with the other core areas, it has the steepest trails and the fewest people.

A good two-day pattern is Golden Whip Stream, Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain on day one, then Yangjiajie on day two while the groups repeat the classic loop.

How much does Yangjiajie cost?

Entry is part of the forest park ticket; the cable car is extra.

If you plan to use several lifts, compare the pass with single tickets in our ticket guide. Your park ticket is valid for 4 days, so Yangjiajie works well as a second-day hike.

When is the best time to hike Yangjiajie?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with cooler air for the climbs. The forested trail between One Step to Heaven and the Skywalk is shaded, which helps in summer, but the exposed ladders get hot and the humidity is high.

Avoid wet days for the deeper trails: the steps and ladders are slippery when it rains. In winter, the handrails are cold and sections can ice over. Yangjiajie stays relatively quiet even in the Chinese holidays, which makes it a good choice when the rest of the park is crowded. See best time to visit.

Local tips for Yangjiajie

• Pack small. A big backpack will not fit through the narrow gap at Wulong Village; carry a daypack and leave the rest at your hotel.
• Face the ladder going down. The iron ladders to Tianbo Mansion and One Step to Heaven have round rungs; climb down facing the rungs, holding both rails.
• Bring gloves in the cold months. The metal handrails get very cold from late autumn to early spring.
• Exit via the South Gate. After hiking down, ride the eco-bus to the South Gate rather than walking out at the West Gate, unless your car is waiting.
• Use poles for the descent. The long downhill on steps is hard on the knees; trekking poles help.

Is Yangjiajie worth it?

Yes, if you like hiking or have a second day in the park. For a first, short visit, Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain give more for less effort, and the Natural Great Wall alone is a quick add-on between them. Our 2-day off-the-beaten-path hiking tour spends a full day here. Tell us your fitness level and dates and we will suggest the right section.