Yuanjiajie — Avatar Hallelujah Mountain Guide

What is Yuanjiajie?

Yuanjiajie is a cliff-top plateau in the middle of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, surrounded by the densest cluster of sandstone pillars in the park. It is the area most people mean when they talk about the “Avatar Mountains”, and the one to choose if you only have time for a single viewpoint.

The plateau covers about 1200 ha at an average elevation of 1074 m. Its sights sit along a 3.5 km (2 mi) boardwalk on the cliff edge, so you see everything on foot without hard climbing.

What is the Avatar connection?

In January 2010 the park officially renamed a Yuanjiajie pillar, previously called the Southern Sky Column, “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”. The film was not shot here; it was made in studios. Its director and production designers said the floating mountains drew on peaks in several places, mainly Guilin, Huangshan and Zhangjiajie.

The pillar itself is a free-standing column about 150 m tall with trees on top. After rain, when mist hides its base, it looks detached from the ground, which is the effect the film borrowed.

What will you see at Yuanjiajie?

The main loop links four viewpoints, each a few minutes’ walk or one eco-bus stop apart.

• Mihun Terrace (Mihuntai, 迷魂台): the widest view over the pillar field, and the most crowded platform.
• Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: the renamed pillar, best seen from the lower of the two paths toward First Bridge.
• First Bridge Under Heaven: a natural stone arch spanning about 25 m between two peaks, high above the valley floor.
• Back Garden: a quieter, enclosed viewpoint. It has been reported closed for path repairs, so check on the day.

How long do you need at Yuanjiajie?

Plan 2-3 hours on the plateau, plus about 1 hour to get up and down. That makes it a half-day stop, or the centerpiece of a full day combined with Golden Whip Stream below or Tianzi Mountain along the plateau road.

The Bailong Elevator’s upper station is about 2 km (1 mi) from the main viewpoints, so the eco-bus is part of the visit, not an extra.

How do you get to Yuanjiajie?

There are three ways up, and most visitors use the first.

From the East Gate, the eco-bus to the elevator’s lower station takes around 25 minutes. The elevator rises 335 m up the cliff face.

Should you choose Yuanjiajie or Yangjiajie?

Choose Yuanjiajie if this is your first visit or you are traveling with children or older relatives; choose Yangjiajie if you want a real hike and fewer people. The two are neighbors on the same plateau road, 10 minutes apart by eco-bus, so energetic visitors can do the highlights of both in one day.

If you continue to Tianzi Mountain instead, the eco-bus takes about half an hour, and you can descend by the Tianzi cable car to the Wulingyuan side.

How much does Yuanjiajie cost?

Yuanjiajie has no ticket of its own. It is part of the forest park, so your standard four-day ticket covers it, and only lifts are extra.

Every entry needs a timed, real-name reservation with your passport, and each re-entry day on the four-day ticket needs its own booking. Our ticket guide has the full list.

When is the best time to see Yuanjiajie?

The first hour after the park opens and the last hour before the lifts stop are the quietest times on the plateau. Tour groups usually arrive by the Bailong Elevator from mid-morning, and Mihun Terrace fills quickly.

For the floating effect, you want an early morning after overnight rain, when mist sits between the pillars. Spring and autumn are the most cited seasons, but a clear day gives the sharpest views and a foggy one can hide everything. See best time to visit.

Local tips for Yuanjiajie

• Take the bus, not the road. After the elevator, walk the few minutes to the eco-bus stop and ride to Mihun Terrace; following the crowd along the road on foot wastes time and energy.
• Use the lower path to First Bridge. Where the walkway splits into upper and lower levels, the lower one gives a clearer view of the pillar and the arch.
• Go against the flow. If you are staying in Wulingyuan, start with Tianzi Mountain by cable car and reach Yuanjiajie by eco-bus in the afternoon, when the morning groups have moved on, then descend by the Bailong Elevator.
• Hold your phone firmly. The railing gaps at viewing platforms are wide; use a wrist strap and keep children close.
• Walk down, not up, if you want the trail. The Luancuan Slope steps are far kinder as a descent to Golden Whip Stream.

Is Yuanjiajie worth it?

Yes. If you visit only one area of the park, make it Yuanjiajie, and pair it with Golden Whip Stream or Tianzi Mountain for a full day. Our 1-day forest park tour and 3-day classic tour both time Yuanjiajie around the crowds. Ask us for a route that fits your dates and pace.