Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Gates, Areas & Days

What is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the protected landscape of quartz-sandstone pillars in northwest Hunan that most people picture when they hear “Zhangjiajie”. It was China’s first national forest park, created in 1982, and it sits inside the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992.

UNESCO describes more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 200 m (650 ft) high, with ravines, streams and caves between them. The pillars are not limestone karst: they were cut by frost, plant roots and running water working on hard sandstone. Some of them inspired the floating “Hallelujah Mountains” in the film Avatar, which is why you will see the park sold as the Avatar Mountains.

On the ground, “the forest park” and “Wulingyuan” are used loosely. In practice one ticket covers the whole core area, which is what this page means by the park.

What are the main areas of the park?

The park has five areas that matter to visitors, linked by eco-buses, two lifts and three cable cars.

There is also the Ten-Mile Gallery, a valley at the foot of Tianzi Mountain with a mini-train. It is pleasant but optional if your time is short.

How do the gates and eco-buses work?

You enter through one of five gates, and your reservation is for a specific one: the East Gate (Wujiayu, by Wulingyuan town), the South Gate (the original Forest Park gate on the city side), the West Gate (Yangjiajie), the North Gate (Tianzishan) and the Middle Gate (Zimugang). The East Gate at Wulingyuan town and the South Gate on the Zhangjiajie city side are the two most travelers use.

Inside, free eco-buses (included in your ticket) run between the gates, the lift stations and the plateau viewpoints. On the plateau they connect Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, so you can go up by the Bailong Elevator, ride between areas and come down by cable car.

The East Gate is split into two lines: Line A for the Tianzi Mountain cable car and Line B for the Bailong Elevator. You must use the line you booked.

How much are tickets and lifts?

The adult ticket is CNY 236 (≈ USD 35) and is valid for 4 consecutive days, eco-buses included. Lifts and cable cars are paid separately, each way.

The Bailong Elevator climbs 335 m up the cliff in about a minute and a half. For the full list of prices, discounts and passes, see our ticket guide.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. Since June 2025 every entry needs a timed, real-name reservation, and the park caps daily visitors. You enter by scanning the original passport you booked with, at the gate and in the time slot you chose. There are 8 time slots between 07:00 and 17:00.

Each later day on your four-day ticket needs a new reservation. The official channels are Chinese-language WeChat mini programs that take WeChat Pay, which is where most foreign visitors get stuck. When you travel with us, we make every reservation for you.

Opening hours are about 07:00-17:00, but sources differ on seasonal times and the last lift runs change with crowds, so plan to start early and be heading down by mid-afternoon.

How many days do you need?

Two days is the right amount for most travelers; one full day covers the highlights. Your ticket is valid for four days, so a second day costs nothing extra in entry.

• One day: Golden Whip Stream in the morning, Bailong Elevator up, Yuanjiajie, then Tianzi Mountain and the cable car down. This is the plan of our 1-day forest park tour.
• Two days: add Yangjiajie or Huangshi Village and slow the pace, with the plateau at the quietest times.
• Three or more: add the Ten-Mile Gallery, longer hikes, or a sunrise attempt on Tianzi Mountain, then pair the park with Tianmen Mountain on a 3-day itinerary.

How do you get to the park?

The park is roughly 50 minutes by road from Zhangjiajie city, so most visitors either stay in Wulingyuan town by the East Gate or drive in early. A taxi from downtown to the East Gate is about CNY 90–130 (≈ USD 13–19) and takes around 50 min.

From Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, a taxi to the park costs about CNY 60–90 and takes 30 min–40 min. Tourist buses also run from the city to Wulingyuan from about CNY 13 (sources differ slightly on the fare). Our getting-to-Zhangjiajie guide covers trains and flights.

When is the best time to visit?

April to early June and September to November give the most comfortable walking weather. The sea of clouds is most likely on early mornings after rain, and spring and autumn are the most cited seasons, but nobody can promise one.

Avoid the Chinese golden weeks (1–5 May and 1–7 October) and mid-July to late August if you can, when the daily cap fills and the plateau queues are long. Winter is quiet and has no lower price, but high trails can be icy. See best time to visit.

Local tips for the forest park

• Pick your gate by your first sight. Book the East Gate if you want to ride the Bailong Elevator or Tianzi cable car first; book the South Gate if you want Golden Whip Stream while it is still quiet.
• Walk Golden Whip Stream downstream. Start at the South Gate end and walk east with the current; it is easier and ends at an eco-bus hub.
• Use lifts against the crowd. Tour groups go up the Bailong Elevator mid-morning, so ride it early or come down it late, and use the Tianzi cable car in the other direction.
• Find the eco-bus before walking. Lift upper stations are often a long walk from the viewpoints; check the bus stop first rather than following the crowd along the road.
• Carry your passport all day. You scan it at the gate, and some ride and re-entry checks use it too.

Is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park worth it?

Yes, for most travelers it is the reason to come to Zhangjiajie at all. If you only have time for one big sight, compare it with Tianmen Mountain in our Tianmen vs forest park guide. The park is busy, and reservations and lift queues reward a plan; a private guide who books the slots and reads the crowds makes the biggest difference here. Tell us your dates and we will suggest a route.