Zhangjiajie & the Avatar Mountains

• Seven days in one region, so you walk the pillars rather than glimpse them from a coach
• Bailong Elevator climbs 326 m (1,070 ft) in under two minutes
• The glass bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon is 430 m (1,410 ft) long and 300 m (980 ft) above the floor
• Tianmen Mountain cable car runs 7,455 m (24,459 ft) — one of the longest in the world
• Fenghuang old town can be added as two extra nights at the end

Day by day

1. Day 1 · Zhangjiajie Arrival and transfer to Wulingyuan

   Meet your guide at Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport and drive 40 minutes to Wulingyuan, the town at the park gate. Most flights connect through Shanghai or Guangzhou, so arrival is usually late afternoon. An easy evening walk along the Suoxi stream, with an early night before the walking starts.

2. Day 2 · Wulingyuan Golden Whip Stream

   A gentle first day on the floor of the park, following the Golden Whip Stream for 7.5 km (4.7 miles) between the sandstone towers. The path is nearly flat and shaded, and it is the best way to feel the scale of the pillars from below. Shuttle buses return you to the gate.

3. Day 3 · Wulingyuan Yuanjiajie and the Bailong Elevator

   The day everyone comes for. Ride the Bailong Elevator 326 m (1,070 ft) up the cliff face in under two minutes, then walk the Yuanjiajie loop to the First Bridge Under Heaven and the pillar used as the Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar. Expect queues at the elevator from 09:30; we go early.

4. Day 4 · Wulingyuan Tianzi Mountain and the Ten-Mile Gallery

   Cable car up to Tianzi Mountain for the He Long Park viewpoint, then a ridge walk with the pillars spread out on both sides. The small train through the Ten-Mile Gallery brings you back down past a run of named rock formations. About 6 km (3.7 miles) on foot today.

5. Day 5 · Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain

   The 7,455 m (24,459 ft) cable car climbs from the city to the summit in 30 minutes, one of the longest passenger cable cars in the world. Walk the cliff-hugging glass skywalk and the 999 steps down to Heaven's Gate, a natural arch 131 m (430 ft) high. The 99-bend road is the way back down by bus.

6. Day 6 · Zhangjiajie Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge

   The glass bridge spans 430 m (1,410 ft) across the canyon, 300 m (980 ft) above the stream, and is walked in about 20 minutes. Afterwards, either the canyon boardwalk or a quieter afternoon at Baofeng Lake, a boat trip between the cliffs. Last night in Wulingyuan.

7. Day 7 · Zhangjiajie Departure, or on to Fenghuang

   Transfer to the airport for the flight home, usually connecting through Shanghai or Guangzhou. If you have time, add two nights in Fenghuang, the riverside Miao town about three hours away by road, before flying out.

What stands out

Practical

Getting there	Fly via Shanghai or Guangzhou to Zhangjiajie Hehua (DYG)
Best months	April–May and September–October
Walking per day	5–9 km (3–6 miles), with cable cars and buses for the climbs
Bailong Elevator	326 m (1,070 ft) in under 2 minutes
Park ticket	4-day Wulingyuan pass covers entry and shuttle buses
Group size	2–10 travellers
Trip length	7 days / 6 nights
Altitude	Park floor 500–1,000 m (1,640–3,280 ft)

Common questions

How fit do I need to be?

Reasonably mobile is enough. Cable cars and shuttle buses take you up and between the viewpoints, and the walking is 5 to 9 km (3 to 6 miles) a day on paved or stepped paths. There is little sustained climbing.

Is the glass bridge suitable if I am nervous of heights?

The bridge is optional and there is a boardwalk alternative at the canyon. You can skip the glass sections on Tianmen Mountain too, and still reach the viewpoints by the ordinary path.

When is the mist at its best?

The pillars stand in cloud most often from March to May and again in October. Rain clears the valleys quickly, so a wet morning often gives the clearest afternoon views.

Can I add Fenghuang old town?

Yes. Two nights in Fenghuang can be added at the end, about three hours by road, with stilt houses on the Tuo river. It is easier to add than to squeeze into the seven days.

Where to next

• Zhangjiajie and Hunan
• Hunan province guide
• Tibet: Roof of the World
• Build a walking trip
• Practical China guides